Susan Cotton
Experienced Educator
Arlington,WA
Summary
Knowledgeable educator with strong foundation in academic instruction and curriculum. Known for innovative teaching methodologies and ongoing engagement with current research and best practices, including National Board Certification three times. Passionate about building positive relationships when mentoring teachers and student teachers.
Overview
30
30
years of professional experience
6021
6021
years of post-secondary education
2
2
Languages
Work History
TEACHER
ARLINGTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Arlington, Washington
08.2018 - Current
- Taught fifth-grade and kindergarten, developing curriculum and instruction based on the relevant standards in all core subjects.
- Mentored new teachers including two student teachers, sharing best practices and providing guidance to help them adapt to their new roles successfully.
- Planned and presented engaging teacher Professional Development courses on math instruction and assessment.
- Served on school SIP leadership team for three years, representing fifth-grade and kindergarten.
- Continuously pursued professional development opportunities such as workshops, conferences, and professional reading to stay current in educational trends.
- 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.
- Differentiated instruction to accommodate diverse learning needs, ensuring each student had an equal opportunity for success.
- Created a full year of lessons and online testing materials to facilitate remote learning during quarantine.
- Maintained National Board Certification as a Middle Childhood Generalist for the second time.
PRINCIPAL
LAKEWOOD SCHOOL DISTRICT
Marysville, WA
07.2015 - 07.2018
- Researched and incorporated new educational trends and instructional strategies to optimize education effectiveness.
- Enhanced teacher effectiveness with comprehensive professional development programs and ongoing support.
- Developed data-driven initiatives such as PLCs and RTI to identify areas of improvement and implement targeted interventions for students in need.
- Implemented rigorous curriculum standards that aligned with state requirements to ensure academic excellence across all grade levels.
- Oversaw faculty hiring process ensuring highly qualified educators committed to student success were recruited and retained at the school level.
- Expanded extracurricular offerings to promote well-rounded student development both inside and outside the classroom.
- Performed classroom evaluations to assess teacher strategies and effectiveness.
- Monitored student behavior and enforced discipline policies.
- Trained teachers on effective teaching techniques, classroom management strategies, and behavior modification.
- Monitored student progress and implemented intervention strategies to support student success.
- Coordinated staff and student activities to promote a safe and productive learning environment.
- Allocated school budgets and solicited additional funding from grant programs such as AmeriCore with well-written applications.
TEACHER ON SPECIAL ASSIGNMENT
BELLINGHAM PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Bellingham, WA
08.2013 - 08.2015
- Co-chaired District Highly Capable Program Task Force.
- Co-led Comprehensive Program Review process and authored the policy proposal.
- Led professional development workshops for teachers on topics such as differentiated instruction techniques, enhancing district-wide instructional quality.
- Created math differentiation resources for teachers at all levels, K-5, and supported teachers with implementing them.
- Initiated and facilitated National Board Certification Cohort, supporting approximately 40 teachers through the certification process.
- Maintained National Board Certification as a Middle Childhood Generalist.
- Collaborated with other teacher leaders on district math adoption and coached teachers implementing the resource.
- Assisted teachers in developing strategies to improve instructional practices, resulting in improved student performance.
- Supported teachers to develop individualized learning plans to address diverse student needs and support academic growth.
TEACHER
BELLINGHAM PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Bellingham, WA
08.2010 - 08.2013
- Taught third-grade, developing curriculum and instruction based on the relevant standards in all core subjects.
- Mentored new teachers including 1 student teacher, sharing best practices and providing guidance to help them adapt to their new roles successfully.
- Planned and presented engaging teacher Professional Development courses on assessment and data-based instruction strategies.
- Served as the facilitator for the building Leadership Team.
- Continuously pursued professional development opportunities such as workshops or conferences to stay current in educational trends.
- 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 using GLAD strategies that connected subjects and promoted deeper understanding among students.
- Differentiated instruction to accommodate diverse learning needs, ensuring each student had an equal opportunity for success.
TEACHER
LAKE WASHINGTON SCHOOL DISTRICT
Redmond, WA
08.2001 - 08.2010
- Taught fourth-grade and kindergarten.
- Mentored 3 student teachers and several interns.
- Opened my classroom to colleagues from around the district as a Demonstration Classroom for Guided Reading.
- Achieved National Board Certification as a Middle Childhood Generalist.
- Led district Social Studies team for two years.
- Served on district Reading Curriculum Adoption team for two years an district Social Studies Adoption team for one year.
- Trained staff on instructional technology, reading and writing strategies.
