Karen Dunham Email & Phone Number

Michigan, United States

Lead the planning and implementation of Playworks’ comprehensive school-based play and youthdevelopment programming at Playworks Michigan. Managing the recruitment, staffing, performance, training and development of all program staff and AmeriCorps Members, partnerships with schools and districts, grant compliance, data, evaluation, & initiatives that drive regional scaling and sustainability. - Lead regional impact strategy that aligns with organizational goals of increasing schools’ ownership over safe and healthy play and ultimately creating long-term systems change in public education. - Direct all elements of Playworks direct service programming, including planning, implementation, training, evaluation and program quality, with a lens for moving schools to independence from Playworks. - Develop & manage a robust recruitment, hiring and retention plan for all regional program positions with an emphasis on diversity, equity and inclusion. - Provide leadership & management for Program Managers, including their onboarding and ongoing learning and development and performance management. - Provide ongoing leadership, support & coaching to program team to ensure high program quality and strong school partnerships. - Jointly develop and implement a strategic sustainability plan as a member of the regional Leadership Team. - Administrative duties such as maintaining school partnership files in Salesforce and on Google Drive, tracking and reporting on school fee collection to the Regional & Executive Director, serving as the main point of contact for school fees and school accounts payable. - Manage regional volunteer strategy, funder/grant compliance, including oversight of AmeriCorps programming, annual assessments, evaluation and data collection processes to ensure compliance and timely completion. - Monitor program budget and accounting for program expenditures. - Represent Playworks at regional events, district meetings and local partnership coalitions.

Michigan

Senior member of a non-profit team, directing the planning, training, implementation, and evaluation of the program and quality in Southeast and Southwest Michigan. - Created effective systems and strategies to improve quality in program and partnerships, which led to a 6 to 19 school growth or 216% increase from 2017 to 2019, which includes program expansion to Southwest Michigan- Recruited, hired, onboarded, developed, managed, and evaluated 5 staff - Provided leadership, support, training, and coaching to 5 direct reports and 11 indirect reports - Developed and managed partnerships with 19 schools in 7 school districts- Assisted Program Director in monitoring program budget and expenditures- Supported development team in grant reporting and proposals, including systems for organizing data and reaching grant objectives- Represented Playworks with external stakeholders, as well as collaborated on events with Milk Means More, Detroit Lions, Detroit Pistons, Detroit Red Wings, Microsoft, United Way, Detroit Public TV, KIND Snacks, etc.

Detroit, Michigan

Member of a non-profit team, with experience in 2 regions within the National Playworks Organization, managing the planning, training, implementation, and evaluation of program and quality for up 10 staff and 30 school partners. - Recruited, onboarded, developed, managed and evaluated up to 10 direct reports delivering multiple program services models- Managed and oversaw AmeriCorps programming and grant compliance- Managed collection of data to be in compliance with grants/funders, as well as using it to set strategic program quality goals - Mediated to resolve issues between school staff and Playworks staff- Well-versed in regular event planning and facilitating large groups, including educators, youth, volunteers and internal/external partners- Launched and supported multiple pilot programs and evaluation initiatives in Michigan and Pacific Northwest supporting expansion and sustainability effort

Portland, Oregon Area

Overseeing Playworks’ programs, planning & implementing a play based programmingduring recess, lunch, & after school at elementary school sites. Manage & support 7 Program Coordinators, & 1 Site Coordinator at 11 different schools in Portland, Beaverton, Hillsboro, & Oregon City. Support AmeriCorps Program Coordinators including tracking hours, organizing & participating in volunteer service activities, encouraging completion of term of service, etc. Participate in curriculum development, & organize & facilitate staff trainings. Perform evaluations of Program Coordinators & Site Coordinators according to Playworks’ protocol and oversee curriculum mplementation during school year to ensure Program Coordinator fulfillment of expectations & responsibilities. Serve as primary contact person for school administrators. Mediate program issues with schools, staff & principals & Playworks Program Coordinators. Serve as volleyball/basketball league coordinator & contact person which includes additional evening hours. Additional league responsibilities include creating league documents and schedules, as well as recruiting & training of volunteers. Participate in hiring of new Playworks Program Coordinators. Assist in special events, & field trips. Represent Playworks in the community and work to build new relationships. Support administrative staff & Program Director. Represent Playworks in building community relationships & supporting national expansion through various special projects such as development of curriculum for specific student populations, building relationships with new funding sources & developing training for new sites. Developed & facilitated a mid-year online webinar for TeamUp Program Managers and Site Coordinators to explore effective engagement partnerships, areas to improve management, and increasing youth leadership responsibilities within the program.

