Experience Summary
Susan Crosby –Permanently Certified Teacher PK-6 Missouri and New York
K-12 Missouri Reading Certification Provisional with Endorsement
1635 Washington Avenue Apartment 304 ? St. Louis, Missouri 63103 ? 314-366-1425 ? Crosbysusana@gmail.com
Innovative ELA District Leader philosophically rooted in Balanced Literacy. Utilizing Transformative Literacy I motivate children and educators towards work that is designed to produce both social, and academic growth.
Core Competencies
• Balanced Literacy: Curriculum, PD and Classroom Modeling
• Literacy and Leadership Training:
District and Building Level Support
• Creating and sustaining capacity on a building and district level.
• Producing solutions to urban literacy struggles and educational inequalities • Teacher’s College Certified: Reading Workshop Implementation
• Designing, Analyzing and Utilizing: Formative, Authentic and Summative Assessments
• Building and facilitating curricula implementation
• Self-driven team player
• Best practices for at-risk students • Differentiated Instruction
• Classroom Management
• Impactful instruction to develop critical thinkers that self-advocate
• Implementing School/District RTI
• Focused Instructional Learning Walks
• Thinking Maps Certified: Train the Trainer
Experience
St. Louis Public Schools, St. Louis, Missouri Early Childhood Literacy Coordinator July 2014- Present
Key Contributions:
? District wide implementation (PK-2 and PK-6 in the Superintendent Zone) of Balanced Literacy supported by curricula from the Center for the Collaborative Classroom
? Implementation of new ELA instruction has dropped retention in grades 1-2 and achieving a 100% promotion rate in Kindergarten
? Provide professional development on Literacy via workshops, observations, classroom modeling and coaching
? Conduct meetings with administration around data, curricula, staffing and community concerns
? Work with Associate Superintendent to coordinate and support Instructional Support Facilitators in Superintendent Zone
? Designed and implemented Pre-Kindergarten booster sessions with the Early Childhood Education Assistant Superintendent
? Conducted Focused Instructional Learning Walks with instructional team from Early Childhood
? Researching current model Pre-School districts and pending legislation regarding Early Childhood Education (PK-2)
? Collaborate with teachers regarding students to differentiate whole class, small group and individual instruction
? Researching latest literacy trends through online resources, scholarly journals and traditionally published books
? Compiling mounting research around the trauma of poverty on children to develop solutions reducing in and out of school suspensions, increase trust among classmates and teachers, and provide healing environments in which to learn.
? Train and assist schools in administering and utilizing data from a multitude of assessments
o Fountas and Pinnell’s Benchmark Assessment System, Teacher’s College Informal Reading Inventory, Star Reading Enterprise, Accelerated Reader, Acuity, MAP Testing and formative assessments
? Developed correlation charts aligning readability continuums from different assessments/publishers
o Allowing for seamless conversations about students and data, along with utilization of materials
o Correlations included Fountas and Pinnell, Star Enterprise Scaled Scores and Lexile
? Reviewed Requests for Proposals, provided feedback and compiled team scores for submission to Assistant Superintendent
St. Louis Public Schools, St. Louis, Missouri K-12 ELA Specialist July 2013- July 2014
Key Contributions:
? Worked with the Director of Curriculum and Associate Superintendents to address district wide ELA needs
? Conducted Focused Instructional Learning Walks with an instructional team led by our Associate Superintendent
? Utilized observations along with the input of teachers, administration and students to design targeted school support
o PLCs, in-class modeling, co-teaching, professional development sessions and instructional planning
? Collaborated with teachers regarding their students and whole class instruction so that all instruction meshed
? Researched latest literacy trends and implemented a pilot for instructional and assessment materials
? Provided city wide professional development regarding balanced literacy and the workshop model
? Collaborated with teachers on implementing the workshop model from Pre-Kindergarten to Eighth Grade
? Provided relevant materials and resources across SLPS to support instructional needs, ideas and assessment
Octavio Paz, Uno Charter Network Chicago, Illinois Academic Interventionist K-8 January 2011- July 2013
Key Contributions:
? Turned Octavio Paz around from one of the worst to one of the best schools in Chicago during my first six months.
