URSULA SQUARE
Baton Rouge,LA
Summary
Passionate individual with 13 years of supporting academic goal achievement. Evaluates student literacy needs with a strong vision to provide intervention services to struggling readers. Well-organized and professional with a successful track record of implementing effective literacy programs. Well-versed in individual and classroom instruction. Detail-oriented team player with strong organizational skills. Ability to handle multiple projects simultaneously with a high degree of accuracy.
Overview
16
16
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Director of Literacy and Elementary Programs
Southern University Laboratory School
01.2022 - Current
- Developed high-performing teams by providing mentorship, guidance, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Enhanced team collaboration through regular communication, goal setting, and performance evaluations.
- Established a culture of continuous improvement by fostering open communication channels and empowering employees to voice their ideas.
- Cultivated a positive work environment that fostered employee engagement, increased retention rates, and boosted overall team morale.
- Enhanced stakeholder satisfaction with timely and transparent communication strategies.
- Facilitates and coordinates key activities across departments and other organizational units.
- Directs the implementation of curriculum and instructional strategies that create a clear pathway for success for all students.
- Works in conjunction with other district departments to facilitate and support Literacy development and implementation across all departments.
- Observed each employee's individual strengths and initiated mentoring program to improve areas of weakness.
- Facilitates and manages the comprehensive Literacy strategy that includes vendor supplier development.
- Develops an annual Literacy report for Louisiana Department of Education, Superintendent, and the public.
- Recruits, interviews and recommends staff for employment.
- Engages faculty and others to plan and participate in recruitment and development.
- Develops and evaluates the performance of staff.
- Provides feedback on performance and arranges for remedial assistance.
- Provides work assignments to staff and directs their activities.
- Mobilizes the appropriate staff in creating an appropriate instructional and learning environment.
- Works with faculty and staff to identify staff development needs; then, plans, organizes and facilitates programs toimprove effectiveness consistent with organizational goals and needs.
- Initiates self development.
- Ensures training of all regular staff and interagency staff on skills for collaboration, teaming, consulting and conflictresolution.
Curriculum Content Trainer
East Baton Rouge Parish School System
07.2021 - 01.2022
- Create and facilitate appropriate professional development to train ESS staff on curriculum implementation and follow-up as needed
- Provide training to school level Instructional Management Team members to develop model unit and daily lesson plans at all levels of content area
- Develops unit and benchmark assessments that align with curriculum and state mandated assessments
- Provide training on on how to accurately collect, disaggregate, analyze and interpret student data for planning content specific instructional strategies grounded in scientifically based research
- Provide training on lesson planning and development using Diverse Learner Supports that are embedded in High Quality Instructional Materials
- Determines professional development needs of instructional staff on assessment data, classroom observations, conferences, needs assessments, and administrator recommendations
- Provides leadership in individual schools to insure that professional development is designed and implemented to differentiate learning to meet individual needs of students from all subgroups.
District Instructional Specialist
East Baton Rouge, Parish School System
02.2015 - 07.2021
- Identified plans and resources required to meet project goals and objectives for LDOE Diverse Learners Pilot, LearnZillion EL Education K-2 Teacher Pilot and SuccessMaker
- Oversaw LearnZillion EL Education Teacher Pilot by planning, designing, and scheduling phases for implementation of EL Education on the LearnZillion platform
- Scheduled and facilitated meetings between project stakeholders to discuss deliverables, schedules and conflicts
- Supported schools to improve quality of instruction in order for teachers to be more effective in teaching practices
- Observed content area teachers and provided feedback and specific strategies to improve instructional delivery
- Used observation and student performance data to identify professional learning needs to design and deliver site-based professional learning
- Facilitated professional learning communities to assist teachers with analysis of student data to inform instruction
- Monitored students' progress and arranged academic interventions based on formative and summative assessments
- Assisted teachers with planning lessons and activities based on Louisiana State Standards
- Conducted lesson demonstrations and/or co-teach with teachers, as needed
- Planed and facilitated research-based district wide professional development and attend national, regional, state and local conferences and workshops.
