Valarie Dunn M.Ed.
Burtonsville,MD
Summary
Professional educator with experience in fostering supportive and effective learning environment. Proven track record of enhancing student engagement and academic success through collaboration with faculty and adaptability to evolving classroom needs. Strong skills in communication, organization, and instructional support. Known for reliability and results-driven approach in educational settings.
Overview
30
30
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Transition Support Teacher
Montgomery County Public Schools
01.2015 - Current
- Coordinated special accommodations for standardized testing
- Served on College and Career Readiness Team (CCRT)
- Chaired Individual Educational Planning meetings
- Implemented various instructional strategies including project-based learning, inquiry-based instruction, and authentic assessment methods to engage all learners effectively.
- Delivered personalized educational, behavioral, and emotional support to individual students to enable positive learning outcomes.
- Mentored new teachers, providing guidance on classroom management strategies and effective teaching methods.
- Worked with teacher to optimize learning plans based on student test grades and evaluations.
Academic Resource and Special Education Teacher
Springbrook High School
01.2010 - 01.2015
- Supervised and evaluated special education staff
- Conducted teacher observations and evaluations
- Developed alternative transition plans for struggling students
- Developed IEPs tailored to individual student needs, ensuring their academic success and personal growth.
- Created and managed IEPs to define student learning objectives and educational strategies, in addition to applying instructional knowledge and methods to support goals.
- Promoted a positive learning environment through the use of differentiated instruction and individualized support for diverse learners.
- Modified general education curriculum for special-needs students using various instructional techniques and technologies.
- Coordinated regular meetings to share and analyze student performance data and success plans with colleagues and parents.
- Mentored new teachers on student progress monitoring and legal document preparation.
Lead Teacher Trainer
Woodstream Christian Academy
01.2001 - 01.2005
- Led teachers through observation, feedback, and collaborative support
- Created lesson plans to correlate with state curriculum standards and devised educational programs to meet educational objectives.
- Evaluated and assessed student progress regularly, providing constructive feedback and adapting teaching methods accordingly.
- Established open communication and positive relationships with students, parents, peers, and administrative staff.
- Established a positive classroom environment through effective classroom management strategies, fostering respect and cooperation among students.
- Contributed to school-wide initiatives aimed at improving overall student achievement, participating in professional development workshops and collaborating with colleagues on best practices.
- Mentored new teachers within the school community by sharing knowledge, providing guidance on instructional strategies, and offering ongoing support during their transition into the profession.
- Served as a liaison between the school administration and families during parent-teacher conferences, ensuring clear communication about expectations and areas of improvement for each child.
- Mentored new teachers on best practices for classroom management and instructional techniques, contributing to their professional growth and effectiveness in the classroom.
- Used data-driven decision-making processes to analyze student performance trends and adjust instructional practices accordingly, leading to improved outcomes.
- Served as a member of the school''s leadership team, participating in strategic planning efforts aimed at continuous improvement initiatives.
- Conducted comprehensive needs assessments to identify gaps in knowledge and skills, informing future program development.
- Developed customized training materials for various industries, ensuring relevance to the target audience.
- Elevated participant engagement by developing interactive training modules.
- Provided coaching and mentoring to employees.
- Established positive relationships with parents through regular communication regarding student progress, collaborating on strategies for academic success at home and school.
- Maintained patience and level-headedness in diverse situations to support student development and personal growth.
- Developed and implemented differentiated instruction strategies to accommodate diverse learning styles, resulting in increased student engagement and success.
Teacher, Co-Department Head of Language Arts
Prince Georges County Public Schools
01.1995 - 01.1999
- Mentored new teachers to help them acclimate to the school culture and implement effective teaching strategies.
- Enhanced classroom management and fostered a positive learning environment through consistent communication with students, parents, and colleagues.
- Mentored new teachers in effective instructional strategies and classroom management techniques.
- Led professional development workshops for colleagues on integrating digital tools in teaching, enhancing school's overall educational approach.
