Entry Specialist Data

*

Elohima Best

612-***-**** *****************@*****.***

Equity-focused, proactive, engaging professional, committed to cultural competence and meaningful customer engagement. 10+ years’ experience utilizing various types of office equipment. Strong ability to quickly grasp any customer service interface.

PERTINENT EXPERIENCE

Hennepin County Library; Champlin, Minnesota.

Associate Librarian. (July 2019 – January 2022)

• Assisted patrons in locating materials through library shelf or online searches and with navigating computer services. Collaborated with library staff and supervisor with regard to creating interactive and resourceful displays. Directed personalized, engaging baby story times. Proactively created a welcoming children’s area that provided resources for wellness, appreciation for the contributions of diverse peoples and understanding racial inequities. Quarantined, checked in and shelved returned materials. Intermediate District 287; Plymouth, Minnesota.

Education Associate, Vector Program via Hennepin Technical College; Eden Prairie, Minnesota. (8/2018 – July 2019)

• Taught poetry class geared toward exploring cultural and individual identity by reflecting on past and present experiences. Introduce poetic works from various ethnic backgrounds. Students learn how their experiences connect with their future and a wider community beyond the family unit.

• Participated in classroom discussions in order to add perspective and enrichment. Progress monitor IEP (individual education plan) and behavioral goals. Practiced and discussed IEP goals once a week with students.

Education Associate, West Education Center; Minnetonka, Minnesota. (3/2018 – 6/2018)

• Supervised student daily activities in limited access environment, on a one-to-one basis. Provided incentives for student to reach IEP goals and exhibit school appropriate behaviors. Encouraged responsibility and self-advocacy. Anchored and advocated for student emotionally, culturally and academically. Digitally tracked progress of IEP and behavioral goals.

2

Harvest Network of Schools; Minneapolis, Minnesota. (10/2014 – 6/2017) Paraprofessional.

• Interactively presented age-appropriate African American literature to students, K-4, resulting in student led discussions, cultivation of critical thinking skills, and cultural pride. Led African music and dance presentation.

• Provided pep talks on sisterhood to single gender girls’ classroom. St. Cloud Area Schools, District 742; St. Cloud, Minnesota. (8/2011 – 12/2012) District Coordinator, Parent Institute for Quality Education (PIQE). (8/2012 - 12/2012)

• Established PIQE program under direction of Equity Director.

• Assisted with selection of facilitators/instructors. Set up logistics for trainings.

• Presented and advocated for PIQE program to principals. Negotiated school financial investment. Facilitated trainings. Led instructors in taking personal/collective ownership of the PIQE program and forming a district parent group. Cultural Navigator, Westwood & Lincoln Elementary Schools. (8/2010 - 12/2012)

• Demonstrated intuitiveness with students and commitment to healthy cultural transitions. Initiated intensive one-on-one mentoring and literature centered on intercultural cooperation, reciprocal compassion and respect, producing positive student interaction with peers and school staff.

• Built positive relationships between families and school staff. Advocated for families.

• Initiated girls’ group in order to circumvent conflict and promote harmonious relationships through emotional intelligence generated from children’s books.

• Developed and taught highly interactive African American history lessons for kindergarten through sixth grade to commemorate Black History Month. Utilized dance, music, and art to generate visuals of African American history.

EDUCATION

Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education, University of Iowa; Iowa City, Iowa. (12/2008)

• Related coursework: Issues in Education; Reading and Responding to Children’s Literature.

• Pertinent Texts: Culturally Responsive Teaching: Theory, Research and Practice (Gay); Reading, Writing and Rising Up (Christensen); Linking Literature with Life (Sandmann, Ahern); The Distance Between Us by Reyna Grande; more than 50 African American children’s books.

Speaking Engagements

• Workshop Presenter, Minnesota Education Association; St. Paul, Minnesota (6/2018)

• Sumner Library Appreciation for the Gary Sudduth Collection; North Minneapolis, Minnesota. (4/2018)

3

• Minneapolis Central Library Social Justice Lunch & Learn; Columbia Heights, Minnesota. (4/2018)

• The Glories of the Peoples of the World & Grade Level Literature Presentations; Maranatha Christian School Lower School Brooklyn Park, Minnesota. (2/2018) Volunteer Work

• Contributor, Robbinsdale Human Rights Commission, May 2022-Present

• Career Speaker, Changing Gaits Sober House, November 2022-Present

• Plant Trimmer, Living Word Church, January, 2023

Contact this candidate