Training School
Resume:
James C. Elander
Profile
Leadership administrator, with a proven record of experience building, maintaining, and expanding
successful educational programs and services. Demonstrated ability to lead diverse urban schools,
build capacity for leadership, and create exemplary educational programs.
Experience
Principal- Four Seasons A+ Elementary, St. Paul Public Schools! ! 2011-Present
- Transitioned the Four Seasons A+ school community to a new location with a new school year
calendar (12 month to 10 month).
- Increased K-6 student population from 290 to 420students in one year, adding district-wide DHH
(Deaf, and Hard of Hearing), LA (Language Academy), and Discovery Club programs. Staff size
doubled in one year.
- Lead efforts to increase staff participation in district-wide training and in-building professional
development in the areas of Arts Integration, DHH training and mainstreaming, LA training, Reader
and Writer Workshops, Mental Math, Math Review, PBIS, and PLC’s.
- Created multiple communications and networking systems, including a Principal Blog for the
school community email communications with all local businesses, community members, and web
visitors. The blog contains information, events, ideas and thoughts regarding education, the arts, and
personal/professional development.
- Built training modules based on Stephen Covey’s Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, Art
Costa’s Cognitive Coaching, Motivation Theory, and best instructional practices.
- Developed a school-wide database system for PLC’s.
School Administrator- Farnsworth PreK-4 Elementary, St. Paul Public Schools! ! 2010-11
- Redesigned and completely rewrote the 90 page staff manual, simplifying the tasks of staff in
understanding and processing information from field trip policies and procedures to requests to the
Principal for classroom supplies.
- Implemented a discipline database system created by me to streamline the referral process and to
improve discipline outcomes through the use of data. I lead the efforts to created a discipline team
which met regularly to discuss discipline referrals using the data generated by the database system.
- Participated in teams that assisted in creating evening, weekend, and field trip events that brought in
speakers, performers, educators, and entertainers from non-profits, colleges and universities, and
from STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) networks.
Principal on Special Assignment ALC (Area Learning Center), St. Paul Public Schools! 1997-2010
- Presented a proposal to the Superintendent of Schools to start ALC Targeted Services programming
at the Elementary level in all St. Paul Public Schools to meet the need for expanded academic
interventions during the school year and summer session.
- Built a leadership team and ALC system from scratch, that currently serves all St. Paul Public
Schools. Summer Session regularly attracts 12,000 students and extended day elementary programs
have an average enrollment exceeding 4,000 students.
- Collaborated with all departments within the school system (HR, Student Placement, academics,
Transportation, Business Office, Leadership, Training) to build the extensive network of services
needed to maintain and expand ALC programming.
James C. Elander
- Developed many presentations to leadership, administrators, teachers, students, and community on
all topics related to ALC including: curriculum, instruction, systems use, policies and procedures,
professional development, etc.
- Filled a capacity gap for specialized ALC systems by learning computer systems and programming
and building web-based systems for: student enrollment, staff application and hiring, grading,
attendance, ALC revenue collection, discipline, budgeting etc.
- Supervised and directed the development of community partnerships, grants, and other
collaborative ventures within ALC. Our leadership team worked with many colleges and
universities, non-profit agencies, foundations, businesses, and individuals.
- Managed an office staff of 5, hired and supervised the activities of thousands of ALC part time
employees. Built a a spreadsheet budgeting system which accurately predicted ALC revenues/
expenditures for a 6 million dollar yearly operation.
- Change agent for academic programming in the mid-90’s, bringing the first balanced literacy
program (Rigby) and training to the school district.
Assistant Principal EXPO Elementary, St. Paul Public Schools! ! ! 1996-1997
- Liaison with leadership in collaborating with staff regarding discipline, Special Education, parent
involvement, staff evaluations, etc.
Music Teacher Capitol-Hill Magnet School, St. Paul Public Schools! ! ! 1984-1995
- Facilitated the introduction of Suzuki violin instruction to parents and students greatly increasing
the amount of students in the orchestra program, quality of performance, and student learning
- Performed and participated in festivals and contests throughout the Twin Cities and Midwest.
- Formed the band and orchestra program at Capitol-Hill and building the program to 275
participants by the early 1990’s
Music Teacher K-12, St. Paul Public Schools! ! ! ! ! 1980-1984
Band, Orchestra, and Vocal music teacher at: Central HS, Highland Park HS and JrHS, Ramsey JrHS,
Groveland Park, Highland Park, and Longfellow Elementary.
Education
BS- Music Education, University of Minnesota 1979
MS- Educational Administration, Mankato State University 1989
PhD ABD (All but dissertation) University of Minnesota 1993
MN Licenses: Music K-12, Elementary Administration (K-6)
Skills
- Trained/Experienced: Cognitive Coach, PLC Leader and Facilitator, Presenter, School Leader,
Principal, Program developer and manager, Staff observation and evaluation
- Technical Skills: Expert user of Filemaker Pro, MS Office, presentation systems, and audio/visual
systems. Ability to build web-based applications using PHP and MySQL and other web frameworks.
James Elander, 2232 Rogers Court, Mendota Hts., MN 55120
M: 651-***-**** H: 651-***-****
Email: *************@*****.***
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