Hi, I’m
Shawn Sparks SBEC, CTRC, CVA
Waxahachie,Texas
Summary
Compassionate, creative and effective Teacher with valuable experience in classroom administration, professional development and project planning. Equipped with extensive background in versatile education environments. Student-centric instructor, academic facilitator and motivational coach. Competent at performing independently or as member of teaching team. Well-versed in classroom and online technologies.
Overview
27
years of professional experience
1
Certification
Work History
Advantage Academy Charter School
Teacher - 6th Grade
08.2023 - Current
Job overview
- Developed strong relationships with students, parents, and colleagues by maintaining open lines of communication and fostering a supportive learning environment.
- Increased student literacy rates by implementing targeted reading strategies in individualized instruction plans.
- Enhanced classroom engagement through the use of interactive teaching methods, such as group projects and hands-on activities.
- Collaborated with other teachers to plan interdisciplinary units that connected subjects and promoted deeper understanding among students.
- Identified struggling students early on and provided additional support through tutoring sessions and modified lesson plans.
- Differentiated instruction to accommodate diverse learning needs, ensuring each student had an equal opportunity for success.
- Integrated cultural awareness into lessons by incorporating diverse perspectives and materials into the curriculum.
- Assessed student performance regularly using both formative and summative assessments to inform future lesson planning.
- Maintained accurate records of student progress, attendance, and behavior to facilitate ongoing communication with parents about their child''s educational journey.
- Organized extracurricular activities such as clubs or field trips that enriched students'' learning experiences outside the traditional classroom setting.
- Served on school committees focused on curriculum development, teacher evaluations, or community outreach initiatives to contribute positively to the overall school climate.
- Kept students on-task with proactive behavior modification and positive reinforcement strategies.
- Communicated frequently with parents, students, and faculty to provide feedback and discuss instructional strategies.
- Supported student physical, mental, and social development using classroom games and activities.
- Participated in parent teacher conference to discuss developments of students and increase support.
- Developed and administered tests for students to measure academic proficiency and understanding.
- Modified lessons and curriculum to accommodate diverse learners by using strategies such as peer-assisted learning and group work.
- Shifted between formal and informal methods of teaching to keep students engaged.
- Participated in department meetings to provide input to colleagues about student achievement and improvement.
Advantage Academy Charter School
Teacher - Special Education
08.2023 - Current
Job overview
- Developed strong relationships with students, parents, and colleagues by maintaining open lines of communication and fostering a supportive learning environment.
- Increased student literacy rates by implementing targeted reading strategies in individualized instruction plans.
- Enhanced classroom engagement through the use of interactive teaching methods, such as group projects and hands-on activities.
- Collaborated with other teachers to plan interdisciplinary units that connected subjects and promoted deeper understanding among students.
- Identified struggling students early on and provided additional support through tutoring sessions and modified lesson plans.
- Enhanced learning experiences by incorporating specialized tools and resources tailored to the needs of special education students.
- Continuously pursued professional development opportunities such as workshops or conferences to stay current in educational trends.
- Managed classroom behavior effectively by establishing clear expectations, modeling appropriate conduct, and consistently enforcing established rules and consequences.
- Supported students in developing social skills through structured activities and positive reinforcement techniques.
- Assisted in creating a safe and nurturing classroom environment that promoted emotional well-being and academic growth for all students.
- Provided one-on-one support for students with learning disabilities, enabling them to excel in their coursework.
- Implemented behavior modification strategies, resulting in improved self-regulation and classroom participation among students.
- Supported student physical, mental, and social development using classroom games and activities.
- Communicated frequently with parents, students, and faculty to provide feedback and discuss instructional strategies.
- Worked with staff members and teachers to design comprehensive and individualized plans to optimize student education.
- Implemented reading and writing workshops to increase student literacy and support school reading programs.
- Wrote IEPs using Frontline and by working closely with teachers, diagnosticians and parents.
- Implemented IEP's in both push in and pull out rolls
- Worked with sever AU and ID students
- Provided dyslexia intervention small group instruction using Reading by Design
YMCA Dallas
YMCA Afterschool Site Director
01.2023 - 08.2023
Job overview
- Follow prescribed curriculum
- Organize Children’s activities ages 4 to 12
- Classroom management
- Attend continuing education courses as assigned
- Maintain safety and structure for student wellbeing
- Submit roster and site reports on time
- Set up and maintain off site class environment
- Provide minor first aid.
- Enhanced operational efficiency by streamlining processes and implementing cost-effective solutions.
- Improved customer satisfaction ratings by addressing concerns promptly and implementing feedback-driven improvements.
- Cultivated a culture of excellence by setting clear expectations for team members while providing support for their professional development goals.
