Michelle Demko Borselle
Berlin,CT
Summary
Experienced educational leader with a strong background in special education, instructional leadershp and curriculum development. Proven track record in program development and student achievement across diverse learning environments. Committed to fostering equity and collaboration among faculty to support student growth and school improvement.
Overview
24
24
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
NEASC Chair
AI Prince Technical High School
10.2023 - Current
- Ensured the self-reflection paper aligns with the NEASC process & building vision & mission
- Acted as central communication liaison among NEASC, the building, and the district to ensure alignment and clarity in objectives
- Maintained professional, "critical friend" tone throughout process to foster accountability while supporting school improvement
Department Head of Special Education
AI Prince Technical High School
10.2023 - Current
- Champions an inclusive learning environment by auditing curriculum for cultural relevance and leading professional development on equitable instruction
- Oversees academic progress and support for 170 students, ensuring tailored interventions to meet diverse learning needs
- Manages and evaluates a diverse team of staff, fostering professional growth and collaboration
- Develops, revises and implements policies and procedures that enhance family, student, and staff engagement in the PPT process
- Encourages and monitors positive communication with staff, students, & families to encourage student achievement
- Plans and leads department meetings and professional development sessions
- Streamlined intervention programs resulting in improved student achievement metrics across all tiers.
- Manages the department budget and resource allocation
- Chairs all PPT meetings
- Monitors data for special education students, identified trends, and developed targeted supports to improve student achievement
- Collaborates with outside agencies, including DCF, BRS, and wraparound services, to support students.
- Collaborates with district attorneys and administration to address legal matters
- Title IX Building Support
- SSD Coordinator
- Provides feedback to teachers and staff to help improve their practices
District Wide Curriculum Specialist/Instructional Coach
Wethersfield Public Schools
01.2019 - 10.2023
- Elementary Instructional Coach
- District Curriculum Coordinator of Math & Science
- District Grade Level Facilitator
- Led implementation of math workshop and new math resource, supporting effective math instruction across the district.
- Finalized Elementary Science Curriculum, ensuring alignment to NGSS, ease of implementation, rigor, differentiation, and consistent science experience for all K-6 students.
- Developed comprehensive knowledge of district curriculum, philosophies, programs, resources, and stakeholders to inform instructional decisions.
- Successful communicator and teammate with the ability to work closely with all stakeholders to make decisions and recommendations to best support the students of Wethersfield
- Building Curriculum Technology Lead
- District & Building Assessment Coordinator
- Collaborated with district leaders to develop assessment and pacing guides, improving district communication and instructional clarity.
- Worked closely with district leaders to implement a comprehension SEL program including assessment system to help support students and the development of their social-emotional skills
- Assisted staff in utilizing educational software and programs to maintain fidelity in implementation.
Principal Designee
Wethersfield Public Schools
01.2016 - 10.2022
- Executed all duties of the building principal during the principal's absence.
- Collaborated with school leaders to address and meet diverse student needs
- Designed professional development experiences to encourage Courageous Conversations about important topics, including Equity, Science of Reading, Restorative Practices, and Engagement
- Developed and implemented a systematic collaboration framework for staff, enhancing consistency and effectiveness in professional conversations and development
- Created policies and procedures to manage safety and security situations, ensuring a safe environment for students and staff
- Developed, revised and implemented plans for improved security in the building
- Collaborated with community agencies to coordinate security and safety systems with local authorities.
- Followed all health-related protocols including communication to ensure that all stakeholders were safe
- Worked with office staff to ensure that all daily staff vacancies were filled in a manner that has the least impact on student learning.
