Timeline
Work History
Overview
Education
Skills
Summary
Certification
Hi, I’m

Sonya Jane Olopai

Educator
Puyallup,WA
Sonya Jane Olopai

Timeline

English Language Teacher

CNMI Public School System
08.2021 - 07.2025

English Language Teacher

CNMI PSS - Hopwood Middle School
08.2011 - 06.2021

English Language Teacher

CNMI PSS - ChaCha Jr. High School
02.2007 - 06.2011

Framingham State University

Master of Arts from Education
06.2000 - 05.2002

Teacher

CNMI PSS - Dandan Elem. School
08.1999 - 06.2006

University of Guam

Bachelor of Arts from Elem. Education
06.1990 - 05.1997

Teacher Aide/Teacher

CNMI PSS - Oleai Elem. School
08.1989 - 06.1999

Northern Marianas College

Associate of Arts from Education
08.1985 - 05.1988

Work History

CNMI Public School System

English Language Teacher
08.2021 - 07.2025

Job overview

  • Established clear expectations for behavior, promoting a respectful classroom culture conducive to learning.
  • Tutored and assisted students to help with English language comprehension and mastery.
  • Delivered instruction in language arts encompassing reading, grammar, composition, and literature, working with teachers in other subjects to integrate skills across curriculum.
  • Improved student literacy levels through targeted intervention and support programs.
  • Graded students work based on completion, timeliness and accuracy and kept detailed records of grades.
  • Held parent-teacher conferences to communicate sensitive issues with parents.
  • Developed age-appropriate lesson content for literature pieces to meet diverse learning styles.
  • Maintained strong communication with parents, keeping them informed of their child''s progress in language acquisition and academic performance.
  • Communicated with parents in person, by email and phone to apprise of student progress, challenges and behavior issues.
  • Worked one-on-one with students needing individualized attention and developed with special learning plans for struggling people.
  • Planned lessons for classroom of 20 students per class.
  • Established positive classroom management boundaries to create safe, known environment for behavior among students.
  • Supported the professional development of colleagues by sharing best practices and innovative teaching strategies.
  • Successfully improved [Language]-speaking students' English grammar and vocabulary levels through written and interactive activities.
  • Integrated multimedia resources into lessons to enhance engagement and comprehension of complex topics.

CNMI PSS - Hopwood Middle School

English Language Teacher
08.2011 - 06.2021

Job overview

  • Established clear expectations for behavior, promoting a respectful classroom culture conducive to learning.
  • Supported students in development of skills and strategies to become independent and successful learners.
  • Contributed to the continuous improvement of the English Language program by participating in department meetings and curriculum review processes.
  • Encouraged students to take active role in learning and academic success.
  • Communicated with parents in person, by email and phone to apprise of student progress, challenges and behavior issues.
  • Managed all aspects of extracurricular activities, including planning events, coordinating schedules, and supervising students during field trips.
  • Improved student literacy levels through targeted intervention and support programs.
  • Attended department meetings to develop and update course curricula.
  • Designed and implemented differentiated instruction to accommodate diverse learning needs and styles.
  • Enhanced students'' reading and writing skills by implementing engaging literature-based activities.
  • Developed a positive classroom environment by incorporating collaborative learning strategies.
  • Planned and implemented lessons to positively increase vocabulary and sentence structure skills.
  • Graded students work based on completion, timeliness and accuracy and kept detailed records of grades.
  • Developed and implemented behavior management plans to address student issues.
  • Identified students struggling with material and made arrangements to meet one-on-one during study hall or other time periods to provide additional instruction in one-on-one environment.

