Valerie Turner

Lithonia,GA

Sometimes the questions are complicated and the answers are simple.

Dr. Seuss

Summary

Accomplished Spanish Teacher at Dekalb County School District, leveraging classroom management and technology integration to enhance student engagement and academic success. Expert in curriculum development and differentiated instruction, significantly boosting cultural awareness and analytical skills. Proven mentor and motivator, continuously advancing educational excellence.

Overview

years of professional experience

Work History

Teacher, Spanish

Dekalb County School District

1992.07 - 2021.03

Developed strong relationships with students, parents, and colleagues by maintaining open lines of communication and fostering a supportive learning environment.
Managed classroom behavior effectively by establishing clear expectations, modeling appropriate conduct, and consistently enforcing established rules and consequences.
Assisted in creating a safe and nurturing classroom environment that promoted emotional well-being and academic growth for all students.
Enhanced classroom engagement through the use of interactive teaching methods, such as group projects and hands-on activities.
Maintained accurate records of student progress, attendance, and behavior to facilitate ongoing communication with parents about their child''s educational journey.
Differentiated instruction to accommodate diverse learning needs, ensuring each student had an equal opportunity for success.
Advised and counseled students to help them develop skills and knowledge required to succeed.
Collaborated with other teachers to plan interdisciplinary units that connected subjects and promoted deeper understanding among students.
Continuously pursued professional development opportunities such as workshops or conferences to stay current in educational trends.
Organized extracurricular activities such as clubs or field trips that enriched students' learning experiences outside traditional classroom settings.
Integrated cultural awareness into lessons by incorporating diverse perspectives and materials into the curriculum.
Mentored new teachers, sharing best practices and providing guidance to help them adapt to their new roles successfully.
Fostered student curiosity and interest through creative hands-on activities.
Created lessons and online testing materials to facilitate remote learning.
Improved students' analytical skills by introducing state-of-the-art computer program technologies.
Boosted cultural awareness by incorporating children's literature from world cultures.

Education

Bachelor Of Arts - Spanish Language And Literature

Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA

05.1992

Skills

Classroom Management
Critical Thinking
Lesson Planning
Student Engagement
Parent-Teacher Communication
Positive Role Model and Mentor
Differentiated Instruction
Student-Centered Learning
Curriculum Implementation
Learning Strategies
Curriculum Development
Technology Integration
FLUENT IN Spanish

Performance Assessments
Cultural Sensitivity
Curriculum compliance with Georgia
Student Motivation and Engagement
Documentation And Reporting
Co-Teaching and Co-Planning
Online Teaching
Google Classroom
Core Curriculum and Standards
Spanish Fluency
Georgia Teaching Certification
SMART Board

Accomplishments

Named "Teacher of the Year" at Stephenson High School in 2001.
Received commendation from Stephenson High School principal for successfully working with students with behavior problems.
Dynamic Teaching Techniques - Instructed students in academic subjects using variety of techniques such as phonetics, multisensory learning and repetition to reinforce learning.
Documented and resolved best practices issues which led to positive outcomes for students.
Supervised team of 4-10 staff members.

Languages

Spanish

Bilingual or Proficient (C2)

Timeline

Teacher, Spanish - Dekalb County School District