- Coordinated PPT and 504 meetings to ensure compliance with educational requirements
Reading Consultant
Wethersfield Public Schools
01.2016 - 01.2019
- Elementary Reading Consultant in an urban, neighborhood school with a changing demographic of students from a variety of cultures speaking over 25 different languages leading a team with the primary focus of ensuring that all students were able to grow at an appropriate rate based on their academic and social needs
- Managed team of tutors to provide Tier I small group support, ensuring all students received quality intervention services
- Provides feedback and instructional coaching to teachers, paraprofessionals, and tutors
- Professionally developed and supported teachers in the implementation of targeted small groups at the building and district level
- Collaborated with building leadership team to create an optimized schedule for resource utilization, enhancing support for all students
- Collaborated with the RSVP Volunteer Program to bring 14 literacy volunteers into Charles Wright Elementary School on a weekly basis
- Worked with district instructional leaders to provide high quality, systematic professional development to ensure fidelity of instruction across the district
- Led the district implementation of F & P BAS including professional development for all leaders, teachers, and tutors
- Led district initiatives for Teacher College Phonics UOS and DIBELS assessment
- Developed and implemented systematic process for delivering, monitoring, and assessing SBRI practices in reading and math
School-based SRBI Coordinator
Hamden Public Schools
08.2014 - 08.2016
- Elementary SRBI Coordinator in an urban, neighborhood school with a history of low performance coordinating the intervention program developed around best instructional practice and methods of intervention implemented by a team of classroom teachers, literacy and math specialists, and fourteen tutors to meet the needs of students in all tiers
- Helen Street students showed significantly higher increases in student achievement than had been experienced in the years prior
- Facilitated decision-making within Helen Street Crisis and Leadership Team, enhancing collaborative strategies for student success
- Managed a team of 14 tutors to implement focused, data driven interventions that had a large impact on student achievement across the building
- Wrote & implemented Standard Treatment Protocols to help streamline the SRBI process across district
- Collaborated with the Department of Education to share systems and strategies to manage and develop a strong SRBI process
- Developed intervention practices in Grades K-3, ensuring students achieved grade-level reading proficiency by 3rd grade
- Determined the best strategies and schedule to meet the needs of all stakeholders for a successful intervention program
- Coordinated and facilitated the MAP and SBAC assessments for all students
- Case manager for over 95 students in the SRBI process including behavior, speech and occupational therapy
- Monitored K-6 data to provide targeted supports, ensuring all students received appropriate interventions
- Constantly developed criteria, procedures, and protocols for improving all aspects of the SRBI process
- Worked closely with district directors and the SRBI team to ensure that many aspects of the programming are consistent across schools
- Member of the CAS Leadership Development Program
- Trained in and implemented Restorative Practices
- Wrote and implemented Behavior Intervention Plans
High School Literacy Specialist
Hamden Public Schools
01.2012 - 01.2014
- Building Literacy Specialist in a diverse high school serving over 1800 students with various academic needs constantly developed and lead the building in a literacy initiative including literacy supports, school wide assessment, and professional development
- Developed, implemented and managed a Literacy program at the secondary level serving over 175 students per year ensuring that each one is motivated to develop the literacy skills necessary for college and career readiness
- Led school-wide literacy initiative, developing year-long professional development series with 12 teacher leaders across departments and administering beginning and end of year assessments to inform instruction; managed budget for initiative
- Hamden High School led the district in the number of students who made the most growth in Literacy on the NWEA MAP assessment in 2015/16 school-year
- Coached and developed 12 Literacy Team members, delivering rigorous research-based instruction in small group settings to enhance student literacy outcomes
- Implemented Columbia Writer’s Workshop successfully at the high school level after recognizing a need for stronger writing instruction
- Developed and implemented 'Critical Thinking and Composition,' a double credit English course integrating best literacy practices with English curriculum to enhance student literacy skills for college and career readiness
- Active member of the K-12 Literacy Team supporting literacy development of all students PreK-12
- Collaborated to develop and implement a plan for SRBI in grades 7-12
- Led the implementation of Professional Learning Communities at the Freshmen level with a focus on data driven decision making and best practices for instruction
- Led the restructuring of the program to support 9th grade students with IEPs to include better use of staffing and incorporation of best practice to meet students needs effectively
- Actively participated in the development of the 7-12 Language Arts Skill Scope & Sequence to assure alignment with the Common Core Standards
- Highly involved in NEASC and member of the NEASC steering committee
- Supported the development and finalization of school-wide rubrics
- Wrote and was awarded a grant for Chromebooks in the Literacy Program
Instructional Team Leader 3rd -5th
Consolidated School District of New Britain
08.2008 - 08.2012
- Led grade level instructional teams to develop and implement CFAs aligned with school-wide instructional goals, utilizing skills from CALI training and professional development funded by the SIG grant.
