VANESSA NOLAN
Anniston
Summary
National Board Certified Early Childhood Generalist and Instructional Coach with over 20 years of experience advancing inclusion and developmentally appropriate practices that support both academic growth and social-emotional development in K–2 environments. Work with the Alabama State Department of Education to align regional instruction with standards and initiatives like the Alabama Numeracy Act. Expert in designing professional development and translating foundational research into practical curriculum tools. Proven track record of mentoring educators to support diverse learners and drive continuous school improvement.
Overview
24
24
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Mathematics Instructional Coach
ALABAMA CONNECTIONS ACADEMY
08.2023 - Current
- Provide instructional leadership and professional learning support within a statewide virtual school serving elementary educators and students.
- Coached 18 K–2 educators through job-embedded cycles enhancing instructional effectiveness, standards implementation, intervention planning, and student achievement.
- Design and facilitate schoolwide professional learning experiences serving more than 40 educators and instructional staff.
- Support implementation of evidence-based instructional practices through modeling, coaching, feedback, and resource development.
- Facilitated collaborative planning sessions and professional learning communities that enhanced instructional consistency and increased educator capacity.
- Developed and implemented instructional resources, intervention supports, assessments, and tools adopted across K–2 instructional programs.
- Analyze achievement and implementation data to identify instructional priorities, monitor progress, and support educator decision-making.
- Partner with the Alabama State Department of Education to support implementation of Alabama Numeracy Act priorities, assessment systems, intervention frameworks, and continuous improvement efforts.
- Collaborate with administrators and instructional staff to improve systems, strengthen instructional practices, and support organizational goals.
Kindergarten Teacher | Grade-Level Lead Teacher | Inclusion Teacher
PIEDMONT CITY SCHOOLS
08.2004 - 10.2023
- Selected as Kindergarten Inclusion Teacher due to success in fostering academic growth, enhancing social-emotional development, and building strong family partnerships.
- Led inclusive learning environments serving students with autism spectrum disorder, developmental delays, visual impairments, grade-level learners, and advanced learners.
- Designed inclusive learning environments, coordinated accommodations and interventions, and collaborated with multidisciplinary teams to ensure equitable access to rigorous instruction.
- Implemented differentiated instruction, intervention supports, and enrichment opportunities addressing diverse academic and social-emotional needs.
- Directed instructional initiatives as a mentor, inclusion specialist, and classroom educator to enhance student engagement and promote effective teaching strategies.
- Led collaborative planning, curriculum implementation, instructional consistency, educator development, and team leadership as Grade-Level Lead Teacher.
- Mentored and supported 13 student teachers and practicum candidates through modeling, coaching, collaborative planning, and reflective practice.
- Partnered with community organizations to secure resources and support for students and families, enhancing accessibility to essential educational materials and services.
- Connected community resources with families to address barriers impacting student success, including coordinating partnerships that provided beds and essential resources for students.
- Collaborated with families, service providers, administrators, and school personnel to coordinate support for students with diverse learning needs.
- Partnered with the Piedmont High School Drama Department and After School Program to design and implement an enrichment initiative allowing elementary students to participate in theater productions, expanding extracurricular access.
Pre-Kindergarten Teacher
Bartow County Schools
Cartersville
08.2003 - 05.2004
- Incorporated literature into lesson plans to develop critical thinking skills.
- Utilized early childhood education best practices to support developmental milestones.
Kindergarten Teacher
Calhoun County Schools
Alexandria
08.2002 - 05.2003
- Integrated music, art, drama, literature, science, math into lesson plans for hands-on learning experiences.
- Instructed students in standardized subjects as well as general learning strategies and skills for social development and character.
Education
Master of Science - Early Childhood Education
Samford University
Birmingham12-2002
Bachelor of Science - Early Childhood Education
Jacksonville State University
Jacksonville, AL12-2000
Skills
- Differentiated instruction
- Curriculum design
- Collaborative planning
- Team leadership
- Mentoring practices
- Reflective practice
- Professional development
- Special education strategies
- Group and individual instruction
- Child development
Leadership Presentations And Professional Contributions
- STEM Inclusion Workshop Presenter – Jacksonville State University
- Professional Learning Facilitator
- Grade-Level Lead Teacher
- Mentor Teacher
- Instructional Resource Developer
- Virtual Learning Leader
Certification
- National Board Certified Teacher (Active), Early Childhood Generalist
- National Board Certification Renewal
- Alabama Professional Educator Certification
- Alabama Real Estate License
Specialized Leadership Coaching And Professional Learning
DECE Home Visitor Training, DECE ETO Training, GOLD Teaching Strategies, ARI Foundations for Beginning Reading, Institute for Multi-Sensory Education Orton-Gillingham Training, CORE Academy, Teacher Institute EL Training, OGAP Additive Reasoning for Math Coaches, OGAP Multiplicative Reasoning for Math Coaches, Math Coaching Academy Year 1, Math Coaching Academy Year 2, AMSTI Number Sense, SDE AMSTI Mathematics Foundational Training (K–5), Data Driven Instruction – Mathematics, OMI Fraction Action: From Screener to Strategy, ANA Day, SDE PowerSchool Analytics & Insights MTSS Interventions Sessions 1 & 2, SDE PowerSchool Analytics & Insights Student Plans & Interventions, SDE Analytics & Insights Rostering & Creating, SDE Analytics & Insights Frequently Asked Questions, National Boards Writing & Revising, JSU CORE Academy, DOK Reading, Practicum & Student Teacher Mentor Experiences, Apple Teacher Certification, Apple Teacher Certification Training, Getting Started with Schoology, Google Apps Training, Google Apps Sessions 1 & 2, AMSTI Crossover Science Kindergarten Year One, AMSTI Crossover Science Kindergarten Year Two, AMSTI Compressed Science Kindergarten Year One
Community Leadership And Engagement
- Planned and led a schoolwide Diabetes Awareness Walk engaging students, families, and community stakeholders.
- Organized and led a student-driven disaster relief initiative that collected donations and resources for communities in need.
- Developed and coordinated an Adopt-a-Grand partnership between kindergarten students and a local nursing facility to strengthen intergenerational relationships and community engagement.
- Partnered with local organizations, businesses, and community leaders to support educational initiatives and student needs.
Areas Of Impact
- Educator Development & Professional Learning Leadership
- Early Childhood Systems & Instructional Leadership
- Inclusion & Equitable Learning Opportunities
- Literacy & Foundational Reading Development
- Mathematics & Numeracy Improvement
- STEM Integration & Inquiry-Based Learning
- Family Engagement & Community Partnerships
- Home Visitation & Family Support Systems
- Curriculum Implementation & Continuous Improvement
- Assessment, MTSS & Intervention Systems
- State Initiative Implementation
- Virtual Learning Leadership
- Stakeholder Engagement & Collaborative Problem Solving
Timeline
Mathematics Instructional Coach
ALABAMA CONNECTIONS ACADEMY
08.2023 - Current
Kindergarten Teacher | Grade-Level Lead Teacher | Inclusion Teacher
PIEDMONT CITY SCHOOLS
08.2004 - 10.2023
Pre-Kindergarten Teacher
Bartow County Schools
08.2003 - 05.2004
Kindergarten Teacher
Calhoun County Schools
08.2002 - 05.2003
Master of Science - Early Childhood Education
Samford University
Bachelor of Science - Early Childhood Education
Jacksonville State University