Willow Manes
New Haven
Summary
Experienced leader, manager, and educator with over 5 years of experience in team leadership, teaching, writing, editing, coaching, and communication. Proven ability to organize events and data, manage teams, and foster a positive, sociable work environment. Strong, life-long belief in advocacy community-building, and the power of collaboration. Hard-working and extremely extroverted; people person.
Overview
9
9
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
LEAD 1ST GRADE TEACHER
Uncommon Schools
Brooklyn
07.2025 - 02.2026
- Worked alongside my co-teacher to nurture and teach 31 1st-grade students.
- Lead teacher for CORE (social sciences and history) and co-teacher for math, phonics, reading, and writing.
- Daily duties included overseeing lunch collection and distribution, organizing classroom supplies, cleaning and up keeping our room, offering additional assistance to our special needs children, and planning/running snack time and indoor recess.
- Managed weekly printing of homework and brightwork materials for classroom assignments.
- Prioritized building a safe and warm environment for my students.
- Spent time every week sending announcements to parents, communicating with parents, and offering emotional support to students.
- Maintained accurate student records and progress trackers to inform weekly instructional adjustments and support targeted skill development.
- Developed a family-engagement plan combining regular updates and actionable home activities, strengthening school-home learning continuity and parental support.
EDITOR
Yale Herald
New Haven
12.2022 - 12.2025
- Worked with student writers to edit personal, creative, and critical essays, including line by line editing and idea workshopping.
- Conducted audience segment reviews to refine headline and distribution tactics, producing noticeable gains in targeted article reach and clarity of messaging.
- Mentored reporters through one-on-one editing sessions focused on structure and sourcing, strengthening reporting skills and improving story readiness.
CAPTAIN
Yale Women's Rugby
New Haven
03.2024 - 05.2025
- Led practices, warm-ups, and organized both athletic and social events for the teams, including weekly board meetings.
- Advocated for players and worked with coaches to create the ideal rugby environment.
- Collaborated with the treasurer to plan and fund Spring Tour to San Diego and other rugby events.
- Managed finances and allocated funding.
- Oversaw a team of over 60 active members.
- Evaluated player performance data to tailor coaching strategies, achieving steady growth in team cohesion and competitive edge.
- Organized women-only rugby events and bonding, and advocated for equal treatment and funding for the Women's Rugby program at Yale.
- Facilitated cross-role mentorship pairing between veteran and new players to accelerate skill transfer and strengthen weekly practice productivity.
- Assessed match footage to identify tactical gaps, implemented targeted drills that produced noticeable improvements in set-piece execution and defensive alignment.
BUTTERY CAFE MANAGER
Yale University
New Haven
12.2021 - 05.2025
- Managed the Buttery, a late-night school eatery serving a variety of foods, ensuring smooth operations from Sunday through Friday.
- Oversaw hiring, training, and scheduling of student staff.
- Purchased and stocked food weekly, and maintained cleanliness and organization.
- Manager duties included opening and closing every night.
- Organized events, including yearly Yale Bulldogs Days Orientation events and themed nights with DJs and decorations.
- Implemented inventory tracking systems, resulting in steady reduction of food waste and improved cost control for the eatery.
- Pioneered new menu offerings based on student feedback, driving noticeable increases in customer engagement and satisfaction.
- Partnered with campus student groups to coordinate themed nights and logistics, enhancing event turnout while preserving service quality during surges.
- Led staff trainings on food safety protocol and food preparation, including how to make smoothies, coffee, sandwiches, and milkshakes.
Co Teacher
Miss Nicole’s Creative Learning Center
Newalla
11.2021 - 04.2025
- Worked for several years managing the 2 and 3 YO classrooms during after school and morning hours
- Implemented activities, field trips, and parent-teacher communication
- Worked with variety of children including those on spectrum
TEACHER'S ASSISTANT
GO Project
Brooklyn
05.2024 - 07.2024
- Assisted in instructing and supervising third-and-fourth graders from 9-4 daily.
- Developed a strong understanding of each student's personality, needs, and strengths.
- Assisted with reading and math, led group activities, and ensured safety during transitions and field trips.
- Coordinated classroom transitions and activities, supporting smooth daily routines and enhancing student engagement.
COACH
ESF Camps, Brooklyn Nets Academy
Brooklyn
05.2023 - 07.2023
- Led and supervised 25-60 kids, focusing on basketball fundamentals for ages 5-8.
- Set up and ran basketball drills, refereed games, and supervised breaks.
- Mediated team disagreements and emphasized basketball (and life) ideals: selflessness, patience, and resilience.
- Cultivated an inclusive environment by encouraging teamwork during drills, resulting in stronger group cohesion and positive camper interactions.
PROGRAM LEADER
Think Together
Cathedral City
04.2022 - 07.2022
- Led classes at Rio Vista Elementary School, instructing students aged 5-13.
- Supervised meal distribution, safety, and organized school materials.
- Conducted arts and crafts lessons, monitored student progress, and communicated with parents.
DEBATE COACH
Rancho Mirage High School
Rancho Mirage
05.2021 - 07.2021
- Provided free summer coaching to my high school debate team, including help preparing outlines, practicing debates, and individual speaker training.
- Facilitated peer-led critique sessions and cross-team scrimmages to surface tactical weaknesses and foster collective problem-solving, improving team cohesion and debate agility.
ADULT LITERACY TUTOR
First Baptist Church
Palm Springs
05.2017 - 05.2021
- Tutored a middle-aged woman from Jamaica in reading various forms of literature, including the Bible, cookbooks, and novels, in order to overcome illiteracy.
- Conducted weekly writing and journaling exercises, designing and teaching the curriculum.
- Partnered with her to set personalized reading goals, fostering a supportive environment that encouraged engagement and persistence.
- Built a personal relationship with her and her daughter in order to share cultural experiences and learn about each other.
ASSISTANT
Sanger Law
Palm Springs
08.2018 - 02.2020
- Organized files, assisted in separating documents.
- Maintained calendars and tracked deadlines.
- Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite, E-filing.
TUTOR
SuperProf
Brooklyn
12.2024
- Provided student-tailored writing instruction, including help with college admission essays, help with AP English Lit and Lang courses, and help with developing creative writing portfolios.
Education
Dual BA/MA - English
Yale University
New Haven, CTSkills
- Writing
- Team Leadership
- Communication
- Collaboration
- Organization
- Cafe Management
Certification
CPR and First Aid
Accomplishments
In 2024, our team won the National D3 Seven's Championship, the first ever for Yale.
Languages
Spanish
Websites And Social Links - Linked In
linkedin.com/in/willow-manes-a98b96220/
Timeline
LEAD 1ST GRADE TEACHER
Uncommon Schools
07.2025 - 02.2026
TUTOR
SuperProf
12.2024
TEACHER'S ASSISTANT
GO Project
05.2024 - 07.2024
CAPTAIN
Yale Women's Rugby
03.2024 - 05.2025
COACH
ESF Camps, Brooklyn Nets Academy
05.2023 - 07.2023
EDITOR
Yale Herald
12.2022 - 12.2025
PROGRAM LEADER
Think Together
04.2022 - 07.2022
BUTTERY CAFE MANAGER
Yale University
12.2021 - 05.2025
Co Teacher
Miss Nicole’s Creative Learning Center
11.2021 - 04.2025
DEBATE COACH
Rancho Mirage High School
05.2021 - 07.2021
ASSISTANT
Sanger Law
08.2018 - 02.2020
ADULT LITERACY TUTOR
First Baptist Church
05.2017 - 05.2021
Dual BA/MA - English
Yale University