Fifth Grade Teacher
Bains Elementary, West Feliciana Parish School System
01.2013 - 02.2015
- Instructed 5th grade Math and Science curriculum, designed and developed lessons to meet academic and intellectual and social needs of students
- Differentiated instruction was used to develop and implement lessons in the classroom
- Data from formative and summative assessments was used to drive instruction
- Monitored student progress thru assessment, observation and student conferencing
- Was responsible for designing grade level common math assessments
- Also was responsible for facilitating 5th grade PLC and STEM enrichment activities.
Third Grade Teacher
Lukeville Upper Elementary, West Baton Rouge Parish School System
01.2012 - 01.2013
- Instructed 3rd grade curriculum, designing and developing lessons to meet academic and intellectual and social needs of students
- Differentiated instruction was used to develop and implement lessons in the classroom
- Data from formative and summative assessments was used to drive instruction
- Monitored student progress thru assessment, observation and student conferencing
- Additional responsibilities included: Write From the Beginning and Beyond Trainer and LSU Geaux Teach Mentor.
Fourth/Fifth Grade Teacher
Scotlandville Elementary, East Baton Rouge Parish School Board
08.2009 - 01.2012
- Instructed 4th and 5th grade curriculum, using Strategic Design to design and develop lessons to meet academic, intellectual and social needs of students
- Differentiated instruction was used to develop and implement lessons in the classroom
- Data from formative and summative assessments was used to drive instruction
- Monitored student progress thru assessment, observation and student conferencing
- Additional responsibilities and achievements included the following: Grade Level Chair, School Leadership Team, Literacy Leadership Team, Lead Math Teacher, School Improvement Team, New Teacher Mentor, LEAP After School Tutoring Coordinator, School Whiteboard Technology Trainer, Professional Learning Communities Coach and Superintendent's Teacher Advisory Pan.
Third Grade Teacher
Cohn Elementary, West Baton Rouge Parish School System
08.2008 - 08.2009
- Instructed 3rd grade curriculum, designing and developing lessons to meet academic and intellectual and social needs of students
- Differentiated instruction was used to develop and implement lessons in the classroom
- Data from formative and summative assessments was used to drive instruction
- Monitored student progress thru assessment, observation and student conferencing.
Education
Master of Science - Criminal Justice
Southern University And A&M College
Baton Rouge, LA05.2007
Bachelor of Science - Sociology
Southern University And A&M College
Baton Rouge, LA05.2001
Skills
- Strategic thinker
- Adult Learning theories
- Team building
- Project management
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills
- Complex problem solving
- Training And Development
- Performance Management
- Student Development
- Employee Retention
Certification
State of Louisiana Teaching Certificate Level 3, 518514
Affiliations
- National Council of Teachers of Mathematics
- International Literacy Association
- Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development
- Achieve the Core: Core Advocate
Presentations
- Progression of Fractions – Presented to 3rd – 5th grade teachers at District Eureka Math Institute, Baton Rouge, LA
- 5E and Science: A Recipe for Success – Presented to Louisiana Teachers at LDOE Teacher Leader Summit, New Orleans, LA
- Implementing the EL Education Curriculum, Presented to K-2 Teachers, Baton Rouge, LA
- Math: Off to a Good Start – Presented to 3rd – 5th grade Teachers, Baton Rouge, LA
- Small Group Instructional Framework – Presented to K-5 Teachers via Microsoft Teams, Baton Rouge, LA
- Workstations in Support of EL Education and Guidebook Instruction – Presented to K-5 Teachers via Microsoft Teams, Baton Rouge, LA
- Planning When the Planning is Done: Wit and Wisdom – Presented to K-5 Teachers via Microsoft Teams, Baton Rouge, LA
