NICOLA TOLLETT JEFFERSON

**** ****** ****** • #*B • Brooklyn, NY 11226

Ph. 484-***-****

Email: ad1jjd@r.postjobfree.com

WhatsApp, WeChat: nicolatjefferson

PROFILE

A dynamic, compassionate, and results-driven educator, social entrepreneur, and advocate whose diverse background and multiple competencies uniquely equip me to add significant value to institutions committed to advancing the values I hold dear.

EDUCATION

§ University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA—Master of Science in Education (M.S. Ed) 2016

§ Swarthmore College, Swarthmore, PA—Teaching Certification 2003

§ Columbia University School of Law, New York, NY—Juris Doctor (J.D) 1987

§ Smith College, Northampton, MA—Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), anthropology & French, Phi Beta Kappa, La Sorbonne Junior Year Abroad

EXPERIENCE

Spanish Teacher, New Visions Charter High School • Brooklyn, NY USA 2023-present Teach four sections of Spanish 2 at AMS III (Advanced Math and Science), a part of the New Visions Charter High School Network. Duties include preparing students for the New York State World Languages Comprehensive Exam in Spanish—Spanish Regents Exam; developing students’ linguistic and critical thinking skills through the exploration of literature, media, and current events; enabling students to progress in the four domains of language acquisition: reading, writing, listening, and speaking. Co-lead the Model UN and Debate after-school club and collaborate with other members of the Electives Department to offer multi-disciplinary projects for students. French Teacher, The Williamsburg Charter High School • Brooklyn, NY USA 2022-2023 Taught three sections of French 2 and one section of French 3. Duties included developing differentiated lesson plans; designing a range of formative and summative assessments; actively monitoring student progress and providing helpful feedback regarding the same; and providing novel opportunities for students to engage with the target language. Leader of the ENL (English as A New Language) Department and Co-Coach of Cheerleading Team.

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Principal/Head of School, Shenzhen RDF International School • Shenzhen, CHINA 2021-2022 Administrative duties included overseeing the day-to-day school operations in furtherance of the school’s vision, mission, purpose and goals while working in a climate of continuous academic and social-emotional improvement; guiding, inspiring, supporting, mentoring and monitoring teachers to ensure that they deliver the highest quality of instruction that is data-driven and research-aligned; managing, and where necessary refining, the school’s assessment and accountability systems to improve teaching and learning; recruiting students and, as needed, teachers; establishing the annual master schedule; clarifying, and, where necessary, creating, redesigning or otherwise refining school policies and procedures; regularly reporting to and communicating with the school’s Board of Directors; representing the school in the community at-large. Consistent with the school’s policy of asking expat administrators to teach a class, I also taught a class of American Literature.

Academic Vice Principal, Shenzhen RDF International School • Shenzhen, CHINA 2020-2021 Direct Responsibility for Curriculum Development, Planning, Scope and Sequence mapping; Textbook orders; Academic Competitions (e.g. Math competitions, Science Fairs, Essay & Speech Contests, Geography Bee, USAD, USAP, Robotics); Library; Academic Counseling of students; Professional Learning Communities (PLC); Academic Awards; Teacher Observation, Clinical Observation Rotations, and Evaluation Assisting Responsibility for Policy and Procedure Recommendations and Refinement; Teaching Schedules; Standardized Testing Progression, including metrics: STAR, TOEFL, ACT, PSAT, SAT, AP, STAR; Student Discipline. Consistent with the school’s policy of asking expat administrators to teach a class, I also taught a class of American Literature.

Lead Teacher-Assistant Principal, Meizhong International School • Shenzhen, CHINA 2017-2020 Duties included supervising the cadre of Foreign Teachers (non-native Chinese teachers) to ensure that their teaching was of a high quality; teaching effectively and in keeping with American best educational practices; cooperating with Fairmont International School to insure a consistent educational plan which adheres to the school’s philosophy; proactively building buy-in from campus faculty, staff and leadership; encouraging strong collegiality between staff and administration; scheduling and leading weekly standing meetings with campus leadership and separately with Fairmont leadership; assisting, when needed, with the recruitment and retention of students and high-quality teachers; identifying and responding to problems as they arise; maintaining and meeting long-range and short-range goals of the school. Consistent with the school’s policy of asking expat administrators to teach a class, I also taught a class of English for Grade 11. Spanish Teacher, Hill-Freedman World Academy—IB School • Philadelphia, PA 2016-2017 Spanish teacher for the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Program; Taught two sections of 12th graders to prepare them to take the IB Higher Level (HL) Examination in Spanish and one section of 11th graders in Spanish 3.

