Natasha C. Gutierrez
Bronx,NY
Summary
Strategic Assistant Principal with expertise in school operations and instructional leadership. Managed large-scale assessment programs and developed master schedules while coaching teachers to enhance student outcomes. Applies a systems-thinking approach to address organizational challenges and drive school-wide performance.
Overview
12
12
years of professional experience
3
3
Certifications
Work History
Assistant Principal
Harlem Children's Zone Promise Academy High School
New York, New York
08.2024 - Current
- Developed and implemented school-wide writing initiative to increase proficiency in AP and Regent-aligned constructed responses, resulting in 33% of scholars achieving proficiency.
- Directed daily school operations to ensure a safe and positive learning environment.
- Developed annual schedules for teachers and scholars, optimizing instructional time.
- Facilitated grade-level team meetings to enhance academic performance across all subjects.
- Created systems and training programs for local, state, and national testing compliance.
Assistant Principal of STEM
New Visions High School for the Humanities II
Bronx, NY
08.2023 - 07.2024
- Oversaw the development and implementation of Science, Math, and World Language Curricula and Pedagogy across multiple grade levels and educational settings.
- Collaborated with Fulbright educational leaders to create a checks for understanding worksheet to assess CFU effectiveness and diversity of student participation, resulting in a 30% increase in CFU variety and student engagement in STEM classrooms.
- Collaborated with faculty to design and implement STEM enrichment activities such as school-wide Design Days in collaboration with Engineering Tomorrow.
- Designed and facilitated instructional rounds involving a variety of stakeholders, including educators from other states that focused on a school-wide goal of formative assessment. This led to the revision of professional learning for instructional staff for the remainder of the school-year.
- Facilitated professional development sessions for teachers to promote best practices and effective instructional strategies, enhancing achievement and fostering a culture of learning.
- Created and utilized data protocols and analysis to assess student performance, implementing targeted interventions for improvement.
- Developed tracking systems for digital passes, achieving a 15% decrease in hallway roaming and bathroom violations.
- Organized workshops for Senior families to navigate the college application process and financial aid packages.
- Developed and fostered new collaborations with community organizations such as ASPIRA to create summer job opportunities at HUMII for youth from all over the Bronx community.
2024 Cohort lead
New Visions High School for the Humanities II
Bronx, NY
09.2020 - 07.2024
- 90% of the Senior cohort on track for graduation with Regents and credits.
- Ensured 81% of the 2024 cohort remained on track with credits for junior year in 2021-2022.
- Increased credit accumulation to 80% of the 2024 cohort on track for sophomore year in 2020-2021.
- Additionally, more than 90% of the 2024 cohort received credit for NYS Regents in Living Environment and Algebra I.
- Developed a structured system to organize and track assignments for students approaching course completion.
- Collaborated with teachers to discuss the needs of our cohort and celebrate our students via townhalls.
- Working directly with student support teams to ensure credit accumulation, on-track academic success, and SEL growth.
Director of Instruction
New Visions High School for the Humanities II
Bronx, NY
08.2022 - 08.2023
- Developed and implemented Science curriculum and pedagogy across multiple grade levels and educational settings to enhance student engagement and learning outcomes.
- Oversaw the development and implementation of assessments throughout the year to measure student learning in Science courses.
- Worked with Science educators to develop a curriculum that was rooted in Culturally Responsive Pedagogy and aligned to not only New York State Standards, but Common Core, and Next Generation Science Standards.
- Facilitated professional development sessions for educators on educational philosophy, reality pedagogy, checks for understanding strategies, science standards, project-based learning, Edulastic, and measuring student achievement.
- Conducted data analysis that informed coaching conversations and collaborations with educators, enabling data-driven instructional decisions between interim assessments.
- Developed a research based curriculum for the Hydroponics course that yielded research posters presented at the Research Symposium.
Department Head of Science
New Visions High School for the Humanities II
Bronx, NY
09.2019 - 07.2023
- Coached Science educators on rigorous and differentiated instruction, closing achievement gap in Science standards for general education and students with learning differences.
- Facilitated professional development on Nature of Science, integrating laboratory, literacy, and research skills to enhance educator effectiveness.
- Increased Science Regents scores by an average of 12%, enhancing overall student achievement.
- Developed and organized the first Research Symposium at Humanities II which showcased scientific posters and presentations of student projects.
Advisory Lead
New Visions High School for the Humanities II
Bronx, NY
09.2019 - 06.2023
- Facilitated meetings with lead teachers and students to gather insights on advisory experience and identify areas for improvement.
- Collaborated with New Visions network to streamline 1:1 check-ins and enhance student assignment completion.
- Developed advisory program curriculum and structure aligned with socioemotional learning outcomes.
Interim Educational & Curriculum Director
Mentoring in Medicine
Bronx, NY
01.2018 - 08.2020
- Developed curriculum for after-school coding and test prep programs, enhancing student engagement and skill acquisition.
- Organized virtual research internship and Youth Empowerment Program (SYEP Summer 2020) to equip students with skills in assessing health disparities and formulating actionable solutions.
- Developed mentoring programs for medical students and professionals.
- Collaborated with healthcare organizations to enhance mentorship opportunities.
- Designed training materials for mentors and mentees in the program.
