OLIVIA R. GIZZI
Hamden,CT
Summary
Professional educator committed to creating and maintaining safe, engaging, student-centered learning spaces. Demonstrates high levels of patience, empathy, and passion helping to foster positive relationships with students, families, and colleagues across diverse backgrounds. Experience with developing and implementing differentiated instruction and lessons, ensuring a welcoming educational space for all.
Overview
11
11
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Student Teacher, K-6 Resource
Dunbar Hill Elementary School
Hamden, CT
03.2025 - 05.2025
- Served as a student teacher under the mentorship of Sally Yoga, K-6 Resource teacher at Dunbar Hill Elementary School
- Maintained a caseload of 30 students with varying diagnoses, ranging from grades K-6.
- Provided students with daily group and individualized supports for social emotional needs such as emotional regulation, conflict, as well as academic supports.
- Developed lessons appropriate for groups of varied abilities and needs including differentiation for mixed ability groups and meeting individual IEP goals and milestones.
- Attended and Participated in PPT meetings while contributing towards discussions and planning of goal development, testing, IEP changes, and progress monitoring.
- Assisted in de-escalation of students on and off of my individual caseload as well as staying on call for crisis management throughout the school day and during arrival/dismissal.
- Assisted in implementation of diagnostic testing for student referrals.
- Developed lessons to present to SCSU University supervisor and participated in feedback on how to tailor and enhance lesson development and delivery.
- Proctored tests for students on my caseload as well as consulted with accomodations and modifications to said tests.
- Participated in parent/teacher conferences as well as provided support to classroom teachers during discussions with parents and or planning.
- Assisted in transitions of new support staff team members such as school psychologist, paraprofessionals, and a secondary resource teacher.
Student Teacher, Third Grade
Spring Glen Elementary School
Hamden, CT
01.2025 - 03.2025
- Served as a student teacher under the mentorship of Amanda Riley, Spring Glen Elementary School in a class of 21 students.
- Developed engaging lesson plans aligned with curriculum standards to ensure students were provided with opportunities to relate to lesson content and multiple methods of understanding.
- Led students in their daily routines and responsibilities such as attendance and lunch counts, transition periods, classroom jobs, and caring for their shared and individual spaces.
- Assisted in assessing student progress and providing feedback as well as grouping students for activities based on abilities and needs.
- Collaborated and coordinated with the rest of the third grade teaching team to create inclusive learning environments.
- Developed lessons to present to SCSU University supervisor and participated in feedback on how to tailor and enhance lesson development and delivery.
- Prepared students for their first time taking the Smarter Balance standardized tests by introducing them to the material and layout of the system.
- Assisted in planning and presentation of the third grade's turn to host the monthly 'Town Meeting".
- Prepped lesson materials on a week ahead schedule for all three third grade team members class needs.
- Proctored formal and informal assessments for students
Family, Child, and Pet Care
Jessica Alfano
North Haven, CT
01.2019 - Current
- Provides daily assistance in childcare for two girls, aged 16 and 11, such as transportation, school assistance, cooking and cleaning.
- Transportation includes but is not limited to attending regular doctors appointments as a guardian, as well as to and from events such as school, academic related extra curricular activities, study groups, and horseback riding.
- Provides regular pet care including but not limited do daily walks, enrichment, vet care, medication administration.
- Provides overnight care for children and pets for short and extended periods of time.
- Completes household maintenance tasks such as relaying and gathering information to and from contractors, chore completion such as light cleaning
Engineering Student Intern
City of New Haven Department of Engineering
New Haven, CT
11.2018 - 01.2025
- Provided clerical duties including, but not limited to, filing, duplicating, taking and relaying messages, daily contact with general public in-person and via phone or email, and completing mass mailings.
- Organized and executed yearly process of archiving project files while ensuring proper contact with archiving services, as well as maintaining contact to request archived files be pulled for review.
- Assisted Engineering staff with various projects such as, compiling and updating data of prior years, contacting various other municipalities within the state of Connecticut reaching out to contractors in an attempt to follow-up or request proposals, researching materials and purchasing options to be compiled into shared documents, and other projects as needed.
- Managed front-end area to provide approximately 10-20 patrons per day with research information, specifications about city processes, infrastructure repair requests, and informing them of the required steps to take for their issues.
- Documented processes and files using Microsoft Word, Access, and Excel.
- Assisted other departments in scanning and filing within the city-wide SharePoint.
