HANNAH KNECHT, M.Ed.

Virtual Educator

Dailies School - Part-time | Remote | Mar 2025 - May 2025

Designed and facilitated engaging, small-group online classes and 1:1 tutoring sessions for K–8 students across a range of academic subjects and enrichment topics. Dailies (currently closed) was an innovative education platform that supports both homeschool families and traditionally schooled students with personalized learning experiences.

• Created and taught inquiry-based, standards-aligned lessons that promote collaboration, critical thinking, and curiosity.

• Adapted instruction to support diverse learners, providing meaningful differentiation and a student-centered approach.

• Built inclusive virtual learning environments that emphasized connection, confidence, and a love of learning.

• Integrated technology and interactive strategies to make learning both rigorous and fun.

• Communicated regularly with families to support student growth and engagement.

• Collaborated with fellow educators and the Dailies team to share best practices and continually improve instruction.

Talent Development Consultant 

Lincoln Financial Group - Human Resources | Remote | Aug 2022 - Jun 2024

Project managed cross-functional HR team to develop both virtual instructor-led sessions and engaging eLearning courses for Performance Management redesign for 11,000 employees and managers, using authoring tools such as Articulate Rise, Vyond, Canva, Camtasia, Adobe Express, and Venngage.

• Led high-level discussions and facilitated interactive training sessions for diverse teams, using active listening and analytical skills, increasing learner retention, and ensuring accountability with organizational development goals.

• Handled multiple projects while designing and implementing a 5-month leadership development program for 50+ high-potential employees directly under AVP, achieving a 90% satisfaction rate based on participant feedback.

• Coordinated Culture Champion Network of 56 employees, leading change initiatives to support workplace transformation, resulting in improved employee perception of culture as measured by data analysis of internal survey feedback loop.

• Spearheaded the relaunch of enterprise-wide Learning and Development Forum, coaching and organizing six professional development events over 2 years for 200+ L&D professionals.

• Oversaw management of Women's Business Resource Group - Remote Chapter with over 200 members, improving capability and results with increased engagement by 44% between Jun 2023 - Jun 2024.

Training Specialist

Lincoln Financial Group - Group Protection Operations | Remote | May 2021 - Aug 2022

Designed instruction, development support, and led virtual training in constantly changing environment for four teams, totaling 47 Implementation and Enrollment Managers.  

• Prioritized tasks to develop and maintain comprehensive library of 15+ instructional materials and consumable learning media, including eLearning courses and utilization of the LMS, while adapting instruction to meet evolving business needs and industry trends, while partnering closely with quality assurance.

• Designed and delivered virtual training sessions utilizing technical knowledge through Articulate, Sharepoint, Microsoft Office, MS Teams, Webex, and other collaboration tools to create engaging, real-time learning experiences, which led to improvement in learner satisfaction and knowledge retention.

• Provided leadership and mentorship to training colleagues, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and professional development, resulting in trainer effectiveness and consistency across training initiatives.

• Partnered cross-functionally with stakeholders for retention strategy development, aligning with organizational goals and driving partner success, contributing to streamlined improvement and performance metrics across the business.

Program Director

Hands Across the Sea - International, educational non-profit | Remote | Jun 2018 - Mar 2020

Managed team of 12 employees responsible for providing ongoing support to school staff in sustaining over 160 international libraries.

• Conducted weekly 1x1 meetings with team members to direct and evaluate individual/team performance and take action to meet and/or exceed performance standards, which included leading and designing training programs for educators to learn and engage in teaching practices to enhance literacy in their classrooms through interactive, literature-based lessons.

• Managed competing priorities and maintained open communication around project completion, positively influencing and supporting change management by creating buy-in from stakeholders and donors to show program success for long-term results.

• Ensured tactical activities of team were aligned with organizational strategic initiatives, including aligning team goals with organizational goals by identifying and directing the implementation of process improvements that significantly reduced workloads and improved quality.

• Directed the development of metrics and provided complex and comprehensive analysis regarding processing and performance to stakeholders, donors, and the board of directors.

Elementary and Middle School Teacher

Loudoun County Public Schools| Sterling, Virginia | Aug 2009 - Jun 2018

Designed instruction via my own YouTube channel to increase student engagement in a flipped classroom, hybrid model, and leading teacher workshops to share best practices among educators. 

• Adapted curriculum content to meet the learning needs of students through unconventional teaching methods like songs, interactive games, and hands-on learning experiences differentiated for emotional and learning-disabled students in an inclusion classroom.

• Earned position as Collaborative Learning Team (CLT) Lead and Interdisciplinary Team Lead, 2017-2018.

• Earned position as Social Studies Chair for school years 2012-2015.  Represented school at Loudoun County Public School meetings regarding the development of Social Studies content and standards.

