Erin Anderson

Experience

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  Hazel Park Middle School

  Jan 2001 - Jun 2003

  Language Arts Teacher

  As a Language Arts teacher at Hazel Park, I instructed 7th and 8th grade language arts classes. These classes of around 40 students each were taught in a block schedule to a population with great diversity in ethnicity, socio-economic status, and academic level. Nearly half of my students had an IEP, which demanded great differentiation in instruction. I team taught one class with a special education teacher. I also taught with an experienced team of core-subject teachers who coordinated content to connect information among subject areas. While at Hazel Park, I introduced a new school-wide vocabulary curriculum and planned annual field trips. I also mentored a student teacher from Bethel College. The students at Hazel Park had great pride in their neighborhood and school, and it was difficult to leave this great, yet challenging, environment to move to Oregon for my husband's internship. Show less

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  St. Paul, OR, High School

  Aug 2003 - Jun 2004

  Language Arts Teacher

  While teaching at St. Paul High School in Oregon, I instructed classes for 9th-12th grade Language Arts and A.P. Literature. A high percentage of the students were Hispanic, which demanded use of differentiated instruction to meet their needs. We acted out poetry and Shakespeare, competed in vocabulary relays and games, and did a lot of reading, writing, and discussing. I implemented a new vocabulary curriculum, and the students' SAT scores improved. I hosted a group called Poetry Alive! which performed for the whole school. Then we performed poetry in a style similar to theirs. At the end of the year, each class performed a One-Act play at the first annual Student Showcase Night that I organized. I taught at St. Paul High School while my husband was completing his one-year internship in Silverton, Oregon, so I was very sad to leave after just one year at this excellent school. However, I was also pregnant with my son and looking forward to staying home with him. Show less

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  Trinity Lutheran Church Brainerd, MN

  Jan 2005 - Jun 2012

  Music Director

  As Music Director, I participate in planning of all worship and other musical activities in the congregation. To coordinate the many music ministries, I developed a Music & Worship Team which meets three times a year to plan and improve the music ministry at Trinity. I also schedule all choirs and ensembles participating in worship services. A significant part of my job is providing leadership for the Contemporary Worship Band including recruiting and training additional team members. I also rehearse piano, flute, and voice to continually improve these necessary skills. I coordinate and submit the annual budget requirements for the worship and music program and administrate the expenditures of the approved budget. I maintain the music library and all instruments. I also provide office staff with required music information for the weekly bulletin, and apply copyright law to music used within the congregational setting. Most importantly, I participate with the church staff, pastors, and other leaders in facilitating congregational goals. Some of the programs I developed related to these goals include an after-school program, including two youth choirs, Love and Logic parenting classes, marriage classes and retreats, and a congregational Wednesday night meal. Show less

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  Erin's Piano Studio

  Jan 2006 - May 2012

  Piano Instructor

  I provide 30-minute weekly music lessons to students of all ages and abilities. I continually assess student skill and music knowledge and provide appropriate teaching of music theory and instrument instruction so that students can progress toward their musical goals. In my lessons, I use strategies based on the needs of visual, auditory, and kinesthetic learners. Students are allowed time to discover new musical concepts through playing and listening instead of being lectured about definitions and terminology. At the end of each school year, I prepare students for performance of two contrasting pieces in the spring recital. Show less

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  Pillager High School

  Aug 2012 - now

  Language Arts Teacher
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  Pillager School District

  Apr 2016 - now

  AVID Site Coordinator• Within the unique school context, implemented the mission of AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination): to create an equitable learning environment where all students are prepared for college and career• Recruited AVID instructors and tutors and provided time in the schedule for AVID courses• Scheduled, planned, and provided AVID training for all staff• Developed teacher leadership through the train-the-trainer programGifted & Talented Coordinator• Planned and implemented new Gifted and Talented Program by creating a Gifted and Talented Handbook, coordinating with elementary, middle school, and high school staff, choosing services and curriculum, and creating a thorough and accurate identification procedureCollege & Career Readiness• Initiated systemic plan for assessment to include the Pre-ACT during the freshman year to identify skills and interests, continue work in ACT Academy throughout high school, train ACT Certified Educators (ACE), and provide various assessments related to college, career, and military paths at the end of the high school career • Substantially revised the Student Course Catalog in partnership with Bridges Career Academies to guide student course choices based on college and career goalsScheduling & Staffing• Developed middle school and high school schedules based on staffing requirements to best pursue the mission and vision of the district • Created a Freshman PRIDE Academy to support new high school students with academic support days, health and social-emotional instruction, and AVID strategiesSocial Emotional Learning• Worked collaboratively with the Cass County Opioid Prevention Team• Initiated hiring of a Prevention Professional to educate staff, students, and community members and provide an educational alternative to suspension• Implemented 2 by 10 Conversations, a systematic relationship-building strategy• Organized and hosted a Community Parents Night Out Show less • Assisted in developing vision and mission of the school district and creating meaningful means to make the vision a reality• Assisted in the role of instructional leader to develop and implement a rigorous and coherent system of curriculum in coordination with the principal, teachers, and educational assistants• Assisted in recruiting, interviewing, and selecting personnel for employment opportunities within the school• Participate in meetings with families and students regarding various issues, such as attendance, discipline, special education, and 504 plans• Co-led creation of Student Assistance Team (SAT) to provide and monitor interventions for struggling students and potentially forward students to the Child Study team for a special education evaluation• As a member of the District Data Team, performed extensive data analysis and a needs assessment of the district-wide special education programming, including assessment of co-teaching and adapted classes, then provided a two-year action plan proposal, which was approved and implemented• Authored the Specialized Curriculum Review Plan and led the Specialized Curriculum Review Teams to address the curriculum needs of the special education department in a strategic manner• Authored WIN Time Proposal and co-led WIN Time Transition Team to determine WIN time schedule and details of implementation• Led Standard-Based Reporting Committee, a 20-member, district-wide team created to assist in the transition to standard-based instruction, assessment, and reporting Show less As the first Gifted & Talented Coordinator for the Pillager School District, I was in charge of developing a handbook which communicated the mission, vision, definitions, identification processes, services, and curriculum for K-12. In order to complete this task, I met with many stakeholders including elementary principal, elementary staff, middle school principal, middle school content area groups, and the high school principal. After completing the plan, it was communicated to all stakeholders in its final form. Show less As in Educational Administration Intern, I was able to contribute to many projects within the Pillager School District. I revised and updated documents, including the Crisis Plan and Student Handbook. I also analyzed student data to reveal a growing gap between our SPED and non-SPED populations and researched further to determine more specific needs related to special education programming. I created a Specialized Curriculum Review Cycle to be used as one tool to reduce the SPED/non-SPED gap. Throughout my internship, I also actively participated in all district-wide teams, including technology, staff development, data, PBIS, and the District Leadership Team. I developed the Gifted & Talented program, which included creating a Gifted & Talented Handbook, developing identification strategies, choosing curriculum, and testing students. As an intern, I also helped research and organize the upcoming senior trip and participated in Reality Story planning. I worked closely with Josh Smith, the high school principal, and Wanda Bell, the elementary principal, who were my official mentors. Tammy Stellmach of Forestview was also an inspirational female role model and mentor. Finally, Scott Doss, the middle school principal in Pillager, provided invaluable feedback, suggestions, and support. Show less

  • Assistant Principal

    Jul 2019 - now

  • Dean of Students

    Aug 2018 - Jun 2019

  • Gifted & Talented Coordinator

    May 2016 - May 2019

  • Educational Administration Intern

    Apr 2016 - Dec 2016