Tracy Pierce
New Smyrna Beach
Summary
Dynamic educator with extensive experience at Seminole County Public Schools specializing in gifted education and individualized educational plans. Proven ability to enhance student engagement through project-based learning and differentiated instruction. Strong advocate for social-emotional support, fostering collaboration among parents and educators to drive academic success and critical thinking skills in diverse learners.
Overview
16
16
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Gifted Resource Teacher
SCPS
Lake Mary, FL
08.2016 - Current
- Developed individualized education plans for gifted students, enhancing academic engagement and personal growth.
- Collaborated with educators to implement differentiated instruction strategies, improving learning outcomes for advanced learners.
- Facilitated workshops for teachers on best practices in gifted education, promoting professional development and instructional innovation.
- Mentored teaching staff on curriculum adaptations for diverse learning needs, fostering an inclusive educational environment.
- Analyzed student performance data to track progress and inform instructional decisions, promoting targeted interventions as needed.
- Established partnerships with parents and community organizations to support gifted education initiatives and student enrichment opportunities.
- Led professional learning communities focused on collaboration and resource sharing among educators working with gifted populations.
- Employed Learning Logs and Progress Report assessments to monitor student progress.
- Balanced individual and group instruction to accommodate different academic levels and learning styles.
- Implemented and designed gifted curriculum and talent development multi-sensory lessons and activities to develop gross and fine motor skills.
- Prepared and distributed progress reports and report cards using PEER and Skyward.
- Organized learning resources and classroom environment to facilitate positive learning experience for over 70 students per school year.
- Communicated with parents and faculty to develop strong sense of collaboration between teachers, students and parents.
- Improved students'' critical thinking skills by incorporating problem-solving activities into daily lessons.
- Identified children's collective and individual learning needs to plan, prepare and deliver instruction designed to maximize individual learning and capture interest.
- Implemented data-driven decision-making processes when designing curriculum materials and lesson plans, ensuring alignment with state standards while addressing individual student needs.
- Served as a mentor and advocate for gifted students, providing guidance on academic goals and opportunities for enrichment outside the classroom.
- Prepared lesson plans and executed different modalities to accelerate individual success.
- Participated in ongoing professional growth opportunities related to gifted education, staying current on emerging trends and innovations within the field.
- Enhanced classroom learning environment for gifted students through differentiated instruction tailored to individual needs.
- Organized extracurricular activities to extend learning opportunities beyond the classroom setting, including clubs, competitions, and field trips focused on gifted education topics.
- Collaborated with colleagues to develop interdisciplinary units that connected multiple subject areas, fostering a deeper understanding of the curriculum.
- Established positive relationships with parents and guardians, maintaining open communication about student progress and needs.
- Led professional development workshops for fellow educators on best practices in gifted education, sharing resources and insights gleaned from ongoing research in the field.
- Increased student engagement and motivation by implementing project-based learning opportunities.
- Worked with staff members and teachers to design comprehensive and individualized plans to optimize student education.
- Fostered student curiosity and interest through creative hands-on activities.
- Participated in department meetings to provide input to colleagues about student achievement and improvement.
- Met with students, parents and administrators to address and resolve students' behavioral and academic issues.
- Scheduled conferences with parents to discuss students' progress and classroom behavior.
- Completed student progress reports mid-term to notify students and parents of strengths and areas of improvement.
5th Grade Teacher
SCPS
Winter Springs, FL
05.2014 - 05.2018
- Developed engaging lesson plans aligned with state standards to enhance student learning outcomes.
- Implemented differentiated instruction strategies to accommodate diverse learning styles and needs.
- Fostered a positive classroom environment that encouraged student participation and collaboration.
- Conducted ongoing assessments to monitor student progress and adjust instructional practices accordingly.
Middle School Teacher
SCPS
Casselberry, FL
08.2010 - 05.2014
- Developed and implemented engaging lesson plans for various computer science topics.
- Facilitated hands-on workshops to enhance students' practical skills in technology applications.
- Integrated innovative teaching tools to improve student engagement and learning outcomes.
- Collaborated with faculty to align technology initiatives with educational objectives and standards.
- Organized extracurricular activities promoting digital literacy and coding skills among students.
- Collaborated with colleagues to develop cross-curricular projects that reinforced computer skills while also teaching core subject matter.
- Developed meaningful relationships with students, fostering a positive learning environment and promoting mutual respect.
- Implemented classroom management techniques to foster a positive learning environment.
Education
Bachelor of Science - Elementary Education
University of Central Florida
Orlando, FL05-1999
Skills
- Social-emotional support
- Peer collaboration
- Collaborative teaching
- Parent communication
- Higher-order thinking
- Instructional strategies
- Student motivation
- Curriculum adaptation
- Student advocacy
- Project-based learning
- Special needs support
- Inquiry-based learning
- Individualized learning plans
- Talent development
- Learning styles
- Enrichment activities
- Creativity enhancement
- Gifted assessment
- Acceleration strategies
- Gifted networking
- Flexible grouping
- Educational resources
- Gifted curriculum design
- Student goal setting
- Twice-exceptional students
- Assessment analysis
- Gifted education research
- Gifted identification
- Underachievement support
- Gifted consultation
- Independent study
- Advanced subject knowledge
- Academic enrichment
- Parent-teacher collaboration
- Student engagement
- Progress monitoring
- Instructional technology
- Social-emotional learning
- EP implementation
- Teamwork and collaboration
- Problem-solving
- Time management
- Problem-solving abilities
- Multitasking Abilities
- Critical thinking
- Team collaboration
- Verbal and written communication
- Positive learning environment
- Creative problem solving
- Interpersonal and social skills
- Team building
- Lesson planning
- Student-centered learning
- Analytical thinking
- Conflict resolution
- Goal setting
- Documentation and reporting
- Schedule management
- Group and individual instruction
- Differentiated instruction
- Time management abilities
- Continuous improvement
- Adaptability
Accomplishments
- Collaborated with team of gifted resource teachers in the development of the current elementary gifted curriculum.
- Coached several teams of gifted and talented students through competitions with Odyssey of the Mind and traveled to compete at the world final level four years in a row.
- Collaborated with all of the gifted students at Lake Mary Elementary in the development and maintaining of a school garden.
Certification
- Certifications: Elementary Education, English Grades 5-9, English Grades 6-12
- Endorsements: Gifted, Reading, ESOL
Timeline
Gifted Resource Teacher
SCPS
08.2016 - Current
5th Grade Teacher
SCPS
05.2014 - 05.2018
Middle School Teacher
SCPS
08.2010 - 05.2014
Bachelor of Science - Elementary Education
University of Central Florida