Dionna Jenkins

Experience

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  Coro New York Leadership Center

  Aug 2014 - Jun 2015

  Councilmember, Mayor's Youth Leadership Council

  Created policy recommendations to improve the quality of life for marginalized youth.Presented policy recommendations to the Mayor of New York City and other important stakeholders.Learned the societal factors that impact policy creation and those who are affected by such implementations.Enhanced leadership capabilities through public speaking and networking opportunities.

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  Generation Teach

  Jun 2017 - Aug 2017

  Teaching Fellow

  Received comprehensive training that focused on effective communication, classroom management, and the importance of establishing positive student-teacher relationships.Taught three sixth reading classes at a local middle school that serves a large minority population.Modified and implemented reading curriculum to include a stronger emphasis on discussion, critical thinking, and hands-on activities.

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  Jandon Center for Community Engagement

  Sept 2017 - Jan 2018

  Community Partner Liaison

  Assisted the Jandon Center in recruiting volunteers from Smith College to participate in an after school tutoring program at Paulo Freire Social Justice Charter School in Holyoke, MA.Served as key communicator between the Jandon Center and Paulo Freire. Co-facilitated volunteer orientations and reflection meetings.

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  KIPP Infinity Middle School

  Jan 2018 - Jan 2018

  Teaching Fellow w/ Smith College Urban Education Initiative

  Assisted 5th grade writing teacher for three weeks at a charter middle school in West Harlem.Worked one-on-one with students who exhibited difficulties with content comprehension.Gained insight on teaching strategies, reflective practices, and the field of education as a whole through classroom experiences and weekly workshops.

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  Project Coach

  Feb 2018 - May 2018

  Academic Coach & Administrative Worker

  Served as a tutor and informal mentor to a 9th grade student at a local secondary school. Learned the importance of personal and social responsibility in relation to youth development. Assisted Project Coach staff in maintaining files, analyzing data on student coaches, and compiling data on Academic Coaches.

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  Breakthrough Greater Boston

  Jun 2018 - Aug 2018

  Teaching Fellow

  Taught two sections of 9th grade literature and served as an advisor for three students.Modified and implemented a literature curriculum while receiving comprehensive teacher training from an instructional coach.

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  Smith College - Sherrerd Center for Teaching and Learning

  Jan 2019 - May 2019

  Pedagogical Partner

  Served as a consultant to Smith faculty partner by observing instruction periods and providing insight on the student classroom experience.Learned and applied learning science principles to help maintain instructor morale and improve student engagement.Created an open dialogue about teaching and learning through weekly meetings with faculty partner to discuss progress and next steps for the partnership.

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  Let's Get Ready

  Aug 2019 - May 2020

  Success Coach

  Served as virtual guide and mentor to 1st and 2nd year first-generation college students to ensure that they successfully navigated their time on their respective campuses. Maintained up-to-date student records via online database and shared key information with LGR staff.

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  College Visions

  Jul 2020 - Jun 2024

  College Access Advisor

  Collaborated with program directors and fellow advisors to recruit rising high school seniors for college access program.Designed and co-facilitated workshops for high school students pertaining to various aspects of the college application process, including criteria for building a balanced college list, exploring financial aid options, and understanding the admissions process.Engaged in critical discourse on how to connect advising work to developing and advocating for programs and policy initiatives that benefit first-generation/low-income students on a broader scale. Provided social-emotional and practical support for college-bound and current college students through regular advising meetings and check-ins. Built and maintained relationships with local and regional colleges and universities to bolster student access to these schools, and remained up-to-date on relevant campus programs, initiatives, and admissions policies.Maintained student records for the College Access Program by inputting data via Salesforce. Show less

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  Learning Policy Institute

  Jan 2022 - Apr 2022

  Research & Policy Intern

  Performed assigned tasks for multiple project teams within the organization, specifically for groups working on issues pertaining to Educator Quality, Early Childhood Education, and Equitable Resources & Access. Gained insight into the inner workings of designing and implementing education research projects, discovering the intricacies of the intersection between research and policy.

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  Augenblick, Palaich and Associates (APA)

  Sept 2024 - now

  Graduate Student Intern

  Investigated the effectiveness of Denver’s universal preschool program by conducting a survey analysis of providers’ experiences in rolling out services and identifying discrepancies therein.Analyzed trends in programmatic experiences for recipients of the I-REECCH grant, an initiative aimed at boosting minority student representation in gifted and talented education in rural Colorado public schools. Conducted stakeholder interviews and performed T-tests in STATA on survey data to gauge program effectiveness over the 5-year lifespan of the I-REECCH grant. Synthesized and visualized findings from the I-REECCH survey analysis into a presentation articulating observations aligned with grant objectives, such as gains in gifted identification and improvements in teacher pedagogy tailored to underrepresented students Show less