Michelle Watkins
Mount Jackson,VA
Summary
Passionate Reading Specialist and Dyslexia Advisor bringing over 20 years of extensive experience serving as a teacher, reading specialist, Reading Recovery teacher, and dyslexia advisor for K-5 students who need literacy support. Motivated and enthusiastic with the ability to coordinate with teachers and provide small group and one-on-one instruction to all students. Expertise in guided reading, Orton-Gillingham approach, and other balanced literacy instruction.
Overview
31
31
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
TITLE 1 READING SPEACIALIST AND DYSLEXIA ADVISOR
Frederick County Public Schools
Winchester, VA
02.2020 - Current
- Represent my school as a dyslexia advisor
- Deliver Tier 2 and Tier 3 research-based intervention to students one-on-one and in small groups in school wide Title 1 school.
- Deliver reading instruction using the Orton-Gillingham approach to students in Tier 2 and Tier 3.
- Actively collaborated with the RTI, Response to Intervention Specialist, regarding research base instruction strategies for reading instruction for students in Tier 2 and Tier 3.
- Assessed and Analyzed reading data and developed actionable next steps based on the data with teachers, grade-level teams, other specialists, and administrators.
- Contributed and collaborated with the SSRT, Student Support Resource Team.
- Collaborated with colleagues and the instructional department in best practices for reading interventions in our county.
- Participated in book studies with colleagues.
- Participated in the 5th grade student book club.
TITLE 1 READING SPECIALIST
Frederick County Public Schools
Winchester, VA
08.2007 - Current
- Delivered Reading Recovery instruction to first grade students
- Delivered research-based interventions and guided reading instruction to students one-on-one and in small groups in Title 1 targeted assisted school.
- Actively collaborated with colleagues and classroom teachers regarding research-based instruction strategies for reading instruction for students reading below grade level.
- Assessed and Analyzed reading data and developed actionable next steps based on the data with teachers, grade-level teams, other specialist, and administrators.
- Contributed and collaborated with the SSRT, Student Support Resource Team.
- Collaborated with colleagues and the instructional development in best practices for reading interventions in our county.
- Wrote and delivered customized instruction to individual students and groups.
- Facilitated professional development, group sessions, and provided one-on-one support.
- Led parent sessions on ideas to help their children at home with literacy.
- Participated in book studies with colleagues.
- Lead Teachers as Readers book club
- Supported Title 1 families in reading.
FIRST GRADE TEACHER
Frederick County Public Schools
Winchester, VA
08.2004 - 06.2007
- Planned, implemented, monitored, and assessed classroom instructional program.
- Taught students reading, writing, and math skills.
- Established high expectations and positive learning environment.
- Utilized differentiation strategies to meet the needs of diverse learners and ensure growth for all students.
- Stayed abreast of changes to school and district policies as well as new trends in education by attending professional development courses and in-service trainings.
- Collaborated with grade-level teammates, specialists, vertical teams, and administrators.
- Built and maintained positive relationships with families, building administrators, and colleagues.
- Mentored and advised a teacher in her first year of teaching.
- Tutored students in grades 3-5 in preparation for state testing.
FOURTH GRADE TEACHER
Frederick County Public Schools
Winchester, VA
08.1998 - 06.1999
- Planned, implemented, monitored and assessed classroom instructional program.
- Taught students reading, writing, science, sensitive issues/health, and math skills.
- Established high expectations and positive learning environment.
- Stayed abreast of changes to school and district policies as well as new trends in education by attending professional development courses and in-service trainings.
- Collaborated with grade-level teammates, specialist, vertical teams, and administrators.
- Built positive relationships with families, building administrators, and colleagues.
THIRD GRADE TEACHER
Warren County Public Schools
Front Royal, VA
08.1994 - 06.1998
- Planned implemented, monitored and assessed classroom instructional program.
- Taught students reading, writing, science, social studies, and math skills.
- Stayed abreast of changes to school and district policies as well as new trends in education by attending professional development courses and in-service trainings.
- Collaborated with grade-level teammates, specialist, vertical teams, and administrators.
- Focused and maintained positive relationships with families, building administrators, and colleagues.
Education
MASTER’S OF SCIENCE - Education K-12 Reading Specialist Endorsement
Shenandoah University
Winchester, VA01.2007
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE - Education K-8 Grade
California University of Pennsylvania
California, PA01.1993
Skills
- Compliance
- Guided reading
- Orton-Gillingham
- Small group instruction
- One-on-one instruction
- Reading assessment
- Teacher collaboration
- Intervention planning
- Positive reinforcement
- Personable
- Outgoing
- Active listening
- Computer proficient
- Data management
Certification
- Reading Recovery Certification, 2008
- Orton-Gillingham: Classroom Educator Certification, 2020
Timeline
TITLE 1 READING SPEACIALIST AND DYSLEXIA ADVISOR
Frederick County Public Schools
02.2020 - Current
TITLE 1 READING SPECIALIST
Frederick County Public Schools
08.2007 - Current
FIRST GRADE TEACHER
Frederick County Public Schools
08.2004 - 06.2007
FOURTH GRADE TEACHER
Frederick County Public Schools
08.1998 - 06.1999
THIRD GRADE TEACHER
Warren County Public Schools
08.1994 - 06.1998
MASTER’S OF SCIENCE - Education K-12 Reading Specialist Endorsement
Shenandoah University
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE - Education K-8 Grade
California University of Pennsylvania