PROFILE

A primary school teacher with over 20 years of international teaching experience, with a particular focus on the New Entrants and Year 1 stage: supporting children's transition from play-based early learning into explicit instruction.

My background across the early years has given me a deep, practical understanding of how children arrive at school ready to learn, which directly shapes how I plan for that transition into formal schooling.

I build inquiry-based learning environments that honour children's interests, identities, and individual ways of learning, and bring deep experience in building early literacy and numeracy foundations, using authentic assessment and documentation to guide next teaching steps, and forming genuine, collaborative partnerships with families.

Following a career break to care for a family member, I am now fully committed to relocating to New Zealand and returning to full-time teaching in a New Zealand primary school.

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RELEVANT SKILLS

•     Inquiry-informed, child-centred teaching: Designs and implements child-centred, inquiry-driven learning experiences that foster curiosity, independence, and deep understanding

•     Early literacy and numeracy expertise: Skilled in building strong foundational skills through structured and play-informed approaches

•     Effective assessment and documentation: Using tools such as Seesaw and student portfolios to inform next teaching steps and communicate progress clearly with families

•     Positive classroom culture: Fostering independence, collaboration, and a strong sense of belonging for all learners

•     Partnerships with families: Building trusting relationships and maintaining clear, purposeful communication around learning goals

•     Reflective practitioner: Collaborative team member committed to ongoing professional growth and continuous improvement

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EXPERIENCE

Multi-Age Pre-Kindergarten Teacher

2021 – 2023

American International School of Dhaka | Dhaka, Bangladesh

•     Implemented the IB Primary Years Programme (PYP) framework, designing inquiry-based units that integrated literacy and numeracy outcomes with transdisciplinary themes.

•     Engaged in child-centered documentation practices using Seesaw and the classroom environment.

•     Built and maintained classroom connection through synchronous and asynchronous learning.

•     Embedded opportunities for children to develop early literacy and numeracy skills during play.

Preschool Teacher

2018 – 2021

St. John’s Episcopal Preschool | Washington, DC, USA

•     Deepened students’ level of understanding and ability to express themselves by using the Hundred Languages of Children during long-term, learning threads and projects.

•     Collaborated effectively with co-teacher to develop innovative provocations, analyse documentation and create a dynamic and rich learning environment.

•     Ensured a strong child-centred focus, supported through parent-teacher partnerships.

Resident Teacher

2017 – 2018

Boulder Journey School | Colorado, USA

•     Engaged two year olds in a long-term mark making and drawing learning thread.

•     Synthesised documentation to ground children and parents in current learning experiences.

•     Collaborated with co-teachers to facilitate small group learning experiences.

Kindergarten Teacher (NE/Year 1)

2015 – 2017

American International School of Vienna | Vienna, Austria

•     Explored student interests and created personalised learning targets during play workshop.

•     Inspired students to take ownership for their learning through meaningful morning meetings.

•     Documented learning to engage students in thoughtful reflection to share their progress.

•     Volunteered as the Elementary Representative of the Teacher Association Committee.

Fourth Grade (Year 5) Teacher / Kindergarten Teacher (NE/Year 1)

2010 – 2015

Jakarta Intercultural School | Jakarta, Indonesia

•     Shifted teaching focus to reflect not only content goals, but essential life long learning skills.

•     Built a classroom culture of reflection through the use of authentic student portfolios.

•     Reflected on assessment data to individualise learning for students.

•     Used iPads as a tool to make thinking visible and prompt self-reflection among students.

Third Grade (Year 4) Teacher / Team Leader / Elementary Maths Coordinator

2006 – 2010

The Columbus School | Medellin, Colombia

•     Guided elementary-wide PLC groups to use maths data to target specific instructional needs.

•     Led the adoption of a new maths program and supported teachers with effective implementation.

•     Facilitated grade level PLC meetings to develop curriculum and create common assessments.

•     Elected to serve as elementary representative for the School Improvement Team.

•     Helped align school assessment practices with the new national evaluation requirements.

Literacy / First Grade (Year 2) & Third Grade (Year 4) English Component Teacher

2002 – 2006

Escuela Bilingüe Pioneer | Colorado, USA

•     Co-planned and evaluated learning with the Spanish language component teacher.

•     Supported grade level guided reading groups to promote school wide literacy development.

•     Coordinated the Read to Succeed Programme as an effective means for reading intervention.

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EDUCATION

Bachelor of Arts, Spanish Literature and Elementary Teaching License

2002

University of Colorado Boulder | Boulder, Colorado, USA

Master of Arts – Curriculum and Instruction

2005

University of Colorado Denver | Denver, Colorado, USA

Master of Arts – Education and Human Development

2018

University of Colorado Denver | Denver, Colorado, USA

Large Center Director Qualification

Colorado Office of Early Childhood Education

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INTERESTS

•     Attending live music

•     Learning to fly small planes

•     Travel

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REFERENCES AVAILABLE