Customer Service Agent, Teacher, Journalist

KAREN MATTHEWS

**** ****** * ********, **, ***** United States 732-***-**** ********@*****.***

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Driven, result oriented individual with a passion for excellence. I refuse to accept that there is anything that is impossible for one to achieve, and this approach has guided me throughout my professional life. It has allowed me to positively influence the lives of my students, as I have encouraged them to embrace their true potential and sense of worth, in seeking to achieve their dreams. Additionally, my extensive experience in the field of customer service has helped me to develop the flexibility and competence necessary in dealing with people of diverse backgrounds, personalities and needs. Classroom Teacher, Parkway School, Brooklyn, NY, United States, Dec 2009 – Jun 2010

● Demonstrated extreme competence in catering to the varying needs of individual students.

● Adapted teaching methods and instructional materials to meet students' varying needs and interests.

● Achieved one hundred percent pass rate in state standardized tests.

● Established and enforced clear rules of conduct for students.

● Prepared students for later grades by encouraging them to explore learning opportunities and to persevere with challenging tasks.

● Collaborated with parents to maximize students’ creative and academic output. Public Relations Officer/ Government Information Officer Jamaica Information Service, Aug 2007 – Aug 2009

● Implemented public relations strategies in accordance with the objectives, promotional policies and needs of the Government to influence public opinion and promote ideas, products, and services.

● Planned and directed the development and communication of informational programs to maintain favorable public opinions of the Government’s accomplishments and agenda.

● Presented government policies, ideas and agenda to the general citizenry in an easily understood format/ medium

● Liaised between the Government of Jamaica and the citizens to bring about meaningful discourse

● Wrote highly informative news articles for print, radio and television as a means of disseminating government directed information

● Provided coverage of events involving the Prime Minister (Head of State), cabinet ministers, heads of various ministries, and other elected officials

● Planned, coordinated and conducted community/town hall meetings at various venues across the island

● Wrote feature articles highlighting positive persons, places and events across the island

● Engendered a sense of trust for the Government by the people, by presenting the Government in a transparent light

Classroom Teacher Ministry of Education, Jamaica, W.I., Sep 1994 – Jul 2007

● Improved School’s literacy rate by seventy five percent through the creation of a Reading Club.

● Devised creative ways to transform non readers into excellent readers.

● Established clear objectives for all lessons, units, and projects and communicated those objectives to students.

● Prepared and implemented remedial programs for students requiring extra help.

● Prepared, administered, and graded tests and assignments to evaluate students' progress

● Dramatically improved the ability of slow learners to perform, by engaging them through the use of computers, audio visual aids and other equipment and materials

● Created and implemented literacy programs targeting non readers

● Coordinated School's Language Arts program, functioned as the Language Arts Resource Teacher

● Coached School's Debate Team, earning them numerous awards in National and Regional competitions

EDUCATION

Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood and Elementary Education, October 2005

● Honors

Church Teachers' College, Mandeville, Manchester, Jamaica W.I. Diploma in Education, June 1994

ADDITIONAL SKILLS

● Computer Literate, Proficient in Most Microsoft Applications, Good Typing Skills, Excellent Writer

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