School High
Resume:
MARIA D. SELLS, PhD *** North Sulphur
Springs Road, New Castle, IN 47362
******@*****.***.**.**
Professional Profile
Empathetic servant leader and visionary with exemplary public relations
skills. Asset-based thinker skilled at strategic planning, staffing, and
building cooperation with all levels of personnel and community members.
CORE COMPETENCIES
Problem analysis & resolution Time management
Preparing written & oral reports Identifying educational needs & setting
Record keeping & documentation priorities
Performing under pressure & during Involving others in problem
opposition solving/conflict resolution
Organizing/presenting professional
development activities
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE - CHRONOLOGY
NEW CASTLE COMMUNITY SCHOOL CORPORATION, NEW CASTLE, IN
Assistant Superintendent
7/2007 to present
MUNCIE COMMUNITY SCHOOLS, MUNCIE, IN
Principal of Northside Middle School
7/2004 - 6/2007
MORTON MEMORIAL SCHOOL, INDIANA SOLDIERS' AND SAILORS' CHILDREN'S HOME
Superintendent/Principal of School
9/2002 - 7/2004
DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTION, STATE OF INDIANA - JUVENILE AND ADULT FOR SPECIAL
EDUCATION
Assistant School Administrator/Special Education Coordinator,
Pendleton Correctional Facility
7/1999 - 9/2002
Coordinator of Special Education, IDOC Central Office
2/1998 - 7/1999
RICHMOND COMMUNITY SCHOOLS, RICHMOND, IN
Teacher, Day Treatment Program
8/1996 - 2/1998
NEW CASTLE COMMUNITY SCHOOL CORPORATION, NEW CASTLE, IN
Teacher, SEH at the Henry County Youth Center
1/1993 - 8/1996
Teacher, SEH at the New Castle Alternative School
TWIN LAKES SCHOOL CORPORATION, MONTECELLO, IN
Teacher, Psychology, Sociology, U.S. History and Jr. High Girls' Track Team
Coach 8/1990 - 6/1991
RELEVANT DUTIES AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Outstanding Achievement Award, Muncie Black Expo, 2006
Golden Key National Honor Society, 1990
Ball State University History Department Award, 1989
. Provide ongoing professional development, mentoring, and support for
all teachers and administrators
. Compile and complete data analysis on corporation and building data
from all corporation and state common assessments (ie: mCLASS, Acuity,
ISTEP+, IREAD-3, ECA, Graduation Rate)
. Provide continued support for all teachers and administrators to
develop or find resources for the implementation of engaging
instructional, remedial, and enrichment activities as part of the 8-
Step Integrated System for Improved Student Achievement
. Develop and implement a Language Arts and Math 3-week instructional
pacing guide for grades K-8
. Develop and monitor the implementation of 3-week common assessments
aligned to the instructional pacing guide
. Allocate corporation technology funds and seek alternate funding
sources to update teacher work stations and student computer labs in
order to build capacity for completing online state assessments, and
build the capacity to move to 1-to-1 computing
. Negotiate all employee group contracts with representative groups
. Monitor, interpret, and ensure integrity in implementation of
different employee group contracts
MARIA D. SELLS, PhD
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. Post positions, collect applications, monitor interviewing and hiring
processes, and provide research/background verification for all
positions within the corporation and ensure updated licensing for all
certificated employees
. Provide assistance to all certificated employees to ensure licensing
requirements
. Participate in recruiting activities for teaching and administrative
needs
. Develop and implement an effective mentoring and new teacher
orientation program
. Coach appropriate behaviors for use of social media with younger
teachers
. Manage resources within a budget of $30 million per year for 3,300
students attending 6 elementary, 1 middle and 1 high school
. Reduced budget for Special Education Cooperative by approximately
$600,000; analyzed all positions from the Director to the Aides, then
combined, cut, or realigned positions based on student needs,
resulting in the reduction of 16 certified positions and adjustments
in hours for all aide positions
. Planned and implemented closing of an elementary building and
reassignment of staff and students remaining (due to cut in state
funding) to remaining elementary buildings; developed plan to move
special education offices and alternative program out of the oldest
and largest building and into the elementary school building that was
being closed resulting in a reduction in building/facilities costs;
analyzed the numbers of students in every secondary classroom to make
a determination on secondary positions that could be combined; worked
with the negotiation team to develop a plan to reduce spending to
avoid a reduction in force resulting in minimal reductions of staff
(only reduced force by 15 instead of 30 that were planned)
. Monitor enrollment numbers continuously to make recommendations to
consolidate/eliminate sections at buildings and within programs;
scrutinize all positions in corporation open due to attrition to
determine if positions can be filled by reassigning current staff
. Analyzed the structure of nursing services to develop a more cost
effective way to provide services, resulting in an annual savings of
approximately $200,000
. Analyzed the structure of all non-certified employee groups to make
recommendations on restructuring plans to meet the mandates under the
Affordable Care Act
. Analyzed the effectiveness of the food service department to determine
if a recommendation for a Food Service Management Company contract
would be beneficial to the corporation; researched/organized all
aspects of the RFP process, conducted staff information sessions and
board work sessions, and made visits to other schools
EDUCATION AND LICENSURE
PhD in Education Leadership - May 2003 - Indiana State University, Terre
Haute, IN
Superintendent Licensure - May 2003
MA in Special Education - July 1996 - Ball State University, Muncie, IN
Elementary Administration and Supervision Licensure - July 1998
Secondary Administration and Supervision Licensure - July 1998
Director of Special Education Licensure - August 1997
BS in Secondary Education - May 1990 - Ball State University, Muncie, IN
. K-12 Seriously Emotionally Handicapped . 5-12 Psychology, Sociology,
U.S. History - May 1990
ORGANIZATIONS AND AWARDS
Indiana Principal Leadership Institute (IPLI) Mentor
2014 to present
Advance ED Review Team Member
2014 to present
Indiana CORE Assessments for Educator Licensure Item Review Committee
2012 to present
ICAP School Readiness Team
2012 to present
Indiana Association of Public School Superintendents
2007 to present
Indiana Association of School Business Officials
2007 to present
High Ability Task Force, New Castle Community School Corporation
2007 to present
Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development
2004 to present
New Castle Breakfast Optimist Club Member
1994 to present
Henry County Economic Development Council
2008 - 2011
Office of Civil Rights Audit Chair, New Castle Community School
Corporation 2009
Co-Chair Back-to-School Supply Drive for Indiana Soldiers and Sailors
Children's Home (Sponsored by New Castle Breakfast Optimist Club)
2003 - 2009
MARIA D. SELLS, PhD
REFERENCES
Juli Shelton, Aramark District Manager Great Lakes West Region
8401 Waterleaf Drive
Plainfield, Indiana 46168
*******-****@*******.***
Susan Traynor Chastain, Attorney/Director
LEWIS KAPPES
One America Square, Suite 2500
Indianapolis, Indiana 46282
****************@*****-******.***
Everett Cole, Broker
PCE Associated Agencies
1220 Broad Street, PO Box 470
New Castle, Indiana 47362
***@******************.***
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