Suzanne Davis
Richardson,Texas
Summary
High achieving and enthusiastic Christian Administrator with 22 years of leadership and educational experience currently serving 247 students ages 1 through 6th grade at Our Redeemer in Dallas, Texas.
Overview
26
26
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Head of School
Our Redeemer Lutheran School
Dallas, TX
06.2023 - Current
- Ensures Our Redeemer's vision is implemented and reflects our values of being joy filled, spiritually rich and academically challenging from ages 1 through sixth grade.
- Interviews all incoming families with children ages 1 through sixth grade who are seeking an education at Our Redeemer and passionately shares our biblical integrity and mission to create life long learners who are strong in their christian beliefs.
- Takes pride in learning each child's name and their parents names, greets at arrival and dismissal, works to form relationships with students and actively displays a Godly spirit.
- Promotes high standards for biblical integrity and academic achievement among all staff, students and incoming families.
- Partners closely with Pastors, the Our Redeemer School Board, the Church Council and the Our Redeemer families to ensure positive relationship with all stakeholders.
- Builds relationships with staff easily and utilizes their leadership skills and feedback to implement campus improvement and for retention of students and staff.
- Implements strategic plans for Our Redeemer's short and long-term goals including upgrading security through Verkada and the addition of a SMART/STEM lab in August 2024.
- Creates budget proposals, monitors financial performance of the school and reports quarterly to the Church Council and ORLCS School Board.
- Evaluates staff performance and provides feedback on areas of improvement as well as leading staff development at conferences Texas wide for the LCMS School Synod.
- Evaluating member of the LCMS School Accreditation Team for the state of Texas.
- Oversees recruitment, hiring, and training processes for new faculty members and has a positive track record for teacher retention.
- Ensures compliance with all laws, regulations, policies, procedures, and standards.
- Provides guidance to students regarding academic progress, behavior management, and other issues, including christian guidance.
- Collaborates with parents to create a positive learning environment for students and utilizes feedback from the Parent Pulse Surveys sent three times a year.
- Maintains high curricular standards including the ORLS ten enrichment strands, move up math, foreign languages, Early Childhood program, extra curricular activities and athletics.
- Maintains relationships with external stakeholders such as donors, alumni, church members and takes an active role in fundraising through the Quest for Excellence in the fall and the Spring Action.
- Reviews student MAP data reports regularly and report cards to assess academic performance trends and follows up with teachers, students and parents on needed instructional plans or enrichment.
- Promotes a culture of innovation within the school community through various initiatives such as Tuesday Town Halls with Mrs. Davis.
- Initiates disciplinary measures when necessary according to established guidelines in the ORLS Handbook
- Works closely with the administration team including the Director of Education, EC Director, HR Director, Lead Teachers and the Leadership Team on developing strategies for various school needs.
- Upholds the commitment to educational excellence by promoting and establishing a positive atmosphere of mutual respect and trust between students, faculty and parents.
- Implements and coordinates school wide activities such as Chapel, Pep Rallies, Lutheran Schools Spirit Week, Felid Day, Character Building "Wildcat Wills", Wildcat Parent activities and Mom's/Dad's Socials.
