Zurisadai Lepper
Byron Center
Summary
An educator with more than 20 years of experience in working in both national, international, private and public school settings. Committed to helping the learner understand and accept themselves as unique individuals. Fluent in Spanish and in English; skilled in researching educational strategies to benefit students with their learning experience.
Overview
25
25
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
4th Grade Teacher
Grand Rapids Christian School Iroquois Campus
08.2023 - Current
- Collaborated with fellow teachers to design interdisciplinary lesson plans, reinforcing key concepts across subjects.
- Managed classroom behavior effectively, establishing clear expectations and consequences while fostering a respectful learning environment.
- Implemented differentiated instruction strategies, addressing the unique needs of each student in the classroom.
- Utilized assessment data to inform instructional decisions, tailoring lesson plans to target areas needing improvement.
Homeroom 6th grade
Zealand Christian School
01.2019 - Current
- 6th grade English and Spanish Language Arts
- 6th grade Spanish Social Studies
- 6th grade English Bible
Homeroom 2nd Grade
Carver Primary
01.2018 - 01.2019
- 2nd Grade General Ed classroom
Resource room Aid
Pick Elementary
01.2017 - 01.2018
- Assisted English Speakers with mild learning disabilities with Math and Language Arts
Homeroom Spanish Immersion Teacher
Zealand Christian School
08.2008 - 06.2017
- 4th Grade Spanish Immersion Teacher (2014-2017)
- Teaching all subject areas in Spanish for students from English speaking homes
- 3rd Grade Spanish Immersion Teacher (2008-2014)
- Teaching all subject areas in Spanish for students from English speaking homes
- Reading Support Teacher (2011)
- Conducting individual lessons to struggling readers from grades 1st-5th and actively involved in gathering material to be used in a Spanish Reading Support Program, which are still used until this day
Add.a.lingua Partner Schools Training
01.2016
- Co-facilitated professional training to teachers in their 2nd year of teaching
Spanish Counselor Assistant
Camp Geneva
01.2011 - 01.2015
- Assisted the camp counselors with the Spanish Language as well as teaching the Bible lessons
Calvin College Center for Social Research
01.2007
- Participated as an interviewer of the Kent County Congregation Study of Grand Rapids; the purpose of the study was to find out the role of religious congregations in their community
Calvin College Spanish Department
01.2006 - 01.2007
- Student research assistant of a sociolinguistic project
Adult English Teacher (part time)
Progressive English Services
01.2006
- English classes for adults twice a week
- The instruction included conversation, grammar, writing and reading
Individual Tutoring
01.2004 - 01.2006
- Tutored children who were struggling in class and needed outside support
- Relied on constant feedback from teachers and family; looking together for alternatives and techniques to alleviate struggles in school
Homeroom English Immersion Teacher
The Ashton School
01.2003 - 01.2006
- 3rd Grade English Immersion Teacher
- Teaching all subject areas in English for students from Spanish speaking homes
- Pre-K English Immersion Teacher
- Teaching all subject areas in English for students from Spanish speaking homes
- 2nd Grade English Immersion Teacher
- Teaching all subject areas in English for students from Spanish speaking homes
English Immersion Teacher Assistant
St. Michael's School
01.2002 - 01.2003
- English Immersion 1st Grade Teacher Assistant
- Assisted homeroom teacher with lessons and individual instruction in the classroom
English Teacher (part time)
Instituto Cultural Dominico Americano
01.2001 - 01.2003
- English teacher for children ages seven to nine years old (to students not familiarized with the English language)
- The instruction included grammar, reading, writing, and conversation so that the students could enjoy and learn at the same time
English Immersion Teacher Assistant
Tiny Ones Preschool
01.2000 - 01.2002
- Nursery (3 years old) Teacher Assistant (2001-2002)
- Nursery is an important grade for parents who want English to be the language of instruction for their children
- At this grade children were introduced to English for the first time
- I assisted the homeroom teacher and learned numerous techniques
- Corralito (1 year olds) Teacher Assistant (2000-2001)
- The instruction is in Spanish
- This is done in order to help students develop their Spanish in a faster way through relationships with adults and other children, in order to start English at the age of 3
- I assisted the homeroom teacher and learned some of her techniques
Education
Masters of Education - Learning Disabilities
Calvin College
Grand Rapids, MI01.2008
Bachelors of Arts - Lower and Upper Elementary Education (K-8)
Universidad Católica Santo Domingo
01.2006
Skills
- Highly fluent in English
- Highly fluent in Spanish
- Reflective thinker
- Skilled in educational research
- Problem solver
- Collaborative
Certification
Certified in the State of Michigan Elementary K-5 all subjects (K-8 all subjects in self-contained classroom).
Additional Education And Training
- Attended CEA convention (Christian Educators Association), 2008-2017, 2019-2021
- Developing a Growth Mindset in yourself, classroom and students, 2016
- Participated in Add.a.lingua trainings
- La Lectoescritura Hoy, (Asociación Mundial de Educadores Infantiles) (UNESCO, Early Childhood Partner), 2003
- Annual Conference of Teachers of English 'Celebrating Diversity in Teaching', 06/01/03
- Annual Conference of Teachers of English 'Learning is a Miracle: Let's Discover it', 07/01/02
- Annual Conference of Teachers of English 'Journey into Multiculturalism', 06/01/01
Languages
Spanish
Native or Bilingual
Timeline
4th Grade Teacher
Grand Rapids Christian School Iroquois Campus
08.2023 - Current
Homeroom 6th grade
Zealand Christian School
01.2019 - Current
Homeroom 2nd Grade
Carver Primary
01.2018 - 01.2019
Resource room Aid
Pick Elementary
01.2017 - 01.2018
Add.a.lingua Partner Schools Training
01.2016
Spanish Counselor Assistant
Camp Geneva
01.2011 - 01.2015
Homeroom Spanish Immersion Teacher
Zealand Christian School
08.2008 - 06.2017
Calvin College Center for Social Research
01.2007
Calvin College Spanish Department
01.2006 - 01.2007
Adult English Teacher (part time)
Progressive English Services
01.2006
Individual Tutoring
01.2004 - 01.2006
Homeroom English Immersion Teacher
The Ashton School
01.2003 - 01.2006
English Immersion Teacher Assistant
St. Michael's School
01.2002 - 01.2003
English Teacher (part time)
Instituto Cultural Dominico Americano
01.2001 - 01.2003
English Immersion Teacher Assistant
Tiny Ones Preschool
01.2000 - 01.2002
Bachelors of Arts - Lower and Upper Elementary Education (K-8)
Universidad Católica Santo Domingo
Masters of Education - Learning Disabilities
Calvin College
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