Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Accomplishments
Software
Certification
Affiliations
Timeline
Generic

Melissa Laing

San Marcos,TX

Summary

Energetic Science Teacher with a positive, team-centered personality and a dedication to life-long learning. Proficient in utilizing various instructional strategies to facilitate higher-level thinking and development. Proven skill in TEKS utilization and IEP implementation. Offering five years of experience in biology, including on-level, honors and AP, as well as two years experience in environmental systems. Polished in providing detailed lessons to help students gain well-rounded scientific education. In-depth knowledge of active learning, cooperative learning and distance learning. Expertise in relationship building.

Overview

11
11
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification

Work History

Substitute Teacher, K-5

San Marcos CISD
San Marcos, TX
09.2023 - Current
  • Provided instruction to students in the absence of a full-time teacher.
  • Monitored student behavior and maintained a safe learning environment.
  • Assisted with classroom management, including disciplining students when necessary.
  • Encouraged students to think critically about their work and ask questions when needed.

Landscape Designer

Gardens By Lisa
San Marcos, TX
02.2023 - Current
  • Visited sites and worked with team members to evaluate locations and propose initial concepts.
  • Followed planned landscaping designs to lay sod, seed grass or plant flowers and foliage.
  • Maintained garden areas and landscaping greenery to enhance property appearance and plant health.
  • Drew designs by hand.

Environmental Systems Teacher

Lockhart ISD
Lockhart, TX
08.2020 - 05.2022
  • Assessed submitted class assignments, determined grades and reviewed work with struggling students to boost success chance.
  • Taught subject matter based on information compiled from EcoRise and other educational materials.
  • Leveraged diverse learning strategies to prepare students for higher-level education requirements.
  • Coordinated and collaborated with other faculty members during lesson plan development.
  • Served as team lead, partnering with team members, building quality curriculum and focused lessons for struggling students.

Biology Teacher

Lockhart High School
Lockhart, TX
08.2017 - 05.2022
  • Trained students with tools to navigate STAAR test and to decipher scientific vocabulary.
  • Established positive and encouraging relationship with students and helped to foster appreciation for biology and science.
  • Developed materials for laboratory activities, homework assignments and handouts to facilitate learning.
  • Adapted teaching methods and instructional strategies to promote learning in students of differing skill levels.

Landscape Designer

Self-employed
San Marcos, United States
03.2013 - 08.2017
  • Collaborated with landscapers to create designs meeting customer needs.
  • Consulted with customers and analyzed locations to develop concepts, highlighted appropriate plant and material choices, as well as proper maintenance practices.
  • Rendered designs with manual methods.

Education

Bachelor of Science - Agriculture Business And Management, Horticulture

Texas State University
San Marcos, TX

Skills

  • Interdisciplinary Teaching
  • Differentiated Instruction
  • Schedule Management
  • Positive Reinforcement
  • Relationship Building

Accomplishments

  • Collaborated with team of four in the development of EcoRise-light bio hybrid program to ready students for true biology.
  • Achieved yearly goal through effectively implementing project-based-learning into environmental systems classes.

Software

Google Apps, PowerPoint, Microsoft Word, Excel

Certification

Life Science 7-12

Affiliations

  • Most importantly, I am a loving and supportive wife and mom to two amazing daughters.
  • I am part care-giver to various 4-legged/hooved/winged creatures, including cats, dogs, chickens, a donkey and a goat, and geese.
  • Since being back in the horticulture world, I have been planting perennial food crops on my property, as well as pollinator-friendly plants for my family to enjoy.

Timeline

Substitute Teacher, K-5

San Marcos CISD
09.2023 - Current

Landscape Designer

Gardens By Lisa
02.2023 - Current

Environmental Systems Teacher

Lockhart ISD
08.2020 - 05.2022

Life Science 7-12

07-2018

Biology Teacher

Lockhart High School
08.2017 - 05.2022

Landscape Designer

Self-employed
03.2013 - 08.2017

Bachelor of Science - Agriculture Business And Management, Horticulture

Texas State University
Melissa Laing