Learning Hub Building Supervisor
New Haven Youth and Recreation Department
New Haven, CT
09.2020 - 10.2020
- Developed educational as well as leisure activities conducive to groups of mixed-grade Learning Hub students participation in during breaks scheduled through comparison and management of each student's schedule.
- Developed and maintained sound working relationships with staff, community partners, and families.
- Performed staff meetings as needed to ensure mutual work-based learning goals were being met successfully for both the student and the Youth and Recreation Department.
- Managed weekly payroll process, including collection of support staff timecards, distribution of payroll checks, and addressing any payroll issues/concerns.
- Designated support staff members for each Learning Hub student to ensure help was provided where needed for schoolwork/technological issues.
- Assisted with planning and coordination of other program components which included but were not limited to student orientation, and community service projects.
- Ensured all COVID-19 guidelines and protocols were met and adhered to and all necessary PPE materials were readily available and appropriately distributed.
- Coordinated with New Haven Food Central Kitchen Office and assigned delivery driver to organize daily deliveries, and report exact food counts after distributing breakfast and lunch meals to Learning Hub students.
- Managed building maintenance of the Learning Hub, including but not limited to coordinating with the maintenance team, regularly inventorying required supplies, and ensuring completion of twice daily required cleaning.
Recreation Program Director
New Haven Youth and Recreation Department
New Haven, CT
02.2020 - 08.2020
- Served as primary supervisor in care of 25-30 children ages 8 to 11 while also supervising multiple staff.
- Performed general administrative tasks, such as taking attendance, internal paperwork, keeping track of emergency contact/medical forms, time and attendance sheets and making phone calls.
- Managed daily operations of recreational facilities.
- Ensured all COVID-19 guidelines and protocols were met and adhered to, all necessary PPE materials were available and appropriately distributed, and relayed information daily to supervisors and New Haven Health Department.
- Coordinated with New Haven Food Central Kitchen Office and delivery driver to organize daily deliveries and report exact food counts after distributing meals for breakfast and lunch.
- Created and directed engaging recreational activities or events encompassing Kayaking, Canoeing, Hiking, and White-Water Rafting.
- Chaperoned and organized field trips while maintaining communication with trip groups, supervisors, and transportation.
- Administered first aid according to prescribed procedures and notified emergency medical personnel when necessary.
- Aided in the clean-up of parks, assisted park goers, coordinated outdoor adventure programs, and liaised with parents regarding scheduling as well as individual special needs.
- Explained principles, techniques, and safety procedures to campers in recreational activities and demonstrated use of materials and equipment.
- Enforced rules and regulations of recreational facilities to ensure safety.
Recreation Program Aide & Assistant Director
New Haven Youth and Recreation Department
New Haven, CT
05.2016 - 02.2020
- Assisted in the care of 25-30 children ages 8 to 11.
- Performed general administrative tasks, such as taking attendance, keeping track of emergency contact/medical forms, and making phone calls.
- Created new and engaging recreational activities such as Kayaking, Canoeing, Hiking, and White-Water Rafting.
- Administered first aid according to prescribed procedures and notified emergency medical personnel if necessary.
- Explained principles, techniques, and safety procedures to campers and or participants in recreational activities and demonstrated use of materials and equipment.
- Enforced rules and regulations of recreational facilities to ensure safety.
- Collaborated with agency personnel, community organizations and other professional personnel to plan balanced recreational programs for participants.
- Greeted and introduced new arrivals to activities, explained facility rules and encouraged participation.
Daycare Student Worker
Early Learning Center Gateway Community College
New Haven, CT
01.2017 - 06.2019
- Provided support in three classrooms of varying pedagogical practices with an average of 20 children per class.
- Organized group and prepared lesson materials to assist teachers in carrying out lessons and providing an environment for the children to grow and explore.
- Compiled binders showcasing progression throughout the year of intellectual as well as social emotional development for each individual student.
- Guided children in health and personal habits and toileting and in the event of an accident assisted in changing, administering basic first aid, and filling out the appropriate accident reports.
- Thoroughly cleaned and sanitized childcare toys and play equipment, play areas, meal areas several times daily.
- Performed housekeeping duties such as, measuring out cleaning solutions, dish washing and changing of linens.
- Regular trainings in: Mandated Reporting, Med Administration, Injectables/ DiaStat, CPR/First Aid, Suppository Training, as well as maintaining registry with CT Office of Early Childhood.
21st Century Program Arts and Crafts Staff
New Haven Youth and Recreation Department
New Haven, CT
11.2020 - 06.2021
- Ran Arts & Crafts section of Wexler Grant's afterschool program for students grades 2-5 via Google Classroom.
