Grace Beard Epler Email & Phone Number

Washington D.C. Metro Area

Greater Memphis Area

As the advisor for school development for the Office of Charter Schools, I oversaw the development of all fifty one charter schools in Shelby County School's portfolio. I managed a rigorous charter application process, where I coordinated with a variety of stakeholders including district partners, community reviewers, charter applicants, and the local school board to ensure a fair and transparent process that only granted high quality charters. I created and implemented a School Visit Framework to ensure the office provided continuous, on the ground support to schools. I conducted high stakes charter reviews including the interim review and renewal review. Finally, I analyzed school-level data and engaged with school leaders and teachers to develop opportunities for teacher professional development in an effort to foster educational excellence in the Shelby County charter school sector.

Greater Boston Area

As the Academic Response Teams intern I measured program effectiveness and revised programing for the coming year. I established specific metrics and methods of data collection for program evaluation and then compared multi-year data on school outcomes to determine effectiveness of the Academic Response Team program model. I also revised summer teacher professional development programming for the school leaders and teaching staff of 6 Boston public schools.

Greater Memphis Area

Critically researched content and created the kindergarten math scope and sequence as well as the kindergarten ELA curriculum. Aligned kindergarten math and ELA curriculum to the Common Core State Standards. Managed 28 students with a range of skill levels full-time while mentoring a first year TFA corps member as her co-teacher. Effectively planned and executed rigorous content such that scholars scored in the 90th percentile on the math kindergarten Terra Nova and 90% achieved more than one year of reading growth as measured by the STEP reading assessment. Led school-wide professional development sessions, ensuring alignment from kindergarten to 5th grade in math. Observed kindergarten teachers in all subject and observed math teachers in multiple grades. Based on the observations, led feedback meetings and generated action plans for areas of improvement.

Greater Memphis Area

Designed and led sessions for incoming TFA corps members on early childhood and early elementary content. Observed and coached a group of 8 incoming corps members on content execution and behavior management as they taught summer school to two classes of students. Led those 8 corps members to have the highest level of student growth out of all Memphis corps members. Awarded the highest overall data score of all Teacher Leadership Coaches, as determined by student growth, corps member satisfaction, and school leader ratings.

Greater Memphis Area

Chapel Hill, North Carolina

Executive Director of the largest student-run non-profit in the state of North Carolina and the largest single donor to the NC Children’s Hospital. Chaired the non-profit’s Board of Directors, managed the Executive Board of 13 members, and supervised the work of 300 committee members. Implemented distribution of funds to hospital and served on hospital steering committees. Collaborated closely with University officials and business executives to ensure a successful year of fundraising. Raised and distributed over $483,000 in only 9 months, leading to increased funding for innovative programs at the hospital.

Master’S Degree, Education Policy And Management

Bachelor Of Arts (B.A.), Psychology, History

UNC Chapel Hill Honors Program Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society Cameron-Morrison Scholarship recipient Recipient of the Leadership Grant