Director of Early Childhood Education
Our Redeemer Lutheran Church and School
Dallas, Texas
01.2023 - 05.2023
- In conjunction with the Head of School, defines educational goals, and establishes all other necessary policies, procedures, and guidelines pertaining to the operation of the early childhood program
- Establishes and supports a curriculum that embraces the beliefs held by the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod that is fun, educational and appropriate for a Christian early childhood environment
- Supervises early morning and late afternoon childcare, holiday care and summer care while providing a safe, nurturing and fun environment
- Engages staff in team meetings to discuss lesson plans, positive behavior support, struggling students, areas for enrichment and needed areas for teacher support
- Currently developing teacher leaders among the early childhood staff through mentoring
- Engages in difficult conversations in a professional supportive manner and openly listens to concerns and ideas
- Partners with ORLS Pastors and staff to ensure that the ministry of Our Redeemer Lutheran Church is implemented with a Christian-based early education experience on our campus
- Demonstrates leadership by making improvements to educational processes, curriculum and staffing
- Facilitates staff development, coaches and motivates employees to promote professional skill development
- Achieves budgetary targets by monitoring expenses, ceasing unnecessary purchases and mindful preparation for the 23-24 school year
- Recruits, coaches and evaluates staff and recommends personnel actions for the early childhood department
- Works with teachers to modify the curriculum to meet the needs of the children enrolled in the early childhood program
- Follows and upholds Texas State requirements and standards in the areas of academics and Texas childcare licensing compliance
- Develops long term plans to facilitate the growth of the Early Childhood program
- Focuses on retention of the Early Childhood students to continue enrollment for kindergarten
- Monitors for continued accreditation compliance.
Volunteer and Instructional Support
Our Redeemer Lutheran School
Dallas, Texas
06.2019 - 01.2023
- Facilitated professional development in 2021 to all elementary teachers on the topic of Student Engagement
- Observed, evaluated, coached and developed goals with elementary staff in 2021
- Wildcat Parent League President of Our Redeemer from 2020-2022 and recruited parents, planned social functions, presented at informational meetings, coordinated monthly teacher appreciations, facilitated the WPL Board Retreat
- Donation Chair for the Our Redeemer Spring Auction in 2020 and 2021, and recruited a committee of parents to help solicit donations, sought out sponsors and raised funds
- Homeroom mom for my daughter's PK3 and PK 4 class
- Garden Parent for the 2019-2020 school year and facilitated hands on gardening lessons planned by a Master Gardner
- Parent participant in the National Lutheran School's Accreditation process
- Sunday School and Vacation Bible School teacher for PK2-2nd grade 2019-present.
Principal
Yale Elementary
Richardson, Texas
04.2015 - 06.2019
School
- 2017-2018 Awarded an “A” rating by the Texas Education Agency
- 2017-2018 Awarded a Texas Honor Roll School for the 2017-2018 school year, only 729 schools in the state of Texas were selected
- 2017-2018 Awarded 5 out of 6 Distinctions on the Texas Academic Performance Report in Mathematics, Science, Student Progress, Closing the Achievement Gaps and Post-Secondary Readiness
- 2016-2017 Texas Academic Performance Report reflects Distinction Designations in ELA/Reading, Mathematics and in Post-Secondary Readiness
- 2015-2016 Texas Academic Performance Report reflects Distinction Designations in ELA/Reading, Mathematics and in Post-Secondary Readiness
- Under the Texas Academic Performance Report , Yale Elementary currently achieved Met Standard (Highest Distinction) for the 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2018 school years
- Yale Elementary Demographics: 21% Hispanic, 16% African American, 45% Caucasian, 36% Economically Disadvantaged, 12% LEP and 478 students enrolled in grades Kindergarten-6th grade
- Fosters and implements student focused programs such as Positive Behavior Intervention Support (PBIS), Character Counts, Peer Mediation, and Social and Emotional Learning-SEL
- STEM for ALL Berkner Feeder Pattern Roll Out, Currently utilizing 1:1 iPads and STEM strategies campus wide
- Partners with the Yale PTA (Parent-Teacher Association), RISD School Board Members, Yale Watch Dads, and our ACME Moms to support our school volunteer programs and events
- Fosters community relationships with the Richardson Police Department, Spring Creek BBQ, Spin Pizza, McDonalds, and State Farm
- Builds and sustains extracurricular activities for Yale students such as Robotics, Chess Club, Safety Patrol, Running Club, Art Club, Choir, Jr
- Master Gardner, Student Council, Book Buddies Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts and Beta Club
- Housed a Centralized Behavior PASS program focusing on “Positive Approaches to Student Success”
- Implemented change and promoted high expectations through Grade Level Meetings, Data Meetings, Coaching, and Teacher and Student Goal Setting
- Lead RTI (Response to Intervention) meetings to address student's academic and behavior needs
- Utilized PLC's to address student and campus needs in the Campus Improvement Plan
- Facilitated programs in the area of Pep Rallies, Graduations, Awards Ceremonies, Music, PE, Art, Parent Nights and Fundraiser Events
- Maintained and plans Yale's budget
- Monitored and ensured Vertical Teaming and Grade Level Alignment.
