Michelle Suzanne Simpson
Ottawa University
Surprise,USA
1
Certification
6
years of professional experience
Professional leader with significant expertise in governance, strategic planning, and stakeholder engagement. Proven ability to drive organizational success through collaboration, adaptability, and effective decision-making. Strong skills in conflict resolution, and program oversight. Known for integrity, innovation, and results-oriented approach. Knowledgeable academic with strategic vision and history of steering organizations toward growth. Led initiatives that enhanced operational efficiencies and fostered culture of accountability. Demonstrated capability in team leadership and stakeholder engagement.
Work History
Division Chair, Education
7 Months- Communicating and reporting directly to the Dean of the School of Education.
- Supporting and engaging in all aspects of the School of Education Program initiatives.
- Participating in program level accreditation: Successfully completed the Kansas Department of Education (KSDE) Elementary Education Reaccreditation Application (2026) that included written supportive evidence of Program course alignment to standards and rationale narratives. Created and completed the OU School of Education Program restructuring to meet KSDE Standards to include assessment rubrics and alignment narratives. A sample of the restructured courses include:
- Elementary Reading/Literacy courses to reflect Science of Reading components.
- Elementary Mathematics Methods course to support the Science of Mathematics components.
- Elementary Language Arts and Social Studies Methods course to meet the KSDE standards for vocabulary and concepts.
- Note: The KSDE Accreditation Process led to creating more opportunities for student instructional practice and immediate evaluation in the OU classroom. Newly created Standard-aligned rubrics identify skill and content-specific strengths and challenges to provide immediate feedback and corrective practice sessions for the novice student teacher.
- Facilitating effective, timely communication within the division faculty and OU administrative staff.
- Ensuring program faculty are regularly engaged in maintaining curriculum quality and currency.
- Engaging in formal and informal faculty observations and faculty reviews.
- Participating in hiring full-time and adjunct faculty members for the division.
- Mentoring new and continuing adjuncts.
- Onboarding and mentoring of new OU-wide faculty members (coordinate with School Deans).
- Managing teaching assignments to fulfill faculty load.
- Ensuring completion of program level assessment.
- Managing department budgets.
- Managing program level student academic transfer of credit, course substitutions, and exceptions.
- Responding to student concerns (complaints, academic dishonesty, academic probation, and dismissal).
- Coordinating with academic advising.
- Ensuring currency of Ottawa materials for program(s) in the division.
Department Chair, Elementary Education
7 Months- Advising students/staff on program specific details.
- Ensuring resources are available to students for professional opportunities.
- Acting as a resource to students for professional opportunities (ex. Networking).
- Acting as a resource to education graduates, providing support resources, and mentoring for teaching in their classrooms.
- Building the program
- Managing program specific curriculum (i.e., program outcomes, course content, syllabi).
- Updating program information in the Catalog and on the website.
- Participating in program review, assessment, and accreditation processes.
- Approving course equivalencies and course substitutions.
- Promoting the OU School of Education Program to various internal and external stakeholders.
- Through a partnership with the City of Surprise Community Outreach and Grants Manager, we successfully secured an ongoing bi-annual scholarship for education students struggling with financial difficulties with the Friends of the Surprise Libraries. To date, we have raised $40,000 in total funds. Students regularly volunteer at Friends to support literacy in the community and area schools.
- Coaching the faculty
- Communicating regularly with all program faculty.
- Guiding professional development for faculty teaching in the program and OU-wide faculty.
- Actively supporting teaching assignments.
- Working with faculty to improve the curriculum and pedagogical practices.
OUAZ Spirit-Link (Mentor)
1 Year 7 Months- Facilitated a group of seven students to meet with throughout the year.
- On move-in day, met with students and their parents to introduce the program, have introductions and team-building conversations.
- Throughout the year, met as a whole group at the local café, in classrooms to discuss courses and college life, and in the cafeteria for lunch and dinner.
- Met individually to converse about academic struggles in class (finding tutors), role-model making new friends and filling out applications for student clubs. Note: The program met with success as retention rates went up (at least two percent with more data being analyzed at this time).
- Developed positive relationships with incoming students while making them more comfortable in their new campus community
- Collected data on student meetings, dispositions and helped identify program strengths/weaknesses at monthly meetings.
