Mary O'Brien-Combs
Berwyn,IL
Summary
Committed, results-oriented veteran educational leader with a consistent track record of supporting student literacy growth and academic achievement in both urban and suburban settings across diverse demographics and socioeconomic levels. Demonstrated ability to gain the trust of teaching staff and parents to provide effective instructional coaching and collaborative, positive solutions. Extensive experience designing, developing, and implementing culturally relevant literacy curricula.
Overview
24
24
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Teacher, ELA and Social Studies – Grades 7 & 8
ACERO - Rufino Tamayo Elementary School
08.2015 - Current
- Serve as a teacher leader, providing mentoring support to newly hired middle school ELA staff member.
- Craft modules and lessons incorporating authentic text and online resources in integrated reading and writing curriculum for 60 7th and 8th grade students of varied ability levels at a Title 1 school
- Plan and design social studies curriculum for 60 7th and 8th grade students
- Support 30 8th Grade Advisory students in their high school selection and application process
- Provide leadership support through participation on the school PSC
- Empower students to facilitate student-led conferences
- Demonstrate consistent, year-over-year student academic growth in reading on standardized tests, including the Illinois Assessment of Readiness (IAR) and NWEA. 2024 IAR scores: 73% of 30 8th graders "met or exceeded" grade level standards and 60% of 30 7th graders "met or exceeded" grade level standards.
Director of Academics, Upper Academy
Galapagos Rockford Charter School
05.2014 - 06.2015
- Oversaw the academic program and operation of an urban middle school, serving 87 scholars in grades 6, 7, and 8
- Provided weekly academic coaching sessions to 9 instructors – core content, specials, and SPED
- Conducted weekly observations of instructors, reviewed lesson plans, and provided feedback
- Reviewed and evaluated instructional staff on a bi-annual basis
- Developed and presented weekly professional development presentations on reading, writing, assessment, and conceptual math
- Analyzed interim data and guided instructors in responding to scholar needs
- Facilitated meetings to develop intervention programs for scholars to ensure success
- Provided support to Dean of Culture and Assistant Dean of Culture to foster scholar success
- Created school master schedules and scholar schedules.
Instructional Reading Coach
Noble - Johnson College Prep
01.2011 - 01.2014
- Provided 9th and 10th grade social studies teachers strategic reading planning and instructional support
- Assisted in the selection of differentiated/leveled texts
- Modeled guided reading and strategy implementation
- Reading 10 composite pre- to post-PLAN 2012 scores grew 2.0 points, tied with Muchin for greatest growth
- Reading 9 composite pre- to post-EXPLORE 2012 scores grew 1.70 points.
Reading Department Chair
Noble - Johnson College Prep
01.2012 - 02.2014
- Facilitated bi-weekly department meetings
- Observed classroom social studies (reading) teachers and provide evaluations
- Secured 3,000 book donations for school-wide, teacher classroom library system
- Developed SMART goals for reading and English teachers for school-wide vocabulary initiative.
Senior Advisor and Founding AP English Teacher, Grade 11
Noble - Johnson College Prep
06.2011 - 02.2014
- Advisor to 14 scholars
- AP English Language and Composition (2 sections)
- American Literature and Composition (3 sections)
- 2013 PSAE ACT - Achieved 2.47 points of reading growth from pre-CPS ACT Test 9/2012
- 2013 PSAE ACT Average Scores: English – 20.4; Reading – 18.98; Composite – 19.49
- Planned differentiated reading and writing curriculum, blending College Readiness Standards and Common Core objectives, for 137 students.
Assistant Principal
Noble - Johnson College Prep
08.2011 - 06.2012
- Served as administrative point/liaison for special education and social work departments
- Edited, and designed one- to four-page weekly newsletters sent home to parents
- Facilitated parent/school monthly meetings and planned and facilitated school-wide parent events
- Provided professional development, curriculum planning support, and instructional coaching in the areas of reading and writing to reading/social science and English teachers
- Supported department heads in planning agendas for departmental meetings
- Conducted teacher candidate interviews
- Responsible for all student academic records and schedule changes
- Recruited transfer students, provided transcript reviews, and issued acceptances.
Summer School Principal
Noble - Johnson College Prep
06.2011 - 08.2011
- Served as founding 2011 Summer School Principal for Johnson College Prep
- Hired teachers, oversaw curriculum programming, and managed student attendance, discipline, and promotion concerns.
Language Arts Teacher, Grade 8
Thayer J. Hill Middle School
08.2000 - 06.2011
- Planned and presented lessons and assessments, integrating reading and writing, for learners of various abilities and diverse racial, ethnic, and economic backgrounds during 100-minute block classes
- 2009-2011: Selected from a pool of 5 eighth grade teachers to participate in co-teaching initiative with special education instructor to team teach at-risk pool of learners
- African American students experienced 6 percent reading growth on 2011 ISAT tests
- 93 percent of all students met or exceeded and 79 percent of African American students met or exceed on 2011 ISAT reading test
- Taught one section of American history with a focus on reading strategies
- Students made AYP on reading ISATs each year
- Students attained an average of 90 percent in the meets and exceeds categories on the writing ISAT from 2007 through 2009 (when it was assessed)
- The 8th grade class at Hill Middle School rated first of 14 middle and grade schools in District 204 that took the 2007 writing ISAT
- Assessed and selected students, planned curriculum, and implemented reading intervention 12 resistant readers as part of school's Response to Intervention (RTI) initiative
- Students in the program all met, one exceeded, on the 2010 ISAT reading test
- Supervised and mentored student teachers in 2009 and 2010
- Supported and provided leadership on school/community-wide initiatives to foster reading
- Pioneered use of technology for student-created documentaries, used interactive websites for instruction, and conducted instruction on information literacy and website evaluation for student research projects
- Employed use of video, computer-generated animation, and various presentation programs (Prezi, PowerPoint, Glogster, etc…) in daily classroom instruction.
