MELISSA POLANSKY
Alameda
Summary
I am an educational professional with a passion for fostering nurturing and stimulating learning environments. I have expertise in developing and delivering creative lesson plans that promote literacy and language development. I have developed strong team collaboration, adaptability, and a commitment to achieving educational goals through diverse teaching methods. I am an experienced elementary school teacher with 19 years of classroom experiences in multiple countries. I have specialized in teaching English literacy skills in kindergarten and first grade at a private French school in San Francisco, for almost 15 years. I have recently graduated with a master's degree in Educational Leadership. I have strong communication, adaptability and collaborative skills. I am also bilingual and speak English and French. I am passionate about creating bilingual literacy programs and contributing to the growth of my students. I am seeking an opportunity to bring my expertise and dedication to your school.
Overview
16
16
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
First Grade and Kindergarten English Teacher
French American International School
San Francisco
08.2012 - Current
- Develop and implement interactive and engaging lesson plans to enhance students language skills and literacy development.
- Collaborate with the school's French teaching team to develop and implement cross-curricular activities that integrate the English and French learning experiences for kindergarten and first grade students.
- Collaborate with parents to support students' academic and social emotional development.
- Utilize technology and online resources to create virtual learning experiences for first grade students during periods of remote learning.
- Provide feedback and recommendations on the school's English curriculum and instructional materials, based on current research and best practices in literacy development.
- Lead the design and implementation of a comprehensive literacy program for first grade students, incorporating a wide range of instructional strategies and resources to meet the diverse learning needs of students.
- Implement inclusive teaching practices to ensure that students of all abilities feel supported and included in the classroom environment.
Teacher
EtonHouse International I IB World School
Wuxi, China
08.2010 - 06.2012
- Designed and implemented engaging lesson plans aligned with IB curriculum standards.
- Fostered inclusive classroom environments promoting student collaboration and critical thinking.
- Assessed student performance using formative and summative evaluations to guide instructional strategies.
- Integrated technology tools to enhance learning experiences and improve student engagement.
- Developed strong relationships with students, parents, and colleagues by maintaining open lines of communication and fostering a supportive learning environment.
- Analyzed educational outcomes to identify areas for improvement, driving academic excellence within the school community.
- Collaborated with parents and community stakeholders to support student learning and wellbeing initiatives.
Education
Graduate Degree - Educational Leadership
California State University-East Bay
Hayward, CA05-2025
Completed Program - Making Learning Visible
Harvard University
12-2018
Professional Development - Literacy
Columbia University
New York City08-2015
Bachelor's Degree - Early Childhood and Elementary Education
Concordia University
Montreal, Canada06-2007
Skills
- Educational Leadership
- Bilingual Literacy Programs
- Inclusive Teaching Practices
- Virtual Learning
- Instructional Strategies
- Literacy Development
- Phonics instruction
- Sensory activities
- Patience and empathy
- Parent-teacher collaboration
- Positive reinforcement
- Student engagement
- Vocabulary building
- Interactive learning
- Writing instruction
- Reading comprehension
- Oral language development
- Field trip planning
- Early literacy development
- First aid and CPR
- Assessment techniques
- Hands-on activities
- Classroom management
Certification
JAN, 2023 - MAY, 2025
Graduate Degree: Educational Leadership, California State University-East Bay, Hayward, CA
SEP, 2003 - JUN, 2007
Bachelor's Degree: Specialization in Early Childhood and Elementary Education, Concordia University Montreal, Montreal, Canada
I graduated with distinction and achieved a Canadian teaching license, credentialed in early childhood and elementary education.
SEP, 2017 - DEC, 2018
Completed Program: Making Learning Visible, Harvard University, Online Course
AUG, 2015 - AUG, 2015
Professional Development in Literacy , Columbia University: The Teachers College Reading and Writing Project, New York City
Languages
French
Full Professional
English
Native or Bilingual
Timeline
First Grade and Kindergarten English Teacher
French American International School
08.2012 - Current
Teacher
EtonHouse International I IB World School
08.2010 - 06.2012
Completed Program - Making Learning Visible
Harvard University
Professional Development - Literacy
Columbia University
Bachelor's Degree - Early Childhood and Elementary Education
Concordia University
Graduate Degree - Educational Leadership
California State University-East Bay