Tamara Czeszewski
Wood Dale,IL
Summary
Student-focused paraprofessional committed to the advancement of learning within the classroom. In addition to building life-long skills, I aspire to improve student behaviors with continuous attention and positive approaches to all around growth within the educational setting. My goal is to help all students excel with a compassionate approach along with intelligent guided mentoring.
Overview
15
15
years of professional experience
Work History
Literacy Paraprofessional
W.A. Johnson Elementary School
Bensenville, IL
08.2021 - Current
- Provide structured literacy instruction to MTSS tier 2 students ranging from Kindergarten to 5th grade.
- Deliver reading and literacy instruction to students individually or within small groups of 2-4 students.
- Prepared instructional materials and developed skill appropriate lesson plans.
- Conducted regular phonics and reading assessments for all students in order to maintain appropriate and targeted literacy instruction.
- Delivered personalized educational, behavioral and emotional support to individual students to enable positive learning outcomes.
- Oversaw students in classroom and common areas to monitor, enforce rules and support lead teachers.
- Engaged in regular meetings with Reading Specialists, Classroom teachers, Administration, and parents in order to collaborate literacy best practices for each specific student on our MTSS caseload.
Instructional Aide
Pleasantdale Middle School
Burr Ridge, IL
11.2020 - 05.2020
- Supported needs of special education students with one-on-one care, alternative testing, and group assistance
- Helped students build life-long learning skills for continued academic success
- Distributed teaching materials such as textbooks, workbooks, and pencils to students
- Promoted teaching efficiency by keeping supplies and classroom spaces well-organized
- Engaged students with diverse teaching strategies, hands-on activities and technology-based approaches
- Boosted student learning with targeted lessons and activities
- Impacted student behavior through positive reinforcement and effective modeling strategies
- Improved performance of struggling students using personalized mentoring and tutoring
- Conducted reading groups using lessons designed by classroom teachers
- Helped staff accomplish class goals by teaching concepts to small groups and individual students
- Assisted students struggling with class materials by mentoring individually and helping with specific problems
- Monitored student progress by fairly evaluating assignments and test answers.
Merchandiser
Hallmark
Villa Park, IL
05.2018 - 02.2020
- Performs service work in the Hallmark department in various retail stores such as grocery stores, drug stores, department stores and mass retailers
- Handles stocking, straightening, replenishing and tracking the inventory of Hallmark products, both inside and outside of the Hallmark department
- Utilize a Hallmark-issued, hand-held mobile device to replenish, straighten and track inventory of Hallmark products.
Merchandiser
American Greetings
Wood Dale, IL
09.2015 - 05.2018
- Maintain the greeting card lines in local retail stores
- Restock, organize and move products from storage to the sales floor
- Arrange innovative and fun displays and cycle seasonal merchandise
- Use internet-based technology to place orders, receive display instructions, report hours worked and communicate with American Greetings supervisors
- Interact and maintain positive relationships and open communication with store personnel and managers.
Student Success Advisor
National Louis University
Chicago, IL
10.2006 - 12.2013
- Serves as the Chicago campus Academic Advisor for transfer students within the College of Arts and
- Sciences academic programs
- Understands and effectively communicates the curriculum and graduation requirements for program, college and university academic policies and procedures
- Works directly with undergraduate transfer students to foster their academic success and retention by developing and monitoring a plan to assist the student in their degree completion
- Maintain accessibility to students for advising through scheduled appointments, emails, phone calls, and walk-in visits
- Builds relationships and collaborates with faculty and other key campus departments to provide better service to students
- Maintain accurate and timely student records
- Be visible on campus and proactive in meeting students and other staff members with whom the office works closely
- Assist with advising programming activities that may be delivered through a variety of methods
- Managed and worked the front desk for the advising center when necessary by assisting walk-in students and/or faculty and staff, answering all incoming telephone calls to the university that needed advising assistance, and processed tuition payments.
Academic Advisor
Kendall College
Chicago, IL
09.2004 - 01.2006
- Serves as an academic advocate for over 200 students in various degree programs such as Hospitality
- Management, Culinary Arts, Baking and Pastry, and Early Childhood Education
- Responsible for registering students for classes and working with them to develop and maintain graduation plans
- Address academic issues, concerns, or problems that may arise with specific students and follow up with individual weekly counseling sessions
- Connect students to faculty members and other college departments and services
- Main point of contact and source of information for student questions and issues as they arise.
Admission Counselor
Illinois Institute of Technology
Chicago, IL
01.2002 - 10.2003
- Travel on a regular basis to Illinois local territory that consists of the Northwestern suburbs of Chicago,
- Western suburbs of Chicago, as well as the Rockford, Elgin, DeKalb, and Rock Island/Moline areas
- Responsible for recruiting prospective students through counseling activities such as attending college fairs as well as visiting high schools and/or universities
- Required to perform telecounseling duties throughout the recruitment year to inquiring students within my territory
- Accountable for face to face sit down counseling for students who visit campus within my recruitment territory.
Education
Master of Arts - Communication Media & Theatre
Northeastern Illinois University
08.2010
Bachelor of Arts - Interdepartmental Communication
Elmhurst College
05.2001
Associate of Arts -
Triton College
12.1998
Skills
- Learning Assessments
- Educational Strategies
- Curriculum Adjustments
- Material Selection
- Academic Support
- Behavior redirection
- Teacher support
- Small group instruction
- Student Supervision
Timeline
Literacy Paraprofessional
W.A. Johnson Elementary School
08.2021 - Current
Instructional Aide
Pleasantdale Middle School
11.2020 - 05.2020
Merchandiser
Hallmark
05.2018 - 02.2020
Merchandiser
American Greetings
09.2015 - 05.2018
Student Success Advisor
National Louis University
10.2006 - 12.2013
Academic Advisor
Kendall College
09.2004 - 01.2006
Admission Counselor
Illinois Institute of Technology
01.2002 - 10.2003
Master of Arts - Communication Media & Theatre
Northeastern Illinois University
Bachelor of Arts - Interdepartmental Communication
Elmhurst College
Associate of Arts -
Triton College
Similar Profiles
Lewis JohnsonLewis Johnson
Operations Manager at W.A. Johnson & Co. Ltd.Operations Manager at W.A. Johnson & Co. Ltd.
CARLY SPINACARLY SPINA
School Counseling Intern at Bethel High School & RMT Johnson Elementary SchoolSchool Counseling Intern at Bethel High School & RMT Johnson Elementary School
Zoe BlantonZoe Blanton
Student Teacher at Johnson Elementary SchoolStudent Teacher at Johnson Elementary School
Ivan PachecoIvan Pacheco
Machine Operator for Sign Company at Elevate Sign GroupMachine Operator for Sign Company at Elevate Sign Group
Emily ViceEmily Vice
Purchasing Support and Training Coordinator at Happilabs, Inc.Purchasing Support and Training Coordinator at Happilabs, Inc.