Science Educator
H.E.R.O. High School
Bronx, NY
09.2016 - 06.2019
- Planned and taught Bioethics and Anatomy and Physiology courses, aligning curriculum with Hostos Community College standards to enhance student comprehension.
- Utilized data-driven instructional planning and assessment to guide curricular decisions, improving alignment and effectiveness of Anatomy and Physiology courses.
- Planned and led weekly tutoring sessions for Anatomy and Physiology and Saturday Academy Regents preparatory course for the Living Environment Regents.
- Led 11th grade team in standardizing college-ready academic standards and behavioral expectations, fostering a cohesive learning environment.
- Established and led National Honor Society at H.E.R.O. to promote leadership and scholarship in the student community.
Community Scientist & Curriculum Writer
BioBus
New York, NY
06.2018 - 08.2018
- Planned and tested experiments, developing curriculum for Fall High School Internship Programs to enhance student engagement and learning outcomes.
- Conducted experiments to develop innovative biotechnological solutions.
- Analyzed data to support ongoing scientific projects and initiatives.
- Collaborated with cross-functional teams to enhance research methodologies.
Teacher Resident at World View High School
Math & Science Teacher Education Residency
New York, New York
09.2015 - 06.2016
- Utilized data-driven instructional planning and assessment to tailor curricular decisions, enhancing student engagement in Health and Living Environment courses.
- Co-planned and co-taught a 10th grade integrated co-teaching (ICT) Living Environment Regents and Health in alignment with NGSS and Regents standards.
- Led daily Lunch & Learning science tutoring sessions, fostering a supportive learning environment and addressing individual student needs.
- Facilitated communication between instructors and lab staff for all laboratory courses.
Postdoctoral Research Associate
Yale Medical School
New Haven, CT
08.2014 - 06.2015
- Conducted research on actin dynamics in AIY neuron during C. elegans embryogenesis to elucidate cellular mechanisms governing neural development.
- Conducted advanced research in molecular biology and genetics.
- Collaborated with multidisciplinary teams on innovative projects.
- Developed and optimized protocols for experimental procedures.
Education
M.S. - Educational Leadership
American College of Education
Indianapolis, IN01-2020
M.A. - Adolescent Education
CUNY-Hunter College
New York, NY01-2017
Ph.D. - Cellular & Molecular Biology
Rutgers University
Newark, NJ01-2014
B.A. - Biological Sciences
Mount Holyoke College
South Hadley, MA01-2009
Skills
- Educational leadership
- Instructional coaching
- Curriculum development
- Assessment design
- STEM integration
- Data analysis
- Policy enforcement
- Professional development
- Instructional design
- Stakeholder collaboration
- Grant writing
Certification
School Building Leader (SBL), Initial, May 2024
Publications
- Cruz, L., Vedula, P., Gutierrez, N., Shah, N., Rodriguez, S., Ayee, B., Davis, J., Rodriguez, AJ., Balancing spatially regulated β-actin translation and dynamin mediated endocytosis is required to assemble functional epithelial monolayers., Cytoskeleton, 70, 12, 597-608, 12/15
- Gutierrez, N., Eromobor, I., Petrie, R., Vedula, P., Cruz, L., Rodriguez, A.J., The β-actin mRNA zipcode is required for epithelial adherens junction assembly but not maintenance., RNA, 20, 5, 689-701, 05/14
- Who is a scientist and what do we do?, P.S. 20 Clinton Hill, Brooklyn, NY, 02/13
- Why I Do Science, Part II, iBioMagazine, 10, 11/13
- Connecting Urban Youth to Atmospheric, Biological and Earth Science Phenomena., Graduate STEM Fellows in K-12 Education Annual Conference, Washington, DC, 03/11
Awards And Grants
- Driving Change Award, HCZ, Jan 2026
- Fulbright Leaders for Global Schools, May 2023
- Hydroponics Lab Funding, May 2020, $175,000
- Honorable Mention, Minorities Affairs Committee Poster Competition, The American Society of Cell Biology, May 2014
- Graduate Teaching Fellows in K-12 Education, Sept 2010 - June 2011
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute Cascade Mentoring Program, Sept 2018
Timeline
Assistant Principal
Harlem Children's Zone Promise Academy High School
08.2024 - Current
Assistant Principal of STEM
New Visions High School for the Humanities II
08.2023 - 07.2024
Director of Instruction
New Visions High School for the Humanities II
08.2022 - 08.2023
2024 Cohort lead
New Visions High School for the Humanities II
09.2020 - 07.2024
Department Head of Science
New Visions High School for the Humanities II
09.2019 - 07.2023
Advisory Lead
New Visions High School for the Humanities II
09.2019 - 06.2023
Community Scientist & Curriculum Writer
BioBus
06.2018 - 08.2018
Interim Educational & Curriculum Director
Mentoring in Medicine
01.2018 - 08.2020
Science Educator
H.E.R.O. High School
09.2016 - 06.2019
Teacher Resident at World View High School
Math & Science Teacher Education Residency
09.2015 - 06.2016
Postdoctoral Research Associate
Yale Medical School
08.2014 - 06.2015
M.S. - Educational Leadership
American College of Education
M.A. - Adolescent Education
CUNY-Hunter College
Ph.D. - Cellular & Molecular Biology
Rutgers University
B.A. - Biological Sciences
Mount Holyoke College