Leyna Faye McDonough

"Education is the most powerful weapon that you can use to change the world." -Nelson Mandela

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Resume

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Leyna Faye McDonough

4318 Rue de Brebeuf

Montreal, QC H2J 3K7

Canada

(T) 1 248 515 1156

(E) leynafaye@gmail.com

(W) http://www.leynafaye.com

Objective

My goal is to obtain a position in an elementary school where I can continue to focus on technology and global awareness, and create dynamic, integrated lesson plans for all students.

Certification

K-5 All Subjects by the State of Michigan
6-8 Language Arts by the State of Michigan
6-8 English by the State of Michigan
American Red Cross for Infant, Child, and Adult CPR and First Aid

Education

Michigan State University, East Lansing MI — M.A. Educational Technology, 2009
Michigan State University, East Lansing MI — Teaching Certification Internship, 2009
- 12 graduate credits towards Master’s in Curriculum
- Recipient of the John and Joanne Fuller Scholarship
Michigan State University, East Lansing MI — B.A. Elementary Education, 2008
- Major: Language Arts and English
University of Michigan, Ann Arbor MI — B.A. English, 2005
University of Michigan, Ann Arbor MI — B.A. Classical Archaeology, 2005

Teaching Experience

Teacher, 5th and 6th Grade — 2009-2010

Ecole Montessori International, Blainville QC

Set up classroom prior to opening day of school year. Independently planned and taught lessons in English and Science in accordance with fifth and sixth grade curriculum standards. Submitted weekly lesson plans to administration in advance of teaching. Performed all additional responsibilities, including parent and staff communication, discipline management, and parent/teacher conferences. Worked in a French environment, with Francophone families, and adapted or modified English instruction accordingly. Staff meetings, professional development, and administrative duties were conducted in French. Co-planned projects with fellow teachers. Assisted with plays, performances, and additional events as well as community nights. Served on committees and professional development opportunities with fellow staff members. Taught extracurricular Ballet classes after school hours (primarily in French).

Elementary School Internship, 3rd Grade — 2008-2009

Averill Elementary, Lansing MI

Helped set up classroom prior to opening day of school year. Worked with collaborating teacher to co-plan and co-teach lessons in all subject areas throughout the school year. Performed all teacher responsibilities during eight-week lead teaching experience, including parent and staff communication, discipline management, and parent/teacher conferences. Independently planned and taught lessons in all subject areas in accordance with third-grade curriculum standards. Co-planned units with peer-interns. Assisted with March is Reading Month events and evening community nights. Became familiar with state standardized testing procedures, assisted with test administration. Served on committees and professional development opportunities with fellow staff members.

Substitute teacher, PESG — 2008-2009

Experienced a wide variety of classroom management skills and techniques. Worked with students of all backgrounds: K-12, socio-economic disparity, urban and rural, ethnic variety. Kept detailed records of experiences and observations for daily reports to lead teachers.

Elementary school field experience, 1st grade — 2007-2008

Central Elementary, Okemos MI

Planned and taught several lessons in all subject areas in accordance with cooperating teacher’s needs and curriculum mandates. Observed classroom activities, assisted and taught small groups and individual students. Kept detailed records of experiences and observations.

Elementary school field experience, 3rd grade — Spring 2007

Mount Hope Elementary, Lansing MI

Observed classroom activities and management techniques. Assisted individual students and small groups. Compiled a semester-long case-study on one student, developed specific plan to supplement reading instruction.

After-school tutoring program, 1st grade — Fall 2006

Bingham Elementary, Lansing MI

Led 1st Grade session and tutored students in after-school setting, helping them complete assigned homework. Experimented with behavior management techniques. Organized exercise programs and dance clubs.

Other Work Experience

Private ESL tutor — 2007-2008

Tutored Korean MBA student and his two children (ages 7 and 9) thrice weekly.

Siboney Learning Group — 2006-2008

Quality Assurance Engineer

Tested award-winning educational software for quality control. Specialized in content, but worked on projects in all areas of QA. Consistently met deadlines for product releases. Researched state-mandated testing standards and compiled a report that was used to create new software with state-specific objectives.

Dancesteps Studio — 2004-2005

Dance instructor/Office manager

Created year-long lesson plans for students ranging in age from 3-50+. Organized all aspects of classroom activities. Effectively communicated both corporal and esoteric principals to a variety of students. Evaluated student performance and successfully communicated it to concerned parents. Designed and coordinated recital-related activities, adhering to both administrative and personal deadlines. Received exemplary supervisory performance review.