- Prepared weekly lesson plans of varying arts and crafts activities to complete with program participants.
- Developed lists of potential supplies needed for project completion so that supervisory staff could accurately gather and distribute as many supplies as possible to program participants.
- Ensured documentation of daily attendance, regular parent communication, and reports with all supervisors.
- Assisted with completion of projects as well as providing modifications and substitutions as needed to work around supply difficulties due to COVID-19.
Student Intern
City of New Haven Emergency Operations Center
New Haven, CT
06.2015 - 08.2015
- Responsible for taking minutes during meetings amongst multiple City of New Haven departments, multiple State of Connecticut municipalities, and contractors.
- Participated and documented regular safety checks of City of New Haven Emergency facilities such as the Emergency Operations Center, City Hall and Hall of Records, Coast Guard and Fire Rescue vessels, New Haven Fire Training Academy, and American Medical Response (AMR) of New Haven.
- Completed FEMA Certifications to gain qualifications for assistance towards monitoring information on disaster zones.
- Reviewed and narrowed down selections of grant proposals to develop a list of 5 final candidate selections to present supervisors with.
- Organized office and storage spaces with the task of developing a comprehensive system of sorting, archiving, and labeling important information.
- Assisted in readying spaces for training of prospective first responders within the Emergency Operations Center.
Education
Bachelor of Science - Special-Elementary Education Collaborative, Special Education Candidate
Southern Connecticut State University
New Haven, CT05-2025
Bachelor of Science - Liberal Studies
Southern Connecticut State University
New Haven, CT05-2025
Associate of Arts - Liberal Arts and Science
Gateway Community College
New Haven, CT05-2022
Skills
- Classroom Monitoring and Management
- Team Collaboration
- Teacher Assistance
- Tutoring and Student Assistance
- Cognitive Disabilities Experience
- Small Group Development and Work
- Administrative Support
- Multilingual Tutoring and ESL Experience
Field Experience & Practicum
SED 449 - PRACTICUM - DR. JOAN WEIR
BENJAMIN JEPSON MAGNET SCHOOL, Grade 1 ELA Tutoring & Co-Teaching - New Haven, CT
Aug 2024 - Dec 2024
SED 435 FIELD WORK - DR. JOAN WEIR
BARACK OBAMA MAGNET UNIVERSITY SCHOOL, Grade 3 ELA Tutoring & Diagnostic Reporting - New Haven, CT
Aug 2023 - Dec 2023
SED 365 FIELD WORK - DR. JOAN WEIR
BARACK OBAMA MAGNET UNIVERSITY SCHOOL, Grade 4 Math Tutoring & Diagnostic Reporting - New Haven, CT
Jan 2023 - May 2023
EDU 200 FIELD WORK - DR. COURTNEY SUTHERLAND
CLINTON AVENUE SCHOOL, Resource Room, Pre-K - 2 Classroom Observation & Assistance - New Haven, CT
Aug 2022 - Dec 2022
Certification
Student Teaching Reflective Seminar, Spring '25
Professional Development - Equity Training, Jan '25, Mar '25
Creating a Meaningful and Practical Classroom Data System Webinar, May '25
College of Education Modules:
- Computational Thinking, Winter '24
- Dyslexia, Summer '23
- Social Emotional Learning, Summer '23
Languages
American Sign Language
Elementary
Italian
Elementary
Timeline
Student Teacher, K-6 Resource
Dunbar Hill Elementary School
03.2025 - 05.2025
Student Teacher, Third Grade
Spring Glen Elementary School
01.2025 - 03.2025
21st Century Program Arts and Crafts Staff
New Haven Youth and Recreation Department
11.2020 - 06.2021
Learning Hub Building Supervisor
New Haven Youth and Recreation Department
09.2020 - 10.2020
Recreation Program Director
New Haven Youth and Recreation Department
02.2020 - 08.2020
Family, Child, and Pet Care
Jessica Alfano
01.2019 - Current
Engineering Student Intern
City of New Haven Department of Engineering
11.2018 - 01.2025
Daycare Student Worker
Early Learning Center Gateway Community College
01.2017 - 06.2019
Recreation Program Aide & Assistant Director
New Haven Youth and Recreation Department
05.2016 - 02.2020
Student Intern
City of New Haven Emergency Operations Center
06.2015 - 08.2015
Bachelor of Science - Special-Elementary Education Collaborative, Special Education Candidate
Southern Connecticut State University
Bachelor of Science - Liberal Studies
Southern Connecticut State University
Associate of Arts - Liberal Arts and Science
Gateway Community College