MELINDA M. GRAHAM
Salt Lake City,UT
Summary
Energetic professional passionate about fostering critical thinking skills and student development. Skillful in managing classroom environments and student behavior with positive and proactive strategies. Excellent communication, relationship-building and problem-solving abilities. Well-versed in coordinating in-class instruction, activities, and exams to reinforce core concepts and gauge student comprehension. Attentive to individual student needs with expertise in adapting to varied learning modalities and fostering social-emotional growth.
Overview
31
31
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Teacher
William Penn Elementary School
SLC, UT
01.2008 - Current
- Third Grade Dual Immersion Spanish Teacher (2009–current)
- Regularly serves on school leadership teams and has acted as a grade-level representative for 7 years.
- Community Council Representative for 8 years. Helps to create a positive rapport between the school and community members. Votes on school funding and staffing decisions.
- New Teacher Mentor. Has created an inclusive and welcoming atmosphere for new teachers.
- Student Teacher Mentor for Westminster Graduate Student, 2019.
Director
Private Piano Studio
SLC, UT
01.1994 - Current
- Has instructed up to 42 students weekly.
- Teaches students from beginner to intermediate-advanced levels.
- Regularly organizes master classes and semi-annual recitals.
- Manages all scheduling, business transactions, billing, and taxes.
- Participated as a judge in the National Federation of Music Teachers' annual piano festival for 5 years.
Assistant Teacher
Meadowlark Elementary School
SLC, UT
01.2007 - 10.2007
- Taught in 4-6th grade severely handicapped classroom
- Taught music twice a week
- Received assistant teacher medical training from Salt Lake District Nurse
Education
Masters of Arts - Teaching
Westminster College
Salt Lake City, Utah05.2008
Bachelor of Arts - Music, Spanish
University of Utah
Salt Lake City, Utah05.2006
Associate of Science -
Salt Lake Community College
Salt Lake City, Utah01.2002
Skills
- Fluent in Spanish
- DLI and bilingual instruction
- World Language Endorsed
- Gifted & Talented Endorsed
- LETRS certified
- New teacher mentor
- Classroom management
- Lesson planning
- Student assessment
- Differentiated instruction
- Small group instruction
- Social-emotional learning training
- Collaboration skills
- Community engagement through Community Council representation
- Parent communication
Certification
- Gifted and Talent Endorsement
- World Language Endorsement
- LETRS Certified
Professional Development
- Annual Utah Dual Immersion AUDI conference: 2009-2010: Attended classes on effectively teaching core curriculum in Spanish.
- World Language Endorsement classes 2008-2012
- Math TI-15 Calculator Class: Received training on teaching math using Texas Instruments calculators
- Science and Dance: An Infinity Professional Development Workshop: Collaborated with Tanner Dance professional to integrate dance and core curriculum
- Gifted & Talented Endorsement classes 2021-2022
- Gifted & Talented Conference 2022
- LETRS Trainings 2021-2023
- Bi-annual Dual Language Immersion trainings 2009-2025
Accomplishments
- Nominated for GSD Excel Teacher Award
- New Teacher Mentor
Languages
English
Native/ Bilingual
Spanish
Full Professional
Related Activities
- University of Utah Singers, 2003-2006. Alto section leader, won the 2005 Grand Prize in Florilège Vocal de Tours International Choir Competition in Tours, France, Won the 2006 European Grand Prix Choral Competition in Tolosa, Spain
- Official Representative LDS Church, Venezuela, 01/01/02, 07/31/03, Fluent in speaking, writing and reading Spanish
- Salt Lake Vocal Artists (2016-2023)
- Theater enthusiast
- International Travel to Europe and South America
References
References available upon request.
Timeline
Teacher
William Penn Elementary School
01.2008 - Current
Assistant Teacher
Meadowlark Elementary School
01.2007 - 10.2007
Director
Private Piano Studio
01.1994 - Current
Masters of Arts - Teaching
Westminster College
Bachelor of Arts - Music, Spanish
University of Utah
Associate of Science -
Salt Lake Community College
Similar Profiles
Whitney McBrideWhitney McBride
President- William Penn Art Booster Organization at William Penn Elementary SchoolPresident- William Penn Art Booster Organization at William Penn Elementary School
BRITTANY KOWALSKIBRITTANY KOWALSKI
4th Grade Teacher at William Penn Elementary4th Grade Teacher at William Penn Elementary
Delilah HassanDelilah Hassan
Student Teacher at William Penn High SchoolStudent Teacher at William Penn High School