Sean Keefe
Summary
I am an experienced English teacher with over 30 years in the field, dedicated to providing educational guidance to middle and high school students. I have the ability to adapt teaching methods and instructional materials to meet the unique needs of each student. My caring and enthusiastic nature is complemented by strong skills in academics and mentorship. I am committed to teaching students the principles and applications of critical thinking, particularly in problem-solving. I am devoted to and excel at building lasting relationships and collaborating with others to achieve shared objectives.
Overview
32
32
years of professional experience
Work History
Middle School Advisor (7th - 8th)
Graland Country Day School
08.2021 - Current
- Graland Middle School Advisory Team Cohort.
- Communicated with parents to encourage active participation in the education of their children.
- Established positive, stimulating learning environment for students within the advisory construct.
- Built productive relationships with parents of students facing difficult situations at school or home.
- Served as liaison between teachers and advisees to support students' educational, social, and emotional needs.
- Counseled students about rules and policies during school assemblies, fire drills, and lockdown drills.
Athletic Coach
Graland Country Day School
02.2021 - Current
- Worked collaboratively and enthusiastically with co-coaches and PE staff to support and advance the athletic landscape at Graland and help student-athletes develop good habits around fair play, teamwork, and sportsmanship.
- Developed game plans and adjusted to meet various game situations.
- Increased player strength, agility and game skills through creative practices and training sessions.
- Established clear benchmarks for performance and monitored individual and team progress.
- Developed team communications and information for meetings, practices and day of game logistics.
- Used critical thinking to break down problems, evaluate solutions and make decisions relating to program growth.
- Analyzed player skills to accurately assign players to teams and provided dynamic training for improvement.
- Conferred with fellow coaches to determine strengths and weaknesses in team rosters to develop plans for athlete improvement.
- Motivated athletes through team goals and positive team mindset.
- Evaluated individual knowledge, skills and strengths and assigned team positions to maximize talent areas.
Flex Teacher / 7th Grade History Teacher ('21)
Graland Country Day School
08.2020 - Current
- Communicated frequently with students and faculty to provide feedback and discuss best practice strategies on behalf of students.
- Incorporated various teaching strategies into the classroom across grades kindergarten through eighth and in multiple disciplines.
- Kept students on task with proactive behavior modification and positive reinforcement strategies.
- Worked cooperatively with other teachers, administrators, and parents to help students reach learning and personal growth objectives.
- Instructed students in core educational principles, concepts, and in-depth subject matter.
- Served as a chaperone on the '21 - '25 Southwest sixth-grade retreats and the '22 Washington D.C. seventh-grade trip and as an eighth-grade team member, chaperoned the civil rights trip since 2023.
- Worked collaboratively alongside students and teachers as Gates Innovation Lab Coach.
- Planned and supervised class projects, field trips and visits by guest speakers.
- Served as Pre-K - Eighth-Grade Buddy Liaison.
Chief Development Officer
MindSpark Learning
02.2018 - 08.2020
- Cultivated extensive donor prospects and industry partnerships to support mindSpark Learning programming, developed and contributed to donor database and worked with prospective donors and supporters continually to establish effective communications with them and cultivated healthy relationships.
Director of Alumni Engagement
J.K. Mullen High School
03.2015 - 02.2018
- Established alumni weekend celebration and alumni reunion committees at Mullen High School across thirty classes over three years.
- Established Mullen High School alumni award program and professional athlete alumni hall of fame.
- Aided in developing alumni giving plan, enabling Mullen High School to streamline giving portals for alumni.
- Developed and led online giving campaign at Mullen High School that raised over $15,000 and engaged hundreds of first-time alumni donors over three years.
English Teacher
J.K. Mullen High School
08.2000 - 03.2015
- Planned and prepared daily lesson plans and materials on grammar, vocabulary, writing, and literature.
- Developed and implemented lesson plans specific to language arts and elective courses such as rhetoric, creative writing, and film.
- Combined myriad English teaching methods and techniques to help students improve their results.
- Utilized curriculum which reflected the diverse educational and cultural background of the student body.
- Inspired academic success based on the belief that all students can achieve excellence.
- Supervised student progress in acquiring skills in accordance with Colorado state standards.
- Planned tests and assessment methods for checking students' skills as directed by the state standards of Colorado.
- Successfully established a positive learning environment to encourage a love of reading, critical thinking, and Socratic skills necessary for collegiate readiness.
- Adapted and modified instruction to suit various learning styles of students.
- Acted as a co-faculty sponsor for Lasallian Youth, student newspaper (Mullen Today), Students Against Destructive Decisions, Creative Writing Club, and KAIROS retreat adult leader.
Athletic Coach
J.K. Mullen High School
08.2000 - 03.2015
- Held head positions at both junior varsity and varsity levels in the areas of lacrosse and soccer over two decades.