- Engaged in continuous professional development to stay current with educational best practices, applying new knowledge to enhance teaching effectiveness.
- Implemented differentiated instruction to meet needs of diverse learners.
- Administered and interpreted assessment results to determine learners' challenges.
- Developed strong interdepartmental relationships to improve communication and collaboration across the organization.
- Evaluated performance continuously to identify areas in need of improvement and implement strategies to keep team on-track.
- Implemented staff training programs that enhanced skills and increased overall productivity within the department.
- Led regular meetings with team leaders and front-line staff to convey important operational information and new targets.
- Evaluated employee performance and conveyed constructive feedback to improve skills.
- Cultivated positive rapport with fellow employees to boost company morale and promote employee retention.
Education
Doctor of Education - Educational Leadership and Management
Capella University
01.2019
Advanced Certificate of Studies - School Administration & Supervision
Trinity University
01.2015
Master of Science - School Psychology
Howard University
01.1994
Bachelor of Science - Communication Disorders
Pennsylvania State University
01.1991
Certification
- Maryland Advanced Professional Certification: Administrator I
- Maryland Certification: Special Education 6 - Adult
- Certified Life Coach, Life Coach Training Institute, 2019
Research Interests
- Transition planning for students with disabilities
- Inclusive education practices and policies
- Educational leadership in special education settings
- Teacher professional development and evaluation
- Action research in education
- Data-driven decision-making in school achievement planning
- Innovative approaches to vocational training in special education
- Implicit bias in educational contexts
Selected Academic and Professional Development
- Introduction to Qualitative Research Methods: Learn the basics of conducting qualitative research. Learn to design interviews, conduct observations, and analyze data.
- How To Design & Conduct Interviews for Qualitative Research
- Research & Interviewing Strategies for Writers: How to Conduct Research and Organize Your Records in Evernote
- How to do qualitative research? A beginner's guide to planning, conducting and describing your first qualitative research study
- How to Conduct a Learning Needs Analysis: A step-by-step practical guide to collecting and analyzing the learning needs of your organization.
- Learning Needs Analysis: Practitioner Program: A practical guide for learning and development professionals to gather and analyze an organization’s learning needs.
- How to Conduct a Needs Analysis: The Basics- Step by step guide to find and fix hidden organizational challenges
- Quantitative Research Design for a Proposal
- Research Methodology: Complete Research Project Blueprint
- Advanced Studies in Education: Theory, Practice, and Purpose
- Reflection Planning in Educational Leadership and Management
- Leadership through Personal and Professional Development
- Becoming Critical Consumer Research
- System Theory Organizational Dynamics and Change
- Leading and Managing Change
- Administration & Interpretation of the Brigance Comprehensive Inventory of Basic Skills II
- Examining Implicit Bias
Community Service
- Organized annual bookbag and turkey drives for students and families in need through the Dunn Foundation
- Participated in feeder school events to promote Springbrook High School
- Acquired and managed Innovative School-Work Projects grant to improve vocational opportunities for students
- Collaborated with Department of Rehabilitative Services (DORS) and Developmental Disabilities Administration (DDA)
Awards
- Certificate of Appreciation Award for Outstanding Community Partnership and Service, Chic-Fil-A of District Heights, MD, 2018
- Outstanding Achievement Award for program creation and project lead, Back to School Giveaway, M-NCPCC, 2015
Professional References
Available upon request
Timeline
Transition Support Teacher
Montgomery County Public Schools
01.2015 - Current
Academic Resource and Special Education Teacher
Springbrook High School
01.2010 - 01.2015
Lead Teacher Trainer
Woodstream Christian Academy
01.2001 - 01.2005
Teacher, Co-Department Head of Language Arts
Prince Georges County Public Schools
01.1995 - 01.1999
Advanced Certificate of Studies - School Administration & Supervision
Trinity University
Master of Science - School Psychology
Howard University
Bachelor of Science - Communication Disorders
Pennsylvania State University
Doctor of Education - Educational Leadership and Management
Capella University
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