Amanda Life
ACCOMPLISHMENTS/AWARDS
● Teacher of the Year 2010-2011 as
voted by students and community,
High Growth
● Accomplished Teacher 2015-2016
and
● Teacher of the Year nominee at
Garfield Middle School 2016 and
2017
● North Carolina Teacher Academy
Participant (voted in by staff)
● Designed a vocabulary program
used
building wide 2013
● ASCD Outstanding Young
Educational
Leader Award
● Difference in Our Schools Award
from DePaul Cristo Rey High
School
TEACHING CERTIFICATIONS
● Ohio: PK-3, 4-5 Generalist
4-9 Language Arts & Reading
● SIOP and GIFTED Certified
● North Carolina: K-6 All Subjects,
K-12 Reading
EDUCATION
● Masters of Arts, Language and
Literacy
UNIVERSITY OF NORTH
CAROLINA
WILMINGTON 2010-2012
● Bachelors of Science in
Elementary
Education,EDINBORO
UNIVERSITY OF
PENNSYLVANIA 2000-2004
EXPERIENCE
Westminster Community Charter/2019-present
● 6th grade, all subjects
● 7th and 8th grade Reading and RTI
● Special Education: Grades 6th and 7th
● Science: 7th and 8th grade
Garfield Middle School/7th grade Language Arts Teacher/2015-2019
● Wide range of knowledge with multiple learning groups through my experience teaching honors level language arts as well as the ELL language arts. Held leadership positions while producing high student growth and achievement.
● Implemented LLI (Leveled Language Instruction; Fountas and Pinnell) in the middle for the first time on middle school level for our district and worked as the main reading interventionist with the English learning population.
● Composed common assessments used in 2015-2016 Hamilton City School District for ELA department
● Exceeded expected growth in student reading achievement on state testing for three years
● PLC leader and FAC representative
● Served as Reading Teacher Mentor
The Ritz Carlton Hotel, Cleveland 2014-2015
● Manager of the front drive of the Ritz Carton Hotel, Cleveland where Forbes Business training was received.
● Manager of 50+ employees
Hicksville Elementary School/4th grade Reading Intervention/2013-2014
● Implemented Leveled Language Instruction (Fountas and Pinnell) and was utilized as the reading specialist building wide.
● Assessed and benchmarked students using LLI
● Building Reading Specialist and Reading Coach
Murray Middle School/6th grade Language Arts & Social Studies Teacher/2004-2013
● Creative and purposeful planning skills, range of knowledge in reading and language in multiple age/culture groups and leadership abilities building and district wide.
● Highest growth in student reading achievement in sixth grade language arts 2012 and 2013
● Awarded Teacher of the Year 2010-2011 as voted by students in New Hanover County for high student growth
● Developed a reading curriculum for Murray’s Behavior Intervention Classroom
● Served as a mentor for other language arts teachers
● PLC leader
References upon request
● School representative for Problem Solving Model (PSM) / Response to Intervention (RTI) at county meetings
● Miller Research Laboratory Writing Program leader
● Chairman on School-wide Reading and Vocabulary committee
● Serve on the Student Support Team (SST) committee EXPERIENCE CONTINUED
● School Improvement Team (SIT) grade level liaison
● Murray’s 21st Century Professionals subcommittee representative
● Designed a vocabulary program adapted by language arts teachers in grade level, program was used in 2013 for differentiated instruction
● Designed and use integrated units based on Common Core standards, units were used by grade level in 2013
PHILOSOPHY
● All children can learn.
● Literacy is complex and planning
must be purposeful.
● Learning is collaborative and
instrumental.
● Children learn best with
meaningful relationships and
experiences.
● I make research based decisions
to inform my teaching.
COACHING
● Coached girls Lacrosse at Murray Middle School for four years
● Coached Track and Field at Middle School level, two years
● Coached swimming at Edinboro University’s elementary swim teams
● Coached for STAR Swimming, a national swim team founded in Buffalo, NY for four years
I WILL STATEMENTS
● Establish positive home and
school relationships
● Provide a safe and orderly
learning environment for students
and staff
● Prepare students with a global
education
● Recognize the unique learning
styles of each student
● Facilitate learning by encouraging,
prompting, and interacting with
students
VOLUNTEER AND COMMUNITY ADVOCATE
● Tutored 7th, 8th grade, and high school students to improve reading achievement
● Worked with exceptional children, learning impaired, learning disabled and (AIG) gifted learners, all exceeding expected growth
● Teaching Vacation Bible School ages 5 through 16
● Mentor in community; especially in Math and English all ages
● Sunday School Teacher at First Lutheran Church, Blasdell BUSINESS SKILLS:
● Managed over 50 employees for the front of the Ritz Carlton Hotel
● Wrote financial reports for daily meetings of the revenue of the front drive for the hotel
● Managed daily schedules for drivers and greeting employees at the hotel
● Arranged special requests and transportation for events PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
● Served as a professional mentor in school system
● Served as a mentor in community
● Member of the Elementary Education Foundation of Leadership and Counseling
● Member of the Media Education Foundation (MEF) and recipient and contributor of weekly newsletter and information guide
● Forbes Business Training with The Ritz Carlton Hotel, Cleveland