- As boys' varsity soccer coach at Mullen High School from '08 - '10 compiled a 36-18-5 record that included back to back semi-final appearances in the Colorado 5A state playoffs.
- Three-time state champion assistant high school soccer coach.
- Established, implemented, and taught a program on athletic coaching formation.
- Stressed that athletes and coaching staffs display and promote good sportsmanship with officials and competing teams.
- Analyzed player skills to accurately assign players to teams and provide training for improvement.
- Monitored athletes during events and practice to quickly identify injuries.
- Supervised academic progress of student-athletes and scheduled tutoring services when needed.
- Maintained annual equipment inventory by storing, reconditioning and monitoring issued equipment.
- Established strong working relationships with news media outlets, school administration and team parents.
High School English and Social Studies Teacher
Colorado Academy
07.1997 - 06.2000
- Cultivated strong relationships with parents, maintaining open lines of communication to support student progress.
- Planned learning activities that provided students with opportunities to observe, question, and investigate social studies and literary topics.
- Taught a wide variation of English literature courses from Toni Morrison to the Enlightenment.
- Oversaw interim programs featuring creative writing and animal care.
- Club sponsor for the Environmental Club and Peace Jam.
- Coached junior varsity and varsity soccer and lacrosse (boys')
- Established and supported a positive educational environment for student learning.
Lead Fifth-Grade Teacher
Cherry Creek Academy
08.1996 - 07.1997
- Encouraged parental involvement in student learning through regular communication and parent-teacher conferences.
- Improved classroom management by implementing positive reinforcement strategies and setting clear expectations for behavior.
- Organized extracurricular activities to enhance the overall school experience for students, such as Reading Club and initiating the development of the school's first soccer team.
- Served as a librarian in conjunction with my responsibilities as a lead teacher.
- Increased overall class participation by creating an inclusive environment that valued all students'' opinions and ideas.
Substitute Teacher
Saint Anne's Episcopal School
09.1994 - 07.1996
- Followed classroom plans left by class teacher to continue student education and reinforce core concepts.
- Supervised lunchroom and recess activities.
- Upheld classroom routines to support student environments and maintain consistent schedules.
- Repeatedly requested as substitute teacher by teachers based on excellent past referrals and trusted performance.
- An inaugural coaching staff member for the school's first middle school boys' lacrosse team and coached fifth-grade boys' soccer and basketball.
- I helped launch the steering committee for the school's alumni association, which I am still affiliated.
English Teacher
The Oxford Academy
08.1993 - 08.1994
- Enhanced student comprehension by incorporating visual aids and hands-on activities in lessons.
- As an ESL teacher, developed innovative lesson plans to engage students in English language learning.
- Designed and implemented assessments to measure student progress in English language learning.
- Increased student motivation by providing timely feedback and recognizing individual achievements.
- Served as a dorm parent, tennis and soccer coach, and moderator for the Environmental and Indoor Soccer Clubs.
- Developed strong relationships with parents and guardians, fostering open communication regarding student progress and needs.
- Prepared comprehensive English curriculum for multiple classes.
Education
M. Ed: Emphasis in Lasallian Studies -
Saint Mary's College of California
Moraga, CA05.2017
Education and Teaching -
Metropolitan State College of Denver
Denver, CO05-2012
Bachelor of Arts - English/Ed
University of Colorado Boulder
Boulder, CO05.1993
Skills
- Organizational ability
- Student support
- Problem-solving
- Adaptability
- Team building
- Student achievement
- Standards of excellence
- Differentiated instruction
- Mentoring
- Student engagement
- Parent collaboration
- Academic advising
Affiliations
- Colorado State Board of Education, Educator Certificate English Language Arts (7-12) May '26
Timeline
Middle School Advisor (7th - 8th)
Graland Country Day School
08.2021 - Current
Athletic Coach
Graland Country Day School
02.2021 - Current
Flex Teacher / 7th Grade History Teacher ('21)
Graland Country Day School
08.2020 - Current
Chief Development Officer
MindSpark Learning
02.2018 - 08.2020
Director of Alumni Engagement
J.K. Mullen High School
03.2015 - 02.2018
English Teacher
J.K. Mullen High School
08.2000 - 03.2015
Athletic Coach
J.K. Mullen High School
08.2000 - 03.2015
High School English and Social Studies Teacher
Colorado Academy
07.1997 - 06.2000
Lead Fifth-Grade Teacher
Cherry Creek Academy
08.1996 - 07.1997
Substitute Teacher
Saint Anne's Episcopal School
09.1994 - 07.1996
English Teacher
The Oxford Academy
08.1993 - 08.1994
M. Ed: Emphasis in Lasallian Studies -
Saint Mary's College of California
Education and Teaching -
Metropolitan State College of Denver
Bachelor of Arts - English/Ed
University of Colorado Boulder
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