Educational Trainer, Montessori El Guide, ECE Program Director

Elizabeth Bala Soto

*** ****** **** #**, *******, N.Y. 10701

434-***-****(c) 914-***-****(day) ***********.****@*****.***

Profile

Educational trainer, keen on providing high quality, interactive learning experiences to educators, and families by promoting an integrative holistic process.

Education

• Texas A&I University, Kingsville, TX

Master of Education

• University of Texas, Arlington, TX

Bachelor of Arts, Communication/T.A.

• Southwestern Montessori Training Center, Denton, TX

Montessori Certification, Elementary

• Integral Yoga Teacher Training Institute, Buckingham, VA

Yoga/Meditation Teacher

• Certification Georgia Early Care & Ed, PDS, Athens, GA

Teacher Trainer II Certificate

• Birthing From Within Mentor Program, CA

Birth Mentor

Skills

• Articulate in Spanish, English, Mac and PC

• Ability to set vision and direction

• Ability to work independently

• Strong writing and speaking skills

• Positive, easygoing disposition

• Strong critical and strategic thinker

• Parenting Mentor Utilizing these Models of Training:

• Systematic Training for Effective Parenting; American Guidance Service; How to Talk So Children Listen

Experience

2010-2011 Education Coach, Child Care Ed Institute, Duluth, GA

Responsible for facilitating nationwide online training in English and Spanish to ECE professionals.

• Areas covered in preparation for the CDA credential and professional development courses including:

Child Growth and Development, Environment, Curriculum and Content, Families in Society, Child Assessment, Communication, Professionalism and Leadership Skills.

• Orient, encourage, support and monitor student’s progress.

• Provide performance reports to students.

• Provide all supporting documentation to the ed team via company database.

• Submitting completion and withdrawal reports to management.

• Collaborating with Ed Team Dir and Ed Team, to refine the educational process for students.

2006-2009 Program Director and Consultant, Waseca School, Athens, GA

Responsible for directing the day-to-day operation of this Montessori program with 100+ students ages 0-9 and 20+ employees

while identifying, analyzing, and making recommendations for necessary structural changes to meet the community’s needs with a focus on:

• Collaborating with the Board of Directors, the Administrative and Educational Team as well as the Parent organization in the development of systems to support school expansion.

• Coordinating the implementation of changes for added growth resulting in a cost effective revitalization of the following programs: The Waseca Food Program; The After-School Care Program; The Substitute Training Program; The Parents at Waseca (PAW) organization; and the year-round cultural events calender.

• Initiatiating the following programs: Waseca Quarterly Newsletter, Community Development Program, and the Annual Waseca Night Out fundraiser. Established liaisons at UGA key in promoting the values and practices of the Montessori Method.

1990-2006 Master Guide, Austin Montessori School, Austin, TX

Responsible for running an exemplary Early Elementary Montessori community of children with focus on:

• Preparation of environment, curriculum, and materials to meet the developmental needs of children ages 5-10.

• Leading staff meetings, facilitating parenting classes and workshops, organizing school-wide cultural events

• Training teachers, assistants and parents through individual conferences, meetings, workshops, and retreats

• Designing and editing school newsletters

• Contributing to the development of school policy and administrative procedures

• Participating in the planning and development of fundraising events.

• Initiating numerous projects, a prime example being The Labyrinth Project, a year round, school wide activity incorporating an intergenerational, interdisciplinary curriculum approach to learning.

• Producing and directing original children’s operas in collaboration with the Austin Lyric Opera as a means of integrating the performing arts into the classroom culture.

Extended Experience

Elementary Guide Montessori School of Corpus Christi, Corpus Christi, Texas

Elementary Guide Kenmont Montessori School, Brownsville, Texas

HS ESL Teacher Lydia Patterson High School, El Paso, Texas

GED/ESL Teacher University of Texas HEP Migrant Program, El Paso, Texas

Educational Technician DOD Roosevelt Roads, US Naval Base, Ceiba, Puerto Rico

Educational Consultant Experience

2011-Present ECTrainer Research Foundation of CUNY

IFCCI, 230 West 41st St. 7th Fl, NY, NY

2006-2009 Educational Development Waseca School, 295 Tallassee Road, Athens, GA

2003-2009 Coordinator/Translator/Volunteer for

Camp Indigo, ICPEP, Global Youth Peace Summit

Amala Foundation, 1006 S. 8th St. Austin, TX. 78704

2007 Educational Development

Integral Yoga School, 108 Yogaville Way, Buckingham, Va. 239

2007 Trainer

SM Montessori Institute, 1909 Colorado Avenue,Santa Monica, CA 90404

Professional Achievements

• Montessori Teacher Trainer for the first independent Montessori training program in the US in the following areas: Montessori Philosophy, Developmental Cycles, Classroom Management, Preparation of the Teacher, Peace Education and Pedagogy.

• Founder of ClearOneSource. COS’s mission is to provide educators, parents and children with a holistic approach to self-development. A complete Menu of Services is available upon request.

• Developed The Culture of Peace: Nurturing Interdependence™ model, focusing on a whole school approach in creating adaptive systems of learning. Integrating processes that promote cooperation, empathy and positive solution making. Currently being applied in Montessori schools.

• Initiated the Labyrinth Project as a tool to encourage interactive learning.

Professional Collaborations

• Amala Foundation, Advisory Board

• Waseca School, Advisory Board

• CentroCreativo Experimental Inaru, Board Member

• Whatever It Takes, Early Care and Learning Strategic ActionTeam

• Integral Yoga Teacher Association

• American Foreign Services, Teacher Mentor/Host Professional Affiliations

• Alpha Chi Honor Society • North American Montessori Teacher Association

• Association of Montessori Internationale, affiliate

• UTA Alumni, Texas A&M Alumni

• Pan American Round Table

• Austin Lyric Opera, Collaborator

Professional References

Available upon request.

Contact this candidate