? Assessed academically struggling students
? Designed an intervention plan to fit specific student needs utilizing research based assessments and running records
? Modified academic interventions immediately to reduce stagnation while catching those not moving right away
? Collaborated with teachers to differentiate individual student needs, while providing grade level whole class instruction
? Researched and constructed the best approach/materials for specific student needs
? Utilized experience as a Literacy Coach to provide school-wide professional development in literacy instruction
? Worked with administration and teachers to assess and analyze data used to construct school-wide RTI groups
? Met with teachers to form tier two interventions and small groups utilizing class and individual student assessments
? Trained staff to administer and utilize data from formative and summative assessments including: STEP, NWEA, Fountas and Pinnell Benchmark Assessment System, and the Writing and Reading Assessment Profile)
Venice Elementary School Venice, Illinois Reading Specialist September 2009 – May 2010
Key Contributions:
? Constructed and implemented a K-8 Balanced Literacy Program utilizing Developmental Studies Center Programs
o Making Meaning, Being a Writer, Systematic Instruction in Phonological Awareness (SIPPS)
? Developed and presented professional development on implementation of Balanced Literacy, skills and strategies
? Designed and implemented RTI schedule for students K-8
? Worked with teachers to assess students throughout the year, continually adjusting the curriculum
? Improved scores based on state testing (ISAT) in-house summative benchmarks, (Discovery Education Think Link) and formative, authentic assessments
? Developed embedded professional development with the ALL RIGHT!! Consortium
PS 361 Brooklyn, New York Second Grade Teacher September 2002-June 2009
Key Contributions:
? Utilized explicit teaching practices to meet district, state and curriculum content standards
? Provided differentiated instruction through small group activities as demonstrated by leveled materials, various learning modes and end unit products
? Developed and implemented academic units tailored to meet the needs of various learning styles and challenges
? Created lessons that engaged students in higher ordered thinking, improving both their social and academic skills
? Maintained a student-centered learning environment
? Organized and facilitated progress meetings with parents and administration
Education
August 2013-December 2014 Benedictine University Lisle, Illinois
Master’s Degree in Literacy
January 2008-April 2009 City College of New York New York, New York
Master’s Degree and Certification in Literacy (started)
September 2003- June 2005 Brooklyn College Brooklyn, New York
Master’s Degree in Elementary Education
September 1995- May 1998 Seton Hall University S. Orange, New Jersey
Bachelor of Science Degree in Communications and Minor in American History
Workshops, Training and Achievements
• New York City Teaching Fellow June 2002-June 2005
• ASCD Leadership Conference in Orlando, Florida October 2014
• Completed January 2014 Teacher’s College Institute on Whole School Reading Change January 2014
• St. Louis Regional Chamber Honoree for professionals pursuing higher education degrees in July 2014
• Developed a network of respected literacy professionals in order to provide support, and a partnership of dedicated professionals, from across the country, in all my educational endeavors.
• Raised Illinois State Standard Scores and In-House Authentic Assessments 2010, 2011, 2012
• Directly impacted Octavio Paz raising from a Level 3 to Level 1 Charter School
• Completed Train the Trainer for Thinking in (Certified Train the Trainer) November 2009
• Developmental Studies Center Workshop December 2009
• ISAT and Writing Professional Development January 2010
• Successfully participated in PS 361’s implementation of a Data Inquiry Team 2007-2009
• Received training in RCCP and the 4R extension of RCCP to connect conflict resolution with literacy skills
• Completed Bank Street College Language Series Summer 2008
• Funded fourteen proposals through Donor’s Choose.com equaling over 2000 dollars in materials for my classroom
• Completed Training in Accelerated Reader, Star Enterprise, Acuity, Discovery Think Link, NWEA, ISAT and MAP
• Worked with Octavio Paz to acquire and implement the Benchmark Educational Book Room for K-5
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Interests and Activities
• Ensuring every opportunity for children from urban, at-risk students to have the education, justice, and experiences granted to children of affluent areas.
• Social Equity, Breaking the Pipeline to Prison, Solving Systemic Racism
• Developing ways to educate currently incarcerated citizens to reduce the overall number of relapse and the overall number of imprisoned citizens
• Reading, Learning, Music, Animals, Sports
*Please note that from 1998 until September 11th, I was in the Public Relations sector. I no longer include this part of my career track on my resume but am happy to provide it, along with recommendation letters from both