CNMI PSS - ChaCha Jr. High School

English Language Teacher
02.2007 - 06.2011

Job overview

  • Developed and implemented variety of instructional strategies to meet diverse needs of students.
  • Supported development of individualized education plans for students with special needs.
  • Established clear expectations for behavior, promoting a respectful classroom culture conducive to learning.
  • Supported students in development of skills and strategies to become independent and successful learners.
  • Held parent-teacher conferences to communicate sensitive issues with parents.
  • Managed all aspects of extracurricular activities, including planning events, coordinating schedules, and supervising students during field trips.
  • Promoted culture of inclusion, respect and collaboration in classroom.
  • Developed a positive classroom environment by incorporating collaborative learning strategies.
  • Designed and facilitated group projects to foster teamwork and problem-solving skills.
  • Prepared, administered and corrected weekly tests and examinations to observe student overall performance.
  • Kept classroom organized, clean and safe for students and visitors.
  • Improved student literacy levels through targeted intervention and support programs.
  • Assessed student progress and provided feedback to improve performance and establish academic success.
  • Supported the professional development of colleagues by sharing best practices and innovative teaching strategies.
  • Encouraged students to take active role in learning and academic success.
  • Built relationships with students to understand obstacles to learning such as difficult home situations, illness, or social hurdles.
  • Enhanced students'' reading and writing skills by implementing engaging literature-based activities.

CNMI PSS - Dandan Elem. School

Teacher
08.1999 - 06.2006

Job overview

  • Managed classroom behavior effectively by establishing clear expectations, modeling appropriate conduct, and consistently enforcing established rules and consequences.
  • Differentiated instruction to accommodate diverse learning needs, ensuring each student had an equal opportunity for success.
  • Maintained accurate records of student progress, attendance, and behavior to facilitate ongoing communication with parents about their child''s educational journey.
  • Enhanced classroom engagement through the use of interactive teaching methods, such as group projects and hands-on activities.
  • Developed strong relationships with students, parents, and colleagues by maintaining open lines of communication and fostering a supportive learning environment.
  • Assessed student performance regularly using both formative and summative assessments to inform future lesson planning.
  • 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.
  • Organized extracurricular activities such as clubs or field trips that enriched students' learning experiences outside traditional classroom settings.
  • Integrated cultural awareness into lessons by incorporating diverse perspectives and materials into the curriculum.
  • Fostered positive learning environment that encouraged student curiosity and critical thinking.
  • Enhanced literacy skills with targeted reading programs.
  • Increased parental involvement in students' education by organizing regular communication and events.

CNMI PSS - Oleai Elem. School

Teacher Aide/Teacher
08.1989 - 06.1999

Job overview

  • Enhanced classroom engagement through the use of interactive teaching methods, such as group projects and hands-on activities.
  • Maintained accurate records of student progress, attendance, and behavior to facilitate ongoing communication with parents about their child''s educational journey.
  • Differentiated instruction to accommodate diverse learning needs, ensuring each student had an equal opportunity for success.
  • Assessed student performance regularly using both formative and summative assessments to inform future lesson planning.
  • 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.
  • Continuously pursued professional development opportunities such as workshops or conferences to stay current in educational trends.
  • Integrated cultural awareness into lessons by incorporating diverse perspectives and materials into the curriculum.
  • Utilized data-driven instruction to tailor lessons for improved academic performance.
  • Increased parental involvement in students' education by organizing regular communication and events.

Overview

36
years of professional experience
12
years of post-secondary education

Education

Framingham State University
Framingham, MA

Master of Arts from Education
06.2000 - 05.2002

University of Guam
Guam, USA

Bachelor of Arts from Elem. Education
06.1990 - 05.1997

Northern Marianas College
Saipan, MP

Associate of Arts from Education
08.1985 - 05.1988

Skills

Reading comprehension

Lesson planning

Teaching strategies

Online teaching

Student motivation

Vocabulary building

Parent communication

One-on-one tutoring

Summary

Passionate Teacher provides students with exceptional learning opportunities and support of educational endeavors. Skilled implementer of diverse instruction methods for cultivating fruitful learning environment for all. Positively motivates students with individual guidance and empathetic mentorship. Proactive and goal-oriented professional with excellent time management and problem-solving skills. Known for reliability and adaptability, with swift capacity to learn and apply new skills. Committed to leveraging these qualities to drive team success and contribute to organizational growth.

Certification

  • Middle School ELA, CNMI PSS - 10-year certification (2023 - 2033)
  • Licensed ELA Teacher - 2011 - present (as per Board of Education policy)