Summary
Work History
Education
Skills
Leadership Profile
Timeline
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Saunje Fertil
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Saunje Fertil

Charlotte,NC

Summary

Equity-driven leader with over 27 years of experience leading people, programs, and systems to achieve measurable outcomes. Recognized for strategic thinking, inclusive leadership, and the ability to cultivate high-performing teams through coaching, data-informed practices, and collaborative partnerships resulting in sustained growth and full goal attainment.

Work History

Assistant Principal

Charlotte Mecklenburg School System
Charlotte, NC
08.2023 - Current
  • Developed a 3-phase strategy to move our school out of low-performing status by 2026, that includes an equity-centered behavior support system, high-dosage tutoring, and Literacy through the Content Areas
  • 2023-24- Through the implementation of a Restorative Practices Framework, reduced out-of-school suspensions by 76%
  • 2023-24- Reduced the chronic absenteeism rate by 3.2 percentage points
  • 2024-25- Sustained minimal suspension rate while dissolving disproportionate rates of suspensions among African-American students
  • 2024-25- Designed a Fluency Forward Model, increasing K-2 early literacy achievement outcomes by 19 percentage points.
  • 2024-25- Implemented a co-teaching model in ELA, raising our school a letter grade in Reading
  • Developed and implemented a professional development plan for staff, leading to 81.1% growth per our school performance grade
  • Crafted an auditing, coaching, and feedback system with an accompanying data tracker that supported teacher growth, strengthened fidelity to schoolwide expectations, and promoted equitable student outcomes by aligning practice with identified indicators
  • 2025-26- Exceeded both growth and proficiency expectations in all content areas to raise our overall performance grade another letter
  • 2025-26- Built capacity in teachers to implement standards-based instruction and a Pre-teach, Reteach, Assess model which elevated our school out of the "Low-Performing School" state designation

Managing Director, Program Strategy/Learning and Development

Teach For America North Carolina
Charlotte, NC
06.2021 - 06.2023
  • Set the vision and direction for the program to achieve coherent, connected, and equitable corps member experience across the state
  • Coordinated professional networking and learning summits where 98% of participants reported relevant and immediately applicable content
  • Streamlined program vision, goals, and objectives among the subregions across the state and aligned with the national strategy to achieve 87% corps member satisfaction results
  • Provided direct consultation and coaching to Managing Directors of Programs in the state subregional teams regarding the implementation of a statewide model
  • Fostered and maintained trusting relationships within the organization and beyond, that strategically bolstered our program work; Built relationships with external stakeholders
  • Structured, oversaw, and executed learning experiences grounded in best practices in andragogy
  • Collaborated across functional teams to drive continuous improvement, investing 100% of our members in learning and development
  • Led and developed a high-performing program team, elevating their strengths to actualize a quality corps member experience in North Carolina
  • Collected, analyzed, and synthesized data to inform the work of the team
  • Served as the Preservice Lead/Contact for the region
    Manager, owner, consultant, helper, and approver of multiple projects

Director, Program Design and Data Strategy

Teach For America Charlotte-Piedmont Triad
Charlotte, NC
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
Charlotte, NC
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
Charlotte, NC
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
Charlotte, NC
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
Charlotte, NC
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
Charlotte, NC
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, NC
07.2014

Master of Arts - Teaching

National University
La Jolla, CA
05.2008

National Board For Professional Teaching Standards -

Middle Childhood Generalist Certification
01.2004

Bachelor of Science - Early Childhood And Elementary Education

University of Montevallo
Montevallo, AL
05.1998

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

Assistant Principal

Charlotte Mecklenburg School System
08.2023 - Current

Managing Director, Program Strategy/Learning and Development

Teach For America North Carolina
06.2021 - 06.2023

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

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