Sarah Oates
Mechanicsville,VA
Summary
Diligent Administrator with proven track record in educational leadership and student development. Successfully implemented programs that enhanced student performance and supported teacher growth. Demonstrated ability to foster collaborative environment and effectively manage administrative tasks.
Overview
5
5
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Assistant Principal
Mechanicsville Elementary School
Mechanicsville, VA
07.2024 - Current
- Administrator of Special Education - facilitated IEP meetings, eligibility meetings, re-evaluation meetings, initial child study meetings, general concern meetings, MDR meetings, and any other meetings related to special education
- Testing Coordinator for growth assessments, SOL assessments, VAAP assessments, and Access Testing
- Assisted teachers with analyzing results from state testing
- Coordinated Crisis Management Team - completed all documents related to safety and crisis management.
- Coordinated and facilitated all school-level drills
- Managed the arrival and departure of parent provided transportation
- Attended school improvement meetings, instructional team leadership meetings, guiding coalition meetings, as well as weekly grade level PLC meetings
- Investigated and conferenced with individuals regarding classroom discipline issues - assigned discipline as needed and appropriate
- Managed formal and informal attendance plans - facilitated monthly meetings with the attendance team and created plans with families based on their needs
- Assisted principal with a variety of tasks related to school schedule, discipline, instruction, and staff evaluations
- Assisted principal with a performance improvement plan with a teacher - 2024-2025
- Responded to school alarm calls - coordinated with the Hanover County Sheriff's Department
Assistant Principal
John M. Gandy Elementary School
Ashland, VA
07.2021 - 06.2024
- Administrator of Special Education - facilitated IEP meetings, eligibility meetings, re-evaluation meetings, initial child study meetings, general concern meetings, MDR meetings, and any other meetings related to special education
- Testing Coordinator for growth assessments, SOL assessments, VAAP assessments, and Access Testing
- Assisted teachers with analyzing results from state testing
- Completed records management - Maintained inventory, managed and prepared records for destruction, and coordinated yearly audit
- Coordinated Crisis Management Team - completed all documents related to safety and crisis management.
- Coordinated and facilitated all school-level drills
- Managed, distributed, stamped, numbered, and took inventory of textbooks
- Managed the arrival and departure of school bus transportation - managed the bus radio during arrival and dismissal
- Coordinated all field trips
- Attended school improvement meetings as well as weekly grade level PLC meetings
- Investigated and conferenced with individuals regarding classroom discipline issues - assigned discipline as needed and appropriate
- Assisted principal with a variety of tasks related to school schedule, discipline, instruction, and staff evaluations
Administrative Intern
Laurel Meadow Elementary
- Collaborated with the instructional leadership team to provide professional development with math workshop and phonics/word study to enhance instruction with grades K-5.
- Analyzed data from formative assessments to determine next steps to successfully improve math proficiency in grades 3-5 through the use of technology and strengthening executive function skills.
- Created and communicated vision and mission statements for whole school as co-leader of our school's school improvement team as well as a team member of our instructional leadership team.
- Assisted in planning for state assessments including organizing groups with accommodations as well as ensuring all staff members were aware of regulations and expectations when administering assessments.
- Collaborated with other division leaders to organize an equity conference by first creating goals for participants and then inviting outside agencies to present based on our goals.
- Served as team leader for the special education department: led IEP meetings, served as administrative designee, created schedules for special education teachers and instructional assistants, mediated conflict between staff members, and organized cumulative files for all students receiving special education services.
- Served as 504 coordinator: met with parents to determine eligibility for 504 accommodations, communicated plans with classroom teachers, reviewed and updated current plans, and organized files for all students receiving accommodations through section 504.
- Facilitated fire drills and safety blue drills to ensure safety for all staff and students.
- Served as supervisor for extracurricular activities to ensure safety for all staff and students.
- Applied and obtained grants to provide additional resources that support the learning of all students.
- Facilitated bus dismissal to ensure the safety of students as they travelled home from school.
Special Education Teacher
Laurel Meadow Elementary, Liberty Middle School
- Assisted with creating and implementing professional developments for Hanover County and Laurel Meadow
- Worked with students from grades K through 5 using the Leveled Literacy Intervention program
- Collaborative teacher for Math for Kindergarten, 3rd, 5th grade, and 8th grade
- Collaborative teacher for Reading and Language Arts for Kindergarten through 5th grade and 8th grade
- Collaborative teacher for Social Studies for 8th grade
- Collaborative teacher for Science for 8th grade
- Direct Reading and Language Arts Instruction teacher for Kindergarten 3rd grade, 4th grade, 5th grade, and 8th grade
- Direct Math instruction teacher for 3rd grade
- Certified Wilson teacher for 2nd through 8th grade
- Collaborated with teachers and helped model specific literacy lessons in their classroom
Education
Educational Specialist - Administration and Supervision
University of Virginia
Charlottesville, VirginiaMasters of Science - Literacy and Culture, Reading Specialist Licensure Area
Longwood University
Farmville, VirginiaBachelor of Science - Psychology Major, Special Education Teacher Licensure Area
James Madison University
Harrisonburg, VirginiaSkills
- Professional Learning Development
- Adept at Google Forms, Spreadsheets, and Docs
- Organization
- Records administration
Accomplishments
Achieved as a National Board Certified Teacher in Literacy: EC/MC – December 2017
Recipient of the 2019 Superintendent's Professional Development Scholarship
2016 Laurel Meadow Elementary School Teacher of the Year
2010 obtained Reading Specialist K-12 licensure
2007 obtained certification as a Level 1 Wilson Reading instructor
Certified administrator of the Woodcock-Johnson IV Tests of Achievement
Affiliations
- Council for Exceptional Children
- International Literacy Association
Certification
- 2010 obtained Reading Specialist K-12 licensure
- 2007 obtained certification as a Level I Wilson Reading instructor
- Certified administrator of the Woodcock-Johnson IV Tests of Achievement
Timeline
Assistant Principal
Mechanicsville Elementary School
07.2024 - Current
Assistant Principal
John M. Gandy Elementary School
07.2021 - 06.2024
Administrative Intern
Laurel Meadow Elementary
Special Education Teacher
Laurel Meadow Elementary, Liberty Middle School
Masters of Science - Literacy and Culture, Reading Specialist Licensure Area
Longwood University
Bachelor of Science - Psychology Major, Special Education Teacher Licensure Area
James Madison University
Educational Specialist - Administration and Supervision
University of Virginia
Honors and Awards
Achieved as a National Board Certified Teacher in Literacy: EC/MC – December 2017, Recipient of the 2019 Superintendent's Professional Development Scholarship, 2016 Laurel Meadow Elementary School Teacher of the Year
Related Experiences
- Served as leader of the executive function committee for Laurel Meadow Elementary School
- Served as co-leader for the LMES Rock 'n Roll 5k
- Served as co-sponsor of Laurel Meadow Elementary School's Student Council Association.
- Served on the county-wide text book adoption committee for guided reading materials
- Served as co-sponsor of Laurel Meadow Elementary School's Fit Club
- Managed the school-level spelling bee
- Served on summer committees to help develop reading/writing curriculum including the Vocabulary Handbook for Hanover County Public Schools.
- Served on the English Curriculum Development Committee