Dana Fitzpatrick M.Ed.
“We are what we repeatedly do...” -Aristotle
Casting a Wider Net...
While I will always consider myself a teacher I have come to a point in my career that I feel the need to cast a wider net. Being a classroom teacher only allows me to affect the small number of students I service each year. By stepping into an administrative leadership position this would allow me to cast a wider net to influence change and growth in many classrooms rather than to be limited to just my own.
Education/Certification
M.Ed.- Educational Administration, Concordia University, Chicago, IL 2014
M.Ed.- Educational Technology, Concordia University, Chicago, IL 2011
BA- Elementary Education, Chicago State University, Chicago, IL 2003
Principal Certificate- Texas (Expected completion May 2015)
Middle School Social Studies -Certified (IL)
Middle School Language Arts -Certified (IL/TX)
K-12 Technology Specialist -Certified (IL)
EC- 6 Generalist- Certified (TX)
ESL Certificate- Texas
Professional Experience
Leadership
- Designed, created, and facilitated professional development on analyzing school wide data and effective uses of curricula.
- Independent contractor with educational support company presenting on Behavior Modification- presenting a technique that was created and successfully used in the classroom for more than six years.
- Invited presenter at several schools and conferences, which include the Middle School Matters III Conference (hosted by AIMS & NMSA), the annual P.P.E.S. Math, Science, & Discipline Conference and a host of Chicago Public Schools.
- Developed school wide walking reading groups (K-8) based on data results.
- Coached and supported faculty members throughout the year on analyzing data.
- Designed and created high quality and differentiated long term plans and unit plans based on State Standards, College Readiness Standards and Common Core State Standards.
- Designed, created, and facilitated professional development focused on the intersection between technology and the Humanities.
- Designed and created high quality and differentiated standards based long term and unit plans based school specific curricula.
- Served on the school’s Community Advisory Team as well as the District Advisory Team.
- Coached and managed colleagues as an After School Coordinator as well as created and implemented a high quality after school program for students.
- Mentored several new teachers at Principal request.
- Developed and implemented a culturally and emotionally responsive school wide discipline system which included a daily affirmation and a large parental involvement component as well.
- Created a mentoring group along with developing a curriculum in response to the social-emotional needs of the student body.
Classroom
- 1 year High School Grades 9-11 (U.S. History, Economics, Urban Affairs, College Advisory)
- 3 years Elementary School Grades 1-5
- 6 years MiddleSchool Grades 6-8
Extracurricula
- 3 years Grade Level Chair
- 4 years Girl's Mentoring Group
- 6 years Coaching (HS Boy's Basketball- NCAA Certified)
Managing the Shift
- Continue building a rapport among teachers and create a relationship of open sharing of everyone's expertise.
- Capitalize on the strengths and talents of teachers throughout the district.
- Highlight teacher accomplishments and establish a system of acknowledgement.
New Ideas
- Differentiated professional development.
- Use existing talent in the classrooms and continuously highlight best practices.
- Create a "professional gems" series that give opportunities for teachers to present successful best practices, strategies, and resources to other teachers.
- Provide opportunities for TeachMeet style professional developments. Including micro and nano presentations along with round table discussions.
- Continue working to align unit assessments to the STAAR by creating teams of teachers who can offer feedback for improvements.
- Planned vertical alignment meetings with PLC's at strategic points in the year.
Mrs. Dana Fitzpatrick, M.Ed.
Email: dana.fitzpatrick@manorisd.net
Website: http://dms.manorisd.net/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=374141&type=u
Location: 8104 Decker Lane, Austin, TX, United States
Phone: (512) 278-4630
Twitter: @DFitzClass