Vanessa Avendaño
McAllen,Texas
Summary
Committed Assistant Principal with background in educational leadership and staff development. Managed academic programs, facilitated school-wide initiatives, and fostered positive learning environments. Strengths include strategic planning, team collaboration, and communication skills. Significant contributions to previous work include enhancing student performance and improving teacher effectiveness through innovative strategies and leadership.
Overview
19
19
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Assistant Principal of Instruction
IDEA Los Encinos
McAllen, Texas
08.2022 - Current
- Identify trends across various metrics (STAAR results 2024: 6th grade: 58/37/12 SAS 36, 7th grade: 75/49/21 SAS 48, 8th grade: 87/55/25 SAS 55, 9th grade: 85/77/22 SAS 61) that led to actionable insights that support data-driven decision-making and improvements for this school year
- Analyze and implement instructional strategies that resulted in significant student performance growth in 6th grade, increasing student achievement from 32% approaches, 6% meets, and 0% mastery standard (March 2023) to 57% approaches, 27% meets, and 15% masters (April 2023), with a 31% increase in SAS scores
- Lead initiatives; CSI, RTI, and Accelerated Learning, Title IX, Student Find, 1:1 Requests for special needs
- Develop and implement a data-driven intervention plan that reduced the achievement gap among minority students (EL) with 73% approaches, 56% meets, and 22% masters for 6th, 7th, and 8th grades
- Implement and monitor schoolwide behavioral expectations and policies including attendance and safety that lead to a safer school
- Create partnership with parents and community since founding year, 2019, resulting in 50% increase in parent interactions with the school
- Address building management concerns working closely with custodial staff and teachers including school-wide safety and emergency protocols
- Supervise assignments such as interviewing, evaluating, performance, discipline, and resolving issues dealing with academics and logistics
- Resolve and design a plan of action for student issues by meeting with students, parents, teachers, and other school staff resulting in more student involvement and less major infraction referrals
- Prioritize regular coaching sessions with teachers, providing actionable feedback and professional development to help reduce teacher turnover and improve staff performance.
Curriculum Writer
IDEA Los Encinos
McAllen, Texas
06.2022 - Current
- Assist in writing ELA EXIT TICKETS for the national team at IDEA Public Schools that coordinate with TEKS taught in daily lessons.
Course Leader
IDEA Los Encinos
McAllen, Texas
08.2021 - 06.2022
- Facilitate new teacher institute
- Facilitate Bi-weekly webinars that promote teacher growth in Modules covered during the school year
- Lead course collaboration sessions which include on-boarding new teachers and assisting them to find materials within our system
- Share best practices and resources
- Gather feedback from field to share with manager and ELA director
- Provide mentorship and support for teachers.
Teacher Advisory Council Representative
IDEA Los Encinos
McAllen, Texas
08.2021 - 06.2022
- Empowered a diverse group of experienced, effective IDEA teachers to share their unique perspective with policymakers to advance student opportunity and equity.
Sixth Grade ELA Educator
IDEA Los Encinos
McAllen, Texas
08.2019 - 06.2022
- Bilingual educator with excellent communication skills engaging effectively with parents, staff, and scholars
- Served as Grade Level Chair, overseeing curriculum implementation and teacher coordination
- Representative for Teacher Advisory Committee advocating for educators’ input on school policies and practices
- Appointed Course Leader for ELA providing mentorship to teachers and ensuring academic excellence for students
- Coached teachers on curriculum design, instruction methods, and scholar behavior management to promote student achievement
- Actively involved in TEA STAAR Review Committee for the past 8 years, contributing to state assessment standards
- Representative in LPAC committee, ensuring appropriate support for English Language Learners
- Ability to adjust and adapt to a multitude of situations in the school environment
- Knowledgeable of culture, mission, and goals set forth by IDEA Public Schools.
Third Grade Dual Language Educator
Roan Forest Elementary
San Antonio, Texas
08.2018 - 08.2019
- Use Whole Brain Teaching as differentiated instruction and facilitate learning in the areas of Science, Reading, Language Arts, and Social Studies in both Spanish and English
- Cultivate a school wide culture that fosters a productive environment for all
- Gather data to set individual goals for students
- Conference with team, parents, and students on student goals/progress
- Tutor twice a week
- Attend professional development, grade-level meetings and functions
- Use Leader in Me system to communicate behavior expectations
- Use AWARE system to enter student academic needs needed for RTI and 504 programs
- Attended and collaborated with benchmark testing committee.
Fifth Grade Dual Language Educator/Facilitator
Roan Forest Elementary
San Antonio, Texas
08.2014 - 08.2018
- Achieved 98% passing scores in Math, Reading, and Science which includes special education population all four years
- Use Whole Brain Teaching as differentiated instruction and facilitate learning in the areas of Science, Reading, Language Arts, and Social Studies in both Spanish and English
- Cultivate a school wide culture that fosters a productive environment for all
- Gather data to set individual goals for students
- Conference with team, parents, and students on student goals/progress
- Tutor twice a week
- Attend professional development, grade-level meetings and functions
- Use Leader in Me system to communicate behavior expectations
- Use AWARE system to enter student academic needs needed for RTI and 504 programs
- Attended and collaborated with benchmark testing committee
- Managed two classes of 20 plus students each.
