ZANSO DALILI- Ortique
Washington
Summary
Results-driven educator prepared for high-impact roles. Extensive experience in shaping business strategies and fostering innovation. Strong focus on team collaboration and achieving results, adapting to changing needs. Demonstrated expertise in strategic planning and team leadership.
Overview
19
19
years of professional experience
Work History
Co-founder and Teacher Leader
The Riverseed School
07.2021 - Current
- Designed and planned a new school site through the Wildflower School Startup Journey, leading efforts in site identification, acquisition, and renovation, as well as creating a prepared Montessori environment responsive to community needs and local regulations in D.C
- Collaborate with fellow co-founder and other educators at the school site to develop a vision for an inclusive, authentic Montessori school serving a diverse community; built lasting relationships with community members to inform ongoing site design and evolution
- Led recruitment and enrollment efforts, increasing student enrollment from 16 to 31 with a robust waiting list by year three
- Led the hiring process for six staff members, including a founding Special Education teacher and after-school associates
- Created an in-house after-school program framework, ensuring quality extended care aligned with the school’s mission
- Implemented an MTSS/child study system to identify and support exceptional learners, including those with special needs, by collaborating with learning specialists and student support partners
- Develops partnerships with caregivers to extend Montessori practices at home, fostering a cohesive learning environment
- Built and maintains a balanced school site budget, implementing sound financial practices and revising allocations to support The Riverseed School’s unique programs
- Actively markets the school through community engagement and develops a committed community of students, families, and stakeholders rooted in partnership
- Leads with cultural humility, working to disrupt oppressive systems while co-leading a culturally responsive, mixed-age Montessori classroom designed for students of the global majority
- Manages human resource practices at the school site level, ensures compliance with licensing and regulatory requirements, and maintained a safe, well-functioning facility
- Serves as a non-voting board member of DC Wildflower PCS, providing site-level updates at monthly board meetings, while also serving as a member of the finance and student performance and engagement committees
Design Team Member
DC Wildflower PCS
11.2020 - 04.2021
- Leveraged teacher perspective to review and refine the charter application, providing critical feedback
- Prepared and delivered presentations to the DC Charter School Board to gain support for charter approval
- Engaged ANC councils and citywide educational leaders through tailored presentations to build support for The Riverseed School’s opening
- Led awareness-building efforts, including creating petitions and organizing door-to-door canvassing, to promote The Riverseed School and DC Wildflower PCS
Montessori Elementary Guide
Breakthrough Montessori
07.2018 - 06.2021
- Plans, implements and coordinates the learning in a growing Montessori Lower Elementary classroom (ages 6-9)
- Maintains a prepared learning environment according to the developmental and curricular specifications outlined in the Montessori Scope & Sequence
- Observe student activity and base lesson-planning on observed needs and interests
- Maintains accurate and up-to-date records for all students
- Prepare and present progress reports on all students
- In collaboration with Director of Curriculum & Instruction, prepare, administer and reflect on formative and summative assessments
- Communicate effectively with parents/families to help them understand the details and implementation of the Montessori approach
- Trained in the Orton Gillingham Method for reading interventions
Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Breakthrough Montessori
06.2017 - 06.2018
- Served as the head of the Diversity and Inclusion Committee
- Organized and facilitated reading groups that aligned with the monthly themes
- Facilitated parent/school equity series discussions about alignment with the School’s Statement of Values, and the creation of an Anti-Bullying School policy
- Participated in monthly Executive Committee meetings and committee meetings
- Created book lists for the Monthly themes in order to create parent and staff ABAR libraries to support school/home participation in the monthly themes
- Functioned as the liaison between parent and administrative DEI concerns
- Worked with other members of the SHA executive committee to create a budget for DEI activities, which included the ABAR library, refreshments for DEI events, and sponsorship to the Montessori for Social Justice Conference
DC Montessori Teaching Residency
