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MELISSA DANIELS

 

E-mail: mdaniels@hightechhigh.org

Phone (work): 619-591-2531

 

Overview

 

A school leader devoted to leading progressive charter schools and international schools which are committed to deeper learning, 21st century education, and the social-emotional well-being of students. 

Credentials

 

California Clear Teaching Credential, English, Multiple Subjects

 

CLAD Endorsement

Work experience

 

Director, High Tech Middle Chula Vista

San Diego, California

2011 - present

 

  • Served as founding director of fourth middle school in HTH charter school network

  • Co-created strong student and faculty culture

  • Planned and led professional learning for teaching faculty

  • Supported teaching faculty with project design, development, and refinement

  • Supported individual teachers in developing their teaching practice

  • Led initiatives to foster social-emotional growth of students

  • Explored and implemented ways to improve achievement for socio-economically diverse student body

  • Met frequently with visitors from around the world to share HTH practices

  • Led workshops at HTH and other schools interested in developing project-based learning

  • Recruited and hired all faculty and staff

  • Managed budget

  • Participated in design of physical space of new building

 

 

Adjunct Faculty, High Tech High Graduate School of Education

San Diego, California

2012 - present

 

  • Co-taught HTH 235: Facilitating Adult Learning, Winter 2015

  • Led Leadership and Design Practicum, Spring 2014

  • Co-taught HTH 315: Leading Progressive Schools, Spring 2014

  • Co-taught HTH 315: Leading Project-Based Schools, Spring 2012

  • Member, School Leadership Advisory Board

 

Adjunct Faculty, High Tech High Credentialing Program

San Diego, California

2007-2010

 

  • Taught HTH 113: Strategies for Teaching English Language Learners

  • Collaborated with GSE faculty members to plan scope and sequence of GSE courses

 

6th Grade Humanities Teacher, High Tech Middle

San Diego, California

2006-2011

 

  • Taught integrated language arts and history in an innovative project-based learning environment

  • Led campus-wide professional development workshops on ELL strategies, project development, cooperative learning, and building classroom community

 

 

Middle School Writing Teacher 

The American School of Rio de Janeiro (Escola Americana do Rio de Janeiro)

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

2003-2006

 

  • Developed curriculum for new course based on English/language arts writing standards

  • Collaborated with content-area teachers to provide support for academic writing assignments

     

 

6th Grade English Teacher 

The American School of Rio de Janeiro (Escola Americana do Rio de Janeiro)

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

2001-2003

 

  • Taught reading, writing, vocabulary, and oral language skills based on curriculum standards

  • Implemented Writer’s Workshop, literature circles, independent reading program, and interactive reading activities designed to improve comprehension and create life-long readers

 

 

6th Grade Elementary Classroom Teacher, Futures American School

Cairo, Egypt

2000-2001

 

  • Taught language arts, math, science, and social studies to non-native English speakers

 

 

9th/10th Grade English Teacher, Futures American School

Cairo, Egypt

1999-2000

 

  • Taught American and British literature to non-native English speakers

Skills

 

Microsoft Office

Google Apps

Basic Web Design

 

 

2010 - present

2010 - present

Education

 

High Tech High Graduate School of Education

M.Ed, School Leadership

2008-2010

 

  • Took coursework in mentoring teachers, leading progressive schools, budgeting, school law, and equity & diversity

 

George Mason University

M.Ed, Multicultural Education, Emphasis in Teaching English as a Second Language

2003-2005

 

  • Took coursework in emerging literacy, teaching English as a second language, and multicultural education

  • GPA 4.0

 

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

B.A., Secondary English Education

1994-1998

 

  • Took coursework in liberal arts, English literature, and secondary education

  • GPA 3.8

Professional Learning

 

  • Deeper Learning Conference, 2015

  • Expeditionary Learning National Conference, 2014

  • Deeper Learning Conference, 2014

  • Deeper Learning MOOC (Massive Online Open Course), 2014

  • Big Ideas Fest, 2013

  • Progressive Educators' Network Conference, 2013

  • Deeper Learning Conference, 2013

  • Coalition of Essential Schools Conference, 2010

 

 

Presentations

 

 

  • Danube International School, Vienna, Austria, May 2015 (Workshop: The Benefits of Risk-Taking)

  • The Fessenden School, Newton, MA,  April 2013 (2-Day Workshop: Project-Based Learning 101)

  • HTH New Teacher Odyssey (Workshops: Project Design, Supporting ELLs in the Classroom)

  • HTH Summer Institute (Workshop: Supporting ELLs in the Classroom)

  • Coalition of Essential Schools Conference, 2010 (Workshop: Collegial Coaching)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Publications

 

 

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