Tara Opitz Taylor
La Mesa,CA
Summary
Artist, musician and teacher with a background in K-12 education with a desire to inspire and motivate middle school students through the arts, dedicated to continuous improvement.
Overview
14
14
years of professional experience
Work History
General Education Teacher
The Charter School Of San Diego
02.2016 - Current
- Taught all subjects for grades 6-12 in an independent study program
- Conducted skills assessments to uncover performance gaps (NWEA assessments, Lexile assessments)
- Continually sought professional development opportunities to stay current in educational trends and research with recent attention to AI and virtual reality
- Monitored student progress through regular assessments, adjusting instruction as needed for optimal understanding of material.
- Implemented effective differentiation strategies
- Increased parent involvement in the educational process by maintaining open lines of communication via phone, text, email, and home visits
- Provided one-on-one support for students with learning disabilities
- Provided timely feedback on assignments, enabling students to learn from mistakes and improve their performance.
- Contributed to school-wide initiatives aimed at improving overall academic achievement
- Collaborated with colleagues on the VAPA and CTE AME departments to design curriculum for our district
- Collaborated with case mangers and therapists to develop individualized educational plans
- Promoted collaboration among students with group activities and peer review sessions, namely literature circles
- Helped students develop lifelong skills to support vocational goals such as diligence, attention to detail, and problem-solving abilities
- Organized inventory and equipment for learning purposes
- Provided individual mentoring and special tutoring to struggling students
- Facilitated traditional, online and in-person training for staff
- Personalized instruction based on needs, interests and capabilities of individual students
- Developed and maintained effective record keeping system for tracking learner attendance, participation and progress
Teaching Artist
Young Audiences Of San Diego
04.2010 - 01.2013
- Taught Visual Arts lessons to students K-5 afterschool program in the South Bay of San Diego.
- Taught four 8-week residencies at each elementary school in the district.
- Created lessons plans, and submitted material orders to the district for purchase
- Organized an art showcase for the students and parents at the end of each 8-week residency.
Resource Center Associate
The Charter School Of San Diego
12.2009 - 04.2013
- Supported general education teacher with tutoring in all subjects, home-school communication, grading, and home visits.
Education
Clear Credential - K-12 Single Subject Teaching Credentail in Art
University of California - San Diego- Extension
La Jolla, CA04.2019
Preliminary Teaching Credential - Single Subject Teaching Credential
Azusa Pacific University
San Diego, CA05.2015
Bachelor of Arts - Studio Art
University of Missouri-Kansas City
Kansas City12.2005
Skills
- Peer Collaboration
- Classroom Management
- Parent-Teacher Communication
- Relationship Building
- Lesson Planning
- Multitasking strength
- Technology Integration
- Student Motivation
- One-on-one mentoring
- Curriculum Implementation
- Compliance
- Presentations
- Organizational Skills
- Knowledgeable about Microsoft 365
Violinist
I have played classical violin for the past 33 years. I read music and play in a small ensembles weekly.
Languages
Spanish
Professional Working
Timeline
General Education Teacher
The Charter School Of San Diego
02.2016 - Current
Teaching Artist
Young Audiences Of San Diego
04.2010 - 01.2013
Resource Center Associate
The Charter School Of San Diego
12.2009 - 04.2013
Clear Credential - K-12 Single Subject Teaching Credentail in Art
University of California - San Diego- Extension
Preliminary Teaching Credential - Single Subject Teaching Credential
Azusa Pacific University
Bachelor of Arts - Studio Art
University of Missouri-Kansas City
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