Consultant for School Start Up
Noble - Johnson College Prep
06.2009 - 04.2010
- Screened instructional and support staff candidate resumes and selected candidates of merit for interviews
- Participated in candidate interviews and selections
- Designed writing prompts for social work and office staff candidates
- Researched and advised principal on selection of diagnostic reading and math placement tests for high school freshmen
- Researched and selected high interest summer reading novel for urban students
- Made course recommendations
- Assisted in student recruitment information sessions and fairs
Education
Master of Arts - Illinois Principal Preparation
Concordia University Chicago
River Forest, IL05.2024
Master of Arts - High School Teaching
Dominican University
River Forest, ILBachelor of Arts, English -
Eureka College
ESL Endorsement -
Northeastern Illinois University
06.2017
Coursework Towards Reading Specialist Master's - Reading Specialist
Concordia University Chicago
River Forest, IL06.2020
Skills
- Instructional Coaching
- Role Model and Mentor
- Classroom Instruction
- Growth Mindset
- Student-Centered Learning
- Curriculum Design & Development
- Team Collaboration
- Student Engagement
- Parent-Teacher Communication
- Critical Thinking
- Motivating Students
- Technology Integration
Certification
- Pending: Principal License (Coursework and state licensure exams successfully completed as of May 2024).
- Certified as Illinois Teacher Evaluator (January, 2023)
- PEL - IEIN: 372210, Illinois, English, Sociology, Language Arts, Social Studies
- ESL-2017, Illinois, English as a Second Language, 06/01/17
- NCLB-HQ, Illinois, English (9-12), Journalism (9-12), Language Arts, Speech (9-12), English as a Second Language, Title I Remedial Reading, History (Middle Grades Only)
Pre-Education Career Experience
Prior to a career in education, previous work experience centered on professional writing, editing, and public relations:
Scott-Foresman Publishing, Glenview, IL—April 1990 to August 1992
- Editor of Employee Magazine - Oversaw entire production of a bi-monthly employee publication for textbook publisher.
Kemper National Insurance Companies, Hawthorne Woods, IL—1988 to 1990
- Managing Editor, Marketing Publications - Planned and managed a design and writing team to produce two, multi-page, four-color magazines distributed to independent insurance agents throughout the United States to build relationships and promote the selling of the then Fortune 500 insurance company’s products.
Pioneer Press, Oak Park, IL—1985 to 1987
- Staff Writer - Wrote award-winning feature and news articles for two Chicago suburban newspapers.
The Daily Pantagraph, Bloomington, IL—1985
- Reporter - Contributed three national news stories to Associated Press service during a four month long internship.
College Relations, Eureka College, Eureka, IL—1982-1985
- Public Relations Writer - Reported directly to the Director of College Relations and Public Events and planned, wrote, and edited articles for the alumni magazine throughout my tenure.
Public Relations, Birch Creek Music Center, Egg Harbor, WI—1983
- Public Relations - Oversaw the news promotion of an exclusive summer camp located in Door County, Wisconsin, and developed a handbook of public relations and community event procedures and media contacts for future public relations writers
Timeline
Teacher, ELA and Social Studies – Grades 7 & 8
ACERO - Rufino Tamayo Elementary School
08.2015 - Current
Director of Academics, Upper Academy
Galapagos Rockford Charter School
05.2014 - 06.2015
Reading Department Chair
Noble - Johnson College Prep
01.2012 - 02.2014
Assistant Principal
Noble - Johnson College Prep
08.2011 - 06.2012
Senior Advisor and Founding AP English Teacher, Grade 11
Noble - Johnson College Prep
06.2011 - 02.2014
Summer School Principal
Noble - Johnson College Prep
06.2011 - 08.2011
Instructional Reading Coach
Noble - Johnson College Prep
01.2011 - 01.2014
Consultant for School Start Up
Noble - Johnson College Prep
06.2009 - 04.2010
Language Arts Teacher, Grade 8
Thayer J. Hill Middle School
08.2000 - 06.2011
Master of Arts - Illinois Principal Preparation
Concordia University Chicago
Master of Arts - High School Teaching
Dominican University
Bachelor of Arts, English -
Eureka College
ESL Endorsement -
Northeastern Illinois University
Coursework Towards Reading Specialist Master's - Reading Specialist
Concordia University Chicago
- Pending: Principal License (Coursework and state licensure exams successfully completed as of May 2024).
- Certified as Illinois Teacher Evaluator (January, 2023)
- PEL - IEIN: 372210, Illinois, English, Sociology, Language Arts, Social Studies
- ESL-2017, Illinois, English as a Second Language, 06/01/17
- NCLB-HQ, Illinois, English (9-12), Journalism (9-12), Language Arts, Speech (9-12), English as a Second Language, Title I Remedial Reading, History (Middle Grades Only)
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