Sarah Polcha
Pulaski,VA
Summary
Experienced and passionate educational leader seeking school superintendent role. Desire to lead through service, collaboration, and with integrity in order to make positive impact on community through enhancing and improving educational opportunity.
Overview
18
18
years of professional experience
Work History
Assistant Superintendent of Student Services
Pulaski County Public Schools
07.2023 - Current
- Ensured compliance with all federal, state, and local regulations.
- Provided professional development opportunities for educators, ensuring consistent implementation of instructional best practices.
- Analyzed student data to identify trends and areas in need of improvement, guiding strategic planning efforts for curriculum enhancement.
- Mentored new educators in effective teaching methods and classroom management techniques, fostering professional growth within the district.
- Developed positive relationships with parents and community members, emphasizing transparency in educational decision-making processes.
- Established clear goals for academic achievement across all grade levels, driving continuous improvement in student performance.
- Monitored student progress and implemented intervention strategies to support student success.
- Communicated with parents to encourage active parental participation in education.
- Trained teachers on effective teaching techniques, classroom management strategies, and behavior modification.
- Managed budgets and resources for educational programs.
- Monitored and implemented school safety and security measures.
- Improved school district performance by implementing data-driven decision-making processes and strategic planning.
- Boosted special education services by collaborating with parents, teachers, administrators, and outside agencies to ensure accommodations were effectively implemented for all students requiring support.
- Developed and maintained productive working relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
- Analyzed reports to identify areas of improvement and implement corrective action.
- Maintained school focus on learning by enforcing rules related to academics, student discipline and class attendance.
- Oversight for programs or departments: Student Services, Special Education, Transportation, Nursing Services, and School Nutrition.
Director of Special Education
Pulaski County Public Schools
01.2018 - 06.2023
- Supervised and managed 115 employees (teachers, paraprofessionals, school psychologists, related services personnel, and office staff
- Responsible for programming and oversight of approximately 600 students according to December 1 Child Counts
- Responsible for turn-around and recovery after VDOE RDA Audit of the Special Education Programs
- Allocated special education staff and addressed requests for additional allocations throughout school year.
- Coordinated special education services through frequent principal collaboration and consultation.
- Coordinated staff and student activities to promote a safe and productive learning environment.
- Collaborated with administration staff to develop functional budgets within allocated funds.
- Studied assessment information covering students, teachers and school operations to formulate improvement plans.
- Trained teachers on effective teaching techniques, classroom management strategies, and behavior modification.
- Managed budgets and resources for educational programs.
- Monitored and evaluated educational programs to maintain high-quality performance objectives and standards.
- Communicated with parents to encourage active parental participation in education.
- Kept division in full compliance with established policies, legal requirements and student safety standards.
- Proven record of developing and implementing school policies to ensure compliance with state and federal regulations.
- Established positive, stimulating learning environment for students and exciting education-focused setting for teachers.
- Allocated school budgets and solicited additional funding from grant programs with well-written applications.
- Enhanced the quality of special education programs by implementing evidence-based instructional strategies and interventions.
- Managed budgetary allocations for the special education department, maximizing resources to improve student outcomes.
- Implemented professional development initiatives for special education staff to enhance teaching techniques and knowledge of current best practices.
- Promoted an inclusive learning environment by fostering collaboration between special education and general education personnel.
- Ensured compliance with federal and state mandates related to special education services by maintaining accurate documentation and staying informed on policy updates.
- Advocated for the needs of students with disabilities in school-wide decision-making processes, ensuring equitable access to resources and opportunities.
- Provided ongoing support and mentorship for newly hired special education personnel, facilitating their successful integration into the school community.
- Evaluated and supervised itinerant teachers and support staff based on student needs.
Assistant Principal, Dublin Elementary School
Pulaski County Public Schools
08.2017 - 01.2018
- Assisted with management and supervision of approximately 50 teachers and staff.
- Responsible for chairing child study team and monitoring progress of at-risk students.
- Performed classroom evaluations to assess teacher strategies and effectiveness.
- Supervised and evaluated teaching and support staff through instructional leadership and professional development.
- Trained teachers on effective teaching techniques, classroom management strategies, and behavior modification.
- Monitored student behavior and enforced discipline policies.
- Built productive relationships with parents of students facing difficult situations at school or at home.
- Collaborated with school board officials to assess areas for improvement in curricula, classrooms, testing and student activities.
