Experience

 High School Coordinating Principal

I am currently the High School Coordinating Principal, overseeing all students and staff in Grades 7-12.  Sekolah Ciputra is an International Baccalaureate (IB) Continuum School, offering the PYP, MYP, and DP to all students.  It is also accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC), and is a full member of the East Asia Regional Council of Schools (EARCOS).  The school has over 1200 students, with over 600 of them in the High School Division.

   Social Studies Teacher  

Head Wrestling Coach

I was a member of the "9th Grade Academy," where I taught World Geography, as well as  12th grade Economics and US Government. I was honored to be the Head Wrestling Coach, helping lead the program I was a founding member of as a student athlete in the 1990's and then later began my coaching career as an assistant coach of in the early 2000's.  Being a positive member of the school community is very important to me, and I took on a number of roles in order to do this more effectively.  These include being an elected member of the School Council, a member of the Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) Team, and a member of the Student Support Team (SST).  I also helped lead virtual professional development sessions to Social Studies teachers across the Henry County School District, which included 11 middle schools and 12 high schools.

High School Principal

Head Girls' Basketball Coach

I led learning in the High School division, which followed a U.S. style curriculum in my first year, offering AP courses, and then the IB Diploma Programme during the following two years. Helped lead the school through its IBDP authorization, and worked with the Board and Leadership Team on PYP and MYP authorization.  I helped guide teachers as they moved away from a traditional teacher lead classroom to a student lead, inquiry focused one. Part of the change focused on supporting teachers as they transitioned from percentage based assessment and reporting to IB style assessments.  Oversaw the development of the High School operational budget, as well as helping direct the school’s overall professional learning budget.  I was involved in the recruitment, evaluation, and professional learning of staff in the Middle and High School divisions.

High School Principal

Led a staff of 36 teachers and approximately 300 students in grades 9-12.  The school followed the California State Educational Standards, as well as offering both AP and IB Diploma classes. During my tenure we also implemented MAP Testing to gather data on student performance to help teachers and students better identify strengths and areas for growth.

Strategic Planning & Accreditation Officer

N-12 Humanities Subject Area Coordinator

EARCOS Teacher Representative

School Board Teacher Member

MYP Humanities, IBDP History & Geography Teacher

Head Boys' Basketball Coach

Worked directly with the Director, School Board, and Senior Education Team to determine strategic planning of the school each year, in order to ensure the successful completion of the NEASC/CIS/NCCT recommendations from the previous accreditation visit.

Coordinated all Humanities Department activities, including curriculum development, teacher appraisal, and departmental budgeting and purchasing.  As a financially responsible leader, I was able to cut department spending by 25% without any negative educational impact on the students.  Worked collaboratively with the PYP, MYP, and DP Coordinators to ensure all program requirements were being met throughout the school.

I was elected by the staff to be the Teacher Member on the School Board. This was a non-voting role, in which I met with the other Board members to discuss school issues and give feedback from an educator's perspective to help with decision making. 

I was also elected by the staff as the EARCOS Teacher Representative. This role involved being the main point of contact for the school in all professional development opportunities being offered by the organization, as well as being responsible for the recruitment and registration of staff members presenting at and attending the EARCOS Teachers' Conference each year. 

IB Diploma Programme Consultant

Led the application process of IBDP authorization for the school.  Managed a team of teachers located around the world who created curriculum units, lists of needed resources, lesson plans, and teaching strategies for each IBDP subject to be offered by JKS.  Trained JKS teachers in preparatory and advisory skills necessary for student success in IB Diploma areas.  Offered advice on other IBDP-related questions or problems the administrators and teachers of JKS experienced.  This was a one-year consulting contract.

Co-Athletic Director

IBDP History, Social Studies, & PE Teacher

Head Boys' & Girls' Basketball Coach

Directed all ISC sporting events throughout Brazil.  Created athletics budget, ordered athletic equipment, scheduled events such as sports tournaments and community events like ISC Family Sports Day.  Helped create and implement ISC Athletic Scholarship program for local students who could not otherwise afford to attend the school.

Head of History & Geography Department

Key Stage 3, IGCSE, & A Level History & Geography Teacher

Head Boys' Basketball Coach

Worked collaboratively with the Head of Secondary to ensure there were proper curriculum alignment and assessment practices and procedures in place to best prepare students for Key Stage 3, IGCSE, AS, and A Level courses and external examinations.

I also wrote and helped implement the school's Discipline Plan and Drug Policy. 

Social Studies Teacher  

Assistant Wrestling, Football, and Baseball Coach

I taught 11th grade U.S. History and 9th grade World Geography. I was also a member of the 9th grade Academy, where I was the Summer Bridge Program Coordinator, helping at-risk students prepare for integration into the high school. I was an assistant coach on the wrestling, football, and baseball teams as well. I was chosen as the Region Assistant Wrestling Coach of the Year in 2002.

Other Professional Experience

2015-Present: NEASC & WASC- Accreditation Visiting Team Member

I have been a Visiting Team Member on school accreditation visits for the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC) and the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) in several countries around the world.  Several of these were joint accreditation visits with the Council of International Schools (CIS).  This is a volunteer position, but has been one of the best professional learning opportunities I have participated in.

2015-2019: KHDA- Associate Inspector

Involved in inspections of private schools in Dubai. This involves visiting schools, observing classroom teaching, reviewing school curriculum documents and other documentation to ensure the standards set forth by the Dubai Schools Inspection Bureau (DSIB) are met. This is a part-time position, which I completed outside of my normal employment during my own school's holidays.

The DSIB is a division of the Knowledge and Human Development Authority. "The Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) is responsible for the growth, direction and quality of private education and learning in Dubai. We are a regulatory authority in the Government of Dubai which supports the improvement of schools, universities, training institutes and other human resource sectors" (http://www.khda.gov.ae/Pages/En/aboutkhdaen.aspx). 

2006-2016: IBO- Assistant Examiner

I marked History Extended Essays & Paper 1 Exams for the IBO.

2015-Present: International Journal of Leadership in Education- 

Volunteer Manuscript Reviewer

I read and give feedback on manuscripts submitted to the journal for publishing. 

2016-Present: Globally Informed- Peer Reviewer

I am a peer reviewer for article submissions to Globally Informed, a journal for international educators.