Education
High Tech High Graduate School of Education, San Diego, August 2014-June 2015
Master’s Degree: School Leadership
American University, Washington, DC, August 2006 – May 2008
Master’s Degree: Ethics, Peace Studies, and Global Affairs, GPA 3.8/4.0
Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA, September 2002 – May 2005
Bachelor of Arts, summa cum laude, GPA 3.9/4.0
Major: Classics, GPA 3.7 Minor: Philosophy, GPA 4.0
Awards and Honors: Phi Beta Kappa, John F. Norton Award for Humanities Excellence
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Educational Work Experience
High Tech Middle North County San Marcos, CA
Director 2016 - present
Leading a small innovative school with a focus on deeper learning, equitable learning environments, and continuous improvement
Summit Public Schools, Denali Sunnyvale, CA
Executive Director June 2015- Dec 2015
Led a small diverse middle school (grades 6-8) outside of San Jose
High Tech Middle Chula Vista Chula Vista, CA
School Leadership Resident 2014- 2015
High Tech Middle Chula Vista Interim Director October 2014
Apprenticing in leading a small innovative school with a focus on deeper learning, equitable learning environments, and continuous improvement
Cesar Chavez Public Charter Schools for Public Policy Washington, DC
Director for Public Policy and Curriculum Innovation 2012 - 2014
Transforming a network of four schools from a focus on basic skills to a focus on empowering students to grapple with complex real world issues
Education to Save the World Washington, DC
Co-Founder 2012-Present
Developing a community and roadmap to transform education to meet the demands of the 21st century and to create a more sustainable, just, and healthy world
Cesar Chavez Public Charter Schools for Public Policy Washington, DC
Deputy Director for Public Policy and Senior Thesis Teacher 2008-2012
Redesigned curriculum, assessments, and professional learning to focus on critical thinking skills, conceptual understanding, and leadership and taught a course recognized by students as highly rigorous and the most beneficial for college preparation
Amnesty International Human Rights Educational Service Washington, DC
Facilitator 2006-2008
Created and executed lessons on human rights issues and facilitated student-driven advocacy projects
American University Philosophy Department Washington, DC
Teaching and Research Assistant 2006-2008
Supported undergraduate students in the study of philosophy and provided research assistance for faculty members
American University Community Service Center Washington, DC
DC Reads Assistant Coordinator 2006-2007
Supervised the daily logistics of the largest program in the university’s Community Service Center and supported tutors in providing high quality instruction to students throughout the DC area
William Safire, New York Times Washington, DC
Research Assistant 2006 –2008
Conducted original research and editing support for the weekly “On Language” column in the New York Times Magazine
MATCH Public Charter High School Boston, MA
MATCH Corps Member 2005 –2006
Coached students in developing higher order thinking skills for humanities courses
_____________________________________________________________________________
Awards and Professional Learning
Young Education Professionals’ Policy to Practice Conference, Washington, DC, March 2013, March 2014
Council of Great City Schools and Student Achievement Partners Anthology Alignment Project, January 2014
Managing for Success Fellow, ProInspire, 2013
Emerging Leader, Association for Supervision & Curriculum Development, 2013
Foundation for Critical Thinking Annual Conference, Berkeley, CA, July 2013
National Association for Public Charter Schools Annual Conference, Washington, DC, July 2013
Professional Development Program for Data Coaches, Research for Better Teaching, In progress
National Council for Social Studies Annual Conference, Washington, DC, December 2011
Authentic Performance Task Seminar, The Leadership and Learning Center, November 2011
Educational Seminars Program, American Councils for International Education, October 2011
Curriculum Design & Assessment Training, Phi Delta Kappa International, January 2011
Differentiated Instruction, ASCD, September 2009
We the People Summer Seminar, Center for Civic Education, Montpelier, VA, July 2009
_____________________________________________________________________________
Volunteer Experience
Urban Debate League, Secretary and Coach, Washington, DC, 2010-2014
Student Movement for Real Change, Health Educator, South Africa, 2007
Center for Peace Building International, Curriculum Evaluator, Washington DC, 2007- 2008
High Tech High Graduate School of Education, San Diego, August 2014-June 2015
Master’s Degree: School Leadership
American University, Washington, DC, August 2006 – May 2008
Master’s Degree: Ethics, Peace Studies, and Global Affairs, GPA 3.8/4.0
Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA, September 2002 – May 2005
Bachelor of Arts, summa cum laude, GPA 3.9/4.0
Major: Classics, GPA 3.7 Minor: Philosophy, GPA 4.0
Awards and Honors: Phi Beta Kappa, John F. Norton Award for Humanities Excellence
_____________________________________________________________________________
Educational Work Experience
High Tech Middle North County San Marcos, CA
Director 2016 - present
Leading a small innovative school with a focus on deeper learning, equitable learning environments, and continuous improvement
Summit Public Schools, Denali Sunnyvale, CA
Executive Director June 2015- Dec 2015
Led a small diverse middle school (grades 6-8) outside of San Jose
- Coached and supported teachers in designing project-based learning experiences for students
- Built school culture by implementing restorative practices, empowering students' as leaders, and facilitating discussions on cultural competency
- Facilitated family-school partnership through community groups, the parent organization, and various activities/events
High Tech Middle Chula Vista Chula Vista, CA
School Leadership Resident 2014- 2015
High Tech Middle Chula Vista Interim Director October 2014
Apprenticing in leading a small innovative school with a focus on deeper learning, equitable learning environments, and continuous improvement
- Acted as interim director while director was out for medical leave in October
- Collaborated with critical friend director to support teachers in improving their practice through coaching
- Co-designed and led cohesive professional learning experiences focused on effective pedagogy and facilitating deeper learning
- Supported a positive learning culture built on strong relationships by working with students to resolve issues
- Leveraged consistent feedback on leadership performance from both critical friend director and GSE faculty to improve in both technical and adaptive aspects of school leadership
- Deepened own understanding of effective school leadership through coursework that connects the residency experience with education theory
Cesar Chavez Public Charter Schools for Public Policy Washington, DC
Director for Public Policy and Curriculum Innovation 2012 - 2014
Transforming a network of four schools from a focus on basic skills to a focus on empowering students to grapple with complex real world issues
- Leads schools in implementing and continuously improving innovative curriculum centered on critical thinking, inquiry, and real world performance tasks
- Designs and leads professional learning for teachers and leaders to support the mission of empowering students to analyze real world problems and develop creative solutions
- Coaches teachers through modeling, co-teaching, and observation to increase rigor in their classrooms and support students in becoming self-directed resilient learners
- Directly manages the staff charged with executing mission-specific programming to develop student leadership, assessment design and implementation, and curriculum development
- Collaborates with senior level academic team and school leadership to craft and execute academic priorities for a system of four schools including teacher evaluation, recruitment, and retention
- Works with Chief Executive Officer to develop strategic partnerships including local universities and policy organizations
- Chosen for advancement in organizational structure and responsibilities three times in six years
Education to Save the World Washington, DC
Co-Founder 2012-Present
Developing a community and roadmap to transform education to meet the demands of the 21st century and to create a more sustainable, just, and healthy world
- Created and led a summer conference and year-long fellowship program for educators
- Designs and facilitates international collaboratives for teachers working to build joy and efficiency, increase rigor, and encourage risk-taking in their classrooms
- Synthesizes research and experience to develop a framework and vision for schools to move from a traditional delivery model of education to a system that cultivates students as creative innovators tackling real world problems
- Writes original content for website, recruits guest bloggers, and manages social media presence
Cesar Chavez Public Charter Schools for Public Policy Washington, DC
Deputy Director for Public Policy and Senior Thesis Teacher 2008-2012
Redesigned curriculum, assessments, and professional learning to focus on critical thinking skills, conceptual understanding, and leadership and taught a course recognized by students as highly rigorous and the most beneficial for college preparation
- Developed and supervised a curriculum revision that involved over forty teachers and focused on ensuring authentic transfer of learning to complex real world situations through an emphasis on critical and disciplinary thinking; focused on ELA curriculum
