Tamara Laster Jackson
Houston,TX
Summary
Goal-oriented Elementary Teacher with expertise teaching young children. Upbeat when engaging with students and driven to maintain positive parent-teacher relationships. Focused on advancing student success resulting in academic excellence and social development.
Overview
10
10
years of professional experience
Work History
Instructional Coach
KIPP Public Schools
Houston, TX
08.2023 - Current
- Provided professional development to teachers and administrators on instructional strategies, best practices, and implementation of curriculum.
- Developed and implemented assessments to measure student understanding of concepts taught in the classroom.
- Facilitated collaborative teams to develop and review lesson plans with a focus on standards-based instruction.
- Mentored new or struggling teachers by offering constructive advice about pedagogical approaches.
- Collaborated with staff members to develop skills and knowledge through development targeted designs.
- Guided students, teaching methods for working assignments and determining correct solutions.
- Communicated student progress to parents and teachers through written progress reports and direct conversations.
- Mentored and supported teachers on classroom teaching practices using professional development programs and instructional techniques training.
3rd Grade ELA Teacher/Department Chair
Kipp Texas Public Schools
Houston, TX
08.2022 - Current
- Maintained safe, clean and organized classroom environment
- Improved student engagement by implementing student-centered classroom management techniques to foster academic curiosity
- Instructed students in standardized subjects as well as general learning strategies and skills for social development and character
- Prepared daily and weekly lesson plans to help students meet learning goals and had 86% of my students meet their target goals for the year
- Identified student needs and collaborated with faculty to resolve social, cognitive or behavioral challenges
- Prepared, administered and graded evaluative materials such as examinations and quizzes and created and maintained accurate student records
- Prepared daily and weekly lesson plans to help students meet learning goals.
- Assessed student performance through formative and summative assessments.
- Facilitated small group activities to ensure that all students had an opportunity for success.
2nd Grade ELA Teacher
Kipp Texas Public Schools
Houston, TX
12.2021 - 07.2022
- Maintained safe, clean and organized classroom environment
- Attended in-service training and professional development courses to stay on top of policy and education changes
- Taught students subject-specific material, learning strategies and social skills
- Improved student engagement by implementing student-centered classroom management techniques to foster academic curiosity
- Administered tests and assessed results to evaluate student understanding of material
- Involved parents in student education by cultivating strong relationships
- Prepared daily and weekly lesson plans to help students meet learning goals which were 75% met by the end of the year.
Substitute Teacher
Kipp Texas Public Schools
Houston, TX
12.2020 - 12.2021
- Enforced classroom routines to keep students on schedule and operating at consistent level
- Provided classroom instruction outlined in teacher's lesson plans
- Implemented lesson plans assigned by classroom teacher to educate students about key concepts
- Established and enforced rules for behavior and procedures to maintain order among students
- Educated students in various subjects to provide seamless transition during absence of head teacher
- Maintained rules of conduct that encouraged self-discipline and responsibility
- Created classroom environment conducive to learning and appropriate to student maturity and interests
- Differentiated classroom and small group instruction to meet needs of students with various learning styles and abilities.
Assistant Operations Manager
Old Navy
Houston, TX
09.2019 - 12.2020
- Collaborated with staff to maximize customer satisfaction, streamline procedures and improve bottom-line profitability
- Motivated employee performance and satisfaction through fair evaluation, process review and mentoring
- Set and administered annual operating budget, consistently maintaining controls and preventing overages
- Coached employees to work together to carry out daily functions and meet service objectives
- Monitored supplier operations to verify quality, delivery schedule and conformance to contract specifications
- Assessed, optimized and elevated operations to target current and expected demands
- Led daily meetings with staff members to identify areas of focus, cover policy changes and facilitate positive communication.
Career Coach
Ser Jobs
Houston, TX
03.2019 - 09.2019
- Monitored student's academic progress, mental health, and sociability through ongoing individual assessments
- Promoted parent and teacher partnerships and communications to support student's educational goals
- Encouraged students in educational and career planning workshops with peers
- Counseled students in career planning, job placement, and academic goals
- Worked collectively with education professionals to deliver in-school counseling support for identified students
- Planned and executed This Way Ahead Program.
Vocational Program Coordinator
Wesley Community Center
Houston, TX
01.2018 - 03.2019
- Coordinate Information Sessions and Orientation
- Provide direct consultation to Wesley House clients regarding program access
- Conduct participant assessments for the training program
- Manage day-to-day client activities for the training program
- Develop individualized service plans to assist clients to reach their educational goals
- Track client's progress toward education goals and document in the database
- Support client's progress through referrals and supportive services as needed
- Track and be accountable toward grant goals that involve the BCO work Coordinate schedules and instructors for all bridge classes.
Director, Adult Daycare
Houston
TX
03.2017 - 01.2018
- Recruited, hired and trained employees on operations and performance expectations
- Cultivated and maintained relationships to promote positive work culture
- Generated reports to review data and issue corrective actions for improvements
- Successfully improved employment turnover through creating incentive and training programs
- Analyzed problematic situations and occurrences to provide solutions and facilitate company survival and growth
- Built strong referral network to generate new business opportunities.
Lead Teacher
My Country Clubhouse Preschool
Houston, TX
05.2015 - 12.2016
- Prepared children for kindergarten by introducing concepts they will explore further in kindergarten and elementary school
- Worked with children in groups or one on one, depending on the needs of children and the subject matter
- Planned and carried out a curriculum that targeted different areas of child development, such as language, motor, and social skills
- Watched for signs of emotional or developmental problems in children and bring problems to the attention of parents
- Kept records of the students' progress, routines, and interests, and keep parents informed about their child's development.
Lead Counselor
YMCA
Houston, TX
01.2014 - 06.2016
- Worked with youth ages 4 to 18 years old
- Planned developed and implemented weekly lesson plans that fit the children's needs, interests, and developmental levels in the classroom
- Documented attendance, absenteeism, transitions, minor disciplines, and incidents for each child in the classroom.
Education
Bachelor of Science - Health Studies
Texas Southern University
Skills
- Classroom management
- Dependable and reliable
- Effective listening
- Proficient in MS Office
- Motivating students
- Adaptive team player
- Behavior modeling
- Student-Centered Learning
- Organized
- Conflict Resolution
- Goal-Oriented and Ambitious
- Student Engagement
Accomplishments
- Teacher of the week 22-23
- Teacher of the year award 23-24
Timeline
Instructional Coach
KIPP Public Schools
08.2023 - Current
3rd Grade ELA Teacher/Department Chair
Kipp Texas Public Schools
08.2022 - Current
2nd Grade ELA Teacher
Kipp Texas Public Schools
12.2021 - 07.2022
Substitute Teacher
Kipp Texas Public Schools
12.2020 - 12.2021
Assistant Operations Manager
Old Navy
09.2019 - 12.2020
Career Coach
Ser Jobs
03.2019 - 09.2019
Vocational Program Coordinator
Wesley Community Center
01.2018 - 03.2019
Director, Adult Daycare
Houston
03.2017 - 01.2018
Lead Teacher
My Country Clubhouse Preschool
05.2015 - 12.2016
Lead Counselor
YMCA
01.2014 - 06.2016
Bachelor of Science - Health Studies
Texas Southern University