Meredith P. Buckley
Weston,CT
Summary
Compassionate, creative and effective Teacher with valuable experience in classroom administration, professional development and project planning. Equipped with extensive background in versatile education environments. Student-centric instructor, academic facilitator and motivational coach. Competent at performing independently or as member of teaching team. Well-versed in classroom and online technologies.
Overview
29
29
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Teacher Grades 6 - 12
Weston Public Schools
Weston, CT
01.2001 - Current
- Consistently gather, update, and review extensive, current, and accurate informative data about students’ learning styles and needs in order to plan and differentiate lessons and assessments that provide multiple opportunities for students to think critically, analyze and evaluate diverse texts, consider other students’ interpretations and analyses
- Utilize backwards design to plan effective lessons, refine reading and writing units, create formative and summative assessments, and align curriculum with Common Core State Standards and district expectations
- Collaboratively design and continually revise ELA curriculum to provide multiple opportunities for students think and reflect on their learning and to allow students to apply new/evolving thinking to texts and writing tasks
- Communicate instructional objectives and set high expectations by beginning each lesson by reviewing the pre-designed teaching point (a measurable class learning objective) and agenda to foster student engagement and independence
- Develop and utilize student reading and writing models and editing and revising checklists in order to assist and engage students in identifying and practicing qualities of effective reading and writing
- Anticipate student questions or misconceptions during the design and implementation of lessons by breaking down major assessment into steps, thus allowing for a clear and connected delivery of teaching points and a greater ability for students to engage on a more independent level (school and home)
- Create a positive, nurturing, and comfortable learning environment in which students are responsible for all aspects of their learning and seize opportunities to recognize and celebrate student effort and achievements
- Develop and maintain consistent and ongoing communication with home in order to work collaboratively with parents to help students meet success
Writing Center
Weston Middle School
Weston, CT
09.1999 - 01.2001
- Managed and oversaw the use of the middle school Writing Center including scheduling teachers and students for group and individual sessions
- Assisted students either independently or in small groups with the writing process, specifically the drafting, revising and editing process
- Supported students in the Academic Assistance for Language Arts intervention program as well as mainstream regular education classes by working directly with students and assisting teachers to prepare and revise student writing materials
I.E.P. Instructional Paraprofessional for Summer Reading Program
Hurlbutt Elementary School
Weston, CT
07.2000 - 08.2000
- Supported lead teacher and students by working with individual students on IEP summer reading and writing goals
- Implemented and utilized a variety of reading and writing intervention strategies in order to prepare students for the upcoming school year
Advertising Production Coordinator
Party and Paper Retailer Magazine
Norwalk, CT
10.1998 - 09.1999
- Wrote and edited promotional materials for various marketing programs
- Wrote and edited short articles for Party and Paper Retailer Magazine website
- Edited new information and press releases for Party and Paper Retailer Magazine website
Advertising Sales Coordinator
Worth Magazine (Capital Publishing, parent company)
New York City, New York
03.1997 - 10.1998
- Responsible for the positioning of advertisements, editorial content and layout of Worth Magazine and Equity Magazine.
- Acted as a liaison with the outer sales office representatives and the New York office by handling all daily correspondence and updates for advertiser information
- Coordinated special marketing and public relations events for Worth Magazine and Civilization Magazine, including the launch party for the Martin Scorsese guest editor issue.
Education
Master of Arts - Secondary Education, English Grades 7 – 12
Fairfield University Graduate School of Education and Allied Professions
Fairfield, CT05-2002
Bachelor of Arts - English with emphasis in professional and creative writing
The University of North Carolina
Wilmington, North Carolina05-1996
Skills
- Classroom management
- Relationship building
- Critical thinking
- Lesson planning
Certification
- Connecticut State Professional Certification English, Grades 4 - 12
- Connecticut State Professional Certification Library Media Specialist, Grades K-12
ADDITIONAL EXPERIENCE
- Member of the Eighth Grade Student Writing Portfolio pilot program which established writing categories, developed scoring rubric, and assessed Eighth Grade Student Writing Portfolios, 2014 - 2015
- Advisor Weston Middle School Literary Magazine, 2001 - 2013
- Advisor Weston Middle School Writing Club, 2001 – 2013
- Piloted Seventh Grade Student Writing Portfolio, 2012
- Coordinated Grade 7 Community Service Project, 2009 and 2011
- BEST Mentor Teacher, 2007
- TEAM training and certification
- Team Leader grade 6, 2005
- Team Leader grade 8, 2004
Timeline
Teacher Grades 6 - 12
Weston Public Schools
01.2001 - Current
I.E.P. Instructional Paraprofessional for Summer Reading Program
Hurlbutt Elementary School
07.2000 - 08.2000
Writing Center
Weston Middle School
09.1999 - 01.2001
Advertising Production Coordinator
Party and Paper Retailer Magazine
10.1998 - 09.1999
Advertising Sales Coordinator
Worth Magazine (Capital Publishing, parent company)
03.1997 - 10.1998
Bachelor of Arts - English with emphasis in professional and creative writing
The University of North Carolina
Master of Arts - Secondary Education, English Grades 7 – 12
Fairfield University Graduate School of Education and Allied Professions