Lori Birenberg
Summary
- Accomplished educator in the development and implementation of building equity based instructional models including the establishment of two schools
- Specialist committed to the development and implementation of both teacher and distributed leadership models
- Passionate advocate successful in the facilitation of workshops and professional learning
- Strong leader adept at building instructional staff and support teams through the creation and implementation of professional learning communities, coaching, and mentorship
- Certified evaluator and facilitator for Illinois State Board of Education Professional Practice recertification class
Overview
21
21
years of professional experience
Work History
Distributed Leadership Specialist
Chicago Public Schools
01.2023 - Current
- Consult with and coach school and teacher leaders on problem solving, change management, and the design and implementation of school wide systems and structures that enable the adoption of district led teacher and distributed leadership models
- Support both instructional and leadership coaches to develop and implement data informed practices that align to school continuous improvement plans and learning cycles targeting curriculum planning and development, professional learning, direct support and coaching of classroom teachers, and both teacher and student experience and outcome data
- Co design and deliver a range of school and district level professional development and learning across multiple learning communities
- Facilitate Illinois State Board of Education Administrator Academy 1801: Professional Practice Using the Danielson Model to administrators pursuing recertification of evaluator credentials and also managed all pre and post registration logistics and communications (ongoing since 2020)
Educator Effectiveness Specialist
Chicago Public Schools
07.2022 - 06.2023
- Provided 1:1 coaching to instructional and leadership coaches that promotes and prioritizes transformational and cognitive coaching mindsets and practices
- Facilitated a range of professional learning opportunities for lead coaches in both small and large cohorts
- Designed and delivered professional development for teachers, principals, and assistant principals in collaboration with the Office of Teaching and Learning, other CPS departments, and the Illinois State Board of Education
Instructional Effectiveness Specialist
Chicago Public Schools
08.2018 - 06.2022
- Provided sustained 1:1 differentiated coaching for a caseload of new/novice teachers across content-areas and grade levels with support tailored to the needs of each individual teacher
- Facilitated coaching cycles centered in equity, guiding teachers to remove barriers to student learning through student-centered, data-driven, standards-based analysis & planning
- Built relationships and coordinated with building administrators and school leaders to both share broader coaching work and to align to school needs to ensure coaching work matches school goals
- Co created and facilitated school wide professional learning workshops based on school needs and district wide professional learning for both teacher leadership teams and administrators
- Designed and delivered professional development for teachers, principals, and assistant principals in collaboration with the Office of Teaching and Learning, other CPS departments, and the Illinois State Board of Education
- Co led day long ISBE Professional Practice Administrator Academy course for teacher evaluator recertification
- Co led Transformative Teaching Cohort for exceptional teachers across the district
Dean of Curriculum & Intsructional Coach
The Chicago High School for the Arts
07.2016 - 06.2018
- Founding team member of the first public pre-professional fine and performing arts high school in the Chicago Public Schools with a commitment to diversity and the promotion of equity and access for novice students
- Encouraged and developed a collaborative culture of reflective practice as a supervisor, coach, and mentor offering guidance and direction with consistent constructive feedback regarding instructional strategies, evaluations, walkthroughs, and rounds
- Conducted formal and informal evaluations of academic teaching staff using The Framework for Teaching
- Led curriculum development, instruction, and teacher development for academic staff
- Supported additional professional growth of staff by leading and/or facilitating a wide variety of professional learning sessions and workshops focused on assessment, research based strategies, and best practices to develop and sustain a high quality and compassionate teaching model
- Promoted positive classroom culture and relationship building
- Provided 1:1 coaching and conducted coaching cycles across grade levels and content areas
- Promoted instructional quality and collaboration in the design of teacher friendly feedback templates and self-assessment checklists
- Collaboratively developed and implemented high quality school wide instructional models across grade levels and content areas
- Utilized research based best practices to initiate change
- Instituted school wide literacy practices
- Developed and designed year round differentiated professional development plan based on student and teacher needs
- Augmented professional development opportunities addressing social and emotional learning by co-facilitating a school wide initiative focused on trauma informed practices, culturally responsive practices, restorative justice, and core values