Third Grade Educator/Facilitator
Roan Forest Elementary
San Antonio, Texas
05.2013 - 08.2014
- Achieved 95% passing scores in Math, and Reading which includes special education population
- Entered grades in Gradespeed
- Took technology inventory
- Used Compass system to enter student academic needs needed to transition to the following year.
Fourth Grade Dual Language Teacher
E.B. Reyna Elementary
La Joya, Texas
08.2009 - 05.2013
- Achieved 96% passing scores in Math, Reading, and Writing which includes special education population all five years
- Implemented TEKS in the areas of Reading, Language Arts, Science, and Social Studies
- Wrote lesson plans for grade level in the subjects mentioned above
- Grade level chair
- Tutored students twice a week
- Attended professional development, team meetings, parent conferences and school functions
- Used Gradespeed to enter student grades
- Used Whole Brain teaching as a learning tool
- LPAC committee member
- Attended and collaborated with benchmark testing committee
- Managed two classes of 20 plus students each.
Fourth Grade Bilingual Teacher
El Dorado Elementary
San Antonio, Texas
08.2008 - 05.2009
- Achieved 94% passing score including Special Education
- Transitioned students to an all-English class based on student ability
- Facilitated discussions about lessons where students oversaw the topic and discussion
- Monitored student success and understanding through observation, class work, weekly tests, benchmark assessments, group work, and TAKS
- Involved in LPAC and SIOP committees
- Implemented Love and Logic, Champs behavior programs.
Third Grade Bilingual Teacher
El Dorado Elementary
San Antonio, Texas
08.2006 - 05.2008
- Achieved 90% passing scores in Math, and Reading which includes special education population both years
- Evaluated students on previous teacher’s comments and concerns regarding student’s special needs
- Involved students in group activities and debates to enhance their reading comprehension and prepare them for the TAKS test
- Involved parents in the learning process and helped them understand their child’s needs
- Involved in LPAC and SIOP committees.
Fourth Grade Bilingual Teacher
Poteet Intermediate
Poteet, Texas
08.2005 - 05.2006
- Achieved 100% passing scores in Math, Reading, and Writing which includes special education population
- Managed three effective and productive classes with a maximum of twenty students
- Taught Language Arts/Social Studies/ESL (Math and Language Arts)
- Implemented innovative lesson plans for each subject
- Conducted successful parent-teacher conferences monthly
- Actively involved in DEIC, RAAD, and PTO meetings
- Comfortable and experienced developing rapport with and lending support to children from diverse socio-economic and cultural backgrounds
- Utilized email to communicate with students regarding their assigned projects.
Education
M. Ed Educational Administration -
Lamar University
02-2025
Bachelor of Arts - Journalism
The University of Texas At Austin
Austin, TX12.2000
Skills
- Performance monitoring
- Critical Thinking and Judgment
- Teacher Mentoring
- Discipline management
- Student and parent relations
- Personnel reviews
- School Administration
- School culture
Awards
- Teacher of the Year nominee for 6 years in a row.
- Nominated for Trinity Award and Teacher of the Year two consecutive years.
- Emmy Award, CNN -2001
Languages
Spanish
Native/ Bilingual
Certification
Alternative Teacher Certification Bilingual Education EC-6
Northwest Vista College – San Antonio, Texas “December 2005”
References
References available upon request.
Timeline
Assistant Principal of Instruction
IDEA Los Encinos
08.2022 - Current
Curriculum Writer
IDEA Los Encinos
06.2022 - Current
Course Leader
IDEA Los Encinos
08.2021 - 06.2022
Teacher Advisory Council Representative
IDEA Los Encinos
08.2021 - 06.2022
Sixth Grade ELA Educator
IDEA Los Encinos
08.2019 - 06.2022
Third Grade Dual Language Educator
Roan Forest Elementary
08.2018 - 08.2019
Fifth Grade Dual Language Educator/Facilitator
Roan Forest Elementary
08.2014 - 08.2018
Third Grade Educator/Facilitator
Roan Forest Elementary
05.2013 - 08.2014
Fourth Grade Dual Language Teacher
E.B. Reyna Elementary
08.2009 - 05.2013
Fourth Grade Bilingual Teacher
El Dorado Elementary
08.2008 - 05.2009
Third Grade Bilingual Teacher
El Dorado Elementary
08.2006 - 05.2008
Fourth Grade Bilingual Teacher
Poteet Intermediate
08.2005 - 05.2006
M. Ed Educational Administration -
Lamar University
Bachelor of Arts - Journalism
The University of Texas At Austin
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