Megan C. Sharkey

Novice Teachers' Experiences in Supporting Student Mental Health in Virginia PK-12 Classrooms, George Mason University, coPIs: Drs. Betsy Levine Brown and Audra Parker .

• Conduct document reviews of websites of school districts throughout Virginia.
• Perform data analyses of qualitative interviews.
• Complete tutorials of MaxQDA software.
• Serve on research team and attend weekly project meetings.
• Prepare and present scholarly outputs at national conferences and to national journals.

Literacy Engagement Action Project (LEAP), George Mason University, PI: Dr. Dr. Allison Ward-Parson

• Developed 20 research-based literacy lesson plans for early elementary grades focusing on phonics and reading comprehension.
• Created PowerPoint Presentation with video integration of skills for tutor development.
• Served on curriculum development team and attended weekly meetings.

• Former Kindergarten and Junior Kindergarten classroom teacher, currently instructing second grade.
• Facilitate and oversee students' engagement in research-driven project-based learning experiences.
• Formulate, refine, and implement lesson plans, aligning them with curriculum standards, and leverage data analysis to create, track, and tailor personalized learning pathways for individual students.
• Demonstrate effective classroom management skills, employing Responsive Classroom approach by communicating clear, equitable expectations and implementing suitable consequences.
• Evaluate and appraise student performance to record advancements. Hold routine meetings with parents and foster transparent communication channels.

• Formulated and executed student-driven research projects while aligning them with developmentally appropriate curricular components to cater to diverse learning modalities.
• Administered educational assessments at defined intervals and convened conferences on a triennial basis to analyze student progress and development comprehensively.
• Maintained ongoing, systematic communication with parents to engage in meaningful dialogues regarding child's growth and developmental milestones.
• Conducted vigilant observations of students to detect indications of health issues, injuries, emotional perturbations, learning challenges, and speech delays.

• Developed Individual Education Plans (IEPs) for students spanning grades K through 4 by synthesizing insights from psychologist reports, assessment data, and careful observations.
• Performed rigorous Functional Behavior Analyses (FBAs), generating comprehensive reports, utilizing Excel for graphical data representation and analysis, and formulating Behavior Intervention Plans (BIPs).
• Assumed leadership role in organizing and delivering professional development and coaching sessions tailored to support novice special education teachers in their inaugural year.
• Facilitated and oversaw IEP meetings, ensuring compliance and efficacy.
• Leveraged Excel and Google Docs to craft data tracking tools to monitor each student's individualized objectives.
• Conducted in-depth data analysis to discern prevailing trends, offering insights to drive strategic enhancements that contribute to improved student, teacher, and school performance.

• Organized monthly Saturday School sessions catering to more than 400 students and their families.
• Engaged in regular consultations with school principal and academic deans to evaluate feedback and collaboratively devise strategies aimed at program enhancement.
• Administered comprehensive surveys among teachers, parents, and students to solicit valuable feedback, contributing to informed decision-making.
• Proactively liaised with, recruited, and efficiently supervised team of 10-20 dedicated parent volunteers to support program operations.

• Possess eight years of teaching experience spanning Kindergarten through Second Grade across urban public and charter schools within New York City.
• Demonstrated expertise in curriculum development and pedagogical planning for grades K-2, employing Backwards Design approach meticulously aligned with city, state, and Common Core standards.
• Successfully executed diverse range of research-based literacy and mathematics programs to enhance student learning outcomes.