CV/Résumé:
Professional Skills
Professional Experience and Accomplishments
Consultant | Advisor | Activist - dba Care Think Design Act - October 2005 – Present
Strategic, generalist consultant working with organizations nationally and internationally with the goal of positively contributing to communities across the world. Competencies include: Program design and development, project management, systems optimization and workflow management, curriculum development and instructional design, program and organization operations, analysis and accreditation.
Transition Specialist, Education Program Support - San Mateo County Office of Education - July 2012 - May 2016
Increased the rate of successful community reintegration by developing and implementing a comprehensive transition program customized for each client.
Accreditation, Transition, and English Learner Programs - San Mateo County Office of Education -July 2012 - July 2013
Education Services Manager, Administrator - San Mateo County Office of Education - Student Services Division - August 2009 - July 2012
Streamlined the organization to increase efficiency, inter/intra-agency communication and collaboration, ensuring successful client programming, secondary and post-secondary transition:
Cal-SAFE (California School-Aged Families Education) Coordinator - San Francisco Unified School District - August 2008 - August 2009
Working with an exceptional team of educators, I coordinated services for pregnant and parenting students in the San Francisco Unified School District. I re-opened lines of communication with San Francisco High Schools, and the Cal-SAFE school, Hilltop. I uncovered funding opportunities that allowed for the update of preschool and childcare environments to benefit clients' children, and the increased food distribution for clients while on school grounds. I reorganized the Independent Studies program for clients out for maternity leave.
Senior Certificated Coordinator, San Luis Obispo County Office of Education - January 2002 - October 2005
Coordination of state-mandated and local projects: Curriculum development and alignment; WASC Accreditation; Staff Development; Budgeting, purchasing, inventory maintenance; Report, plan, and procedure writing; Program representation at the County level
Other Education Experience
Advanced expository writing teacher
English Learners Levels I, II, III, IV
All core subjects, Independent Studies Program
ESL Teacher, Berlitz Language School - Adult Business and Conversational English
Grizzly Challenge Charter School, Educator - Fine Arts, English Language Arts, English Learners Levels II-IV
Court and Community Schools – Educator/Case manager, and teacher of all core subjects for at-risk students, grades 7-12
Began career in education teaching at a large (4000+ students) high school in Union City, California: English Learners Levels III, IV; English I, II; American Literature; World Literature; Developed a Science Fiction/Fantastic Literature, based on my grant-funded studies through the NEH.
Related Experience
General Manager at Nickie's BBQ – Nightclub - 1991 - 1997
General Manager of a renowned nightclub in the Lower Haight District of San Francisco. Management of bar, door, and DJ staffs, ordering/receiving/inventory control of beer/wine/alcohol, opening/closing bank reconciliation, customer service, promotions, payroll, general right-hand-woman to the three owner/partners: John DiDomenico, Howard Friedman, and Lonnie Lazar.
Certifications/Training/Learning
Arts and Culture Strategy - University of Pennsylvania/National Arts Strategy, October 2016
Path of Freedom Curriculum Training - Prison Mindfulness Institute, July 2014
Mindful Schools Curriculum Training - Mindful Schools, December 2013
Mindful Schools Fundamentals - Mindful Schools, November 2013
Leading Edge Online Learning Certification for Teachers – CUE, August 2012
Leading Edge Online Learning Certification for Administrators – CUE, May 2012
Restorative Justice (RJ) Circle Training - Fierce Allies, 2012
Non-Violent Communication Training - Bay NVC, 2010
Professional Baking and Pastry, Certificate - Tante Marie's Cooking School, 2008
Education
San Jose State University - M.A., Library and Informational Science, expected 2018
California School Board - Credential, Administrative Services, Education Leadership and Administration
San Francisco State University – M.A., Education Leadership and Administration
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo - M.A., Education: Curriculum and Instruction
California State University-East Bay - Credential, Single Subject Education in English
California State University-East Bay - Cross-Cultural Language Acquisition and Development Certification
San Francisco State University - B.A., English Literature
Honors and Awards
San Mateo County Office of Education, August 2014 Employee of the Month
Cleo Eulau Center (now Acknowledge Alliance) 2012 Educator Award
San Luis Obispo County Office of Education 2003 Teacher of the Year
National Endowment for the Humanities 1998 Grant Recipient
- Project management, undeterred by complexity and ambiguity. Delivers on time and with joy.
- Collaborates smoothly with stakeholders and partners across disciplines, departments, programs, and space.
- Designs and develops programs - Big picture thinker, detail-minded, meticulous, determined.
- Leads, supports teams. Collaborative and independent.
- Researches, writes, edits, presents.
- Research, data collection, problem analysis, and solutions.
- Develops systems, plans and facilitates reorganization - sets the stage for a high level of productivity.
- Native English-speaker; French conversant.
- Technologically at ease:
- LibreOffice; MS Office Mac and PC; Google Suite
- Web-Based and Local Client front-end databases
- Website Management/Blogging Software: Wordpress, Weebly, Blogger
- HTML5, CSS, XML, XSLT
- Social Media Apps: FB; Instagram; Twitter; Snapchat
- Web-based learning platforms: Compass Odyssey, Google Classroom; Canvas
Professional Experience and Accomplishments
Consultant | Advisor | Activist - dba Care Think Design Act - October 2005 – Present
Strategic, generalist consultant working with organizations nationally and internationally with the goal of positively contributing to communities across the world. Competencies include: Program design and development, project management, systems optimization and workflow management, curriculum development and instructional design, program and organization operations, analysis and accreditation.
Transition Specialist, Education Program Support - San Mateo County Office of Education - July 2012 - May 2016
Increased the rate of successful community reintegration by developing and implementing a comprehensive transition program customized for each client.
