Carmen Benedict Email and Phone Number

Instruct in supervision, curriculum, and instruction. Supervise practicum students and fieldwork of masters level students in administration and leadership.

Led school leadership teams and literacy teams in ongoing development and implementation of America's Choice Literacy Program. Worked closely with principals and selected faculty members of schools in the South Central Los Angeles area, East Los Angeles Area, and Watts. Personally saw to the implementation and rollout of our literacy program by organizing and conducting workshops on K-8 literacy, leading focus walks with staff and parent, reorganizing the instructional day, finding and reallocating funding for changes to instructional day, mentoring principals on their newly identified roles as instructional leaders, working with LAUSD leadership to support the changes of my individual schools.

As Principal I led a staff of 80+ in a 7-8 grade middle school. As a team, we earned the honor of being selected a California Distinguished School during my second year as principal. I also led the staff in the reorganization of instructional teams to reflect the middle school philosophy; installed school wide wiring for internet access; assisted in the writing of the new technology curriculum that followed; increased enrollment in technology courses by 75%. I also worked with staff to build leadership of new and veteran teachers; introduced community engagement opportunities to increase parental involvement and support; reorganized the ELL curriculum; implemented new teaching practices to serve an increasing ELL population; supervised the special education department; worked closely with special education chairperson to meet the federal guidelines for instruction and curriculum that had not been met in the school's past. As the leader of this school, I also implemented instructional supervision practices that included mentoring, coaching, and self-analysis.