- Facilitated an anti-racism working group addressing systemic racism, privilege, and bias to foster personal growth and institutional change
- Co-designed and led school wide Common Core alignment and implementation initiative
- Reviewed curriculum maps and unit plans providing feedback based on backwards design
- Participated in all phases of recruitment and hiring of staff committed to the vision and mission of school by writing interview questions and scenarios and conducting interview rounds to validate knowledge and skill set of candidates
- Partnered with university representatives to place student teachers and clinical observers
English Department Chairperson & Teacher
Raby High School
07.2004 - 06.2009
- Founding team member of teacher led options high school
- Postsecondary course curriculum to address admission preparation, financial literacy, and campus life
- Served multiple simultaneous roles including founding teacher, Instructional Leadership Team member, Post Secondary Teacher, AVID Elective Teacher, Site Team member, and Literacy Team member
- Collaborated cross-functionally to shape and implement department rubrics and school wide writing across the curriculum initiatives
- Promoted successful transition to higher education by designing and implementing the senior level
- Allied with post secondary coach, guidance counselors, and other teachers to plan activities, college visits, and FAFSA completion workshops for seniors and families
- Enhanced college application readiness by designing performance based and ACT style assessments, integrating inquiry based and cross curricular projects, and adapting related materials and supplemental resources
- Ensured compliance with College Readiness Standards by developing a standards based syllabi, course maps, and unit plans
- As the AVID Site Team Member and elective teacher, taught senior level electives integrating AVID writing, inquiry, collaboration, reading, and tutorial strategies and conducted professional development sessions on AVID integration instructional policies
- Collaboratively created comprehensive school wide best practices guide, peer observation tools, and protocols for literacy
- Assured consistency in instructional direction by initiating department wide vertical planning, reflections, and assessment practices
- Planned and coordinated bi-weekly departmental meetings to promote comprehension of strategies and focus
- Substantiated professional development, reviewing teacher assignment and student work protocols for appropriateness and conducting school wide workshops regarding pertinent topics to encourage growth and instructional ability
Education
Master of Education - Interdisciplinary Studies
National Louis University
Bachelor of Arts - English & Telecommunications
Indiana University
Certification & Licensure - Secondary English & Language Arts
DePaul University
Professional Educator License -
RELATED SKILLS
- Teacher & Distributed Leadership
- Instructional Design & Support
- Equity & Asset Based Instructional Design & Coaching
- Culturally Responsive Instruction & Practices
- Teacher Induction & Development
- Coaching New & Veteran Teachers
- Differentiated Professional Learning for Multiple Audiences
- Adult Learning Principles
- Social & Emotional Learning Best Practices
ADDTIONAL CLASSROOM TEACHING EXPERIENCE
- English Teacher, Douglass Academy, Chicago, IL
- English Teacher, King High School, Chicago, IL
RELATED PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
- Cognitive Coaching, Thinking Collaborative
- Instructional Coaching Professional Learning Series, Forums, and National Conference, New Teacher Center
- Critical Cultural Competency Workshop, Anti-Bias, Anti-Racism Education Workshop, CROAR/Crossroads Anti-Racism Organizing and Training
- Practicing Compassion, ACES, From Compassion to Practice, Reginald Harris, MSW, LSW
- Creating Safe and Supportive Schools for LGBTQ and All Youth, Office of Health and Wellness, Chicago Public Schools
- Check In Check Out, Office of Social & Emotional Learning, Chicago Public Schools
- Implementing Common Core Standards, Building Master Teachers, Common Core and the Understanding by Design Framework, Using Formative Assessments to Meet the Needs of Common Core, Rethinking Homework, Annual Teaching and Learning Conferences, ASCD
- The Framework for Targeted and Intentional Teaching, Doug Fisher and Nancy Frey
- Strategic Conversations for Educational Leaders, Dr. Robyn Jackson, Mindsteps
- Curriculum Framework Project-College Readiness Standards Alignment year long project
- Chicago Public Schools Post-Secondary Seminar Planning Team Member
- Holocaust and Human Behavior, Race and Membership, Facing History and Ourselves
Timeline
Distributed Leadership Specialist
Chicago Public Schools
01.2023 - Current
Educator Effectiveness Specialist
Chicago Public Schools
07.2022 - 06.2023
Instructional Effectiveness Specialist
Chicago Public Schools
08.2018 - 06.2022
Dean of Curriculum & Intsructional Coach
The Chicago High School for the Arts
07.2016 - 06.2018
English Department Chairperson & Teacher
Raby High School
07.2004 - 06.2009
Bachelor of Arts - English & Telecommunications
Indiana University
Certification & Licensure - Secondary English & Language Arts
DePaul University
Professional Educator License -
Master of Education - Interdisciplinary Studies
National Louis University
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