Tonya M. Shirley
Coral Springs
Summary
Dedicated middle-school educator with 10+ years of classroom experience teaching Computer Science, complemented by 25+ years of professional expertise as a software engineer, web developer, and designer. Skilled at translating complex technical concepts into engaging, age-appropriate lessons that build student confidence in programming, design, and digital literacy. Passionate about bringing authentic industry experience into the classroom and preparing students for a technology-driven future.
Overview
1
1
Certification
28
28
years of professional experience
Work History
Computer Science Teacher
Lyons Creek Middle School
Coconut Creek, FL
01.2016 - Current
- Design and deliver project-based Computer Science curriculum for 7th- and 8th-grade students, introducing fundamentals of JavaScript, HTML, CSS, and graphic design.
- Develop differentiated lesson plans that address diverse learning styles, ability levels, and prior experience.
- Manage a collaborative classroom environment that fosters problem-solving, creativity, and digital citizenship.
- Assess student progress through hands-on projects, code reviews, and formative assessments, providing targeted feedback to support growth.
- Mentor students in computational thinking and responsible technology use, helping prepare them for high-school STEM pathways.
Founder & Software Engineer
iReadTrainer
Coral Springs, FL
01.2008 - Current
- Founded and built an early-childhood reading instruction platform in collaboration with a veteran classroom teacher of 33+ years.
- Translated proven literacy pedagogy into a scaffolded, interactive digital curriculum for young learners, parents, and schools.
- Lead full-stack development, instructional design, graphic design, and business operations.
- Continuously iterate on lesson sequencing and assessments based on classroom feedback and student outcomes.
Freelance Web & Graphic Designer
Self-Employed
01.1998 - Current
- Ongoing web design, branding, and graphic design services for a diverse client base.
Web Developer & Software Engineer
GeekITStudios
Coral Springs, FL
01.2014 - 01.2016
- Built custom websites, e-commerce shopping carts, CMS platforms, and mobile applications for small-business clients.
- Delivered end-to-end solutions spanning requirements gathering, UI/UX design, development, and deployment.
- Developed Android and iOS mobile applications and supporting graphic design assets.
Education
Master of Information Systems Management -
Keller Graduate School
01-2012
Master of Business Administration - undefined
Florida Metropolitan University
01-2000
Bachelor of Business - Marketing & Management
Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale
01-1998
Skills
- Education: Curriculum Design
- Lesson Planning
- Differentiated Instruction
- Classroom Management
- Project-Based Learning
- Student Assessment
- Educational Technology Integration
- STEM/STEAM Instruction
- Programming & Web: JavaScript
- HTML5
- CSS3
- React
- TypeScript
- Nodejs
- Responsive Web Design
- CMS Platforms
- E-commerce Development
- Design: Graphic Design
- UI/UX Design
- Adobe Creative Suite
- Figma
- Branding & Visual Identity
- Mobile & Cloud: iOS & Android App Development
- AWS
- Git/GitHub
- VS Code
- Productivity: Google Workspace for Education
- Microsoft Office Suite
- Learning Management Systems
- Professional: Communication
- Mentorship
- Curriculum Development
- Project Management
- Public Speaking
Certification
- Certified Business Education
Timeline
Computer Science Teacher
Lyons Creek Middle School
01.2016 - Current
Web Developer & Software Engineer
GeekITStudios
01.2014 - 01.2016
Founder & Software Engineer
iReadTrainer
01.2008 - Current
Freelance Web & Graphic Designer
Self-Employed
01.1998 - Current
Bachelor of Business - Marketing & Management
Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale
Master of Business Administration - undefined
Florida Metropolitan University
Master of Information Systems Management -
Keller Graduate School