Landis Worldwide LTD
COO/Partner
01.2007 - 05.2022
Job overview
- Operations Experience - Wrote and implemented training manuals and company policy handbooks
- Generated employee and management communication and information dissemination, Designed and implemented work processes
- Created and implemented emergency and preparedness protocols, Reviewed and created Inventory control and maintenance processes, Governed responses for service staff to respond to customer inquiry and concerns
- Mediated management disputes
- Large Event Coordination - Handling security, catering, personnel, client needs, entertainment, Anticipating challenges and creating plans to mitigate
- Goal setting
- Business Administration - Ensuring licensing and health and safety legislation compliance, Business promotion and marketing, Statistical and financial record keeping, Negotiated contracts and coordinated with production companies for major television and cable networks, Assisted with maintaining, patents and trademarks, Liaised with Work Force Commission, city government officials, employees, suppliers, licensing authorities, contractors, and sale representatives
- Oversaw and resolved grievances brought to federal, state, and local government agencies by clients or workers.
- Boosted operational efficiency by streamlining processes and implementing cost-saving measures.
- Spearheaded strategic planning initiatives for long-term growth and profitability.
- Managed budgets and financial forecasting to ensure fiscal responsibility and maintain profit margins.
Rockwall ISD
Teacher - Social Studies and Geography
08.1999 - 01.2005
Job overview
- Subjects– Social Studies, 7 years; Latin, 1 year; German, 1 year; Biology, one semester
- Communicated frequently with parents, students, and faculty to provide feedback and discuss instructional strategies.
- Personal Pedagogy Statement - The role of an educator is to foster and nurture a classroom culture of inquiry by facilitating participation without judgement using authentic assessment
- Planning - Developed lesson plans, identified instructional materials, Selected, designed, and organized objectives, strategies, and materials, researched, and incorporated current information into lessons, Created an effective classroom learning environment, Determined appropriate instruction pace through learning style assessments
- Collaboration—Cooperated with other staff members to identify student needs and developed proper action plans, participated in book selection and curriculum development, Participated in faculty committees, meetings, and programs program, Maintained professional competence through professional development
- Execution - Provided individualized and small group instruction, Student focused learning, Active learning, Empowered students through think-pair-share, peer teaching, and brain storming, Assessment - Authentic Assessment that measures 'intellectual accomplishments that are worthwhile, significant, and meaningful,' and not just multiple-choice standardized tests.
- Developed strong relationships with students, parents, and colleagues by maintaining open lines of communication and fostering a supportive learning environment.
- Increased student literacy rates by implementing targeted reading strategies in individualized instruction plans.
- Differentiated instruction to accommodate diverse learning needs, ensuring each student had an equal opportunity for success.
- Mentored new teachers, sharing best practices and providing guidance to help them adapt to their new roles successfully.
- Enhanced classroom engagement through the use of interactive teaching methods, such as group projects and hands-on activities.
- Organized extracurricular activities such as clubs or field trips that enriched students'' learning experiences outside the traditional classroom setting.
- Maintained accurate records of student progress, attendance, and behavior to facilitate ongoing communication with parents about their child''s educational journey.
- Served on school committees focused on curriculum development, teacher evaluations, or community outreach initiatives to contribute positively to the overall school climate.
- Continuously pursued professional development opportunities such as workshops or conferences to stay current in educational trends.
Sidley and Austin
Docketing and Files Management
07.1997 - 01.1999
Job overview
- Managed Attorney Docketing Schedules
- Filed maintenance fees etc
- For patents, trademarks, and copyrights
- Provided files for appropriate managing attorney regarding pending cases and cases maintenance
- Tracked and maintained files on and off premise
- Barcoded files for tracking
- Implemented tracking system
- Updated Data base for files tracking
- Updated and maintained legal library – helped research as needed
- Greeted clients
- Collaborated with legal assistants and paralegals to oversee filings for patent/trademark maintenance
- Communicated with Attorneys and their admin about filing dates and updated their calendars accordingly
- Pulled and provided files every morning on new actions based on government communications.
- Reduced misplaced documents by maintaining a clean and organized filing area, ensuring proper storage of important files.
- Expedited the retrieval process with an efficient digital filing system, enhancing overall productivity within the office.
- Collaborated on a team to overhaul outdated filing systems, resulting in improved accessibility of vital information.
- Assisted with document scanning projects to transition paper files into a secure electronic database.
- Supported office staff by locating and providing necessary documents in a timely manner, increasing workflow efficiency.
- Conducted regular audits of physical and digital filing systems to identify gaps or inconsistencies, ensuring accuracy and completeness.
- Ensured compliance with industry regulations by maintaining accurate documentation for audits and inspections.
- Streamlined file retrieval process through meticulous organization, reducing time spent searching for essential records.