Special Project Program Development: Grow Our Own Cohort Hybrid Teacher Education Program
4 Years 5 Months- Created and facilitated the elementary education teacher education program for adult non-certified professionals working in area school districts to increase area community public education teacher pool and promote higher education in the cohort members’ communities.
- Co-created and developed a hybrid adult education program
- Maintained commitment, communication, transparency, and rigor, with all stakeholders.
- Presented program invitations to the Greater Phoenix Education Management Council (60+ Phoenix Superintendents), Arizona Head Start Board of Directors and area community district stakeholders.
- Presented program invitations to two area school district administrators and non-certified staff (future cohort participants) at district onsite facilities.
- Facilitated Enrollment/Financial Aid Days and ongoing communication with district administration.
- Created and delivered weekly on-ground/online instruction with mid-week virtual advisement sessions.
- Provided adjustment of lesson design and delivery (intervention and enrichment instructional strategies) to differentiate and meet individual adult student needs.
- Increased area public elementary school teacher pool
- Ongoing) Worked with President of the Arizona Association of Latino Administrators for scholarships, consultation, and future projects.
Ottawa Supervisor for Arizona Student Teacher Candidates
4 Years 7 Months- Continuing to nurture the Professor/Mentor and student relationship of trust and support as students step into their clinical practicums for the first time.
- Providing introductory and weekly whole group and individual student teacher meetings to share program components, set expectations, establish timelines, and answer questions. Topics include:
- Introduction of the OU Student Teacher Handbook
- Revisit the OU Lesson Plan Template and Learning Objective components.
- Practice resources and strategies for state teacher accreditation tests.
- Evaluation conversations
- The Interview Process and Dress for Success strategies
- Professionalism and Ethics (Presenting Positive Dispositions)
- Finding a work/life balance and Wellness (Reducing Stress Strategies)
- Providing introductory and ongoing whole group and individual mentor meetings to share the importance of a mentor and their duties, program components, discuss evaluations and answer questions.
- Advocating for the student teacher with their mentor, their building administration and/or school district
- Be an active resource for instructional and pedagogical support.
- Observe and evaluate student teacher candidates during their clinical experience, providing immediate, specific feedback to encourage and positively grow the future educator. Note: We have researched and developed specific skill rubrics to accompany the clinical observation evaluations to support the student teacher with follow-up strategies to expand their skill levels.
- Effectively communicate and professional development (if needed) with the mentor and provide support while monitoring the progress of the candidate.
Assistant Professor
4 Years 7 Months- Daily classroom conversations include sharing vast educational experiences to instill professionalism and a code of ethics to further prepare students for education profession expectations. Example: Addressing dispositions such as the importance of proper attendance, respecting assignment due dates, dress code, how to effectively communicate with students, parents, staff, and the community, how to manage collaborative work experiences, classroom management and maintaining a work/life balance and wellness program.
- Providing real-world applications, scenarios, and case studies to develop critical thinking skills and strategies for modifying and adapting instruction.
- Developing and modeling a safe, inclusive, learning space, to value all voices and questioning in a cohort-like modality.
- Developing and delivering instruction to establish core concepts and instructional best practice.
- Instruction and classroom activities include:
- Student-centered balanced with teacher-centered activities
- Collaborative projects and learning activities in a Professional Learning Community (PLC) modality. Students learn and practice respectful listening and speaking skills.
- Use of elementary hands-on manipulatives for understanding, modeling, and instructional practice. For example, students used base ten blocks to practice number sense instruction.
- Providing space for weekly/bi-weekly YouTeach mini lesson opportunities to develop the future educator skill and confidence that also creates a pathway to mastery of the daily course content. Presentation assignments are paired with Standard-aligned rubrics for evaluation from peers and instructors.
- Student-led data collection, analysis, and instructional planning (interventions and lesson plans)
- Instruction may be on-ground, virtual and asynchronous learning modalities.
- Metacognitive thinking strategies to take ownership of their learning.
- Research, Reflect and Share activities to investigate early childhood concepts, theorists, and theories.
- Guest speakers and field trips relating to course content and support of course objectives.
