Christopher Manda

Experience

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  Adventure Sports

  Jun 2007 - Jan 2014

  Lead Driver / Shop lead
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  East Stroudsburg University

  May 2012 - Jan 2014

  Graduate Assistant for the University Police Department

  Graduate Worker in charge of 20+ student workers:- Coordinated and troubleshot interdepartmental and intradepartmental meetings and issues. - Hiring, scheduling, creation of the budget, training and discipline for student workers.- Worked with student workers to create a working environment where education and responsibility meet on a common ground.- Developed Student worker policy, student worker guide, and discipline policy.Student mediator for East Stroudsburg University Police Sexual Assault Panel:- Facilitated discussion between student body and expert panel: Show less

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  Commonwealth Charter Academy Cyber Charter School

  Aug 2014 - Aug 2017

  Success Teacher

  Academic Support:-Assist students in their courses by providing on-site motivation and support-Work collaboratively with a team of teachers (both in-person and virtual) to ensure that all students in the cohort are on track and successfully progressing through the program-Assist students with daily assignments and projects to increase understanding-Participate in the organization and administration of State Testing, as directed-Help carry out educational programs developed through the Individualized Education Plan (IEP) process for special education students-Maintain a positive, supportive, and engaging learning environment at all times-Develop and implement strategies that encourage student collaboration and teamworkAdvisory:-Supervise and advise a cohort of students, ensuring that all students are successfully progressing through the program and that parents have a central point of contact for discussions on their student-Monitor students’ attendance, participation, and academic performance-Develop and monitor individualized Action Plans for each student in escalation; including working with students to set goals for getting back on track and communicating with parents/caretakers and school staff-Help each student identify and focus on his or her potential and aspirations-Support college and career counseling activities under direction of Guidance Counselor-Help students to research and understand their post-secondary career and educational options-Assist with student preparation of applications for college and jobs-Work with a team to coordinate and implement social activities and relevant field trips for students.School Safety Committee• 12 meetings a year• We discuss and recommend safety improvements to upper management.• Training for PA Department of Labor and Industry certificationEmployee MentorDesigning monthly trainings for new hire and retraining of Success Coach positions97% proficiency rating 2014 - 2017 Show less

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  The University of the Arts

  Aug 2017 - Feb 2018

  Museum studies department work study

  -Develop Social Media plan along side department staff-Complete short-term and long-term projects based on department's needs

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  University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology

  Jan 2018 - May 2018

  Learning Department Intern

  Assisted in day to activities and programmingConducted a research project on teacher resources provided by the museum and the audiences they are working with now and moving forward. This project was a two part research project that concluded in a presentation and a recommendation for the museum for the use of their resources moving forward. Second part was dedicated to investigating the resources and providing any possible changes for the new strategic plan moving forward.

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  Riverbend Environmental Education Center

  May 2018 - Mar 2019

  Tasks include: Design and conduct on-site environmental education programs for elementary to middle to school-aged youth.Design and prototype themed programming for school programming that aligns with state standards to bridge learning through field trips within the inquiry-based learning and active learning techniques found throughout Riverbend's educational plan.Develop and implement an on-site and online evaluation tool to help Riverbend discover usable data on a number of topics including learning, takeaways for both children and adults, alignment with prior knowledge, the success of programming and environmental literacy.Interpretation on the preserve (lead nature walks, presentations, and demonstration to a variety of audiences) Show less

  • Environmental Educator

    Sept 2018 - Mar 2019

  • Education Department Intern

    May 2018 - Aug 2018
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  Community College of Philadelphia

