Zipporah Gwin
Champaign,IL.
Summary
It is my objective to cultivate a community of active learners by providing students, staff, and parents with equitable educational experiences that are differentiated based on their unique abilities, interests, and social needs. These opportunities will integrate elements of the arts, Common Core Standards, and relevant instructional and assessment practices developed to ensure excellence and achievement for all learners.
Overview
19
19
years of professional experience
Work History
Principal
Unit 4 School District
06.2022 - Current
- Perform classroom evaluations to assess teacher strategies and effectiveness
- Foster a positive learning environment by promoting open communication among staff, students, and parents.
- Manage budgets and resources efficiently to ensure optimal allocation of funds for school programs and initiatives
- Monitor student behavior and enforced discipline policies.
- Organize family and staff events that promote productive and inclusive educational experiences for all stakeholders
- Collaborate with local community leaders and organizations to improve the outcomes for students and families
- Seek out professional learning to improve my leadership practices in areas of instruction, culture and climate, family engagement, data analysis and more
- Use data to plan and make intentional decisions that advance teaching and learning
Assistant Principal
Stratton Academy of the Arts
Champaign, IL.
05.2017 - 05.2022
- Establish meaningful relationships with students, families, staff and community stakeholders
- Facilitate professional learning opportunities around racial equity
- Analyze student data and assist teachers in using data to plan meaningful instructional outcomes
- Establish supervision schedules and routines
- Facilitate bi-weekly grade level collaborations for 2nd,3rd & ESL teaching teams
- Organize building wide social and cultural celebrations for students
- Provide restorative disciplinary practices geared to motivate and deter students with high needs
- Conduct formal and informal observations and evaluations for teachers and staff
- Provide meaning feedback to improve professional practice for faculty
- Engage with parents and families
- Support social, emotional and academic needs of students
- Established student leadership opportunities
- Create and monitor student goal setting matrix for grades 2nd-5th
- Facilitate state and district assessments-input and update student accommodations
- Oversaw schedule management and protocols for orientation, registration and related activities
- Supervised and evaluated teaching and support staff through instructional leadership and professional development
- Monitored student behavior and enforced discipline policies
- Administered standardized tests to evaluate student performance and progress
- Performed classroom evaluations to assess teacher strategies and effectiveness
- Partnered with principal to administer school program in alignment with vision and goals, providing positive, high-expectation academic environment
- Led meetings to convey policy changes, gather information and assess employee thoughts
Assistant Principal
Garden Hills Elementary School
Champaign, IL.
05.2016 - 05.2017
- Established positive relationships with students, parents and staff to foster working relationships and produce higher student achievement
- Dean of Discipline
- Conducted weekly literacy meetings with teachers
- Monitored and assisted in implementations of network and state mandates concerning instructional learning environment
- Lunch/Recess Supervision
- Organized school-wide assemblies, literacy, math and science nights, student talent show, field trips, etc.
Principal
Joseph Academy
Melrose Park, IL
05.2015 - 05.2016
- Increased student enrollment by 100%
- Evaluated teachers
- Hired highly qualified teachers
- Conducted mandatory transitional meetings with families and local school districts
- Facilitated outside educational experiences for students and faculty
- Provided professional development for staff
- Maintained accurate records regarding safety and security
- Analyzed data to guide decisions
Assistant Principal
James N. Thorp Elementary School
Chicago, IL
05.2013 - 05.2015
- Established positive relationships with students, parents and staff to foster working relationships and produce higher student achievement
- Actively sought out and won following Grants: Columbia College Arts Grant ($500,000); Emerald City Arts Grant ($5,000); Target Grant ($8,000); and True School ($10,000).
- Increased NWEA 2014 student RIT scores from 2% reading at or above grade level to 27% (2nd-8th).
- Increased NWEA 2015 student RIT scores from 27% reading at or above grade level to more than 40% (2nd-8th).
- Supervised Special Education Department by attending IEP meetings, monitoring monthly compliance and supporting professional growth of teachers and teacher assistants
- Completed Charlotte Danielson’s REACH Training (2012)
- Performed formal and informal evaluations for Tenured and PAT Teachers
- Developed and Implemented School-wide RTI Pull-out System
- Member and Coordinator of Instructional Leadership Team (ILT)
- Conducted frequent opportunities for Staff Professional Development
Instructional Leadership Coach
William H. Ryder Elementary School
Chicago, IL
05.2013 - 06.2013
- Established positive relationships with students, parents and staff to foster working relationships and produce higher student achievement
- Dean of Discipline
- Conducted weekly literacy meetings with teachers
- Monitored and assisted in implementations of network and state mandates concerning instructional learning environment
- Lunch/Recess Supervision
- Organized school-wide assemblies, literacy, math and science nights, student talent show, field trips, etc.
