I have over 25 years of experience working in public education. Currently, I am an elementary magnet school principal, improving student achievement by working with stakeholders to create a collaborative culture of teaching and learning—a Professional Learning Community-serving each child, each day.
PROFESSIONAL SKILLS
- Strategic leadership for developing relationships
- Strong communication skills, including diplomacy
- Successful building of collaborative cultures to promote student achievement
Professional Experience
Elementary Principal
Saluda River Academy for the Arts – Lexington School District Two (2006 to Current)
Summary: I work with faculty to improve student learning and achievement by
creating a Professional Learning Community in an arts-focused magnet elementary school. This empowers faculty to focus on specific, measurable, attainable, results-oriented, timely goals across the school. The school has embraced a collaborative, student-centered culture that fully integrates the arts. In 2009, we were one of only five schools in the nation to receive the Kennedy Center Schools of Distinction Award.
- Collaborate with stakeholders to empower and promote student
achievement - Analyze school data to make informed instructional decisions and plan
relevant professional development - Promote the school’s arts components statewide including Dance,
Music, Theatre, and Music
Elementary Assistant Principal
Saluda River Academy for the Arts – Lexington School District Two (2001 – 2006)
Summary: Worked with faculty to create exciting, differentiated instruction that yielded high student achievement as the school’s demographics became more diverse. As a result, Saluda River Academy for the Arts was recognized as a Nationally Distinguished Title I School.
- Promoted implementation of best practices designed to strengthen classroom instruction and assessment
- Developed strategies for improved instruction and assessment based on analysis and disaggregation of school data
- Ensured the security of test administration as School Testing Coordinator
Teacher Specialist On-Site
South Carolina Department of Education – Lee County Schools (1999 – 2000)
Summary: I worked with faculty to provide year-long, job-embedded professional development. This included developing a mini-conference with break-out sessions for teachers.
- Encouraged strategic instruction through co-teaching, demonstration lessons, and professional development
- Assisted teachers in identifying and purchasing standards-based materials and curriculum resources
- Worked in partnership with principal and teachers to reflect on practice
Education
Master of Education: Educational Administration
University of South Carolina
Bachelor of Arts: Early Childhood Education
Columbia College
Professional Affiliations
- American Association of School Personnel Administrators (AASPA)
- Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM)
- South Carolina Association of School Administrators (SCASA)
- National Education Association (NEA)
- Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD)
Honors
- 2017 South Carolina Arts Administrator of the Year
- 2016 South Carolina School Boards Association Conference, Arts Unlimited
- 2012 Palmetto Silver School Award
- 2010 Resolutions from South Carolina Senate and Lexington County Council
- 2009 John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts Schools of Distinction
- 2004 Nationally Distinguished Title I School Award
- 2003 Palmetto Gold School Award
- 1998 Teacher of the Year
Interests
When I am not working, I enjoy reading, listening to music, photography, and traveling to new places. I have traveled to Hawaii, the United Kingdom, Germany, South Africa, Norway, and Belgium.