Samantha Heller, PhD

Curriculum Development & Literacy Instruction:

• Designed and implemented standards-aligned curriculum and resources grounded in the Science of Reading to enhance K-5 literacy education, ensuring a robust understanding of the latest ELA educational theories and practices.

School Improvement Leadership:

• Spearheaded school improvement initiatives with select Corrective Program schools, leveraging my deep knowledge of teaching, learning processes, and organizational management to drive transformative outcomes.

Professional Development Facilitation:

• Conducted comprehensive, targeted professional development sessions for teachers, coaches, and administrators district-wide on topics such as the science of reading, multi-sensory instruction, and aligning instruction with the FL Best Benchmarks. My approach emphasizes Modeling, Co-Teaching, Co-Facilitating, Asking Questions, and Providing Feedback as per the OCPS coaching framework.

Elementary Literacy Specialist:

• Acted as a key point of contact, providing support, expertise, and district leadership on current trends, best practices, and innovations in elementary ELA education. Guide instructors to amplify efficacy of benchmark-aligned instruction, fostering growth and consistent quality across the district.

Self-Development & Mentorship:

• Engaged in continuous professional growth by staying informed on research, trends, and best practices in education. I also prioritize nurturing leadership potential in my team members, ensuring collective growth and success.

Teaching:

Designed, developed, and instructed the following courses:

• EME 2040 Introduction to Technology for Educators (Undergraduate)
• EME 6055 Current Trends in Instructional Design and Technology (Graduate).
• EME 6209 Multimedia Instructional Systems II (MA)
• Facilitated seven virtual and in-person Capstone workshops for graduate-level teacher educators.

Research:

Developed, planned, and managed research projects on topics such as emerging technology in pre-service teacher education, fostering computational thinking in literacy classroom via Makerspaces, and STEM-identity and underrepresented youth.

Projects:

Collaborative Research: Building STEM Capacity through a Culturally-Relevant Ecosystem for Learner Engagement, Outcomes, and Retention in Hispanic-Serving Institutions (Agency: National Science Foundation)

• Developed an instrument to ascertain faculty's level of self-efficacy related to the knowledge and practice of culturally relevant instruction in the classroom. Designed training materials and workshop presentations for engineering faculty related to the implementation of culturally-relevant pedagogy.

Reading Assessment Validity, Program Fidelity and Teacher Effectiveness (Agency: The Imagination Station DBA/I Station)

• Observed program implementation in classrooms across the United States. Collected qualitative data related to implementation fidelity. Reported findings to the lead investigators.

Human-Technology Interface Workshop Series: Pathways to Products for Lifelong Learning (Agency: National Science Foundation)

• Collected, analyzed, and interpreted qualitative data from virtual HTI workshops. Generated a report based on findings that provide insight and understanding of industry needs, challenges, and the potential for commercialization.

Program Coordinator for the Innovative Programming for Youth at Youth Advocate Programs funded by Orange County Citizens’ Commission for Children. Certified Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP) workshop facilitator.

• Coordinated services with community-based organizations.
• Conducted client intake and discharge interviews
• Facilitated WRAP workshop sessions.
• Developed outreach plans to promote future projects and programs.
• Prepared reports as required by contractual obligations and for general administrative purposes.

Conferred with educators to rebalance classes, increase resource utilization, and integrate new technology.

• Implemented one-to-one iPad program for one hundred elementary school learners at charter school for children with behavioral challenges.
• Extensively trained new and existing employees in technology integration techniques that would work best for school's unique population.
• Evaluated multiple educational curriculums and purchased all programs school would implement in grades K-5.
• Provided staff development in all subject areas as well as technology integration once month for nine months.
• Acted as school's assessment coordinator and oversaw all standardized testing for grades K-5.
• Worked with teachers to make lessons more engaging and dynamic while still providing rigor necessary for learners to meet state standards.

Founding member of team of teachers and administrators that created school focused on serving learners with behavior challenges.

• Used positive reinforcement and provided clear feedback to help students succeed.
• Adapted teaching methods and materials to meet learners' varying needs and interests.
• Promoted physical, mental, and social development by implementing classroom games and outdoor recreational activities.
• Encouraged interactive learning by incorporating educational software and technology tools.

Played a pivotal role in establishing and leading a bilingual international school in Costa Rica, ensuring the successful launch and growth of the school.

• Instructed K-5 science and math courses in both English and Spanish as founding teacher at bilingual international school in Costa Rica.
• Developed English curriculum and training for all incoming English teachers focused on bilingual special education techniques.
• Successfully improved learner participation through integration of creative role-playing exercises.
• Conducted evaluations as Director to measure performance and progress of students, providing guidance for areas requiring improvement.

Delivered effective and differentiated classroom instruction in multiple subject areas to range of neurodiverse students.

• Cultivated connections and strong student rapport to foster classroom engagement, in addition to recording student progress to inform parents and school administration.
• Created and managed IEPs to define student learning objectives and educational strategies, in addition to applying instructional knowledge and methods to support goals
• Assisted struggling students to maintain progress levels by designing individualized lesson plans focused on areas for improvement.