- Providing for whole group and individual classroom observations in the field to reflect course content and skill building.
- Developing multiple varieties of assignments/assessments including Project-based, collaborative, inquiry, modality choice, presentations in person and/or recorded and written essays
- Cumulative Project-based Assessments with presentations (Note: Education students take part in the Bi-annual OU Student Symposium, sharing their final projects with the attending community and campus population)
- Note: Have taught all but two courses of OU Elementary Education Program and most of the Early Childhood program.
- Updating/redesigning course syllabi and instructional activities to reflect course objectives and standards for all OU education courses.
- Blackboard Ultra shell design with online/on-ground instruction and hands-on elementary manipulatives.
- Advising OUAZ student population on academic and career pathways.
- Developing and advising student-led Future Educators Club. Activities include:
- Guest speakers in the field of Education
- State accreditation consulting.
- Peer reviews
- Study hall with small group learning and discussion opportunities.
- OUAZ education degree information at enrollment events
- Community service
- Guest speakers relating to course content/objectives.
- Field trips to area schools and education stores
- Field trips (Surprise Library/Friends of the Surprise Library) relating to course content and providing opportunities to apply new skills. This activity also provides opportunities for networking as several of the library volunteers are retired educators.
OUAZ Personal Growth Day (PGD) Presenter
4 Years 7 Months- Volunteered to teach the following sessions at various times during the last four years. Session titles include
- Expressive Art Therapy
- Essential Art Expressions.
- Students were able to experience several basic art modalities while expressing emotions and relieving stress through creativity in a safe, calm environment.
General Education Professor
5 Years 7 Months- Facilitating instruction for general education students in the following courses:
- Art Appreciation: Redesigning course syllabus and instructional activities to reflect course objectives. Activities include:
- Student collaboration for discussion, projects, lesson planning, and instruction. Students practice respectful listening and speaking skills.
- Individual student presentations and critique (formal and informal).
- Use of instructional manipulatives for understanding, modeling, and instructional practice. For example, students create pencil, pen and ink, acrylic/pastel paintings, multi-media, and sculptures (wire, clay, collage, and paper) during the course which are reflective of the content for multi-media forms of creative expression.
- Guest speakers (Artists) relating to course content/objectives.
- Field trip to the West Valley Art Gallery relating to course content and providing opportunities to discuss and apply new skills in art appreciation. Partnered with Guest Artist lectures with question/answer sessions.
- Choice of assignment and assessment options to establish academic understanding and engagement. For example, utilizing rubrics, students draft essays, artist studies, or present project-based art (video, painting, collage, etc.) reflective of the course assignments and their new knowledge.
- College Writing in the Disciplines: Fulfilling course objectives and creating instructional activities to reflect those objectives. Activities include:
- Metacognitive thinking strategies to take ownership of individual student learning.
- Adjustment of lesson design and delivery (intervention and enrichment instructional strategies) to differentiate and meet individual student needs.
- Student collaboration for discussion, projects, and writing exercises.
- Implement opportunities for students to practice respectful listening and speaking skills.
- Choice of assignment and assessment options to establish academic understandings reflective of the course assignment and their new knowledge.
- Individual student presentations and critique opportunities (formal/informal and peer).
- See a full list of Education and General Education courses attached.
Course Reconstruction Project
3 Months- Met with OU enrollment teams, advising, and counseling staff.
- Gained a consensus and developed a new course structure complete with content resources, assignments, assessments, and accompanying rubrics.
- Piloted the course in the fall of 2025 with two staff members.
- Set up opportunities for new staff to observe classroom and instructional practice.
- Discussed and utilized instructional strategies and created opportunities for student-centered activities through collaborative research, presentations, and written assignments.
- Prepared students for on-line and hybrid courses through practice utilizing discussion boards starting with a sticky-note walk through and progressed to weekly initial posts with two peer responses using course content.
- Introduced students to staff and campus resources with guest speakers (School Counselor and Dean of Students) and scavenger hunts.
- Supplied a course survey, where students remarked on how much they had learned about higher education and how they felt better prepared by taking the course. Note: The school counselor later shared her counseling schedule was completely booked by students reaching out for support.