Learning and Development Forum

Founder and Co-lead | Jan 2023 - Jun 2024

Led the relaunch of enterprise-wide L&D Forum, bringing together 203 L&D professionals for four quarterly professional development opportunities to upskill, network, share ideas trending across the industry, and curate best practices.

• Identified and prioritized L&D Forum needs and requirements as well as organized, coached, and supported four Facilitation and Planning Committees for five 50-min check-in calls to manage and track team progress to deliver exceptional, internal developmental opportunities at no cost:

  • Q2, 2024 - Virtual Classroom Experience and Exploring the Use of AI

  • Q1, 2024 - Change Agility for Learning and Development Professionals

  • Q4, 2023 - Measuring Training Success and Kirkpatrick's Evaluation Model

  • Q3, 2023 - Curriculum Development and instructional Design Models - Application of ADDIE and SAM

  • Q2, 2023 - Principles of Adult Learning Theory and Best Practices - Application of Bloom's Taxonomy

  • Q1, 2023 - Blended Learning and Virtual Engagement with MS Teams tools

Women's Business Resource Group - Remote Chapter

Remote Chapter Chairman | Jul 2023 - Jun 2024

Directed and provided leadership for 236 members to empower women who work remotely at Lincoln by fostering a sense of connection and providing opportunities for professional development. 

• Oversaw management of three active committees (Membership, Networking, and Events), serving as a liaison between WBRG chapters and the Office of DEI to promote a positive, inclusive work environment to help members grow, develop, contribute to the community, and influence business.

• Networking Committee Lead (Jul 2021 - Jul 2023) built organizational capability, leading a team of 14 volunteers and organizing over 10 virtual events in 2023, strengthening employee engagement through design and delivery, including:

  • Impact Players: How to take the lead, play bigger, and multiply your impact, May 2024

  • Networking for Introverts in a Virtual World, Dec 2023

  • Career Development Workshop, May 2023

  • Diversity Champion Training, Aug 2023

Published Author, Slow and Steady Get Me Ready for Kindergarten

Xulon Press | Apr 2017

A book of 260 engaging activities that meet the specific, developmental needs of children ages zero to five, preparing them physically, mentally, and socially for entering kindergarten.

Instructional Design Tools and Software

Descript

• AI video editing platform 

Articulate Rise

• eLearning software for creating online courses

Vyond

• animated video creation platform

Camtasia

• video recording and editing software

Venngage

• infographic software used to create job aids, social media graphics, and visual learning content

Sharepoint

• content management and knowledge management software

YouTube

• social media and online video sharing platform

Image Manipulation Software

Adobe Express

• content creation tool used to create videos, PDF docs, web pages, graphics, and other digital assets

Canva

• graphic design platform that provides tools for creating job aids, social media graphics, presentations, etc.

SnagIt

• screen capture and screen recording software

ADDIE

• Conducted detailed analysis of the learners' needs to help tailor the content to ensure it is relevant and engaging.

• Used an iterative approach in the design and development phases so the content was under constant refinement based on the feedback of business partners and subject matter experts. 

• Used Kirkpatrick's Four Levels of Training Evaluation to gauge how the learner progressed from their knowledge baseline. Utilized tools such as learner engagement feedback, knowledge assessments, as well as on the job observations to ensure application of knowledge or to identify potential gaps in training delivery.

Other

Microsoft Office, Google Workspace (formerly G Suite), SmartSheet, Qualtrics, and Chat GPT.

Facilitation, User Experience (UX), Continuous Improvement (CI), Time Management, Delegation, Leadership, Collaboration, Organizational Skills, Program Development, Adult Learning Principles, Resource Management, Problem Solving, Instructional Strategies, Project Management Methodologies.

Building Business Acumen by Acumen Learning, 2024

She-Suite Summit, 2024

Hogan Assessment Certification, 2023

Lincoln’s Management Development Program (LMDP) for Aspiring Leaders issued by Harvard Business Publishing, 2023

Women’s Leadership Summit – Lincoln Financial Group, 2023

Women of L&D – The Training, Learning, and Development Community, 2023

Situational Leadership by The Ken Blanchard Companies, 2023

Data Telling (iSpeak Master Class), 2023

Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt Certification, 2021

Florida Professional Teaching Certificate, 2021 – 2029

Virginia Collegiate Professional Teaching License, 2009 – 2029

Georgia Educator Certificate, 2020-2025

Colorado Professional Teaching License, 2019 – 2024

George Mason University

M.Ed., Advanced Studies in Teaching and Learning (ASTL), 2015

History Concentration

Liberty University

B.A.., summa cum laude, Elementary Education, 2009

English and Social Studies concentration