Professional Development

Presenter

26th Annual Educational Technology Conference, Michigan State University (November 2009)

Blogging for Classroom Communication

Plymouth Leadership and Technology for Education Conference (July 2008)

Copy That: Understanding Copyright Law and Its Implications for Schools
I’m Preparing Kids for the “Real World 2.0”: The Use of Simulation and Gaming in Education

Attended Conferences

Plymouth Leadership and Technology for Education Conference (July 2009)

Keynote: Patrick Dickson, Michigan State University
Take Everyday Learning Off Your Plate: Let Web 2.0 Do the Work for You!
Technological Drama
“But I hate reading!” Using Technology to Hook and Engage Students in Independent Reading

Special Education Mini-Conference (1/16/09)

Panel Discussion, Video, Breakout Sessions, Reflections

25th Annual Technology Conference (9/27/2008)

Third Annual Literacy Achievement Research Center (LARC) Symposium (10/26/2007)

Arnetha Ball, Stanford University: Cultural Diversity, Research on Writing, and Writing Instruction
Charles “Skip” MacArthur, University of Delaware: Technology and Writing: New Opportunities and New Challenges for Struggling Writers
Gary A. Troia, Rebecca Shankland, & Ann Lawrence, Michigan State University, & Kimberly Wolbers, University of Tennessee: Relationships between Writing Motivation, Writing Activity, and Writing Achievement: Insights into Motivating All Writers
Cynthia Okolo, Carol Sue Englert, Anne Heutsche, Carrie Anna Courtad, Christian Oliver, & Laura O’Brien, Michigan State University, & Emily Brouck, Purdue University: Writing about History: The Impact of a Technology-Based History Learning Environment

24th Annual Technology Conference (9/24/2007)

Joe Freidhoff, Michigan State University: Strategies and Mindsets for Learning New Technologies
Technology Integration in Languare Arts and Social Studies Classes; COURTT Interns Share Ideas
Tune In & Turn Kids On–Using a SmartBoard
Digital Photography in the Classroom

Attended Lectures

Culturally Contested Literacies: America’s “Rainbow Underclass” and Urban Schools (Dr. Guofang Li: associate professor of literacy education at Michigan State University), 1/15/08
Why Not Global Education? Moving Global Education into Place, Towards Intimacy, and with Beauty (Dr. William Gaudelli: associate professor of social studies and education at Teachers College, Columbia University), 11/15/2007
The Sun is Alive: Seeking the Intellectual Lives of Children (Dr. Cynthia Ballenger: Cheche Konnen Center at TERC in Cambridge, MA), 11/10/2006

In-School Professional Development

Monthly grade-level meeting focus: Best Practice Strategies; 4/09
Workshop on blending Marzano’s and Payne’s work for student success; 3/10/09
Monthly grade-level meeting focus: Implementing Coaching Guide; 3/09
Workshop on “Coaching Guide for K-12 Best Practices”; 3/2/09
Monthly grade-level meeting focus: Writing Strategies; 2/09
Workshop on Author Visitation, Books, and Writing; 2/2/09
Monthly grade-level meeting focus: Similarities from both Marzano and Payne; 1/09
Book Study, “Under Resourced Learners” Chapters 7-8; 1/12/09
Monthly grade-level meeting focus: Strategies to Boost Student Achievement; 12/08
Book Study, “Under Resourced Learners” Chapters 4-6; 12/1/08
Monthly grade-level meeting focus: Vocabulary development strategy implementation; 11/08
Vocabulary Six-Step Process, Ingham ISD presentation of Marzano’s work; 11/04/08
Training “Atlas” protocol for reviewing student assessment data; 10/29/08
Monthly grade-level meeting focus: Math strategy implementation; 10/08
Book Study: Ruby Payne’s “Under Resourced Learners,” Chapters 3-5; 10/6/08
Monthly grade-level meeting focus: Grade Level Content Expectations; 09/08
Workshop for Math Strategies using consultant from Ruby Payne’s Institute; 8/26/08

Technology

Master’s degree in Educational Technology
Completed undergraduate “Teaching and Learning with Technology” course
Proficient in Windows: Microsoft Word, Excel, and Power Point; MAC OS X: Pages, Numbers, and Keynote
Proficient in web-developer software, including Macromedia Dreamweaver and WordPress
Proficient in Adobe Suite: Acrobat Professional, Flash, Illustrator, and Photoshop
Proficient in web 2.0 applications: Blogs, Wikis, Mash-ups, Page Creators, Voice Thread, etc.
Proficient in using audio and visual recording devices to create movies and podcasts: iMovie, Garageband, and Audacity

Passions

I believe that travel not only introduces us to new cultures, it allows us to critically evaluate our own culture. I am a better person for the people I have met and the places I have been. I am fascinated by linguistics and the way that people use their language to evaluate and even construct the world around them. The more I can learn about language, culture, and the intersection between the two, the more useful I can be for my students. I have studied French, Spanish, and Latin at the college level, and am fairly proficient in French, thanks to a year living in Montreal. I have been fortunate enough to travel throughout the United States, as well as to Canada, Mexico, England, France, Ireland, Italy, Switzerland, Chile, Turkey, and Spain.