06.2016 - 06.2017
- Completed an academic year-long Montessori Professional Development program that lead to Montessori training
- The program included 15 modules that address Montessori Pedagogy as well as topics that address the challenges of teaching in an urban high need Public Montessori School
Primary Assistant
Breakthrough Montessori
06.2016 - 06.2017
- Maintains the daily maintenance of the Primary Montessori Environment
- Redirects, engages and supports children in the appropriate use of Montessori Materials
- Participant in an Equity Working Group formed among staff members to provide professional development for teaching teams in regards to curriculum development and communication with students
Volunteer
Teaching for Change
06.2015 - 05.2016
- Created lesson plans for Roving Readers, a parent-led read-aloud program that focuses on bringing multicultural and anti-bias literature to elementary schools
- Wrote book review blurbs published in the periodical Rethinking Schools
- Completed write-ups for social justice and education policy events in the D.C area for the organization’s website
Pre-kindergarten Teacher
J.O Wilson Elementary School
08.2010 - 06.2014
- Designed and implemented lesson plans for Literacy, Math and Science to supplement instructional curriculum for the Tools of the Mind Curriculum for Pre-kindergarten classes of 20 students
- Communicated with Parents and Administration about student progress using GOLD assessments for Early Childhood Learning
DCPS LIFT Ambassador
J.O Wilson Elementary School
09.2012 - 05.2013
- Led informational sessions, designed and implemented surveys, and served as a school ambassador for a DCPS career ladder initiative to retain top-performing teachers, reward experience, and increase career stability
DC Teaching Fellows
06.2010 - 05.2011
- Summer 2010 Fellow that included teacher preparation course work to obtain Regular 1 teaching license in D.C
- Rigorous six-week training Institute including practice teaching and Teaching for Student Achievement Framework
After-school Associate
Sunset Hills Montessori School
09.2009 - 06.2010
- Assist in lunch and recess management in a Montessori primary classroom (ages 3-6)
- Assist in work/play projects for children aged 3-9 in the after-school program
- Substitute assistant teacher in other primary classrooms as needed
Development Intern
Howard University Middle School of Mathematics and Science
01.2009 - 05.2009
- Assisted a fundraising and marketing campaign to promote the school, including the creation of a promotional video and the coordination of donor events
In Class/ Extended Day Intern
Howard University Middle School of Mathematics and Science
09.2006 - 05.2009
- Lead Creative Writing Teacher for the extended day class
- Created lesson plans, facilitated peer edit and field trip opportunities (2006-2007)
- Co-lead Multimedia Club instructor for extended day
- Facilitated a news show created by the students for development
- Instruction on video production, lighting, and on-air techniques
- In-class assistant teacher for Language Arts
- Assisted in the creation of lesson plans, projects, instruction, and parent involvement
Corps Member
Jumpstart
09.2005 - 05.2006
- Participated in the Jumpstart program at Bruce Monroe Elementary School targeted towards preschoolers
- Completed classroom assistance, in addition to individualized work with one preschooler strengthening his school readiness skills
Education
Master's of Education in Montessori Elementary Edu - Education
WMI At Loyola University
Baltimore, Maryland09-2018
Bachelor of Arts - Communications
Howard University, School of Communications
Washington, DC05-2009
Skills
- Partnership cultivation
- Expert in Early childhood education and development
Timeline
Co-founder and Teacher Leader
The Riverseed School
07.2021 - Current
Design Team Member
DC Wildflower PCS
11.2020 - 04.2021
Montessori Elementary Guide
Breakthrough Montessori
07.2018 - 06.2021
Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Breakthrough Montessori
06.2017 - 06.2018
DC Montessori Teaching Residency
06.2016 - 06.2017
Primary Assistant
Breakthrough Montessori
06.2016 - 06.2017
Volunteer
Teaching for Change
06.2015 - 05.2016
DCPS LIFT Ambassador
J.O Wilson Elementary School
09.2012 - 05.2013
Pre-kindergarten Teacher
J.O Wilson Elementary School
08.2010 - 06.2014
DC Teaching Fellows
06.2010 - 05.2011
After-school Associate
Sunset Hills Montessori School
09.2009 - 06.2010
Development Intern
Howard University Middle School of Mathematics and Science
01.2009 - 05.2009
In Class/ Extended Day Intern
Howard University Middle School of Mathematics and Science
09.2006 - 05.2009
Corps Member
Jumpstart
09.2005 - 05.2006
Master's of Education in Montessori Elementary Edu - Education
WMI At Loyola University
Bachelor of Arts - Communications
Howard University, School of Communications
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