Tamara Gerber

Experience

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  CommonBond Communities

  Jan 1996 - Jan 1998

  Advantage Center Assistant/Adult ESL Teacher

  •Taught Adult ESL and Citizenship classes at Torre de San Miguel Homes, a federally subsidized affordable housing community comprised of Mexican, Cambodian, and Hmong residents on Saint Paul’s West Side.•Organized and led a team of Americorps, interns, and volunteers to staff an after-school tutorial and enrichment program for children of all ages.•Assistant to Resident Services Coordinator: completed all tasks as directed•Mennonite Voluntary Service position. Received Americorps Education Award and Certificate of National Service. Show less

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  SOUDERTON AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT

  Feb 1996 - May 1996

  Substitute Teacher
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  North Penn School District

  Feb 1996 - May 1996

  Substitute Teacher
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  Wilderness Wind

  May 1998 - Aug 1998

  Canoe-Camping Trip Leader

  •Led youth groups and families on 5-day canoeing/camping trips in the remote Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness in NE Minnesota. •Taught environmental awareness and stewardship of natural resources through experiential learning. Participants carried all supplies in their packs (tents, gear, food and cookware, etc) and traveled via canoe/paddling except when portaging between lakes (carrying their canoes on their shoulders).

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  The School District of Philadelphia

  Oct 1998 - Jan 2016

  ESOL Coordinator/Teacher

  •Established school's first ESOL program, with growth from twenty students at inception to 70•As sole ESOL teacher, promoted acquisition and development of interpersonal communicative skills and academic language through the domains of reading, writing, listening, and speaking for English Learners in grades K through 8•Coordinated and administered all standardized testing of English Learners, including ACCESS for ELLs•Accompanied school and regional district leadership on SDP business trips to observe dual-language/two-way immersion programs in Cambridge Public schools in Cambridge, Mass. (Portuguese, Chinese, Spanish) and lower Manhattan, NYC (Chinese)•Contributed to school’s successful FLAP (Foreign Language Assistance Program) Grant application process, awarded to establish our K-8 Mandarin Chinese World Language program•Attended TESOL NYC convention•Attended NABE (National Association for Bilingual Education) Phila. convention Show less

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  The School District of Philadelphia

  Sept 2016 - now

  EL Point Person/ESOL Teacher

  •Promote acquisition and development of interpersonal communicative skills and academic language through the domains of reading, writing, listening, and speaking for English Learners in grades K through 5•Support the implementation of research-based best practices for linguistically diverse students using culturally responsive pedagogy•Serve as the English Learner instructional leader to building and community stakeholders •Oversee and manage state-mandated compliance processes by their due dates (EL Identification, General Reclassification, Dual ID Reclassification, EL Summer Program eligibility and registration, Monitoring, etc.)•Test Coordination: complete annual recertification, verify T.A.s’ annual recertification, create test schedule, order materials, lead team of Test Administrators, and administer secure standardized testing of 100 English Learners on ACCESS for ELLs 2.0 online, and Alternate ACCESS for Dual ID ELs•Screen new provisional ELs using WIDA Screener•Maintain current ESOL information in Infinite Campus (SIS) and EL Data Files•Roster new ELs to classes in coordination with school secretary•Lead team of ESOL teachers by organizing, scheduling, and facilitating ESOL PLC/Team Meetings•Advocate for the social and cultural needs of our families by consulting outside agencies for support as needed•Liaise with Network Multilingual Manager•Attend and contribute to weekly Leadership Team meetings•Lead turn-around Professional Development•Collaborate with school-wide Test Coordinator/SBTL to determine and provide EL PSSA and STAR testing accommodations •Acquired Whole Kids Foundation Grant (2017-‘18) to design, create, and build school’s first garden. Managed all aspects of the process. Attended Pennsylvania Horticultural Society Green City Teachers course. Received mentorship and support from Co-Director of Sankofa Community Farm at Bartram’s Garden.• Co-taught the afterschool garden club (2021-‘22). Oversee evolving school garden efforts. Show less

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  Catapult Learning

  Feb 2024 - Jun 2024

  School-Based Site Coordinator: afterschool STEM Program

  Extra Curricular coordinator and liaison. •Process paperwork related to EC documentation, student rosters, and after-school meals•Manage online records daily•Assist with student recruitment•Serve as point of contact for vendor