Melissa Beetstra
Sharon,USA
Summary
Energetic Spanish Reading Interventionist driven to continuously learn and grow professionally. Understands and implements new technologies and teaching strategies. Excellent at working with different learning styles,with strong focus on fostering collaborative and results-driven classroom environment. Proven ability to adapt to changing needs, ensuring reliable support for both students and colleagues. Skilled in curriculum development, classroom management, and student engagement, with passion for inspiring young learners.
Overview
18
18
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Bilingual Academic Interventionist (current)
Harvard School District 50
12-1900
12.2018 - Current
- In 2019, I joined the District's team as a 3rd-grade English dual-language teacher. Then, in 2022, I switched to the Spanish team for 3rd-grade Dual Language, and I am currently in my third year as a Bilingual Academic Interventionist. In all of my roles, I was responsible for guiding students in their language acquisition, making connections between their two languages to strengthen their understanding and production of both languages. I achieved this through implementation of research-based strategies such as Total Physical Response and Glad, as well as organizational strategies such as AVID, to teach them how to learn successfully in both languages.
3rd Grade Spanish Dual Language Teacher
Beloit School District
Beloit, WI
01.2015 - 01.2019
- I spent my 4 years in Beloit on an Emergency Teaching license as a 3rd-grade Spanish teacher in a dual-language program. Utilizing my knowledge of the Spanish language and my extensive cultural background in Mexican culture to foster connections with my students and their families. My tasks in this district were to provide engaging lessons that focused on students' Oracy in Spanish, WIDA standards, and the integration of Technology into all of our activities. I learned as much as the students in these years and was able to bring myself up to speed with technology in the classroom, which had advanced greatly during my time spent teaching outside of the US.
Kindergarten English Teacher and English Program Coordinator
Instituto Cumbres Oaxaca
Oaxaca, Oax., Mex.
01.2008 - 01.2015
- I spent 8 years living in Oaxaca Mexico with my family and seven of those years working at a Bilingual Catholic Private School that is currently accredited as an International School! I started as an English Kindergarten teacher in a Dual Language program. I worked closely to collaborate with my teaching partner to provide a well-structured learning environment for our young scholars. I also went through my language acquisition experience simultaneously as I was learning the Spanish language so that I could be more successful with communicating at a professional level with peers and the families of my students. I spent the last 2 years in this school as the English Program coordinator for Preschool through High school! Supervising all English language teachers and the content they taught.
Education
Endorsement - Bilingual and ESL
National Louis University
Chicago03-2025
BS - Education, PreK-6th
University of Wisconsin Whitewater
Whitewater, WI01-2003
Skills
- WIDA
- Strong Technology Skills
- Language Acquisition
- Organizational skills
- TPR and Glad Strategies
- Cultural Sensitivity
- Making Connections
- Collaborative teaching
- Problem-solving skills
Certification
- Avid Trained - Summer of 2020
Language
English
Spanish
Timeline
Bilingual Academic Interventionist (current)
Harvard School District 50
12.2018 - Current
3rd Grade Spanish Dual Language Teacher
Beloit School District
01.2015 - 01.2019
Kindergarten English Teacher and English Program Coordinator
Instituto Cumbres Oaxaca
01.2008 - 01.2015
Endorsement - Bilingual and ESL
National Louis University
BS - Education, PreK-6th
University of Wisconsin Whitewater