- Created and facilitated professional development workshops and retreats around conceptual learning, disciplinary thinking, critical thinking, literacy, and transition to the Common Core State Standards
- Designed higher-order and critical thinking performance assessments for social studies courses
- Facilitated the program that placed over 175 juniors at public policy internships throughout the city and managed their performance
- Initiated interdisciplinary advocacy projects for grades 6 -11 and developed partnerships to sustain those projects
- Developed and implemented the curriculum for Public Policy Thesis Seminar in which students evaluated and created solutions to real world issues
- Cultivated partnerships with higher education and nonprofit organizations to provide experiential learning opportunities for students
- Led teachers in the planning and execution of public policy courses
Amnesty International Human Rights Educational Service Washington, DC
Facilitator 2006-2008
Created and executed lessons on human rights issues and facilitated student-driven advocacy projects
- Trained facilitators to deliver a human rights and advocacy curriculum to students in several urban high schools
- Crafted lessons for the curriculum and provided feedback to make the curriculum more student-centered
American University Philosophy Department Washington, DC
Teaching and Research Assistant 2006-2008
Supported undergraduate students in the study of philosophy and provided research assistance for faculty members
- Provided feedback to undergraduate students on writing and understanding of philosophical principles
- Designed and implemented instructional activities to facilitate student thinking about complex ideas
- Researched and reviewed case studies for a faculty member’s ethics textbook and other faculty publications
American University Community Service Center Washington, DC
DC Reads Assistant Coordinator 2006-2007
Supervised the daily logistics of the largest program in the university’s Community Service Center and supported tutors in providing high quality instruction to students throughout the DC area
- Trained tutors in areas of curriculum development, mentoring, and diversity
- Managed logistics of a program with over two hundred tutors at twelve community organizations
William Safire, New York Times Washington, DC
Research Assistant 2006 –2008
Conducted original research and editing support for the weekly “On Language” column in the New York Times Magazine
- Conducted original research on the etymology of words and phrases and synthesized information into cohesive summaries for Mr. Safire
- Interviewed linguistic and content experts and specialists
MATCH Public Charter High School Boston, MA
MATCH Corps Member 2005 –2006
Coached students in developing higher order thinking skills for humanities courses
- Supported the academic achievement of students via small group instruction on college-level material
- Led and designed school-wide assemblies on a weekly basis to foster community and student efficacy
_____________________________________________________________________________
Awards and Professional Learning
Young Education Professionals’ Policy to Practice Conference, Washington, DC, March 2013, March 2014
- Presenter, Next Generation Assessments & 21st Century Education, Designing Curriculum for Common Core
Council of Great City Schools and Student Achievement Partners Anthology Alignment Project, January 2014
Managing for Success Fellow, ProInspire, 2013
Emerging Leader, Association for Supervision & Curriculum Development, 2013
Foundation for Critical Thinking Annual Conference, Berkeley, CA, July 2013
- Presenter, Assessing Critical Thinking
National Association for Public Charter Schools Annual Conference, Washington, DC, July 2013
- Presenter, College and Career Readiness: Internship Programs for High School Students
Professional Development Program for Data Coaches, Research for Better Teaching, In progress
National Council for Social Studies Annual Conference, Washington, DC, December 2011
- Presenter, Powerful Texts: Building Student Identity, Agency and Literacy through Enabling Historical Texts
Authentic Performance Task Seminar, The Leadership and Learning Center, November 2011
Educational Seminars Program, American Councils for International Education, October 2011
- Presenter, An Overview of the American Education System and Current K-12 Issues
Curriculum Design & Assessment Training, Phi Delta Kappa International, January 2011
Differentiated Instruction, ASCD, September 2009
We the People Summer Seminar, Center for Civic Education, Montpelier, VA, July 2009
_____________________________________________________________________________
Volunteer Experience
Urban Debate League, Secretary and Coach, Washington, DC, 2010-2014
Student Movement for Real Change, Health Educator, South Africa, 2007
Center for Peace Building International, Curriculum Evaluator, Washington DC, 2007- 2008