Professional Development Statement

Professional Development has always been important to me as an educator.  Not only does it help me to be a better informed educator in terms of trends and best practices in education, but it demonstrates to my students that lifelong learning is important to me.  My professional development has taken various forms over the years.  Often, I have taken part in professional development after the school day ends, whether it is an after-school workshop or part of a dinner meeting for Phi Delta Kappa.  I have taken courses during the summer when I have found courses that fit the needs of my students and my interests.  One example is spending four weeks as a fellow of the Western New York Writing Project in 2005.  One critical component of that fellowship was being a part of educators that wanted to learn together and share information.  We were able to collaborate on various projects, including a blog, and helped each other to create workshops about ways we were teaching our students.  I feel that professional development should be never-ending, so I am in search of professional development where ever I can find it - whether that is webinars, collaborating with others on projects, and so on. 

I have been fortunate that I have been able to provide professional development workshops as well. For example, I presented at Kappa Delta Pi Honor Society for Education's Convocation in Orlando, Florida in 2001.  I have presented locally to colleagues as well as part of Quality Schools, a before-school professional development group at Anthony J. Schmidt Elementary School.  I was a lead presenter to colleagues when scoring Grade 3 and Grade 5 Assessments at Brocton Elementary School. 

I hope to continue to receive and give professional development throughout my teaching career.  Collaborating and sharing ideas with colleagues is one way we can make education better for our students, especially in changing times of Core Curriculum.  My hope is to one day attain National Board Certification, the ultimate professional development.

International Student Teaching Experience - Exmouth, England

Following my graduation from SUNY Fredonia, I was able to participate in the International Student Teaching Program.  During this experience, I observed and assisted in classrooms in the United Kingdom.  I was also able to travel as part of this experience.   Upon returning to the United States, I compared the British and American educational systems.

Experience At Ithaca High School/Future Teachers' Scholarship

I had amazing teachers through the public school system.  I had many caring, creative, motivating teachers that inspired me to become a teacher myself. 

While still enrolled high school, I was able to enroll in a course that allowed me to teach lessons to the in-school preschool.  It was called Tots n' Teens Preschool, and during the semesters I was involved, I planned and taught short lessons, prepared snacks according to dietary guidelines, and learned skills in the teaching profession.  This role confirmed to me that I wanted to be a teacher in a public school.

At the Senior Convocation, I was awarded the Future Teachers' Scholarship from the Ithaca Teachers' Association. 

Fredonia Head Start

One of my first Early Childhood Field Experiences through SUNY Fredonia's education program was to work at the Fredonia Head Start Program with preschoolers.  I was able to observe the students, as well as to participate with them in their daily activities, including breakfast, playtime and structured activities.  I received this note from the teachers in the toddler room on the last day of my experience.

Academics at SUNY Fredonia - Undergraduate

I was a strong student during my undergraduate time at SUNY Fredonia.  As a result, I ended up on the Dean's List seven of the eight semesters I was enrolled.

It was important for me intrinsically to do well.  I like to bring some of the motivation that I have had as a student (and continue to have as a life-long learner) to the students that I teach.

Ithaca Community Childcare Center

Before I began my early field experiences at SUNY Fredonia, I was fortunate to be able to substitute teach at Ithaca Community Childcare Center.  I gained experience through the various programs that the center runs, including infant care through school-age after school care.  I was appointed one summer to be a long-term substitute in a toddler classroom, where I got to know the children, their families and my co-workers extremely well.  An important aspect of teaching at this level was documenting and communicating with family members at the end of the day.  I developed strong, working relationships with my co-workers, as evidenced by the card that many of the teachers at the center signed when I left to pursue my Master's Degree. 

Certifications

Resume

Alexis D. Berman
Please e-mail for additional contact information

Certifications

            New York State Permanent Certificate in Pre-Kindergarten, Kindergarten and Grades 1-6

            New York State Permanent Certificate in Reading

Education

2002      Master of Science in Education; State University of New York College at Fredonia; Reading Teacher, GPA: 3.96

2000      Bachelor of Science in Education; State University of New York College at  

Fredonia; Early Childhood Education, Spanish Concentration,

Major GPA: 3.80  Overall GPA: 3.56, Magna Cum Laude

Teaching Experience

            2010-2011  Brocton Elementary School, Brocton Central School District

                 Fifth Grade Classroom Teacher

• Plan, coordinate and provide instruction in a variety of subjects: English Language Arts, Math, Spelling, Science, and Social Studies to 18 students with varying instructional levels using a variety of teaching methods.
• Evaluate students’ learning through grading procedures, such as rubrics. Report grades using EClass system.
• Communicate weekly with students’ families through classroom letter and individual progress reports, as well as through parent-teacher conferences and by telephone and electronic mail. 
• Use clear, consistent rules to encourage and reinforce proper behavior.
• Serve as Regional Scorer for Fifth Grade Mathematics and English Language Arts Exam
• Serve on Response to Intervention Committee to create K-6 document

           

            2005-2010  , Brocton Elementary School, Brocton  Central School District                                         Developmental Reading Teacher

·         Develop and teach appropriate Curriculum in Academic Intervention Services in English Language Arts in Kindergarten, Second and Fourth Grade.  Provide reading support and complete diagnostic testing of students in these grades using a variety of techniques        including Orton-Gillingham. 