Principal
Carolyn Bukhair Elementary
Richardson, Texas
07.2009 - 04.2015
- Achieved Meets Expectations for the 2013, 2014 and 2015 school years, achieved Recognized campus for 2011 and 2012, achieved Exemplary status in 2010
- Gold Performance Award Recipient in Math and Science and received the 2012 Healthy School Recipient
- Demographics: 94% Hispanic, 5% African American, 1% Caucasian, 98% Economically Disadvantaged, 84% At Risk, 76% LEP, 19% Mobility, and 738 students enrolled in grades 1-6
- Appointed Elementary Principal Representative for RISD's PTA Board
- Frequent pre and post conferencing with teachers addressing lesson planning, instructional delivery and behavior management
- Engaged in difficult conversations in a professional and supportive manner with students, staff and parents that yields in resolved outcomes
- Closed the gap for achievement of all SPED students by creating inclusion classrooms, monitoring IEP goals, working towards on grade level assessments, as appropriate, ensuring all teachers understand IEPs, and equipping teachers to have specific strategies to support SPED students
- Facilitated CSIs, 504s, ARDS, and Retention Meetings
- Implemented the Positive Behavior Support Program at Bukhair, including a Bear Buck currency to award positive behavior choices
- Utilized DIBELS, TELPAS, STAAR, SIMS, Benchmarks and TAP teacher evaluations data to meet individual student needs
- Implemented change and promoted high expectations through Team Talk Discussions, Data Meetings, Faculty Meetings, Instructional Team Meetings and TAP Leadership Team meetings with all Bukhair stakeholders
- Developed the leadership capacity of the Assistant Principal for Principalship through sharing responsibilities, engaging in pre and post situational reflective conversations, coaching and giving clear and honest feedback
- Recruited highly qualified diverse staff and developed leaders among campus
- Created extracurricular activities, such as: Chess Club, Student Council, Girl Scouts, Jr
- Master Gardner, Dance Team and the YMCA soccer team
- Significantly increased parent involvement by over 50% through monthly Town Hall meetings, English classes on Tuesday and Thursday, Tuesday Volunteers weekly, and in 2013 Bukhair began its first parent based PTA
- Fostered community relationships with the Richardson YMCA, Dallas Police Department, Richardson Police Department, Fiesta, Northwood Service Council, Wal-Mart, Heights Baptist Church, the Hope Mentoring Program, Brentwood Women's League, Brinker Corporation, and JJ Pearce to significantly support the needs of our student community through mentoring, donations, volunteering and tutoring
- Partnered with the Dallas Police force and worked closely with our campus SRO.
Assistant Principal
Northlake Elementary
Richardson, Texas
07.2008 - 06.2009
Brinkeral delivery needs reflected in campus dataWorked collaboratively with the Northlake Elementary parent community to support the PTA, assisted with fundraisers, coordinated volunteers, organize district and county voting polls and served the Lake Highlands community through family activities such as Hoops in the Highlands.
Instructional Specialist
Dover Elementary
Richardson, Texas
08.2006 - 07.2008
- Achieved Recognized status from 2004-2008
- Demographics: 9% African American, 83% Hispanic, 6% Caucasian, 85% Economically Disadvantaged, 70% LEP, 21% Mobility
- Established and sustained a support system for teachers in the implementation of district curriculum through coaching, mentoring, modeling lessons and provided weekly planning sessions to assist teachers in building a deeper understanding of the TEKS
- Analyzed data to plan effective lessons for re-teaching, tutoring, Saturday School and utilized the information to plan campus staff development
- Wrote district math curriculum, created math unit assessments, developed and presented math district wide staff development
- Active member of the Instructional Leadership Team, the Campus Improvement Council, Dover PTA Board Member, Leadership Development Academy and an Action Team Member.
