EFFIE KOUTROS

20 Halley Street

Yonkers, NY 10704

Mobile: 914-772-1905

Email: ekoutros1@aol.com

OBJECTIVE:       Seeking a challenging position as a creative, innovative and visionary leader that utilizes my passion for teaching and solid skills to further facilitate learning, contribute to the growth and empowerment of students, and encourage life-long learners.

EDUCATION:     HERBERT H. LEHMAN COLLEGE, CUNY, Bronx, New York

Master of Science in Educational Leadership – Expected Degree September 2010

Master of Science in Education – May 2005                     

Bachelor of Arts – May 2002                                               

CERTIFICATION:           

• New York State Permanent Certification,  Elementary, Pre-Kindergarten through Sixth
• New York State Professional Certification, Literacy, First through Sixth

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE:           

09/02/03 to Present           

YONKERS PUBLIC SCHOOLS, Yonkers, New York

Rosemarie Ann Siragusa International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme School

 Fourth Grade Teacher

• Create and implement curriculum for individual, small group, whole group, and differentiated instruction to a broad range of academic levels and learning styles
• Design and implement daily innovative lesson plans that capture student interest and that are aligned with NYS Standards and prepare students for the 4th grade NYS standardized assessments
• Develop a relevant, engaging, challenging and significant educational framework for children through organizing units of teaching, which integrate thematic and international content, transdisciplinary skills, and student attitudes and attributes
• Incorporate the inquiry method of teaching to facilitate to student learning and self discovery
• Provide support and feedback to students through observation, modeling, and conferences
• Organize and maintain ongoing student portfolio assessments that reflect change and growth
• Participate in ongoing vertical articulation and weekly congruence meetings with staff members to meet student needs and annual teacher and school goals
• Foster ongoing communication with parents through student-led and teacher-led conferences and through electronic mail correspondence
• Prepare and administer a myriad of formative and summative unit assessments that measure student understanding
• Provide individualized targeted instruction for Title I, III, and enrichment students both during and after school
• Integrate classroom technology as a tool for learning with use of  SmartBoard
• Create effective kid-friendly rubrics to build positive academic and social habits for students

11/22/02 to 06/27/03           

YONKERS PUBLIC SCHOOLS, Yonkers, New York

Paideia 24

Third Grade Teacher

• Devised interactive and hands-on lessons that utilized manipulatives to stimulate students
• Enhanced and promoted positive character development using a behavior modification system that focused on student praise, consequences, and attitudes
• Incorporated shared inquiry discussions to promote reading, higher-order thinking, and sharing of ideas

SUMMER SESSIONS:

07/04 to 07/09                       

YONKERS PUBLIC SCHOOLS, Yonkers, New York

Summer Targeted Instruction Teacher

• Employ and model targeted reading, writing, and listening from the emergent to independent reading levels
• Use a myriad of balanced literacy instruction, including guided reading, shared reading, interactive and shared writing, word study and readers and writers workshop
• Build essential skills in math instruction through hands-on and experiential learning

CONFERENCES/

WORKSHOPS: 

• A myriad of district-wide staff development workshops in the areas of English Language Arts and mathematics
• Columbia Education: Teachers College Technology Infusion Grant
• Challenging Questions to Challenge Students, in-service course on developing higher-order thinking skills and questioning strategies
• GIBS Inquiry Workshop For PYP and MYP Practitioners at the American Museum of Natural History
• International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme, 2005
• International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme, 2004
• International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme, 2003
• Understanding by Design, framework for designing curriculum units, performance assessments, and instruction
• Junior Great Books Foundation
• Open Court Literacy Training
• Reading Strategies Success For all Learners
• Mathematics Curriculum Collaboration Among Professionals

PRESENTATIONS:           

• Planned, designed, and conducted district-wide workshop for fifth grade teachers in listening, reading, and writing
• Planned, designed, and conducted several annual Parent’s Guide to NYS Testing workshops
• Planned, designed, conducted, and implemented school-wide student e-portfolios
• Planned, designed, and conducted Netrekker and NY Learns workshop to staff members
• Math 24 Game liaison and turnkey site-based trainer
• Trained staff members on the grading of the NYS fourth grade assessments
• Turn-key trainer and site-administrator for E-Chalk, district-wide email system

ADDITIONAL

LEADERSHIP:

• Member of the Language Arts Policy Committee
• Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee
• Member of the Professional Development Committee
• Member of the Parental Involvement Committee
• Member of the Public Relations YFT Committee
• Chairperson of the Shared Decision Making Committee
• Fifth Grade Exhibition Mentor
• Assistant Union Representative
• Participate in annual community Storybook Bonanza and Riverfront Library Family Day

AFFILIATIONS:

• Pursuing National Education Association (NEA) membership, New York
• American Federation of Teachers
• The Great Books Foundation     
• International Baccalaureate Organization
• Parent Teacher Association

SKILLS:                       

• Language: Fluent in Greek and advanced knowledge of Spanish
• Technology: Proficient in Microsoft Excel, Microsoft PowerPoint, Microsoft Word, Print Shop and SmartBoard technology