Mystic, CT *****
Phone: 860-***-**** cell
Email: ************@***.***
Veronica M. La Vista
Overview—I have more than sixteen years of experience teaching high school- and college-level English. I have exemplary oral and written communication skills, as well as interpersonal skills. I enjoy a challenge and seek employment outside the field of education. In addition, I am a Justice of the Peace and music minister.
Professional
experience
2016—Present Daniel Hand High School Madison, CT
Level 2 Sophomore World Literature and Cultures; Level 1 Senior Elective Bible as Literature; AP/ECE Teacher, Literature and Composition; Level 1 and Level 2 American Literature. Co-curricular responsibilities include PAW group (advisory), Class of 2020 advisor, faculty facilitator for Interact Club, and The Kingdom Is at Hand Christian Fellowship. Recertified as TEAM mentor 2019. Mentor, A Better Chance (ABC) Program. 2011—2016 Marine Science Magnet High School of Southeastern CT Groton, CT College Preparatory English Teacher, Grades 9, 10, 11; AP/ECE Teacher, Language and Composition--Full-time teacher in a rigorous college-preparatory environment in a marine-related magnet school. Wrote curriculum for 9th, 10, and 11th grade. Co-curricular responsibilities include Art Club, Yearbook Club as well as well as National Honor Society. CT TEAM mentor for four beginning teachers. NEASC Evaluation Committee member Spring 2014 (Hopedale High School); led professional development for staff on grammar and mechanical basics to support literacy across the curriculum (2016). 1998—Present Music Minister, St. Edmund’s Retreat Mystic, CT Responsibilities include liturgical planning, hymn selection, piano accompaniment, and cantoring. Substitute organist at St. Patrick Church.
2008—2011 St. Patrick Church Mystic, CT
Office Manager/Bookkeeper (part-time)--Provide administrative support in a parish of 700+ families including maintaining parishioner data base, generating weekly bulletin, managing accounts receivables and payables, coordinating volunteer activities and committee meetings, and promoting outreach in greater Mystic community. Proficient in Microsoft Office and Publisher. 2000—2007 Immaculata High School Somerville, NJ
Teacher, College Preparatory English, Grades 9, 10, 12--Full-time teacher. Curriculum emphasized the study of literature for reading comprehension and critical analysis, grammar and vocabulary, internet-based research and thesis formulation. Extracurricular responsibilities included Assistant Choral Director, Homeroom Moderator.
1994—1997 Anderson House Whitehouse Station, NJ
Executive Director, halfway house for women recovering from drug and alcohol abuse Responsible for construction expansion, staffing, scheduling, public relations, fundraising and grant-writing for new nonprofit initiative formed to provide long-term treatment and recovery services to women suffering from the disease of addiction. Generated more than $700,000 in state, corporate, and private donations. Prior to appointment as director, served as board member, vice president, and president. Responsible for recruitment and training of new board members. 1986—1992 Additional Professional Experience NJ, CT Customer Relations Manager/Rental Supervisor, Flemington Car & Truck Country, Flemington, NJ; Communications Manager, Hunterdon County Chamber of Commerce, Flemington, NJ; Public Information Officer, Connecticut State Department of Housing, Hartford, CT; Membership Services Director/Downtown Coordinator, Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce, Manchester, CT.
Education
Southern New Hampshire University, Online
Completed a graduate level course in literary theory (total graduate credits: 56—38, education; six, English; 12, Jewish-Christian studies).
Isabelle Farrington School of Education, Sacred Heart University Master of Arts in Teaching, May 2011; 4.0 average. Completed Masters Project on Howard Gardner’s Multiple Intelligences: an MI unit on Sandra Cisneros’s House on Mango Street. Smith College
Bachelor of Arts Degree in three years with high honors, English; Dean’s List; prize for best honors thesis submitted to the Department of English; attended Dartmouth College to complete requirements for early graduation.
Seton Hall University, full scholarship recipient for graduate study, Sister Rose Thering Endowment, Center for Jewish-Christian Studies. 2006, selected Teacher of the Year (12 graduate credits).
2002: passed Praxis 0041, English Language Literature and Composition, Content Knowledge. Received Certificate of Excellence; successfully completed Praxis 0042 and Praxis 0043 Pedagogy. Convent of the Sacred Heart, Greenwich, CT: Valedictorian; National Honor Society; National Merit Scholar; NY Regent’s Scholar.
Summary--
Community
Activities
and Honors
Volunteer presenter to transitioning navy staff on effective resume writing and interview communication skills (2017). Appointed Justice of the Peace, Town of Stonington (Spring 2016); Secretary and board member, Bishops Cove Condominium Association, 2011-2017. Volunteer Pianist and song leader, bi-weekly sing-a-longs, Avalon Healthcare Center at StoneRidge, 2016. Volunteer organist and pianist for special services and events; calligrapher. Director, Raritan Township General Assistance Board, 1992—1996; Vice President, Anderson House Board of Directors, 1994; President, Anderson House Board of Directors, 1995; Freelance writer, National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence 1993—1995; Representative, Raritan Township Planning Board, 1998—2000; Operation Shoebox, 2005, 2006. Volunteer, Mystic Manor and Rehabilitation, Monthly Sing-A-Long 2010-2012. Tutor for young men recovering from alcohol and drug abuse to improve their written and oral communication skills. Honors: 2011 Dean’s Leadership Award for Academic Achievement, Sacred Heart University Isabelle Farrington School of Education; 2006, National Endowment for Humanities Summer Seminar Grant “Introducing James Joyce,” Connecticut College, New London, CT annual nomination and inclusion in Who’s Who Among American High School Teachers 2002—2007; published in the New Jersey Council of Teachers of English Journal 2003 edition. Outstanding American Teachers, 2006/2007 Edition; Cambridge Who’s Who, 2007. 2006, selected Teacher of the Year by the Scholarship Committee of the Sister Rose Thering Endowment, Seton Hall University. 2006.