Keith Downing Email & Phone Number

Led school-wide MTSS implementation, overseeing program rollout and supporting staff in delivering effective Tier 1, Tier 2, and Tier 3 instruction. This resulted in over 172 intervention plans (2023-2024) and improved student achievement.Developed data systems (interactive data walls, progress monitoring tools) to highlight student needs and support data-driven instruction, ultimately leading to improved outcomes for all students.Partnered with school leaders to leverage data for the SIIP, analyzing data to identify growth areas and driving a 6% increase in PreK-3 reading screener benchmark through targeted strategies.Improved student behavior with data-driven intervention: successfully implemented Tier 2 Check-In/Check-Out program, achieving a 100% success rate with students meeting behavior goals from week 3 onward.Championed inclusive communication as a key member of the Equity Team, fostering a sense of community among diverse families through initiatives like Family Language Night.Led technology integration and blended learning initiatives, coaching teachers through personalized cycles to elevate instructional quality and student engagement (increased technology use & improved lesson plans).

Selected as FCPS Lead for Spanish 3: Spearheaded the development and implementation of a standardized Spanish 3 curriculum across FCPS, ensuring alignment with the Portrait of a Graduate (PoG) initiative. This initiative fosters well-rounded student development alongside language acquisition.Led bi-weekly Spanish 3-5 team meetings: Facilitated collaborative discussions using the CLT cycle (Plan, Teach, Assess, Reflect) to foster teamwork, enhance communication, and ensure continuous improvement in curriculum implementation for Spanish 3-5.Empowered World Language Educators: Led engaging professional development sessions for over 75 educators at FCPS division-wide development days, sharing best practices in world languages instruction. These sessions equipped teachers with valuable strategies to enhance student learning, showcasing my expertise in facilitating effective professional development that contributes to improved teaching methodologies across the division.Championed Innovative Learning: Contributed to the Disruptive Pedagogy Project, developing project-based learning modules for personalized student experiences across the district. My expertise further inspired 15+ educators who observed my teaching as a model for improved practice.Led World Languages Department as Interim Chair: Provided effective leadership and organizational skills during my tenure as interim department chair, ensuring smooth operations and fostering collaboration among faculty, implementing new initiatives to improve student outcomes.

Improved Early Literacy Instruction: Facilitated weekly professional learning seminars for 10 K-2 literacy teachers. These sessions focused on enhancing teachers' content knowledge of reading, writing, and foundational skills, and fostering the implementation of best practices in their classrooms. This resulted in improved student performance on literacy assessments. Led Data Analysis & Collaboration: Led the Academic Leadership Team in a data-driven approach to instruction. Through collaborative analysis of student work, we identified areas for improvement and implemented targeted strategies. This resulted in a school-wide increase of 3.1% in ELA and 7.4% in Math on the PARCC assessment. Led ELL Program & Instruction: Provided leadership as the ELL Lead Teacher, guiding educators in supporting English Learners in their classrooms. Co-taught 4th and 5th grade English Language Arts, aligning lessons to Common Core and WIDA standards. Ensured compliance and proficiency assessment through ACCESS for ELLs Testing. This combined role fostered a supportive, inclusive learning environment and effective language development opportunities for ELL students.Strengthened Home-School Partnerships: Conducted home visits in collaboration with the Flamboyan Foundation to build stronger connections with families. This initiative fostered collaboration by providing regular communication regarding student progress and challenges, ultimately strengthening the home-school connection for improved student success.

Empowered New Teachers & Cultivated Engaging Curriculum: Mentored new teachers, providing guidance and support in their first year. Led the development of the Spanish 2 curriculum, ensuring alignment with our department's mission and vision of promoting cultural understanding through comprehensible and compelling language instruction. This role fostered a strong foundation for new educators and enriched the learning experience for Spanish 2 students.

Bridged the Gap for Incoming Students & Educators: Planned and instructed a summer "IB Camp" for incoming freshmen in the International Baccalaureate program, providing targeted academic support. Additionally, facilitated a workshop on "Best Practices in the Spanish Classroom" for incoming PGCPS Spanish teachers, contributing to professional development and mentorship throughout the division. This dual focus demonstrates my commitment to student success and educator growth.

M.Ed., Education Policy And Leadership

B.A., Modern Foreign Languages; Art History (Minor)

Educational Administration