  Apr 2019 - Oct 2021

  • Oversee Gateway’s special education services to achieve outcomes related to program objectives and ensuring compliance with IDEA, ADA, and District requirements in coordination with the College’s Center on Disability, Gateway’s staff, and School District staff and offices.• Lead the development, implementation, and monitoring/assessment of all IEPs/504s, transition plans; attend all IEP meetings and special education service and professional development meetings.• Determine relevant supports for identified students and coordinate the successful review, implementation, and monitoring of said supports for compliance purposes.• Restructured the program’s Academic Achievement Lab (most closely mimics a study hall) where students receive academic and socio-emotional support in small group settings to have more meaningful and specific supports for each student the program serves.• Serve as testing coordinator for state Keystone testing and college entrance assessments (SAT, ACT).• Assist the Project Director in the planning and executing ongoing professional and leadership development activities for the entire Gateway team.• Run an intensive, comprehensive academic prep and orientation for new students.• Support the Project Director in the recruitment, intake, and evaluation of potential students.• Support the Project Director in continuous school improvement through the ongoing data review and analysis of student and program data while compiling relevant reports to ensure optimal program performance.• Develop, implement, and monitor program recruitment and retention strategies to ensure potential students are fully engaged and ready for the rigors of the Gateway to College Program.• Other responsibilities include assisting the Director in Student Interventions (MTSS), Student Attendance Improvement Plans (SAIP), Student Assistance Team (SAT) meetings, attending School District/College/GtCN required meetings.• Supervise a team of full time & part time staff. Show less Through the program, students complete their high school diploma requirements at the Community College of Philadelphia while simultaneously earning college credits toward an associate’s degree or certificate. Young people who had little chance of graduating from high school are achieving post-secondary success. Provide a broad range of services in support of students through intensive case management influenced by trauma-based learning techniques.• Advised students through the completion of high school credit acclamation for Pennsylvania graduation requirements while navigating their college classes as dual enrollment students working towards an associate degree or certificate.o Scheduled college and high school classes that align with each students’ individual needs• Data management- created tracking tools for weekly, monthly, semester and yearly goals.• Held weekly advising meetings that addressed socioemotional issues, barriers to completing work, provided academic support and oversight for student attendance.• Research and evaluate available internal and external services to assist students in removing barriers and persisting to graduation.• Run an intensive comprehensive academic prep and orientation for new students.• Designed and presented weekly and individual workshops for students in wide range of topics that included “Mindfulness Mondays”, college prep, stress management, and health & wellbeing.• Other responsibilities include assisting the Director in the development, implementation, and monitoring of program recruitment and retention strategies. Show less

  • Assistant Project Director - Gateway to College

    Nov 2020 - Oct 2021

  • Academic Coordinator - Gateway to College

    Apr 2019 - Oct 2021
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  Philadelphia Zoo

  Oct 2021 - now

  Manager of Education Programs

  The Manager of Education Programs is primarily responsible for executing the daily operational functions of the Conservation Education Department. This includes program design and development, the hiring, training, and scheduling of staff and volunteers in a way that enables the execution of mission-based programming across multiple Zoo platforms and audiences. The role ensures that Conservation Education programs exceed the expectations of the guest through iteration, training, coaching, and mentoring of staff and volunteers.• Supervise full-time staff on projects, volunteers, interns, and docents. Manage 3 full-time Education Specialists & 30+ part-time staff. o Instilled the belief of light interpretation to the above• Reviewed and adapted the zoo’s 1st-year giraffe feeding encounter o Worked with multiple departments to pivot operations and opened up the experience from 140 guests daily to 500+ guests, with over 24000 guests participating during a shortened operational window• Assisted the Director of School & Community Partnerships and Coordinator• Accepted a role on the zoo’s Interdepartmental Communication Committee – worked with a team to create a new operational intranet website for all zoo staff• Accepted a role on a subcommittee for training Animal Department staff on guest engagement strategies• Suggested a planned all-staff guest engagement training meant to both elevate the in-zoo guest experience and boost buy-in to the zoo’s cultural goals• Worked with multiple departments to deliver the best possible in-zoo experienceo Pivoted all operations to comply with Covid policy for staff and guest safetyo Managed guest expectations and experiences while all birds were off exhibit due to an avian influenza Show less