- Built and maintained positive relationships with diverse stakeholders, such as parents, school volunteers and outside agencies.
- Partnered with principal to administer school program in alignment with vision and goals, providing positive, high-expectation academic environment.
Special Education Teacher, Pulaski Middle School
Pulaski County Public Schools
08.2014 - 08.2017
- Maintained case load of up to 20 students (progress reports, IEP development, BIP development, and monitoring of educational progress)
- Redirected students using Positive Behavior Support (PBS).
- Led interesting and diverse group activities to engage students in course material.
- Instructed students with physical and cognitive disabilities.
- Taught students across multiple classifications and degrees of special needs.
- Delivered effective and differentiated classroom instruction to range of diverse students.
- Cultivated connections and strong student rapport to foster classroom engagement, in addition to recording student progress to inform parents and school administration.
- Modified general education curriculum for special-needs students using various instructional techniques and technologies.
- Partnered with general education teachers from across academic departments.
- Prepared and implemented lesson plans covering required course topics.
- Created and managed IEPs to define student learning objectives and educational strategies, in addition to applying instructional knowledge and methods to support goals.
- Worked with administrators on behavioral issues to support needs of students.
- Supported student skill development in alignment with personal and academic goals.
Special Education Teacher, Benjamin Franklin
Franklin County Public Schools
08.2006 - 08.2014
- Modified general education curriculum for special-needs students using various instructional techniques and technologies.
- Partnered with general education teachers from across academic departments.
- Taught students across multiple classifications and degrees of special needs.
- Cultivated connections and strong student rapport to foster classroom engagement, in addition to recording student progress to inform parents and school administration.
- Instructed students with physical and cognitive disabilities.
- Delivered effective and differentiated classroom instruction to range of neurodiverse students.
- Created and managed IEPs to define student learning objectives and educational strategies, in addition to applying instructional knowledge and methods to support goals.
- Redirected students using Positive Behavior Support (PBS).
- Helped students with special needs integrate into general classroom environments by advocating for individual requirements and helping teachers solve problems.
- Implemented behavior modification techniques to improve student social and academic performance.
- Coordinated regular meetings to share and analyze student performance data and success plans with colleagues and parents.
- Developed and implemented behavior management plans to improve student behavior.
- Promoted memory, cognition and language development with hands-on activities and individualized instruction.
- Facilitated small group instruction to address individual learning needs.
- Collaborated with other educators to develop instructional strategies.
- Worked closely with parents and guardians to address students' issues on multiple fronts.
- Monitored student performance to evaluate effectiveness of instructional strategies.
- Developed Individual Education Plans for students with special needs.
- Maintained accurate records of student progress and attendance.
- Eighth grade team leader. Planned and organized 8th grade field trip
Education
Doctor of Education - Teacher Education And Leadership
Radford University
Radford, VA12.2022
Specialist of Education - Teacher Education And Leadership
Old Dominion University
Norfolk, VA08.2017
Master of Science - Special Education
Old Dominion University
Norfolk, VA12.2009
Bachelor of Science - Psychology
Virginia Tech
Blacksburg, VA05.1995
Skills
- Policy development and enforcement
- Relationship building and networking
- Policy and procedure adherence
- Budget creation
- Grant writing
- Group facilitation and presentations
- Process improvements
- Academic administration
- Staff Development
- Educational staff supervision
- Instructional leadership
- Multitasking Abilities
- Community Relations
Work Preference
Work Type
Full TimeWork Location
On-SiteRemoteHybridImportant To Me
Company CultureWork-life balanceAffiliations
- VEA
- VCASE
- CASE
- CEC- Council for exceptional Children
- Alpha Delta Kappa
Timeline
Assistant Superintendent of Student Services
Pulaski County Public Schools
07.2023 - Current
Director of Special Education
Pulaski County Public Schools
01.2018 - 06.2023
Assistant Principal, Dublin Elementary School
Pulaski County Public Schools
08.2017 - 01.2018
Special Education Teacher, Pulaski Middle School
Pulaski County Public Schools
08.2014 - 08.2017
Special Education Teacher, Benjamin Franklin
Franklin County Public Schools
08.2006 - 08.2014
Doctor of Education - Teacher Education And Leadership
Radford University
Specialist of Education - Teacher Education And Leadership
Old Dominion University
Master of Science - Special Education
Old Dominion University
Bachelor of Science - Psychology
Virginia Tech
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