Executive Master’s in Business Administration Program (EMBA) Acting Dean
2 Years- Managed and directed all aspects of the program components while meeting the students, faculty, and staff needs for program success.
- Served as a resource for visiting students and staff during weekend sessions.
- Engaged faculty through program preparation with on and off-site meetings.
- Provided instructional and program feedback with faculty evaluations and checklist procedures.
- Engaged staff by seeking input and developing new efficient processes/procedures for IT, custodial and food service during EMBA weekends.
- Managed multi-media support for delivery of instruction for multiple off-site venues
Education
No Degree
- Arizona Certification requirements
- GPA: 4.0/4.0
Leadership Academy, Millard Public School District
Master of Science - Education
GPA: 4.0/4.0
Bachelor of Science - Education
- Endorsement: Political Science
- GPA: 3.38/4.0
Skills
Excellent communication
Education expertise
Adaptable and flexible
Problem-solving abilities
Relationship and team building
Multitasking Abilities
Reliability
Attention to detail and Organizational skills
Meeting facilitation
Staff development
Delegation and Innovation encouragement
Innovative and visionary
Employee motivation and performance
Stakeholder management
Annual planning
Business administration
Raising scholarships
New program development
Board collaboration
Approachable leader
Project oversight
Analytical and critical thinker
Systems organization
Coaching and people development
Operations management
analysis
and improvement
Regulatory and accreditation compliance
Change and growth management
Time management
Accomplishments
- Developed course plans aimed at meeting academic, intellectual and social needs of each student.
- Redesigned and/or created 12+ new courses for the Ottawa University (OU) Education program.
- Redesigned new course for OU General Education program to update in improve incoming freshmen understanding and acclimation to the higher education environment.
- Achieved 99%+/- hiring rate for OU Elementary and Secondary Graduating Students.
- Led OU Faculty in the development of new reading courses to meet state requirements.
- Achieved the formation of the Fowler/Cartwright Grow Your Own Teacher Education Cohort for urban Hispanic population.
- Achieved OU State Education Accreditation by completing the Kansas Department of Education Accreditation Application with accuracy and efficiency. Task included creating new course Syllabi to reflect state content/skill requirements, assignments with rubrics with evidence-based alignment charts and reflective narratives.
- Documented and resolved student appeals which led to positive and equitable results for students and faculty.
- Realigned and created clinical practicum (student teaching) evaluations and secondary feedback steps.
- As Acting Dean, led the OU Executive Master's in Business Administration Program (EMBA) for two years on the OUAZ campus.
- Created new mentor course content and delivery for clinical practicum (student teaching).
- Supervised team of OU Education staff members while creating new processes for Education Program processes and courses.
Affiliations
- National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC)
- Alpha Chi National College Honor Society
- Reading Recovery Association
- International Reading Association
Certification
- Arizona
- Indiana
- Massachusetts
- Missouri
- Nebraska
Interests
Avid Reader
Exploring famous landmarks
historical sites
and cultural attractions in a new destination.
Volunteering for community initiatives to give back to local communities and make a positive impact.
Backpacking and Hiking
Experimenting with different creative mediums
like watercolor
pen
and ink
to expand skills and techniques.
Fundraising Events
High-Intensity Interval Training
Cooking
Yoga
Timeline
Division Chair, Education
Ottawa University
01.2026 - CurrentRead More
Department Chair, Elementary Education
Ottawa University
01.2026 - CurrentRead More
Course Reconstruction Project
Ottawa University
06.2025 - 09.2025Read More
OUAZ Spirit-Link (Mentor)
Ottawa University
01.2025 - CurrentRead More
Special Project Program Development: Grow Our Own Cohort Hybrid Teacher Education Program
Ottawa University
03.2022 - CurrentRead More
Ottawa Supervisor for Arizona Student Teacher Candidates
Ottawa University
01.2022 - CurrentRead More
Assistant Professor
Ottawa University, Surprise Campus
01.2022 - CurrentRead More
OUAZ Personal Growth Day (PGD) Presenter
Ottawa University
01.2022 - CurrentRead More
Executive Master’s in Business Administration Program (EMBA) Acting Dean
Ottawa University
01.2022 - 01.2024Read More
General Education Professor
Ottawa University
01.2021 - CurrentRead More
Peru State College
Master of Science from Education
Read More
University of Nebraska Omaha
Read More
Ottawa University
No Degree
Read More
Indiana University
Bachelor of Science from Education
Read More
Academic Appointments
- Higher Learning Commission (HLC) OU Steering Committee: December 2025 to Present
- See Assessment Advisory Council information below:
- Assessment Advisory Council: December 2025 to Present
- Assessment Lead for School of Education and Sports Leadership: Presented to faculty on numerous opportunities for assessment and data collection methods and opportunities. Mentored and supported faculty through identifying, collecting, and reporting processes.