Portland, Oregon Area And Vancouver, Washington

Supported an organization-wide initiative of piloting a consultative program to support program sustainability at 4 elementary schools, serving 1,800+ students and 150+ staff. - Delivered consultation, feedback, and training to school staff- Facilitated and planned weekly meetings with school staff to discuss best practices for program implementation, and collaboratively set strategic goals to improve school community- Collected and maintained paperwork, including organizing daily, weekly, monthly, year-long schedules, meeting agendas, notes and data- Served on national pilot team, and supported its launch to an additional 13 regions and 28 site coordinators in 2015-16- Regional nominee and finalist for Laureus Sport for Good Foundation to represent Playworks at the Mercedes-Benz National Dealer Body- Developed and facilitated a training, at TeamUp Institute 2015, to give 34 incoming Site Coordinators a set of tools and strategies to foster a healthy school partnership with school communities

Detroit, Michigan, United States

Planning and implementing positive play based programming in low-income schools for elementary aged students to support social-emotional learning. - Taught conflict resolution strategies, inspired children to get off the sidelines and into the game and work to generate more community and family involvement- Met the needs of and maintained communication between Playworks' staff, school staff, teachers & families- Collected and maintained paperwork including organizing daily, weekly and monthly schedules & time sheets- Collected & entered data into Salesforce- Was a guest blogger for organizations website (see attached)

Martell Elementary School

Full-time internship January - April 2022, with 7 weeks of independent teaching in a 5th grade classroom. Identified, prepared, and implemented 5th grade curriculum and integrated the Cultures of Thinking to support group and individual thinking. Created a flexible, safe, and optimal learning environment, with differentiated teaching material and instruction, for all students in the classroom by adjusting lessons to meet diverse learners needs.

Warren, Michigan

Provided care and support for each child’s individual needs. Was responsible for observing and maintaining records of each child’s progress.

Kalamazoo, Michigan Area

• Coordinated lessons for elementary aged students in the Before and After Care program. Developed lessons that included writing, reading, art, science, cooking, geography and physical activity to meet the intellectual and social needs of a diverse group of students.• Enabler of creativity in children to build positive social behaviors and improve self-esteem.• Obtained Chauffeurs License to drive kids to and from school. During our summerprogram took them to various field trip locations.• Worked as an assistant teacher in the preschool with students aged 2-5 in the Toddler, Preschool and Kindergarten Readiness programs.• Appointed to take the role of Director on occasion, answered the phone and took messages and answered questions, assist teachers and took count of children in the building.

Songpa-Gu, Seoul, South Korea

• Taught English as a foreign language to elementary students, primarily Kindergarten - sixth grade. • Taught and coordinated daily lessons for various class levels focusing on Language Arts and English, but also taught lessons in science, math, social studies, music & art.• Communicating across cultural barriers, using leadership skills to conduct classes, adaptability and increased initiative and independence.

Kalamazoo, Michigan Area

• A summer program providing an opportunity for students to discover first hand, the potential of a college education and to expose students to the information, knowledge, and skills they need to complete high school and prepare themselves adequately for college entry and success.• Coordinated lessons & field trips in the field of visual arts, art history, music, theatre and dance.

Greater Grand Rapids, Michigan Area

Supported the efforts of the development office including Museum membership efforts, annual fund campaign, sponsorship materials, and donor events. Responsibilities also included database entry, receiving calls from prospective donor organizations, filing and special projects. Assisted the Development Director with business partnership program communication and preparation of sponsorship packages. Worked with the Development Director, Membership Coordinator, andDevelopment Database Manager concerning data entry into the donor database, Raiser’s Edge. Assisted with donor and member related events.

Greater Grand Rapids, Michigan Area

Assist the curator in researching the collection and with exhibition projects as needed. Assist the Study Room Attendants with greeting visitors.

Master Of Arts, Teaching Elementary Education & Language Arts Major

Bachelor Of Arts (B.A.), Art

Minor, Business/Commerce, General

Bridgetefl Diploma, Teaching English As A Second Or Foreign Language/Esl Language Instructor