And will you succeed?
Yes! You will indeed!
(98 and 3/4 percent guaranteed)

- Dr. Suess

Curriculum Vitae

Education
2004-presentPhD Candidate, Language and Literacy Education Dept.
University of British Columbia, (UBC/Faculty of Ed.)
2001-2004Master of Arts, Language and Literacy Education Dept. (thesis presentation online here)
University of British Columbia, (UBC/Faculty of Ed.)
1996-1998Ontario Certificate of Qualification (Primary/Junior)
Diploma in Child Study; Institute of Child Study, University of Toronto, (OISE/UT)
Dean's Honour List
1992-1994Theatre Technician Certificate National Theatre School
1988-1992Honours Bachelor of Arts, specializing in Theatre and Drama in Education; Brock University

Additional Education Qualifications
  • British Columbia Interim Standard Teaching Certificate
  • Special Education Part I
  • Early Childhood Education equivalency certificate
Teaching-Related Employment
2004 Instructor, UBC:
  • LLED 320-Curriculum and Instruction in Language and Literacy Education: Elementary and Middle Years
  • LLED 441-Introduction to Teaching Children's Literature
2003-present Graduate Research Assistant UBC/Vancouver School Board Under the supervision of Dr. Theresa Rogers:
  • Co-writing reading comprehension tests for the IRIS
  • Testing students' reading comprehension (grades 3-8)
  • Collecting and analyzing data
2002-presentGraduate Research Assistant
UBC/Newton Learning Centre (Surrey, BC)
under the supervision of Dr. Theresa Rogers, Associate Professor (Faculty of Education)
  • collecting and analyzing data
  • organizing an end of the year student gallery to demonstrate how literacy and media intersect
  • tutoring reluctant and at-risk teens in the areas of literacy, creative writing, drama, visual art and filmmaking
2002-presentGraduate Research Assistant
UBC/Strathcona Public School (Vancouver, BC)
under the supervision of Dr. Shelley Hymel, Professor (Faculty of Education)
  • teaching both academic and social skills to children with special needs
  • assisting students as they are re-integrated into regular education classrooms
1996-2002Young People's Conservatory Director (Summer Employment)
Rogue Music Theatre (Grants Pass, Oregon)
  • administered a summer school specializing in the dramatic and musical arts—hired and supervised staff, designed and taught programs to children 5 to 18 years old
  • collaborated with professional artists and parents to construct and improve the program
  • developed and produced an annual play, performed for an audience of more than 400 people
1999-2001Special Education Teacher
Creedmoor Elementary School, (Creedmoor, North Carolina)
Won the the "Golden Apple Award" for excellence in teaching
  • assessed, evaluated and taught individuals (grades k-3) with learning disabilities, autism, and Down syndrome
  • created and implemented individualized educational programs using multiple intelligences and cooperative learning strategies
  • Developed and taught balanced literacy and numeracy programs
1999Writing Composition Instructor (Summer Employment)
Southern Oregon Correctional Facility (Grants Pass, Oregon)
  • created and implemented a successful writing curriculum for juvenile inmates
  • taught reluctant teens literacy skills using an arts-integrated/multi-literacy approach
1998-1999Special Education Teacher
Credle Elementary School, Granville County Board of Education (grades 2-3 self-contained LD class) -Won the "Moving On Award" for teaching the class who demonstrated the most improvement over one school year
  • assessed, evaluated, and taught individuals with learning disabilities
  • developed and implemented individualized literacy and numeracy programs using multi-modal approaches
1995-1998Early Childhood Educator
Humberside Village Preschool
  • designed and implemented educational curricula for the JK and SK programs
Awards and honours
2005Language and Literacy Researchers of Canada Masters Research Award (archived PDF)
2004Best Master's Thesis in Literacy in Canada, 2004
Other Teaching-Related Experience (Selected)
1996-1998Instructional Group Leader: University of Toronto/ICS (Toronto)
1995-1998Children's Programs Instructor: Metro-Central Y.M.C.A. (Toronto)
1995Touring Stage Manager: Salamander Theatre for Young Audiences (Ottawa)
1994-1995Youth Drama Instructor: School of Performing Arts (Ottawa)

Additional Skills and Courses
  • Collecting Data and researching how reading comprehension can be improved when integrated with the fine arts: 2002-present
  • Drama/play therapy research under supervision of Psychotherapist/Registered Drama therapist Rosalind Kindler -working with children with behavioural and communication difficulties: 1996-1998
  • First Aid and C.P.R. Certificate, Canadian Red Cross Society: 2000
  • Provincial Gymnastics Coaching Qualifications: 1985 (Coaching part I)
References
Dr. Theresa RogersMr. Gus GillespieDr. Carl Leggo
Associate ProfessorPrincipalAssociate Professor
University of British Columbia   Creedmoor Elementary School   University of British Columbia
Vancouver, British Columbia Creedmoor, North Carolina Vancouver, British Columbia
604-822-0901919-528-2313604-822-4640