·         Work closely with classroom teachers to enhance curriculum wherever possible.

·         Recognize talents and strengths of colleagues and students to enhance instruction, provide classroom management strategies, and encourage positive behavior.

·         Use a variety of techniques to engage students in active learning including “Brain Food” and “Sparkle Jar” activities, using various tools and mnemonic devices to enhance recognition and memory of skills and topics. 

·         Use clear, consistent rules to encourage and enforce proper behavior.

·         Provide afterschool support to students as part of a Reading/Math Club

·         Serve as Test Administrator  and Scorer for Fourth Grade Science Performance Exam.   Serve as Scorer for Fourth Grade English Language Arts Assessment, Fifth Grade Social Studies Assessment, Fourth Grade Science Assessment.

·         Member of:  District-wide Compact Team (Professional Development), Scheduling Committee, Third Grade Teacher hiring committee, Red Reading Folders (school-wide portfolio) Committee and Playground Committee. Led Response to Intervention committee.

·         Host undergraduate education students in classroom and provide those students with learning experiences.  Work with undergraduate students to develop lesson plans which they teach to students.  Provide feedback to undergraduate students.

            2004 - 2005 Lake Shore Central School District, Frontier Central School District                                Substitute Teacher

·         Provided classroom instruction in Kindergarten to Grade 12.

·         Worked with a variety of staff to provide quality instruction for students.

·         Maintained classroom discipline and structure.

           2002 – 2004 Anthony J. Schmidt Elementary School, Lake Shore Central Schools                              Reading Specialist

·      Provided Reading Intervention to students in grades 1-2 in daily, half-hour sessions utilizing a variety of teaching techniques. 

·      Taught Math AIS and ALPHA Reading (gifted and talented) Program.

·      Provided reading support in decoding, sight words and comprehension.

·      Participant in Quality Schools (professional development), Building Technology and Social committees.  Member of Parent-Teacher group.

·      Organized and maintained school-run bookstore.

·      Substitute teacher in After School English Language Arts preparation program.

            2002 Cassadaga Elementary School, Cassadaga Valley School District    

                 Graduate Internship

·         Created and presented lessons in collaboration with a Reading Teacher.

·         Utilized Orton-Gillingham and Reading Intervention methods with first-grade students in a small group. 

·         Prepared and taught lessons on reading comprehension to fifth-graders.

·         Documented experience through reflective teaching.

      2001 – 2002, State University of New York at Fredonia Graduate Reading Clinic                              Reading Tutor

·         Created lesson plans and games to meet the needs of individual students with learning difficulties using multisensory, metacognitive techniques based on the Orton-Gillingham method.

      2000, Bassett’s Farm Primary School, Exmouth, England

            International Teaching Experience

·         Taught Year 5 students about American culture during five-week experience.

·         Assisted teaching lessons in Physical Education, Science and Language Arts.

·         Observed and assisted at all grade levels, Reception to Year 5.

·         Reflected upon experience and compared UK structure to US structure.

Professional Development Highlights:

• Using Data from New York State Assessments to Inform Instruction

• Western New York Writing Project Fellow, 2005
• Ruby Payne’s A Framework for Understanding Poverty
• WNED Teacherline – Children’s Authors on the Web
• AIMSWEB Training
• Brain-Based Learning (Brain Gym)

Professional and Scholastic Honors and Awards:

• Marquis Who’s Who In America, 2008 edition

• Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers, 2005-2006
• Kappa Delta Pi, International Honor Society in Education
• Dean’s List, 7 semesters
• National Collegiate Education Award winner, 2001
• Ithaca Teachers’ Association Future Teachers’ Scholarship, 1996

Non-Academic Awards:

• Alpha Phi Omega Chapter Distinguished Service Key, 2002 (Highest honor an Alpha Phi Omega chapter can award through the National Fraternity, recognizing continued and outstanding Leadership, Friendship and Service)
• Alpha Phi Omega Brother of the Year Award, 2002.  (Annual award given by the Chi Pi chapter to a deserving member in recognition of outstanding Leadership, Friendship and Service during the past academic year)

Extracurricular Activities:

• Advisor to Alpha Phi Omega, Chi Pi Chapter (2005-Present):  Provide support to college students interested in providing community service. Give advice and assist concerning projects, and group management, when necessary.   Oversee group and work with other advisors to be sure that group is following risk management procedures.

Welcome

Welcome to my personal blog and online portfolio of teaching experiences.

I am an experienced New York State Teacher, permanently certified to teach in both Elementary (PreK-Grade 6) and Reading (K-12). I am currently looking for teaching jobs in the Western New York area.

Additional information can also be found at LinkedIn.com.
http://www.linkedin.com/pub/alexis-berman/41/48/986

Please feel free to contact me.