Della Smith

Experience

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  Monmouth College

  Jan 1995 - Jan 1997

  Practicum Student

  Monmouth Public Schools- 144 hours completed. Lincoln Elementary: 1st Grade; Language Arts & Reading Garfield Elementary: 2nd Grade; Language Arts & Reading Willis Elementary: 5th Grade; Art & History Yorkwood Community Unit School: 5th Grade; Math Lincoln Elementary: 6th Grade; Math & Science

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  Associate Colleges of the Midwest (ACM)

  Aug 1997 - Dec 1997

  Urban Education Program participant—Student Teacher

  Associate Colleges of the Midwest's (ACM) Urban Education Program participant. ACM is a consortium of academically excellent, independent liberal arts colleges. The Urban Education Program prepares high-quality teachers to serve in Chicago's low-income, inner-city schools. Practicum placement: 3rd grade English as a Second Language classroom, John T. McCutcheon Elementary School, Uptown, Chicago. Neighborhood K-6 public school with a racially diverse population, 40% of the students were limited-English-Proficient and 90% came from Low-Income families. Course work included a series of workshops and lectures provided by the ACM program for an enhanced higher-learning experience. Show less

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  STIP - Violenschool

  Aug 2000 - Dec 2001

  Lead Teacher - 4th grade (ages 9-10)

  Curriculum Experience: International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme (PYP)Associated Standards: British National Curriculum Literacy & Numeracy StrategiesImplemented Methodologies: Integrative Curriculum Design, Project-based Learning, Free Academic Choice through Real-World Learning experiences.Additional Responsibilities: Music Club Leader, Role of Film Production Team while teaching students of to make and shoot a film on their Unit of Inquiry.

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  Elckerlyc International School

  Aug 2002 - Jul 2005

  Lead Teacher - 2nd grade (ages 7-8)

  Curriculum Experience: International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme (PYP)Associated Standards: British National Curriculum Literacy & Numeracy StrategiesImplemented Methodologies: Integrated Curriculum, International Mindedness, Project-based Learning, Small Group Activities, Inclusive Classroom and Peer MentorshipAdditional Responsibilities: General Administration, Evaluation and Assessments, Special Events, Special Education Assistant, Theater Coordinator

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  Amsterdam International Community School

  Aug 2004 - Sept 2009

  'Leader for Learning,' equivalent to a Vice Principal position, in Dutch International Primary school (preK-IB DP). Responsible for whole school learning & activities, direct management of preschool through 5th grade classes, 4-11 y/o. Accomplishments include: established a new international school in the Amsterdam community by achieving the highest standards in teaching & learning through curriculum development & implementation, realized school's mission through continual consolidation of team goals, allocation of budget & resource needs, and the hiring of faculty & staff to align with school's strategic plan, educational philosophies & best practices; contributor to whole school policies in both short & long-term planning, instrumental in establishing a special needs support team & the development of the ICT program; primary contact & mediator between parents, students, teachers, staff, and specialists; integral part of hiring & firing of faculty & staff, offered guidance & evaluation through performance interviews & professional development for team, coordinated team collaboration & special assignments via task forces; interviewed incoming students & their families, evaluated assessments & determined placement of students, gave continual guidance & support to students, their families & teachers; inspired team morale by helping build school spirit and insure safe community involvement. School management team consisted of myself as the Early Years through International Primary Curriculum (IPC) Years, IB MYP leader, IB DP leader, IB & IPC Head of School, and Director/Esprit Scholen Groep liaison. Show less Kindergarten (ages 5-6) 2005-2006Combined K-1 (ages 5-7) 2004-2005Curriculum Experience: International Primary Curriculum (IPC)Associated Standards: British National Curriculum Literacy & Numeracy StrategiesAdditional Resources: Terc Mathematics Curriculum and Foss ScienceInspired Methodologies: How to be a Learning Facilitator, How We Learn & Brain-Friendly Learning techniques e.g. VAK model: Visual, Auditory & Kinesthetic, Multiple Intelligences (Howard Gardner), Teaching Emotional Intelligence, International Mindedness and Personal Learning Goals in the IPC Show less

  • Leader for Learning

    Jun 2005 - Sept 2009

  • Learning Facilitator - Kindergarten & 1st Grade (ages 5-7)

    Aug 2004 - Jul 2006
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  The Raleigh School

  Aug 2010 - Jul 2015

  Lead Teacher - 4th Grade (ages 9-10)

  Implemented Methodologies: Integrative Curriculum Design and Instruction, Project-based Learning, Free Academic Choice, & Environmental Education embedded in International AwarenessAdditional Responsibilities: General Administration, Special Events, Event Planning, Public Relations & Client Care, Goal Setting & Assessments, and FundraisingAdditional Roles: ICT Development Team, Environmental Stewardship Committee, New Teacher Mentor, and Summer Camp LeaderCurriculum Resources: Responsive Classroom techniques, Everyday Mathematics, and Foss ScienceAssociated Standards: NC State Curriculum Standards and Common Core Show less

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  Shambhala Publications

  Sept 2017 - May 2020

  Assistant to President

  Strong administrative professional with ten years international experience and a demonstrated history of embracing diversity, promoting equity and celebrating autonomy in the workplace. Skilled at implementing strategic plans while building camaraderie with a streamlined focus on the mission and vision. Excellent organizational skills with an eye for detail make general administration and event planning efficient and effective. Great public speaking skills aids public relations and fundraising events.Supporting communication from the President for public relations and updates to the team. Composing new book announcements and coordinating appropriate changes with editors. Teaming up with the marketing department to create the most user-friendly experience by bringing backlist items up-to-date with current IT protocols e.g. SEO- friendly formatting embedded with high profile links to relevant products or citations for increased exposure and marketing opportunities. This includes reformatting and editing auto-transcribed texts for easier readability and improved accuracy, modernizing images with higher resolution photos, to make usability current with user experience guidelines.Technology tools used: Wordpress, Microsoft Office, Sharepoint, Calameo Publishing Platform, GIMP - GNU Image Manipulation Program, Paint, and Adobe Acrobat."Shambhala Publications is dedicated to creating books, audio, and immersive courses aimed at improving lives—in" ways big and small—in the hope of contributing to the development of a thoughtful, kindhearted, and contemplative society." Show less

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  Homeschoolers School LLC

  Mar 2021 - Jun 2021

  Education Professional; Director / Founder

  Micro Pod: All-inclusive, Sensory Friendly Learning; creating a "COVID-safe" environment one family at a time. This school was created to provide a small safe circle for our high-risk to COVID young learners. We implemented sensory-friendly learning practices guided by Montessori's techniques and activities.