Rachel Rooney
Warrenton,VA
Summary
Dedicated leader/manager and educators’ advocate with over 25 years of experience creating, delivering, and managing knowledge-based curriculum, educational resources, and professional development programs for public benefit corporations, non-profits, and schools. Deep content knowledge and pedagogical expertise. Effective leader in both intra and inter-institutional collaboration, staff supervision and mentoring, and team building, employing strong communication, consensus-building, and problem-solving skills. Consistently and effectively work on multiple projects simultaneously while meeting deadlines.
Overview
27
27
years of professional experience
Work History
Product Manager, Humanities
GREAT MINDS
07.2019 - Current
- Oversee health and maintenance of Great Minds’ Wit & Wisdom humanities curriculum components including print, digital, and professional development products in alignment with Great Minds’ criteria through all stages of the product’s lifecycle
- Advocate for customers; anticipate their needs; seek, analyze, and address their feedback, and work with internal teams to develop implementation resources and digital tools that support the delivery of high-quality instruction
- Collaborate with multiple stakeholders to conceive, develop, deliver, and maintain high-quality instructional materials in elementary and middle school humanities classrooms that align with the Great Minds vision
- Manage product configuration, pricing, and sales data to support development, launch, and sales of English Language Arts curriculum and state and district program proposals; develop and monitor budgets
- Partner with sales and implementation support teams to enhance customer satisfaction, drive sales growth, and contribute to overall business success
- Communicate product information to internal and external stakeholders to develop and maintain products that meet customers’ needs, using business software such as Smartsheet, Excel, Atlassian/Jira/Trello, Salesforce, and Microsoft products.
Program and Digital Content Manager
Great Minds (Common Core)
07.2013 - 06.2019
- Led, developed, and supported project teams of writers, reviewers, editors, and consultants who created and delivered grade K-8 English Language Arts curriculum
- Managed creation and delivery of integrated ELA middle school (Gr 5-8) curriculum and professional development resources as part of a $1.6 M initiative for the KIPP Foundation
- Presented curriculum at history conferences and school-based professional development programs
- Developed, delivered, and maintained digital resources for both internal and external customers.
- Selected and managed trade book titles for K-8 ELA curriculum library and relationships with external vendors.
Director, Programs for Teachers
NEWBERRY LIBRARY
09.2007 - 07.2013
- Led the team responsible for multiple professional development programs for Chicago area educators with combined budgets of over $400K, serving 1000 pre-collegiate teachers per year
- Conceived, cultivated funding, and managed grant-based programs resulting in multi-year repeat funding of $100K annually on-going seminar series funded by the History Channel and the Newberry collection-based resource and website
- Increased programs and teaching resources offerings through technology integration including online program registration, wikis, asset digitization, and increased database use for management and decision-making
- Collaborated with Chicago cultural, public, and academic institutions to develop “The Civil War in Art,” web-based resource for teachers and “American Art at the Core of Learning” professional development program for museum educators and teachers.
Teacher and Department Chair
Beverly Hills Unified School District
07.1997 - 06.2007
- Taught Advanced Placement through developmental-level history and humanities courses; maintained 98% class score of 4 or better on AP U.S Exam; received PTA Teaching Award
- Managed 15-member history department staff, including budgets, procurement, hiring interviews, development and management of curriculum, and summer workshops, and led consortium of department chairs from nine area high schools to share best practices
- Mentored newly hired staff and designed new employee programs as member of steering committee for Beginning Teacher Support and Assistance (BTSA) program and served as peer tutor and on the district technology committee
- Organized, analyzed, and summarized school-wide and departmental data on programs, curriculum, methodology, and student performance for state regulatory approval process, receiving a seven-year clear - highest ranking
- Created, implemented, and presented professional development programs for high school and district staff.
Education
Master of Science - Education and Social Policy
NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY
EVANSTON, IL01.1993
Bachelor of Arts - Political Science
NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY
EVANSTON, IL01.1988
Skills
- Product Vision and Strategy
- Teamwork and Collaboration
- Program implementation
- Digital Literacy
- Curriculum Implementation
- Product Development
Coursework And Professional Activities
- Online Instructional Design and Instructional Materials Design (U VA graduate program)
- Presenter at American Historical Association National Conference and National Council for the Social Studies Conference (2011, 2012)
- Summer Fellowship Recipient, National Endowment for the Humanities (2007)
- Reader, Advanced Placement United States History Exam (2005, 2006, and 2007)
- Judge, Chicago Tribune All-State Academic Scholarship Program (2010-2013)
- Conference Proposal Evaluator, National Council for the Social Studies (2011)
Timeline
Product Manager, Humanities
GREAT MINDS
07.2019 - Current
Program and Digital Content Manager
Great Minds (Common Core)
07.2013 - 06.2019
Director, Programs for Teachers
NEWBERRY LIBRARY
09.2007 - 07.2013
Teacher and Department Chair
Beverly Hills Unified School District
07.1997 - 06.2007
Master of Science - Education and Social Policy
NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY
Bachelor of Arts - Political Science
NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY
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