Sara Palmer

Experience

• 

  Western Massachusetts Writing Project at UMass Amherst

  Jan 2003 - Jan 2007

  Director of Professional Development

  • Developed culturally humble training program for an organization with 70% Black, Hispanic, and Latine learners, consulting and compensating Black, Hispanic, and Latine colleagues for input. Resulted in 90% of Black, Hispanic, and Latine employees reporting improved respect and effective engagement with white supervisors.• Successfully increased access for learners in lower socioeconomic districts by prioritizing innovative projects and managing project plans with multiple stakeholders and 95% on-time deliverables. Show less

• 

  Capital Area Writing Project

  Jan 2007 - Jan 2015

  Professional Development Consultant

  • Researched, designed, and facilitated over 10 effective professional development workshops, using ADDIE and other adult-learning theories to enhance knowledge retention of diverse populations by 40%.• Analyzed and evaluated training program outcomes, utilizing KPI metrics and feedback to make data-driven recommendations for continuous improvement and innovation, leading to 3x growth of attendees in one year.• Leveraged strong communication and collaboration skills to build relationships with key stakeholders, including colleagues, organizations, and leadership, to increase accessibility of historically marginalized populations by 75%. Show less

• 

  Steelton-Highspire School District

  Sept 2007 - Aug 2013

  Educator
• 

  Unitarian Church Of Harrisburg

  Jan 2014 - Jan 2019

  Director of Education

  • Proactively adopted Zoom for organizational use in 2017 after data analysis of diverse technology needs, increasing diverse family and marginalized member engagement by 60%, even before COVID.• Trained leaders and authored culturally responsive materials for lifespan human sexuality program, resulting in a 400% increase in participation among economically disadvantaged populations.• Revised a comprehensive training program for 50+ volunteers, including selecting curricula, recruiting and training teachers, and coordinating classes and organizational activities, resulting in a 80% increase in LGBTQ+ volunteer retention over 3 years. Show less

• 

  Capital Area School for the Arts Charter School

  Aug 2014 - Jul 2023

  Education Professional

  • Developed trauma-informed executive functioning training programs for 200 learners, reducing absences by 20% and demonstrating expertise in stakeholder engagement and educational program development.• Led DEI initiative implementation, online and in-person, driving a 40% increase in organizational belonging through inclusive learning opportunities aligned with mission, vision, and KPI goals.• Conducted employee interviews and data analysis of conflict resolution needs assessments, yielding 80% colleague comfort increase, highlighting adept conflict resolution and data-driven decision-making.• Coordinated data analysis efforts, resulting in successful differentiation of 75% IEP assessments over 3 months, showcasing proficiency in educational assessment and adaptive teaching strategies. Show less

• 

  Sara Palmer Speaks

  Jan 2018 - Aug 2022

  • Developed culturally sensitive and linguistically responsive corporate training program on women’s health and self-care, using visual aids and interactive activities, resulting in increased participation from non-native English speakers.• Identified training opportunities and developed customized self care programs for non-profits’ marginalized clientele, collaborating with teams to maximize impact; achieved 95% program implementation.• Applied Adult Learning Theory, accommodated diverse learning styles, and increased satisfaction and informational retention by 40% through multicultural virtual training webinars. Show less

  • Training and Development Specialist

    Jan 2018 - Aug 2022

  • Executive Coach

    Jan 2018 - Aug 2022
• 

  Catherine Hershey Schools for Early Learning

  Jul 2023 - now

  Instructional Coach

  • Offered highly valued cross-functional guidance for training and development of 50+ staff, fostering inclusive engagement, and coaching strengths-based teams, mitigating 65% of concerns and conflict in <1 year.• Collaborated on 14 foundational policies outlining company communication norms, conflict resolution, and growth strategies, integrating diverse stakeholder perspectives to enhance results-oriented effectiveness.• Facilitated senior leadership strategy forums, identifying areas to align with mission and vision. Promoted 90% staff involvement over one quarter in hyperlocal community service engagements.• Pivoted program rapidly to address disruptions in company priorities. Adjusted and accommodated inclusive curriculum materials within five days, maintaining 90% employee engagement and retention levels. Show less