Melissa Padilla
Chicago,IL
Summary
Licensed Early Childhood Educator passionate about teaching and supporting young learners for life-long success. Proven to quickly develop rapport with children through a friendly approach, patient demeanor, and compassion. Highly motivated to guide children to develop socially, emotionally, academically, and creatively while fostering well-being and independence.
Overview
27
27
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Prekindergarten Teacher - Blended Classroom
South Loop Elementary School
2023.08 - Current
- Improved student engagement by incorporating hands-on activities and multimodal lessons
- Created a safe and nurturing classroom environment that promoted emotional well-being and academic growth for all students
- Actively participated in professional development workshops to stay current on educational trends and improve teaching techniques
- Developed strong relationships with students, parents, and colleagues by maintaining open lines of communication and fostering a supportive learning environment
PreK Teacher Assistant - Blended Classroom
Durkin Park Elementary
2023.04 - 2023.08
- Cultivated student curiosity through open-ended questioning and modeled wondering
- Collected observational and small group data for 20 students daily using TSG
- Differentiated lessons to support diverse learners to meet their individual needs
- Collaborated with teachers for lesson preparation by preparing materials and setting up classroom
Student Teaching - Blended Classroom
Edwards Center For Young Learners
2022.10 - 2023.03
- Applied positive behavior management aligned to Second Step to enhance social interactions and emotional development
- Provided differentiated instruction to support general education and diverse learners based on TSG checkpoint data and observational data
- Developed a week Friendship Study that addressed themes of empathy, kindness, forgiveness, and sharing
- Created a two-week Author Study on Ezra Jack Keats to develop diverse cultural awareness and social-emotional learning themes
- Collaborated on the development of a four-week Space Unit Plan aligned to broaden students' worldly perspective and cultivate curiosity
PreK Teacher Assistant - Gen. Ed. Classroom
Alexander Graham Elementary
2019.09 - 2022.10
- Fostered an emotionally secure environment for student development and learning through a positive approach and social-emotional practices
- Established, maintained, and monitored all online student accounts during remote learning
- Created Bitmoji Classrooms to enhance learning and provide an interactive experience during remote learning
- Worked with lead teacher to design lesson plans and coordinate activities for classes; consistently noting successful ideas and identifying areas for improvement
Teacher Assistant
Maria Saucedo Scholastic Academy
2021.07 - 2022.08
- Kick off to Kindergarten for two consecutive years
- Collaborated with teacher to assist lesson and curriculum planning efforts
- Provided one-on-one and group-based learning support to maintain student progress and development
Child Care Provider
Old St. Patrick's Church
1997.06 - 2020.03
- Supervised staff and volunteers to ensure the safety of children aged infant to five-years-old
- Fostered strong family relationships with one-to-one communication
- Implemented developmentally appropriate activities
- Maintained necessary Virtus training required by the Archdiocese of Chicago
Assistant Manager
Ceres Food Group
2013.09 - 2019.08
- Food preparation for daily lunch service of approx. 500 students and staff
- Worked closely with manager to ensure timely purchase orders and maintenance of inventory
- Daily communication with the cook and staff to ensure quality control and waste management
- Maintained production records and temperature logs following HACCAP guidelines for food safety
Education
Bachelor of Arts - Early Childhood Education
National Louis University
Chicago, ILSkills
- Teaching Strategies Gold
- Creative Curriculum
- Second Step & Calm Classroom
- Remote teaching
- Google Classroom
- Lesson plan development
- Interactive media
- Trauma informed
Certification
Professional Educator License
IEIN: 1251211
Timeline
Prekindergarten Teacher - Blended Classroom
South Loop Elementary School
2023.08 - Current
PreK Teacher Assistant - Blended Classroom
Durkin Park Elementary
2023.04 - 2023.08
Student Teaching - Blended Classroom
Edwards Center For Young Learners
2022.10 - 2023.03
Teacher Assistant
Maria Saucedo Scholastic Academy
2021.07 - 2022.08
PreK Teacher Assistant - Gen. Ed. Classroom
Alexander Graham Elementary
2019.09 - 2022.10
Assistant Manager
Ceres Food Group
2013.09 - 2019.08
Child Care Provider
Old St. Patrick's Church
1997.06 - 2020.03
Bachelor of Arts - Early Childhood Education
National Louis University
Professional Educator License
IEIN: 1251211
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