- Carried out day-day-day duties accurately and efficiently
- Created plans and communicated deadlines to ensure projects were completed on time
- Led projects and analyzed data to identify opportunities for improvement
Assistant Principal and Teacher
G.A Morgan Fine Arts Academy
Chicago, IL.
05.2012 - 05.2013
- Established positive relationships with students, parents and staff to foster working relationships and produce higher student achievement
- Supervised Special Education Department by attending IEP meetings, monitoring monthly compliance and supporting professional growth of teachers and teacher assistant
- Completed Charlotte Danielson’s REACH Training (2012)
- Performed formal and informal evaluations for Tenured and PAT Teachers
- Conducted frequent opportunities for Staff Professional Development
- Co-Teaching, GradeBook, and new Evaluation Process for Paraprofessional and Custodial Staff
- Organized, Promoted and Conducted several Parent and Community Events
- Dean of Student Discipline
- Promoted peer mentoring and self-reflective opportunities
- Lowest Student Misconducts in EGN Network
- Created, Organized and Implemented School-wide Schedules, Disciplines and Procedures
- Identified Exceptional Learners and Created “The Brainiac Club” for gifted students in grades K-8th
- Co-Developed School’s CIWP
- Assisted with School Budget
- Researched and selected new Literacy, Science, Math, and Technology Programs for diverse learners in multiple grade levels
- 90% of 6th grade students met or exceeded their EOY growth targets (NWEA-Winter), 75% of 8th grade students met or exceeded their EOY growth targets (NWEA-Winter), 90% of 8th grade students met or exceeded their EOY growth targets (NWEA-Spring)
- Developed and Implemented School-wide RTI Pull-out System
- Member and Coordinator of Instructional Leadership Team (ILT)
- Fundraising and Grant Writing Committee Founder and Chairperson
- Arts and Productions Committee Founder and Chairperson
- Social Committee Founder and Chairperson
Teacher
R.H. Metcalfe Community Academy
Chicago, IL
05.2007 - 05.2012
- Received highest overall gains for ISAT Testing for Reading and/or Math four years in a row
- Taught 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th grade (ELA & Gifted)
- Planned and implemented integrated lessons to meet national standards
- Communicated frequently with parents, students and faculty to provide feedback and discuss instructional strategies
- Worked cooperatively with other teachers, administrators and parents to help students reach learning objectives
- Held conferences with parents to address questions, discuss academic progress and encourage learning goals
- Attended and facilitated IEP meetings for students and families
Teacher
Garden Hills Elementary School
Champaign, IL
05.2006 - 05.2007
- Taught 3 strands of 5th grade math
- Planned and implemented integrated lessons to meet national standards
- Directed after-school tutoring and mentoring program serving elementary school students
- Supported student teachers by mentoring on classroom management, lesson planning and activity organization
- Kept students on-task with proactive behavior modification and positive reinforcement strategies
- Completed daily reports, meal count sheets and attendance logs
- Held conferences with parents to address questions, discuss academic progress and encourage learning goals
- Incorporated multiple types of teaching strategies into classroom
- Collaborated with faculty to develop after-school tutoring program for struggling students
- Attended and facilitated IEP meetings for students and families
- Worked cooperatively with other teachers, administrators and parents to help students reach learning objectives
Education
PhD - Education Administration and Foundations, Equity and
Illinois State University
Normal, IL05.2024
Masters of Arts - Educational Leadership and Administration
Chicago State University
Chicago, IL05.2012
Bachelors of Science - Elementary Education
Illinois State University
Normal, IL05.2006
Skills
- Student Management & Celebrations
- Parent & Family Relations
- TalentEd
- Dashboard
- E-School
- Everything Google
- Microsoft Office Tools
- NWEA
- Illinois Assessment of Readiness
- Policy development and enforcement
- Common Core learning standards
- Special education
- Relationship building and networking
- Student achievement
- Group facilitation and presentations
- Process improvements
- Staff Development
- Policy and procedure development
- Schedule oversight
- Community engagement
- Team Building
- Curriculum Development
Timeline
Principal
Unit 4 School District
06.2022 - Current
Assistant Principal
Stratton Academy of the Arts
05.2017 - 05.2022
Assistant Principal
Garden Hills Elementary School
05.2016 - 05.2017
Principal
Joseph Academy
05.2015 - 05.2016
Assistant Principal
James N. Thorp Elementary School
05.2013 - 05.2015
Instructional Leadership Coach
William H. Ryder Elementary School
05.2013 - 06.2013
Assistant Principal and Teacher
G.A Morgan Fine Arts Academy
05.2012 - 05.2013
Teacher
R.H. Metcalfe Community Academy
05.2007 - 05.2012
Teacher
Garden Hills Elementary School
05.2006 - 05.2007
PhD - Education Administration and Foundations, Equity and
Illinois State University
Masters of Arts - Educational Leadership and Administration
Chicago State University
Bachelors of Science - Elementary Education
Illinois State University