- Collaborated with the School Improvement Team to create and execute the SIP, ensuring alignment with the DIP.
Special Education Teacher 6th-8th
Consolidated School District of New Britain
08.2002 - 08.2008
- Created and implemented self-contained program for students with emotional disturbance, intellectual disabilities, down syndrome, and physical disabilities using research-based methods to address diverse learning needs
- Developed Autism program focusing on enhancing communication skills, social-emotional development, and physical skills in collaboration with pupil service staff to support student growth
- Coordinated paraprofessional schedule for over 1000 students and 100 staff, optimizing support staff allocation to effectively meet needs of students with IEPs
Education
Educational Leadership -
Sacred Heart University
01.2016
Sixth Year Reading & Language Arts -
Central CT State University
01.2012
Master of Educational Leadership -
Central CT State University
12-2001
Bachelor of Arts - Psychology, Elementary/Special Education
Marist University
01.2000
Skills
- Building Leadership
- Instructional Coaching & Leadership
- Equity & Diversity
- Staff Recruitment, Retention & Development
- Restorative Practices
- Special Education Policy & Compliance
- Instructional Technology
- Curriculum Development
- CT Teacher in Residency
- Teacher Leader Development
- MTSS
- Accreditation
- IEP Development
- Programming & Scheduling
- Family & Community Partnerships
- Budgeting & Resource Allocation
- Assessment Coordination
Certification
State of Connecticut Intermediate Administration or Supervision (092)
K-12
State of Connecticut Reading & Language Arts Consultant (097)
1-12
State of Connecticut Remedial Reading & Language Arts (102)
1-12
State of Connecticut Comprehension Special Education (165)
K-12
State of Connecticut Elementary Education (005)
1-6
K-12
State of Connecticut Reading & Language Arts Consultant (097)
1-12
State of Connecticut Remedial Reading & Language Arts (102)
1-12
State of Connecticut Comprehension Special Education (165)
K-12
State of Connecticut Elementary Education (005)
1-6
District Committees
- CTECHS Special Education Leadership Team
- Prince Tech Leadership Team
- WPS Coaching for Equity Leadership Team
- WPS Equity Committee
- WPS Math Curriculum Committee
- WPS Curriculum Leadership Team
- WPS Assessment Committee
- WPS Curriculum Team
- HPS District Professional Development Committee
- HPS District Curriculum Review Committee
- HPS District SRBI Committee/ Secondary Subcommittee
Timeline
NEASC Chair
AI Prince Technical High School
10.2023 - Current
Department Head of Special Education
AI Prince Technical High School
10.2023 - Current
District Wide Curriculum Specialist/Instructional Coach
Wethersfield Public Schools
01.2019 - 10.2023
Principal Designee
Wethersfield Public Schools
01.2016 - 10.2022
Reading Consultant
Wethersfield Public Schools
01.2016 - 01.2019
School-based SRBI Coordinator
Hamden Public Schools
08.2014 - 08.2016
High School Literacy Specialist
Hamden Public Schools
01.2012 - 01.2014
Instructional Team Leader 3rd -5th
Consolidated School District of New Britain
08.2008 - 08.2012
Special Education Teacher 6th-8th
Consolidated School District of New Britain
08.2002 - 08.2008
Educational Leadership -
Sacred Heart University
Sixth Year Reading & Language Arts -
Central CT State University
Master of Educational Leadership -
Central CT State University
Bachelor of Arts - Psychology, Elementary/Special Education
Marist University