- General Education Committee: 2022 to Present
- Committee reviewed, discussed, and voted on additions/revisions to OU course work curriculum and requirements.
- Student Review Team Member: 2022 to Present
- As Chair of a Student Review Team, responsibilities include:
- Contacting and informing team members of the dispute and resolution process
- Collecting information and evidence for the decision-making process
- Communicating with the Provost or faculty member to gather additional information if necessary
- Creating a space for consensus and agreement as to the result of the student dispute
- School of Education and Sports Leadership Faculty Representative to the Board of Trustees: 2024 to 2025
- Rotating position attends all trustee meetings and is available to respond to questions and trustee inquiries.
- Hiring Committee Chair: 2023-2024
- Lead of search committee to hire English Professor for the OU Surprise Campus.
- Correlated initial candidates for interview process.
- Provided interviewing team with questions and encouraged team participation.
- Facilitated hiring interviews.
- Built consensus of hiring by analyzing responses from candidates and hiring team.
- Faculty Mentor: 2022 to Present:
- Partnering with Dr. Patricia Marsh, responsibilities include the following:
- Welcoming incoming staff to the OUAZ campus
- Providing campus tours
- Providing Blackboard training
- Professional development and pedagogical conversations to improve instruction and widen instructional “toolboxes.”
- Ongoing availability for question/answer opportunities
- Sending reminders for important academic calendars and due dates
- Facilitating connections to vital campus and university-wide resources
- Encouraging and supporting acclimation to the campus and Arizona way of life
Service Presentations
- OU Grow Our Own Cohort Program Introduction (2021-2022): Presenting program invitations to Greater Phoenix Education Management Council- 60+ Superintendents from the West Valley.
- OU Grow Our Own Cohort Program Introduction (2021-2022): Presenting program invitations to Arizona Head Start Board of Directors and area community stakeholders.
- OU Grow Our Own Cohort Program Invitation (2021-2022): Presenting public school district needs-specific program invitations to administration and non-certified staff (cohort participants) at area community public school district onsite facilities.
- Friends of the Surprise Libraries Volunteer Luncheon (2022-2024) Presenting the one of the annual OUAZ student educator recipient of the Friends of the Surprise Libraries Scholarship to the Friends’ volunteers.
- Friends of the Surprise Libraries Bookmark Awards Presentation: (2022-2024) City of Surprise City Council and Mayor Meeting: Presenting to the City of Surprise City Council and Mayor the merits of the Friends of the Surprise Libraries support of area classroom teachers and students through Friends’ initiatives including the annual Bookmark Contest. The Contest engages area students grades 6-8th to create artistic bookmarks focusing on reading and literacy. Awards were then distributed after the presentation.
Professional Development Workshops for OU Faculty
- Assessment: (2026) (OU Faculty Development) Presenting to OU-wide faculty on the value of assessment in the classroom. Content included the purpose of collecting data, identifying effective data, finding opportunities to collect data and how to analyze information to guide instruction and evaluation of student learning. Faculty had time to share their resources and ask challenging questions regarding instruction. The presentation resulted in peer reviews and sharing of instructional pedagogy.
- Building Cultural Competence (2024) (OU Faculty Development) Presenting to OU-wide faculty on understanding our OU student population and how to aid struggling students in the OU classroom. Content included strategies to identify struggling students, instructional strategies to meet their individual needs, the Student Assistance Process, and ways to support dispositions in attendance and meeting due dates for assignments.
Conferences
- Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP): 2024, Washington DC
- National Field Experience Conference: March 2025, Southern Arkansas University