Saunje Fertil
Charlotte,NC
Summary
Experienced instructional leader and empowering leader of teams, with a profound commitment to diversity, equity, inclusiveness, belonging, and anti-racism; Strategic thinker with 18+ years of success making impactful change through data strategy, people coaching, and development, creating and cultivating high-performance teams, designing and executing first-rate programs, and leveraging sustainable partnerships. Reveling in opportunities to collaborate across communities and functions has led to as high as 56% growth in a year, and as high as 100% accomplishment outcomes.
Overview
24
24
years of professional experience
Work History
Managing Director, Program Strategy
Teach For America North Carolina
06.2021 - Current
- Sets vision and direction for the program to achieve coherent, connected, and equitable corps member experience across North Carolina.
- Aligns program vision, goals, and objectives with statewide and national strategy to achieve 87% of corps member satisfaction results.
- Provides direct advice, consultation, and coaching to Managing Directors of Programs in Eastern North Carolina and Charlotte-Piedmont Triad regarding implementation of the statewide model.
- Fosters and maintains trusting relationships within the organization and beyond, that strategically bolster our program work; Builds relationships with external stakeholders, 98% of whom are confident in our ability to develop equity-minded leaders.
- Structures, oversees, and executes learning experiences grounded in best practices in andragogy.
- Collaborates across functional teams to drive continuous improvement, investing 100% of our members in learning and development.
- Leads and develops a high-performing team, elevating their strengths to actualize a quality corps member experience in North Carolina
- Collects, analyzes, and synthesizes data to inform the work of the team.
Director, Program Design and Data Strategy
Teach For America Charlotte-Piedmont Triad
06.2018 - 06.2021
- Innovated cutting-edge approaches to learning and development in Charlotte-Piedmont Triad.
- Redesigned the tenets of the corps member program and experience model.
- Composed our localized Theory of Leadership Development which remains consistent and pervasive throughout our program execution.
- Negotiated new annual contracts and service agreements with vendors to achieve quality outputs.
- Fostered a work culture of collaboration and inclusion.
- Applied outcomes data to evaluate and improve operations and the members' experience.
- Developed impactful and strategic partnerships.
- Managed and trained part-time staff to facilitate learning for our corps.
- Curated relevant and meaningful learning experiences for our corps of 190+ participants.
- Collaborated to implement strategies and solutions to build and improve our corps culture where participants are engaged with the vast TFA ecosystem, the communities we serve, and the issues that inspired them to join the corps.
Alumni Coach, Leroy "Pop" Miller Fellowship
Teach For America Charlotte
09.2016 - 06.2018
- Provided rigorous leadership development programming, while also serving as the team's data strategist.
- Disaggregated progress data, provided insights, and led data analyses.
- Initiated the team's response to data and action steps
- Supported alumni teachers to achieve desired student and personal leadership outcomes.
- Restructured the fellowship to include the assessment of leadership competencies in fellows, catapulting 79% of them into school leadership roles.
School Improvement Specialist
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools
08.2012 - 09.2016
- Collaborated with administrators to develop turn-around plans for severely underperforming schools, driving 22% growth in one year and getting schools out of "priority" status.
- Designed, implemented, and managed successful training programs to meet department and school needs.
- Designed upbeat and interesting learning sessions and supported implementation.
- Teamed with subject matter experts in the evaluation and revision of training tools in order to continually improve learning platforms.
- Observed and provided feedback and coaching to teachers
- Mapped curriculum and created pacing guides to support teaching teams
- Facilitated team meetings to create synergy and alignment with overall objectives.
Principal Intern
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools
08.2015 - 08.2016
- Led curriculum and assessment implementation, and ensured consistency within the school program and alignment with state and other rigorous standards.
- Conducted 30% of teacher observations and provided real-time feedback to increase student outcomes
- Coordinated testing and assessment
- Communicated regularly with families, responding to their concerns promptly and effectively.
- Analyzed school-wide data in order to design responsive and effective student interventions.
- Championed a healthy work and learning culture
- Facilitated team and staff meetings
Curriculum Coordinator and Staff Developer
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools
06.2004 - 06.2012
- Charter member of the school start-up team
- Served as testing coordinator
- Served as Principal Designee
- Developed and delivered training programs and continuous professional development.
- Designed, oversaw, and monitored the progress of the overall program.
- Created and managed continuous improvement classes and training programs for teachers.
- Model taught and co-taught with teachers to develop efficacy and confidence.
- Performed reviews of teacher work performance to support in areas in need of additional training.
- Designed the instructional framework for a dual language immersion school.
- Achieved the Ronald P. Simpson #1 Magnet school in the Country Distinction due to program design, execution, and student performance outcomes.
- Attained 36% growth to achieve 92% overall proficiency.
- Conducted data analysis, lesson planning, and learning environment workshops yielding desired student achievement outcomes.
- Collaborated with the School Leadership Team to ensure a high-quality school experience for all learners and staff members.
- Co-designed college courses and curricula with The University of North Carolina Charlotte for dual language teacher certification.
Lead Teacher
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools
08.1999 - 08.2004
- Mentored fellow teachers and led professional learning communities to optimize the quality of instruction across the school network.
- Created an impact network with the community that boosted family involvement by 80% and maximized student outcomes to 100% proficiency rates for three consecutive years.
- Planned and implemented rigorous, differentiated, and relevant learning experiences, that enhanced the overall development and growth of every student.
- Communicated frequently with parents about student growth and progress, recommending at-home reinforcement to support students not demonstrating mastery.
- Worked one-on-one with students and student teachers to increase overall classroom success.
- Developed and optimized a rich learning environment by capitalizing on diverse engagement strategies and enriching teaching techniques.
- Guided student teachers and teaching aides in classroom management, leading by example and thoroughly answering questions.
Education
North Carolina School Administration Licensure - Education Administration
Queens University of Charlotte
Charlotte, NC07.2014
Master of Arts - Teaching
National University
La Jolla, CA05.2008
National Board For Professional Teaching Standards -
Middle Childhood Generalist Certification
01.2004
Bachelor of Science - Early Childhood And Elementary Education
University of Montevallo
Montevallo, AL05.1998
Skills
- Creativity
- Hiring and Onboarding
- Strategic Planning
- Program Optimization
- Culture Building
- Verbal and Written Communication
- Mobilizing Teams
- Coaching, Mentorship, and Development
- Framework Improvements
- Analysis
- Activation
- Systems-Change
Leadership Profile
- Visionary
- Innovative
- Catalytic
- Inclusive
- Equity-Centric
- Mutualistic
- Culture-Invested
Timeline
Managing Director, Program Strategy
Teach For America North Carolina
06.2021 - Current
Director, Program Design and Data Strategy
Teach For America Charlotte-Piedmont Triad
06.2018 - 06.2021
Alumni Coach, Leroy "Pop" Miller Fellowship
Teach For America Charlotte
09.2016 - 06.2018
Principal Intern
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools
08.2015 - 08.2016
School Improvement Specialist
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools
08.2012 - 09.2016
Curriculum Coordinator and Staff Developer
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools
06.2004 - 06.2012
Lead Teacher
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools
08.1999 - 08.2004
North Carolina School Administration Licensure - Education Administration
Queens University of Charlotte
Master of Arts - Teaching
National University
National Board For Professional Teaching Standards -
Middle Childhood Generalist Certification
Bachelor of Science - Early Childhood And Elementary Education
University of Montevallo