Education
The University of Texas At Dallas , Richardson, TX
Teacher Certification Program from Secondary History
08.1999
University of Central Oklahoma , Edmond, OK
Bachelor of Arts from History
06.1996
University Overview
- cum laude graduate
- Study Abroad: [Germany], [Anthropology and History]
- [3.9] GPA
- Phi Alpha Theta
Skills
- Conflict Resolution
- Curriculum Implementation
- Student Engagement
- Small Group Instruction
- Classroom Instruction
- Inquiry-Based Learning
- Texas Teaching Credential
- Testing and Grading
- Program Development
- Performance Assessments
- Faculty Collaboration
- Technology Integration
- Literacy Development
- Serving Diverse Communities
- Standardized Testing
- Behavior Management
- Social-Emotional Learning Training
- Special Needs Students
- Special Education
- Differentiated Instruction
- Learning Style Assessment
- Lesson Planning
- Feedback implementation
- Growth mindset
- Active listening
- Parent-teacher communication
- Team building
- Time management
- Social-emotional learning
- Collaborative learning
- Interpersonal skills
- Social perceptiveness
- Needs Anticipation
- Client and Personnel Satisfaction
- Situational adaptation
- Task prioritization
- Due Diligence
- Trauma informed response
- Appeals management
- Risk Mitigation
- Proficient Communications
- Google Suite Frontline
- HMH
- Classlink
- Eduphoria
- Microsoft 365
- Adobe Suite
- Website building – WordPress, Wix, HTML, CSS, JavaScript
- Smart Contract Development
- Statistical Analysis and Data Mining
- Video Editing
- User Interface Design
- Social Media
- Graphic Design
- Project Management - Trello
- Computer Troubleshooting
- Accounting - QuickBooks
- Business and Data Analysis
- Marketing (SEO/SEM)
- Cloud and Distributed Computing
- Database Management
- Photo Editing
- Slack – Zoom
Certification
- Threat Assessment Team for Advantage Academy with Region 10 Certificates
- Certified Secondary History Teacher, TEA - Lifetime Certification
- Certified Dyslexia Intervention in Reading by Design
- Certified Victims’ Advocate, Barbri, Oklahoma State University, 10/01/22
- Certified Trauma Recovery Coach, International Association of Trauma Recovery Coaches, Bristol, England, 03/01/22
- Certified Trauma First Aid Technician, John Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, 04/01/22
- Provisional Certified Victim’s Advocate, National Advocate Credentialing Program, National Organization of Victim’s Assistance, Alexandria, Virginia, 04/01/22
- Certified in First Aid and CPR
- Certified By Texas as a Childcare Worker with Background Check and Finger Printing
- FBI and NSA Background Check available upon request
Accomplishments
- Maintained a 97% customer satisfaction rating over a 48-month period
- Raised employee retention rates by 75% over a 5-year period
- Created SEO strategy that improved organic search traffic to corporate website by 58%
- Worked with the CEO to analyze four computer systems and integrated chosen system
- Made appearances via Zoom to support victim in a case with the superior court of Halifax, Massachusetts
- Navigated through the Work Force Commission process and appeals system with 98% of cases resulting in favorable corporate outcomes
Organizations
- NOVA - National Organization of Victim’s Assistance - Member - Founded in 1975, NOVA is the oldest national victim assistance organization of its type in the United States and is the recognized leader in victim advocacy, education, and credentialing
- ISFP – International Society of Female Professionals - Lifetime Member - The International Society of Female Professionals (ISFP) is an organization dedicated to connecting, supporting, empowering, and advancing like-minded professional women
- IAOTRC - International Association of Trauma Recovery Coaching – Member – CTRC - We work to help survivors of trauma recover and build a life they love to live through certifying trauma recovery coaches, providing support for survivors, and offering training to anyone who wants to be trauma informed
- NACP – National Advocate Credentialing Program – Member - The Board introduced the NACP at NOVA’s 28th Annual Victim Assistance Conference in Nashville in 2002 and launched it in 2003. In 2012, the framework of NACP was used as the model for the development of the Department of Defense-Sexual Assault Advocate Certification Program, also known as D-SAACP
Timeline
Teacher - 6th Grade
Advantage Academy Charter School
08.2023 - Current
Teacher - Special Education
Advantage Academy Charter School
08.2023 - Current
YMCA Afterschool Site Director
YMCA Dallas
01.2023 - 08.2023
COO/Partner
Landis Worldwide LTD
01.2007 - 05.2022
Teacher - Social Studies and Geography
Rockwall ISD
08.1999 - 01.2005
Docketing and Files Management
Sidley and Austin
07.1997 - 01.1999
The University of Texas At Dallas
Teacher Certification Program from Secondary History
University of Central Oklahoma
Bachelor of Arts from History
- Threat Assessment Team for Advantage Academy with Region 10 Certificates
- Certified Secondary History Teacher, TEA - Lifetime Certification
- Certified Dyslexia Intervention in Reading by Design
- Certified Victims’ Advocate, Barbri, Oklahoma State University, 10/01/22
- Certified Trauma Recovery Coach, International Association of Trauma Recovery Coaches, Bristol, England, 03/01/22
- Certified Trauma First Aid Technician, John Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, 04/01/22
- Provisional Certified Victim’s Advocate, National Advocate Credentialing Program, National Organization of Victim’s Assistance, Alexandria, Virginia, 04/01/22
- Certified in First Aid and CPR
- Certified By Texas as a Childcare Worker with Background Check and Finger Printing
- FBI and NSA Background Check available upon request
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