Experience

Excel Academy Charter Schools

• United States
• Primary and Secondary Education
• 100 - 200 Employee

• Managing Director of Student Supports

  • Jan 2023 - Present

• Director of Student Supports

  • Jul 2016 - Jan 2023

  - Creating a vision, both academically and behaviorally, for a new special education self-contained program, and overseeing its launch- Ensuring alignment of IEPs and service delivery for special education students across the Excel network of schools- Overseeing and managing the Special Education budget- Providing oversight and leadership to ensure compliance and quality of Excel's special education and English Language Learner programs and services.

• Dean of Student Supports

  • Jul 2013 - Jul 2016

  I led the Special Education department at Excel Academy Charter School - Chelsea, for three years.Within my school, I managed and coached special education teachers, oversaw all compliance paperwork and behavior interventions, and led the student support team composed of our Dean of Students, Counselor, and Nurse to address higher-needs students and implement supports for them. My role also included managing data for all of our students, specifically reading data gathered from the DRA assessment, and creating groups and curriculum for guided reading interventions as well as coordinating progress monitoring testing throughout the year. I also served as the chair of the Special Education department for our network of schools, and lead our group of 12+ teachers in professional development, collaborative problem solving, and program building. Show less

• Learning Specialist

  • Aug 2011 - Jun 2013

  As the founding learning specialist at Excel Academy, I led and developed the Special Education department at a start-up charter school, including supporting another Learning Support fellowteacher. My role included providing instruction in all settings (inclusion, push-in, small group) to students with mild to moderate disabilities, as well as developing core teachers’ instructional practices in differentiation, inclusion models, and multi-sensory education. I also coordinated evaluations, and wrote 5th and 6th grade IEPs and 504 plans. Show less



The School District of Philadelphia

• United States
• Education Administration Programs
• 700 & Above Employee

• Special Education Liaison

  • Aug 2009 - Jun 2011

  As the founding SEL at Philadelphia Learning Academy South, I created and ran the Special Education department at a start-up Alternative high school. This meant leading a small team of special education teachers to manage continuum of services and IEP/504 caseloads for a transient population of up to 80 students receiving special education services.

• Special Education Teacher

  • Aug 2009 - Jun 2011

  While acting as the Special Education Liaison, I also served as a classroom Special Education teacher and taught multiple English, Math, and elective classes in inclusive, resource, pullout, and self-contained classrooms. I planned and provided learning support and emotional support services, and meaningfully tracked progress towards ambitious curricular and IEP goals for my caseload of up to forty students in a variety of classrooms across the school. I also collaborated with general education teachers to build their capacity around differentiation practices school-wide. Show less



Teach For America

• United States
• Education Administration Programs
• 700 & Above Employee

• Corps Member

  • May 2009 - Jun 2011

  I was a Teach for America corps member while teaching for the School District of Philadelphia. In addition to my teaching responsibilities, I attended professional development sessions that earned me credits towards my master's degree and teaching certification.

• Resource Room Specialist

  • Jun 2010 - Aug 2010

  Provided expert knowledge and resources to new teachers, and helped them master concepts such as five-step lesson plans, standards-aligned assessments, and differentiation

• Summer Institute Teacher

  • Jun 2009 - Aug 2009

  As part of my Teach for America training I taught summer school for four weeks while engaging in intensive professional development around core teacher competencies.



Philadelphia School District

• Retail Apparel and Fashion
• 300 - 400 Employee

• Member of Year-Round Planning Committee

  • Jun 2010 - Oct 2010

  While working for the School District of Philadelphia, I traveled to San Diego to observe the year round schools in the Sweetwater Union school district in anticipation of bringing such a model back to Philadelphia. I collaborated with teachers and administrators to plan the pilot year-round calendar in the Philadelphia School District for its Alternative School division. While working for the School District of Philadelphia, I traveled to San Diego to observe the year round schools in the Sweetwater Union school district in anticipation of bringing such a model back to Philadelphia. I collaborated with teachers and administrators to plan the pilot year-round calendar in the Philadelphia School District for its Alternative School division.



National Cathedral Scholars Program

• Assistant Media Teacher

  • Jun 2008 - Aug 2008

  I created lesson plans and projects, and collaborated with the lead teacher to implement them in classroom setting for rising 9th grade students from all over Washington, D.C. Independently, I taught our students the skills necessary to create politically and socially engaged blog posts and video and photo projects. I created lesson plans and projects, and collaborated with the lead teacher to implement them in classroom setting for rising 9th grade students from all over Washington, D.C. Independently, I taught our students the skills necessary to create politically and socially engaged blog posts and video and photo projects.



St. Albans Summer School

• Multimedia Teacher

  • Jun 2008 - Aug 2008

  As a summer-multimedia teacher I created lesson plans, projects, and a full six-week curriculum covering a variety of programs including Paint.Net, Powerpoint, Excel, Dreamweaver, Windows Movie Maker, and Macromedia Flash for elementary and middle school students seeking enrichment. As a summer-multimedia teacher I created lesson plans, projects, and a full six-week curriculum covering a variety of programs including Paint.Net, Powerpoint, Excel, Dreamweaver, Windows Movie Maker, and Macromedia Flash for elementary and middle school students seeking enrichment.