- Making the Most of Screen Time – Presented to K-5 Teachers via Google Meets, Baton Rouge, LA
- K-2 EL Skills Block Benchmark Assessment Guidance – Presented to K-2 Teachers via Google Meets, Baton Rouge, LA
- SPIRE Reading Intervention Program – Presented to SPIRE Pilot Schools via Google Meets, Baton Rouge, LA
- Eureka Math Review: Lesson Structure and Purpose – Presented to K- 5 Teachers via Google Meets, Baton Rouge, LA
- Working on the Right Work: Expressing Mathematical Reasoning – Presented to 3rd – 5th grade Teachers via Google Meets, Baton Rouge, LA
- From Managing Compliance to Supporting Instruction Too - Presented to ESS Instructional Support Specialist, Baton Rouge, LA
- Curriculum Implementation and Diverse Learners - Presented to Special Education Teaches and Paraprofessionals, Baton Rouge, LA
- Unpacking Standards to get to the Heart of Instruction - Presented to K-5 Teachers, Capitol Elementary, Baton Rouge, LA
- Yes We Can! Special and General Educators Collaborating in a PLC.- Presented to Special and General Education Teachers via Microsoft Teams, Baton Rouge, LA
Leadershipdevelopment
- West Feliciana Leadership Academy – 2013-2014
- East Baton Rouge Parish Schools Instructional Leaders for Tomorrow Cohort – 2015-2016
Professional Development
- Progression of Fractions – Presented to 3rd – 5th grade teachers at District Eureka Math Institute, Baton Rouge, LA
- 5E and Science: A Recipe for Success – Presented to Louisiana Teachers at LDOE Teacher Leader Summit, New Orleans, LA
- Implementing the EL Education Curriculum, Presented to K-2 Teachers, Baton Rouge, LA
- Math: Off to a Good Start – Presented to 3rd – 5th grade Teachers, Baton Rouge, LA
- Small Group Instructional Framework – Presented to K-5 Teachers via Microsoft Teams, Baton Rouge, LA
- Workstations in Support of EL Education and Guidebook Instruction – Presented to K-5 Teachers via Microsoft Teams, Baton Rouge, LA
- Planning When the Planning is Done: Wit and Wisdom – Presented to K-5 Teachers via Microsoft Teams, Baton Rouge, LA
- Making the Most of Screen Time – Presented to K-5 Teachers via Google Meets, Baton Rouge, LA
- K-2 EL Skills Block Benchmark Assessment Guidance – Presented to K-2 Teachers via Google Meets, Baton Rouge, LA
- SPIRE Reading Intervention Program – Presented to SPIRE Pilot Schools via Google Meets, Baton Rouge, LA
- Eureka Math Review: Lesson Structure and Purpose – Presented to K- 5 Teachers via Google Meets, Baton Rouge, LA
- Working on the Right Work: Expressing Mathematical Reasoning – Presented to 3rd – 5th grade Teachers via Google Meets, Baton Rouge, LA
- From Managing Compliance to Supporting Instruction Too - Presented to ESS Instructional Support Specialist, Baton Rouge, LA
- Curriculum Implementation and Diverse Learners - Presented to Special Education Teaches and Paraprofessionals, Baton Rouge, LA
- Unpacking Standards to get to the Heart of Instruction - Presented to K-5 Teachers, Capitol Elementary, Baton Rouge, LA
- Yes We Can! Special and General Educators Collaborating in a PLC.- Presented to Special and General Education Teachers via Microsoft Teams, Baton Rouge, LA
Timeline
Director of Literacy and Elementary Programs
Southern University Laboratory School
01.2022 - Current
Curriculum Content Trainer
East Baton Rouge Parish School System
07.2021 - 01.2022
District Instructional Specialist
East Baton Rouge, Parish School System
02.2015 - 07.2021
Fifth Grade Teacher
Bains Elementary, West Feliciana Parish School System
01.2013 - 02.2015
Third Grade Teacher
Lukeville Upper Elementary, West Baton Rouge Parish School System
01.2012 - 01.2013
Fourth/Fifth Grade Teacher
Scotlandville Elementary, East Baton Rouge Parish School Board
08.2009 - 01.2012
Third Grade Teacher
Cohn Elementary, West Baton Rouge Parish School System
08.2008 - 08.2009
Master of Science - Criminal Justice
Southern University And A&M College
Bachelor of Science - Sociology
Southern University And A&M College
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