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Spanish Teacher, Martin Luther King, Jr. Promise Academy • Philadelphia, PA 2013-2016 Spanish teacher to students in grades nine through twelve. Classroom instruction aimed at teaching students to communicate in and understand Spanish by developing their skills to listen, speak, read and write in the target language. Techniques included using games, films, dialogues and a variety of exercises and other activities

ESL Part-Time Instructor, Delaware County Community College • Media, PA 2012-2017 Taught Advanced Pronunciation ESL, TOEFL, and all levels of ESL Founder and Executive Director, The Achievement Project (TAP) • Chester, PA 2001-2013 Envisioned and founded this community-based educational support and enrichment project (college prep organization) to help the young people of the economically, socially, and educationally disadvantaged city of Chester, PA, located on the outskirts of Philadelphia, to succeed in high school, get into college, and arrive at college with the capacity to succeed there. The students collectively gained admission to over 30 colleges, received over $200,000 in scholarship money for college, and received numerous awards and certificates of recognition. Wrote grants; managed staff and volunteers; taught humanities courses; reported to Board of Directors; engaged in partnerships with other youth serving organizations; managed funds; and represented the organization in the public media.

Social Studies Teacher, Conestoga High School • Berwyn, PA 2003-2004 Taught World Cultures and European History to roughly 110 ninth and tenth grade students. Responsibilities included preparing and implementing lesson plans that were aligned with Pennsylvania's academic standards and the school's standards and protocols.

Washington, DC Representative, Church World Service/ Immigration and Refugee Program 1996-1997 Worked as the Washington, DC Representative (lobbyist) for Church World Service/ Immigration and Refugee Program, the refugee resettlement agency of the National Council of Churches. Responsibilities included lobbying members of the U.S. Congress on behalf of the organization's constituents: refugees, immigrants, and migrants; keeping abreast of legislation and writing talking points; and representing the organization in the advocacy community.

Leonard H. Sandler Research Fellow, Human Rights Watch • New York, NY 1991-1992 Leonard H. Sandler Research Fellow in New York office of Africa Watch, a unit of the U.S. human rights organization, Human Rights Watch. Monitored, wrote about, and drafted letters on human rights conditions in Rwanda and Burundi. Interviewed Rwandan refugees in Belgium. Conducted an on-site investigation in Rwanda. Publications included articles in Africa Report, La Libre Belgique, The Nairobi Law Monthly and reports published by the organization.

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Attorney, Finley, Kumble, Wagner, Heine, et. al, • Washington, DC 1987-1991 Worked in the international, governmental, and public finance section of Finley, Kumble, Wagner, Heine, Underberg, Manley, Myerson & Casey. Responsibilities included providing legislative histories; assisting in lobbying efforts; assisting in preparation of financial documents for closings; and drafting pleadings. Named Pro Bono Lawyer of the Year for representation of Latina women who were the victims of domestic violence. Firm became Laxalt, Washington, Perito & Dubuc

AWARDS AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

§ Led RDF International School when it was evaluated for and made Forbes List of Top 30 International Schools in China (2022)

§ TEDX Speaker on theme, White, Shenzhen, China (2022)

§ Featured Educator on ZHL Consulting website (2021)

§ Recipient of $15,000 scholarship to study at the Graduate School of Education, School Leadership Program, University of Pennsylvania (2015)

§ Friend of Community Award, Congregation Beth Israel of Media (2010)

§ Unsung Hero Honoree, Ebony Magazine SisterSpeak Luncheon Series (2010)

§ Certificate of Special Recognition (2010)

§ Honorable Mention, Exemplary Adult, Workforce Investment Board of Delaware County (2010)

§ Speaker at Widener University’s Women’s History Month Forum (2009)

§ Chester’s Top Twelve Community Champions (2008)

§ Education Award, The Islamic Center of Chester (2007)

§ Pro Bono Lawyer of the Year, District of Columbia Bar (1990)

§ Robert F. Kennedy Journalism Award for Outstanding Coverage of the Disadvantaged (1973)

§ Admitted to DC Bar (1987); NY Bar (1991) and NJ Bar (1991) PERSONAL

§ Proud mother of two wonderful adult sons: the older, a graduate of The University of Chicago (Master of Public Policy) and Pomona College, is a writer, editor, and Associate Economist at The Federal Reserve Bank in St. Louis; the younger, a graduate of Brown University, former Senior Associate (Management Consulting) at PricewaterhouseCoopers, and current MBA student at Harvard University.

§ Interests include traveling, exercising, learning, and meeting new challenges. 29 October 2023

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