- Wrote multiple grants for funding of arts and literacy programs.
TEACHER
SEATTLE SCHOOL DISTRICT
Seattle, WA
08.1998 - 08.2001
- Created multi-faceted integrated units for kindergarten and wrote grants to fund them
- Served as the building Social Studies liaison for two years.
TEACHER
PASCO SCHOOL DISTRICT
Pasco, WA
08.1995 - 08.1998
- Collaborated with other teacher leaders to create and lead training on ELL techniques.
- Taught first-grade and 4/5 split class.
- Taught in the Sheltered English Program for 3 years, teaching in both English and Spanish.
Education
RESIDENCY ADMINISTRATOR CERTIFICATE - School Leadership
WESTERN WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY
Bellingham, WA05-2015
National Board Certification - Middle Childhood Generalist
National Board Certification
01.2004 - 01.2014
MASTER OF ARTS - Curriculum and Instruction
UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON
Seattle, WA2000
BACHELOR OF ARTS - Elementary Education and Spanish Education
WHITWORTH UNIVERSITY
Spokane, WA1995
Skills
Online instruction
Staff development
Powerpoint presentations
Expertise in pedagogy and instruction
Mentoring students
Student engagement
Assessment design
Online instruction
Conferences and Professional Learning
- Turning the Tide - Science of Reading Conference, 2024
- Games, Ways to Build Math Fluency, 2023
- Foundations of Numerical Reasoning, Grades K-2, 2023
- How to Diversify Your Curriculum, 2023
- Google Certification 1, 2021
- Long Live Math Conference, 2020
- Be About it, Unpacking White Privilege, 2020
- Teach with Tech Conference, 2020
- NSTA National Conference, 2019 (Science and STEM)
- NCTM Conference, 2018
- ESD PBIS Training, Cohort 4, 2016, 2017
- PLCs and RTI: How to Build the Foundation for Effective Systematic Interventions, 2016
- UW 5D+ training (including Rater Reliability), 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017
- Mentoring Matters, 2014
- Solution Tree Summit - Professional Learning Communities at Work, 2012
- GLAD Tier 1 training, 2011
- National Board Facilitator training, 2006, 2013, 2014
- Spanish Immersion in Guatemala, 2004
- Spanish Immersion in Mexico, 2002
Grants And Publications
- Blog, https://mscottonscorner.com
- Destination Imagination - Using Play to Build Creativity and Emotional Regulation
- Motivating Minds, Bringing Math to Life with Literature and Games
- Connecting and Computing - Using Diverse Picture Books Inspire Mathematicians
- Super STEAM - Creating a Makerspace in the Classroom
- STEM in Action Grant
- Readers are Leaders grant, Funding for integrated literacy and content units for kindergarten
- Fractions are FUNdamental, Grant to fund implementation of arts infused fractions math unit
- National Geographic field trips, Grant to fund environmental education for fourth graders
- 4Culture, Three grants in three consecutive years to fund music performances for the Cascadian Chorale
- Seattle Arts Council, Grant to fund performance and CD for the Cascadian Chorale
Accomplishments
- Achieved and maintained National Board Certification as a Middle Childhood Generalist since 2005.
- Created and led National Board Certification Cohort for 2 years.
- Designed and conducted many professional development workshops on topics such as ELL instruction, math, reading, writing and social studies instruction, differentiation and technology integration since 1996.
- Mentored many student teachers.
Timeline
TEACHER
ARLINGTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS
08.2018 - Current
PRINCIPAL
LAKEWOOD SCHOOL DISTRICT
07.2015 - 07.2018
TEACHER ON SPECIAL ASSIGNMENT
BELLINGHAM PUBLIC SCHOOLS
08.2013 - 08.2015
TEACHER
BELLINGHAM PUBLIC SCHOOLS
08.2010 - 08.2013
National Board Certification - Middle Childhood Generalist
National Board Certification
01.2004 - 01.2014
TEACHER
LAKE WASHINGTON SCHOOL DISTRICT
08.2001 - 08.2010
TEACHER
SEATTLE SCHOOL DISTRICT
08.1998 - 08.2001
TEACHER
PASCO SCHOOL DISTRICT
08.1995 - 08.1998
RESIDENCY ADMINISTRATOR CERTIFICATE - School Leadership
WESTERN WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY
MASTER OF ARTS - Curriculum and Instruction
UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON
BACHELOR OF ARTS - Elementary Education and Spanish Education
WHITWORTH UNIVERSITY
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