- Identified trends, insights, and transition needs using client and community data.
- Improved service delivery by researching model transition programs across the state, and collaborating with front-line staff to identify and remedy weak links.
- Increased the accuracy of data intake and output, funding, and the ease of information flow by organizing and streamlining policies and procedures.
- Expanded program's reach and support in the community by articulating its benefits for stakeholders via presentations and informational literature. Developed and maintained relationships with community partners, and oversight groups.
- Developed and refined programs to facilitate client reintegration through collaboration with partnering agencies: College of San Mateo; County K-12 districts; Secondary schools; County Probation Departments; County Mental Health Department; and County Offices of Education.
- Interim Program Director - 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015.
Accreditation, Transition, and English Learner Programs - San Mateo County Office of Education -July 2012 - July 2013
- Increased client matriculation options and transition opportunities; spearheaded program initiatives.
- Coordinated initial accreditation process with a staff of 30+, authored application and report.
- Analyzed the new Common Core Standards for English Language Development, designed and implemented a curriculum differentiated for a transitory population.
- Coordinated the introduction and implementation of personalized, blended learning.
- Managed and facilitated transition between student information system databases, training staff and developing new processes and procedures.
Education Services Manager, Administrator - San Mateo County Office of Education - Student Services Division - August 2009 - July 2012
Streamlined the organization to increase efficiency, inter/intra-agency communication and collaboration, ensuring successful client programming, secondary and post-secondary transition:
- Conducted dynamic and progressive education programs in compliance with California Department of Education policies, California Education, and Welfare and Institutions Codes.
- Analyzed and evaluated existing education services, and updated procedures, processes, and policies.
- Facilitated access to support services with community-based and county partners through restructured entry and exit procedures for clients, and an increase in stakeholder involvement and communication.
- Secured grants and donations to provide social and emotional support services to clients through collaboration and networking with neighboring districts and local community-based organizations.
- Initiated and authored the following procedural documents: Program-wide Safety Plan; Parent/Guardian/Student Handbook; Staff Policies and Procedures Handbook.
- Revitalized and rebuilt the Work Experience Education (WEE) program and associated activities.
- Provided managerial leadership, supervision, and expertise in the area of alternative education, program planning and development, staff assignment and evaluation, space planning and resource allocation for several school sites: South San Francisco; San Mateo, Redwood City; East Palo Alto; La Honda.
Cal-SAFE (California School-Aged Families Education) Coordinator - San Francisco Unified School District - August 2008 - August 2009
Working with an exceptional team of educators, I coordinated services for pregnant and parenting students in the San Francisco Unified School District. I re-opened lines of communication with San Francisco High Schools, and the Cal-SAFE school, Hilltop. I uncovered funding opportunities that allowed for the update of preschool and childcare environments to benefit clients' children, and the increased food distribution for clients while on school grounds. I reorganized the Independent Studies program for clients out for maternity leave.
Senior Certificated Coordinator, San Luis Obispo County Office of Education - January 2002 - October 2005
Coordination of state-mandated and local projects: Curriculum development and alignment; WASC Accreditation; Staff Development; Budgeting, purchasing, inventory maintenance; Report, plan, and procedure writing; Program representation at the County level
Other Education Experience
Advanced expository writing teacher
English Learners Levels I, II, III, IV
All core subjects, Independent Studies Program
ESL Teacher, Berlitz Language School - Adult Business and Conversational English
Grizzly Challenge Charter School, Educator - Fine Arts, English Language Arts, English Learners Levels II-IV
Court and Community Schools – Educator/Case manager, and teacher of all core subjects for at-risk students, grades 7-12
Began career in education teaching at a large (4000+ students) high school in Union City, California: English Learners Levels III, IV; English I, II; American Literature; World Literature; Developed a Science Fiction/Fantastic Literature, based on my grant-funded studies through the NEH.
Related Experience
General Manager at Nickie's BBQ – Nightclub - 1991 - 1997
General Manager of a renowned nightclub in the Lower Haight District of San Francisco. Management of bar, door, and DJ staffs, ordering/receiving/inventory control of beer/wine/alcohol, opening/closing bank reconciliation, customer service, promotions, payroll, general right-hand-woman to the three owner/partners: John DiDomenico, Howard Friedman, and Lonnie Lazar.
Certifications/Training/Learning
Arts and Culture Strategy - University of Pennsylvania/National Arts Strategy, October 2016
Path of Freedom Curriculum Training - Prison Mindfulness Institute, July 2014
Mindful Schools Curriculum Training - Mindful Schools, December 2013
Mindful Schools Fundamentals - Mindful Schools, November 2013
Leading Edge Online Learning Certification for Teachers – CUE, August 2012
Leading Edge Online Learning Certification for Administrators – CUE, May 2012
Restorative Justice (RJ) Circle Training - Fierce Allies, 2012
Non-Violent Communication Training - Bay NVC, 2010
Professional Baking and Pastry, Certificate - Tante Marie's Cooking School, 2008
Education
San Jose State University - M.A., Library and Informational Science, expected 2018
California School Board - Credential, Administrative Services, Education Leadership and Administration
San Francisco State University – M.A., Education Leadership and Administration
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo - M.A., Education: Curriculum and Instruction
California State University-East Bay - Credential, Single Subject Education in English
California State University-East Bay - Cross-Cultural Language Acquisition and Development Certification
San Francisco State University - B.A., English Literature
Honors and Awards
San Mateo County Office of Education, August 2014 Employee of the Month
Cleo Eulau Center (now Acknowledge Alliance) 2012 Educator Award
San Luis Obispo County Office of Education 2003 Teacher of the Year
National Endowment for the Humanities 1998 Grant Recipient