Work History

Barrington District 220, Orchestra Director, 2013-2019

• Schedule and teach 130 4th and 5th grade students for small group lessons at 2 buildings over 3 days each week

• Lead a 1-hour orchestra rehearsal once per week at each building to prepare for 3 concerts annually

• Model for beginning string players using Suzuki listening and Essential Elements reading/techniques

• Guide mastery of new 5th grade skills via ensemble music and Essential Elements symbols/techniques

• Collaborate with district colleagues to organize the combined District Orchestra Festival (grades 4-12)

• Coach solos and ensembles to perform at the District Solo & Ensemble Festival

• Create a collaborative orchestra website to provide complete communication, information, and resources

• Pilot student and teacher use of Essential Elements Interactive and SmartMusic

• Team up with classroom teachers to provide interdisciplinary science/music and math/music lessons

Net56, Education Innovation Specialist, 2011-2013

• Assess the professional development (PD) needs of school districts' staff regarding educational technology

• Collaborate with district administrators to plan the scope and sequence of educational technology PD

• Design and create PD on all varieties of educational technology, as well as national and state standards

• Deliver PD in large group, small group, and individual settings

  • Plan, implement, and train staff to use digital classroom, cloud computing, and mobile device solutions, including Google Apps for Education, Microsoft Office 365, and SMART Notebook 11.

• Assess, redesign, and develop school and business websites for better user experiences

  • Research, implement, and train internal staff on a variety of business productivity software

  • Coordinate with marketing on all of our company's social media

Career Education Corporation, Instructional Designer, 2007-2011

• Effectively designed online college course content to meet university course objectives

• Designed college courses including English, physics, social sciences, communication, anthropology, nursing, medical billing and coding, and accounting

• Collaborated with Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) to design course outlines and create course content

• Reviewed and edited content submitted by Subject Matter Experts

• Regularly collaborated with SMEs, peers, editors, and multimedia specialists to create course assignments, articles, multimedia presentations, and Internet resources

• Correctly cited all print, magazine, and online content in MLA and APA formats

• Collaborated with Subject Matter Experts, other instructional designers, editors, and multimedia specialists to design online interactive learning activities

• Entered content into Learning Management System (LMS) and reviewed HTML

• Reviewed courses designed by others for editing, HTML compliance, content accuracy, activity functionality, and user experience

• Regularly trained new hires and peers in technical and educational aspects of designing courses

White Space, Inc., Instructional Designer, Trainer & Project Manager, 2006-2007

• Researched, organized, and wrote training modules based on company needs

• Taught monthly training sessions based on said modules for 8-10 employees

Lincoln Park High School, Orchestra Director, 2005-2006

• Taught four orchestras of increasing ability with 15 performances annually, a general music class, and a freshman homeroom - 230 students daily

• Advanced Orchestra was rated "Superior" at CPS and IHSA Competitions

• Entered 40 groups in city and state solo and ensemble competitions

• Collaborated with colleagues to help produce the first musical at LPHS in 10 years

• Conductor, "Fiddler on the Roof"

• Participated in monthly Band and Orchestra Parents organizational meetings

• Researched, designed and created departmental website to better communicate with parents and students

Skinner School, Choir Director & Music Teacher, 2004-2005

• Taught chorus to grades 1-3 and general music to grades K-8, including classes for autistic, deaf, visually impaired, learning disabled and behaviorally disabled students

• Conducted Holiday Choir Tour including performances at City Hall, Blue Cross and CNA Insurance

• Chose content for and produced school-wide, interdisciplinary, integrated arts assemblies

West Park Academy of Fine Arts and Technology, Band Director & Music Teacher, 2001-2004

• Taught band, group lessons, jazz band, world and general music, and A/V technology

• Band was rated "Excellent" at the CPS Elementary School Music Festival

• Chose content for and produced school-wide, interdisciplinary, integrated arts assemblies

• Vice-President & Secretary of the Parent-Teacher Organization (PTO)

• Member of the Technology Team - training staff and fixing technical problems

Whitney Young High School, Orchestra Director, 1999-2001

• Taught beginning, intermediate, and advanced orchestras, and beginning guitar

• Advanced Orchestra was rated "Excellent" at the CPS Music Festival; performed original student composition

• Guided students in arranging, scripting, producing and performing a musical

• Conductor, "Tommy"

Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestras, Education Coordinator, 1998-1999

• Produced outreach concerts: created content and coached student musicians

• Recruited urban and minority musicians; managed rehearsals; hired coaches and judges; coordinated concert venues; rented, purchased and distributed music for two full orchestras

• Assistant Operations Director and Chaperone, 1998-99 Eastern European Concert Tour

Maine West High School, Orchestra Director, 1995-1998

• Taught beginning, string, and symphonic orchestras, beginning band, music theory and guitar

• Assistant Conductor, "Oklahoma," "Hello Dolly," and "Music Man"

• Founder and Director, Maine West Orchestra Summer Camp

• Sponsor, Tri-M Music Honor Society