Deirdre Daniel Email & Phone Number

Lakeland, Florida

As the art teacher at Griffin Elementary I served 500 students, from Kindergarten to 5th grade. I designed and implemented the art curriculum for all students. My specialty was creating exciting learning experiences through the use of specialized programing, technology, and individualized learning opportunities.In particular I developed a Kindness Curriculum that encouraged kindness, cooperation, personal responsibility, and compassion through the making of art. Every student in the school participated in the program. They were able to work at their individual level as they learned to build skills in personal expression, conflict resolution, and critical thinking.

Winter Haven, Florida

At Winter Haven High School I teach art to all levels of students, from beginner to advanced. I have taught across the curriculum: 2D Studio Art (Levels 1 – 3), Drawing/Painting, Digital Art, Ceramics, Sculpture, and AP 2D Studio Art.I have enjoyed developing a well rounded art program. Students have the opportunity to learn techniques, understand how to look at art, make a personal connection to the process of making art, and develop their own voices as artists. I create interactive lessons that are media and example based.I have promoted the arts in our school and community through art shows, art contests, public murals, family art nights, and video promotions of our art department for middle school recruitment. I have enjoyed collaborating with other departments to enhance the student experience with field trips, literacy and arts awareness, and ESOL integration. I have been the Art Club sponsor for over ten years. Art Club has a strong tradition of providing a creative and supportive community for any student interested in the arts.I have also partnered with the Media Center Specialist to promote literacy through the arts. As the media center's "resident" art teacher, I have hosted lunch time book clubs, created displays, and avidly talked to students about what they are reading. Student artwork is regularly displayed in the media center and the annual art show is held there as well. We created and promoted a school wide art contest in which students created artwork inspired by a book they had read.

Lakeland, Florida

Lakeland B.E.S.T. is a K-5 alternative school for children with behavior challenges. While there I primarily taught Language Arts to 2nd - 5th grade. I collaborated with other members of the teaching team to design teaching strategies, behavior modification plans, and create a positive school environment.By combining collaboration, training, and a creative approach I was able to help my students learn and develop new behavior skills so that they would be successful when they returned to their home schools.

Bartow, Florida

My main objective as Juvenile Probation officer was to monitor adolescents that had broken the law. I worked with the adolescents and their families to help them successfully navigate the Juvenile Justice process. This involved monitoring progress, counseling, advocating, coordinating services, and visits to home and commitment facilities. I was also responsible for keeping case files, writing disposition reports, attending multi-disciplinary staffings and appearing in juvenile court.

Lakeland, Florida

Family Continuity Programs contracted with the Department of Children and Families to assist in the reunification of families who had children placed in foster homes or institutions. My role as Outreach Worker was to support the families in this process through advocacy, serving as a liaison with the Department of Children and Families, and in-home counseling sessions. In these sessions we addressed family history, parenting skills, and setting and implementing goals.

Toronto, Ontario Canada

Next Door Child Care was a non-profit agency that provided child care support for families and caregivers. Support services included workshops, an in-home child care registry, parent child drop-in centers, a toy lending library, and a monthly newsletter.I was with Next Door Childcare from its inception and contributed to the development of all its programs. Growing a program from an idea to a vital community support was a creative process that I enjoyed very much.

Toronto, Ontario

More Than Child's Play Drop-in Centre was created to provide a supportive, safe, and educational setting for parents, caregivers, and children in the Parkdale area. To achieve the drop-in's goals to make a positive impact on the lives of families and the Parkdale community we provided mentoring, crisis intervention, and workshops for the adults.I was responsible for creating and implementing a daily art program for children using a variety of art media and learning experiences. I designed the children's play area to offer opportunities for playful exploration, as well as quite zones for children to collect themselves when stressed or tired.