Susan Starr
Mechanicville,NY
Summary
Self-Motivated and Driven Elementary Teacher at Mechanicville City School District, adept in curriculum development and Relationship Building. Pioneered innovative teaching models, significantly enhancing student engagement and increasing academic performance. Excelled in team collaboration and problem-solving, leading new initiatives like the House System, improving school climate. Continuously pursued professional development, demonstrating a commitment to excellence and growth.
Overview
14
14
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Elementary Teacher
Mechanicville City School District
07.2013 - Current
- In depth knowledge of Google classroom, Google docs, Google slides, Google sheets, and Kami technology.
- Prepared materials for lessons, assignments, and assessments, and evaluated, corrected and graded student performance to identify gaps in skills or knowledge and used that data to drive instruction and make necessary adjustments to learning.
- Built positive relationships with parents to involve families in educational process.
- Collaborated with administrators, behavior specialists, and AIS, to identify students in need of academic and/or behavioral support and created action plans with solutions to improve those areas of student concern.
- Helped students develop self-esteem, problem solving and life skills by putting importance on teaching SEL curriculum everyday and fostering healthy conflict-resolution, critical thinking, and communication.
- Met with parents to review Individualized Education Plans for at-risk students and developed behavior plans with parent input and support.
- Provided warm, supportive environment for developing academic, social, and emotional growth.
- Fostered student curiosity and interest in learning through use of best practices, tailoring lessons to be high engaging based on student interests, and incorporating instructional strategies such as double entry journal, carousel brainstorms, choiceboards, gallery walks, and mix/freeze/pair.
- Utilizing scientifically based research approach, Science of Reading, an evidence based best practice approach to teaching foundational literary skills.
- Pursued professional development during summer months to maintain certification and extend knowledge and skills.
- Directed colleagues and paraprofessionals to effectively support the classroom and student needs.
- During the 2019 - 2020 Covid pandemic school year, under immense pressure and no preparedness, pivoted my integrated co-teach classroom mid year to a never done before at home school model and kept open line of communication with parents.
- Volunteered in the 2020 -2021 school year to pioneer the first ever virtual classroom upon the return of the Covid pandemic with no experience in online education and creatively taught the second grade standards and adapted to a hybrid model classroom as changes occurred within that year all while maintaining strong communication with parents.
- Volunteered in the 2021 - 2022 school year to pioneer a AIS classroom model with the partial accompaniment of an AIS provider to provide students that were two years behind grade level to intensive, effective, and tailored support.
- Ambitiously sharing ideas and offering help to other colleagues with trying new techniques and teaching styles that I have been successful using.
- Having a growth mindset to try new things and adapt when necessary, willing and open to change, and creatively think of ways to improve teaching and always seeking best practices.
- During the 2021-2022 school year, successfully and ambitiously piloted in my classroom, a school culture initiative called the House System(Ron Clark program) to improve student behavior and school climate with so much success that other colleagues joined the initiative and would be eventually adopted by the entire elementary school in the 2023-2024 school year.
- Volunteered in the 2022 - 2023 school year to pioneer a integrated co teach classroom with half day support of a special education teacher.
- Collaborated with grade level team productively during PLC meetings under strict time constraints to make grade level decisions, build curriculum in alignment with NYS standards and to create common assessments for the purpose of maintaining validity of student data and reporting.
Librarian/Computer Teacher
Mechanicville City School District
09.2010 - 07.2013
- Assisted students in locating and using library resources and assisted teachers with materials needed to enrich classroom instruction.
- Trained and supervised library staff, volunteers and other personnel.
- Collaborated with teachers and school administrators to develop library resources for students.
- Instructed students on research techniques and use of online resources.
- Responsible for ordering new materials, books, databases for the elementary building
- Created programs and activities to promote library usage and literacy.
- Catalogued and organized books, materials and other documents for proper library management.
- Planned and implemented curriculum to teach up-to-date technology to 600 students.
- Responsible for teaching students internet safety.
- Developed digital curriculum and taught students basic computer and internet knowledge, how to use up to date technology, and increase their keyboarding skills and digital fluency.
Education
Master of Science - Literacy Specialist
The College of Saint Rose
Albany, NY08.2008
Bachelor of Science - Education
The College of Saint Rose
Albany, NY12.2006
Skills
- Differentiated Instruction
- Classroom Management
- Relationship Building
- Team Collaboration
- Problem-solving skills
- Fast paced decision making
- Organizational Skills
- Oral communication
Certification
- Childhood Education (Grades 1 - 6), Professional Certificate, effective 02/01/2017
- Early Childhood Education (Birth - Grade 2), Professional Certificate, effective 09/01/2018
- Literacy (Birth - Grade 6), Professional Certificate, effective 09/01/2018
Timeline
Elementary Teacher
Mechanicville City School District
07.2013 - Current
Librarian/Computer Teacher
Mechanicville City School District
09.2010 - 07.2013
Master of Science - Literacy Specialist
The College of Saint Rose
Bachelor of Science - Education
The College of Saint Rose
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