Professional Experiences
WHITE PLAINS HIGH SCHOOL, WHITE PLAINS. N.Y. August 2023 - present
School Library Media Specialist. Develop curriculum maps and pacing calendars. Implement and support new technologies. Curate culturally responsive collections and summer reading lists. Provide professional development for the learning community. Collaborate with content teachers for project-based learning. Create personalized learning opportunities. Implement faboracation lab equipment with students and staff. Secure grant funding for special projects. Collaborate with the public library. Promote author visits. Train and coordinate student volunteers. Support student run tech support desk.
YONKERS PUBLIC SCHOOLS, YONKERS, N.Y. November 2020 - April 2023
Director of Library Services. Oversee daily operation. Manage 27 school library media centers,15 school librarians and one clerical. Curate culturally responsive collections and summer reading lists. Provide professional development for school librarians and other district personnel. Implement and support new technologies. Analyze budgets and allocate funds to the district’s libraries and non-public schools. Develop curriculum maps and pacing calendars. Support school librarians’ instruction. Investigate and implement fabrication lab equipment. Secure grant funding for special projects. Create personalized learning opportunities. Support district wide reading initiatives. Conduct MPPR visits and evaluations. Provide PLC support to principals. Collaborate with the public library. Promote author visits. Facilitate webinars. Negotiate service & equipment contracts. Implement library programming.
YONKERS PUBLIC SCHOOLS, YONKERS, N.Y. September 2018 - October 2020
School Library Media Specialist. Teach information literacy and literature appreciation lessons. Develop a multicultural collection. Organize and maintain current collection. Establish student service learning projects. Present professional development to educators.
BLIND BROOK / RYE UFSD, RYE BROOK, N.Y. September 2017 - July 2018
Transliteracy Specialist. Ensure the learning community becomes ethical users of ideas and information. Empower students to be critical thinkers, enthusiastic readers, skillful researchers and compassionate, contributing community members and global citizens. Teach digital citizenship. Instill a love of learning in all students and promote equitable access to information. Collaborate with staff to design and implement lessons/ units of instruction to foster interdisciplinary connections. Assess student learning and instructional effectiveness.
HIGHVIEW SCHOOL, HARTSDALE, N.Y. September 2016 - September 2017
School Library Media Specialist. Collaborate with teachers and the Director of Digital Learning, Systems and Accountability for project-based learning. Create student service-learning projects. Foster and promote STEM based learning opportunities. Establish and facilitate a makerspace. Teach information fluency and literature appreciation lessons. Identify and create learning opportunities through grant funding. Develop the collection. Teach digital citizenship.
DANIEL WEBSTER SCHOOL, NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y. September 2015 - September 2016
Library Media Specialist. Organize and maintain current collection. Maintain student-centered open access library format for multiple periods. Teach information literacy lessons. Foster literature appreciation.
AMERICAN PASSAGE, SLEEPY HOLLOW, N.Y. April 2015 - Present
Digital Transliteracy Information Specialist. Conduct life enrichment services to Alzheimer's and dementia patients. Engage elderly in transliteracy programming. Monitor independent verbalization with cueing. Stimulate five sense through multi-sensory activities. Stimulate reminiscence and reflection. Determine prior knowledge and prompt accountable talk discussions.
P.S. 54, BRONX, N.Y. September 2012 - September 2015
School Library Media Specialist. Organize and maintain current collection. Identify and pursue funding sources for books to rebuild collection. Collaborate with classroom teachers for the purpose of planning Units of Study. Identify, locate, and facilitate use of books aligned with Units of Study for both teachers and students. Further develop available resources to support ELA Units of Study with an emphasis on content area work, book clubs. Maintain student-centered open access library format for multiple periods. Teach information literacy and literature appreciation lessons. Identify and develop proposals in order to obtain grant funding.
P.S. 63, BRONX, N.Y. January 2012 – June 2012
RESPONSE TO INTERVENTION SPECIALIST. Identify and teach reading to at risk students. Administer and analyze running records. Teach reading to an ELL group. Conduct literature circles. Facilitate accountable talk. Provide leveled literacy intervention services. Maintain reading tracking sheets. Provide literacy based professional development and support to K to 2 teachers. Attend special education workshops. Identify, develop and implement grants.
P.S. 63, BRONX, N.Y. October 2009 – December 2011
COLLABORATIVE TEAM TEACHER. Develop and implement reading, writing, social studies, science curriculum and multisensory lesson plans. Administer and analyze monthly running records. Compile reading tracking sheets. Conduct Fountas and Pinnell assessments. Create individual student goals. Collaborate and develop IEP goals. Design and implement behavior modification system. Conduct ELL sessions for literacy development. Created and coordinated proposals for grant opportunities.
P.S. 63, BRONX, N.Y. September 2008 – October 2009
LEVELED LITERACY INTERVENTION SPECIALIST. Administer Observation Survey to the lowest identified students. Teach reading to at risk students. Administer and analyze running records. Organize and supervise annual weeklong book fair project. Provide professional development to K-2 teachers. Score ELA and science state exams.
MERCY COLLEGE, BRONX, N.Y. January 2007 – May 2007
ADJUNCT INSTRUCTOR. Teach reading assessments, effective intervention and strategies designed to assist struggling readers.
P.S. 63, BRONX, N.Y. September 2005 – September 2008
READING RECOVERY TEACHER. Administer Observation Survey to groups of children. Identify reading recovery candidates. Teach component specific lessons to bottom quartile students. Maintain accurate daily lesson records, running records, weekly book logs and book levels, records of reading and writing vocabulary. Monitor progress of discontinued children. Provide three behind the glass demonstrations for colleagues. Provide professional development and support to K-1 teachers. Participate in colleague visits. Attend Reading Recovery conferences and initiate professional development activities.
P.S. 396, BRONX, N.Y. March 2003 – September 2005
4th GRADE TEACHER. Develop and implement curriculum. Provide classroom instruction through a balanced literacy program. Teach test taking strategies and techniques for NY State reading and math tests. Foster student learning of measurement, geometric shapes and solids through TERC Investigation series. Enhance student comprehension, reading and communication skills. Teach academic, social and motor skills to elementary students.
P.S. 396, BRONX, N.Y. September 2002 – March 2003
GUIDED MATH AND READING TEACHER (3rd and 4th grade). Prepare objectives and outlines for courses of study. Administer and critique data from norm-referenced and criterion referenced tests, formal and informal inventories, constructed response measures, portfolio based assessments, student self-evaluations, work/performance samples, observations, anecdotal records, journals and other indicators of student progress to inform instruction and learning. Counsel students on adjustment and academic problems. Initiate and conduct a lunchtime enrichment program. Actively substitute for K – 4th grade teachers.
WESTCHESTER COMMUNITY COLLEGE, VALHALLA, N.Y. September 2001 – May 2006
ADJUNCT INSTRUCTOR. Teach basic writing and essay composition. Guide literature seminars.