Sonja Griffin
Rochester,New York
Summary
Culturally Relevant Instructional Leader with over fifteen years of education and leadership experience. Extensive knowledge base in meeting the specific academic and social-emotional needs of students from diverse backgrounds. Goal-oriented, student-centered instructor, visionary facilitator, analytical problem solver, and motivational instructional coach driven to help create an educational environment that promotes academic success for all students and ensures educational equity in all areas of learning.
Overview
18
18
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Assistant Principal
West Irondequoit Central School District
01.2024 - Current
- Led meetings to convey policy changes, gather information, and assess employee thoughts.
- Supported hiring, training, and disciplinary action in compliance with legal guidelines and requirements.
- Performed classroom evaluations to assess teacher strategies and effectiveness.
- Oversaw schedule management and protocols for orientation, registration, and related activities.
- Supervised and evaluated teaching and support staff through instructional leadership and professional development.
- Built productive relationships with parents of students facing difficult situations at school or at home.
- Helped students develop important learning skills and good study habits useful in trade school or college education.
- Partnered with principal to administer school program in alignment with vision and goals, providing positive, high-expectation academic environment.
LEAD TEACHER MENTOR
Rochester City School District
08.2018 - 01.2024
- Provide intensive instructional support guided by four Domains of Danielson's Framework for Teaching: Planning and Preparation, Classroom Environment, Instruction, and Professional Responsibilities
- Establish positive relationships with teachers and provide timely, specific oral and written feedback on classroom observations
- Analyze student work and data to support teachers with identifying instructional goals and developing long-range plans
- Examine Common Core teaching standards and direct classroom application with teachers
- Explore and facilitate professional opportunities for newly hired teachers
- Examine student work with teachers and discuss effective assessment techniques
- Explore classroom management techniques, including implementing Culturally Responsive Teaching
- Develop and optimize rich learning environments by capitalizing on diverse engagement strategies and enriching teaching techniques
- Observe and record teacher methods to suggest improvements and increase student interest.
SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHER
Rochester City School District
08.2006 - 08.2018
- Responsible for delivering instruction to students with various classifications, including students diagnosed with Autism
- Over ten years of experience working in Self-contained and Integrated Co-Teaching Classrooms
- Develop lesson plans and deliver Specially Designed Instruction that aligned with Common Core Standards and provide different approaches to learning based on students' Individual Educational Learning Plans
- Create and monitor SMART goals with students based on learning needs
- Collaborate with students, parents, support staff, counselors, and administrators to evaluate student progress
- Supervise and mentor teacher assistants and paraprofessionals who work with students with disabilities
- Design individual education plans to encourage student growth according to different learning abilities and needs
- Implement behavior modification techniques to improve student social and academic performance
- Provide professional development training to educate faculty and staff on special education laws and regulations
- Create and manage IEPs to define student learning objectives and educational strategies and apply instructional knowledge and methods to support goals.
Education
School District Leadership Certification -
Bank Street College of Education
New York, NY07.2020
Master of Education Leadership -
Bank Street College of Education
New York, NY05.2020
Certificate of Specialization in Autism -
Nazareth University
Rochester, NY06.2017
Masters in Education -
Roberts Wesleyan College
Rochester, NY05.2008
Bachelor of Science - Human Services/ Health Science Counseling
SUNY College At Brockport
Brockport, NY05.2000
Skills
- Strong talent for finding unconventional solutions to imposing problems
- Exhibit cultural awareness that is grounded in authentic relationships, which honors cultural identities of all school community members
- Ability to foster teacher leaders in support of collective responsibility, innovation, and improved pedagogy
- Leads others individually or in teams to ensure that curriculum, instruction, and assessment are deeply rooted in culturally responsive approaches
- Experience in facilitating professional development training on implementing restorative practice strategies
Certification
- School Building Leader, Initial Certificate
- Childhood Education (Grades 1-6) Generalist
- Middle Childhood Education (Grades 5-9) Generalist
- Students with Disabilities (Grades 1-6)
- Students with Disabilities (Grades 5-9)
- Certificate of Specialization in Autism
Timeline
Assistant Principal
West Irondequoit Central School District
01.2024 - Current
LEAD TEACHER MENTOR
Rochester City School District
08.2018 - 01.2024
SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHER
Rochester City School District
08.2006 - 08.2018
School District Leadership Certification -
Bank Street College of Education
Master of Education Leadership -
Bank Street College of Education
Certificate of Specialization in Autism -
Nazareth University
Masters in Education -
Roberts Wesleyan College
Bachelor of Science - Human Services/ Health Science Counseling
SUNY College At Brockport
- School Building Leader, Initial Certificate
- Childhood Education (Grades 1-6) Generalist
- Middle Childhood Education (Grades 5-9) Generalist
- Students with Disabilities (Grades 1-6)
- Students with Disabilities (Grades 5-9)
- Certificate of Specialization in Autism
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