Student Teacher Evaluator
Texas Teaching Fellows, RISD/CFB
Texas, Texas
06.2005 - 08.2006
- Traveled during the summers to middle and high schools in Richardson ISD and Carrolton-Farmers Branch to observe Secondary Math Student Teachers and Secondary Technology Student Teachers
- Evaluated Student Teachers lessons and gave both positive and constructive feedback
- Conferenced with Student Teachers and targeted specific areas for improvement that would directly impact student's academic success.
5th Grade Math & Reading Teacher
Dover Elementary
Richardson, Texas
08.2004 - 05.2006
- Instructed all Dover 5th graders in Mathematics using a hands on, and minds on approach
- Utilized the Guided Reading Model to teach Reading to 5th grade students 2004-2005
- Engaged in differentiation and small group instructional practices to reach all learners.
4th & 6th Grade Teacher
Virginia Reinhardt Elementary
Rockwall, Texas
08.1998 - 06.2004
- Achieved Exemplary status from 1998-2004
- Demographics: 4% African American, 6% Hispanic, 90% Caucasian, 12% Economically Disadvantaged, 5% LEP, 12% Mobility
- Self-contained 4th grade teacher and taught all subject areas for 1 year, principal moved me to 6th grade
- 6th grade math and reading teacher for 5 years
- RISD Professional Development Presenter/Instructor of the Differentiation in the Classroom Program and the Reading Renaissance Program (AR)
- Team Leader, Student Council Sponsor, Peer Mediator Sponsor, Talent Show Sponsor, 6th Grade Drama Sponsor and Junior Beta Club Sponsor.
Education
Master's of Educational Administration -
Texas A&M University - Commerce
Bachelor of Science | Elementary Education -
University of Oklahoma
Skills
- Spiritual servant leader with a warm and nurturing disposition
- Exemplary track record for raising student achievement while focusing on children's character traits
- High energy and dedicated
- Team Leadership Focused
- Executes positive change and motivates employees
- Ongoing pursuit of educational and leadership knowledge
- Instructional coach and curriculum development
- Technology integration and STEM
- Fosters and sustains campus and community relationships
- Values integrity
- Exemplary communication skills
Certification
- Texas Principal EC-12, 11/30/25
- Texas Elementary Self Contained 1-8 Life Certificate
- Texas Elementary Social Studies Composite 1-8 Life Certificate
- Texas Health and Human Services recognized Child-care Director
Timeline
Head of School
Our Redeemer Lutheran School
06.2023 - Current
Director of Early Childhood Education
Our Redeemer Lutheran Church and School
01.2023 - 05.2023
Volunteer and Instructional Support
Our Redeemer Lutheran School
06.2019 - 01.2023
Principal
Yale Elementary
04.2015 - 06.2019
Principal
Carolyn Bukhair Elementary
07.2009 - 04.2015
Assistant Principal
Northlake Elementary
07.2008 - 06.2009
Instructional Specialist
Dover Elementary
08.2006 - 07.2008
Student Teacher Evaluator
Texas Teaching Fellows, RISD/CFB
06.2005 - 08.2006
5th Grade Math & Reading Teacher
Dover Elementary
08.2004 - 05.2006
4th & 6th Grade Teacher
Virginia Reinhardt Elementary
08.1998 - 06.2004
Master's of Educational Administration -
Texas A&M University - Commerce
Bachelor of Science | Elementary Education -
University of Oklahoma
- Texas Principal EC-12, 11/30/25
- Texas Elementary Self Contained 1-8 Life Certificate
- Texas Elementary Social Studies Composite 1-8 Life Certificate
- Texas Health and Human Services recognized Child-care Director
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