Technical Cooperation Unit, Office of Social Action and Education

Improving Teacher Quality State Grants Office in the Office of Academic Improvement and Teacher Quality• Led the development of program guidance on State and local education agency (LEA) uses of Title II, Part A funds concerning professional development, recruitment and retention, education technology, educator evaluation, and the implications of ESEA Flexibility on uses of funds• Served as the point of contact for fifty-two grantees (twenty-six state educational agencies (SEAs) and twenty-six state agencies of higher education (SAHEs)) and provided guidance to State officials in planning, developing, and carrying out work centered on improving the quality of teachers, principals, and superintendents• Served as the contracting officer representative (COR) on improving teacher quality contract integral to the work of the Title II, Part A team; this work included developing contract modifications in accordance with office and grantee needs, representing the program office in collaborations with other offices on contract tasks, and monitoring the performance of the contractor on tasks including monitoring support, organization of the annual grantee meeting, development of small group meetings for grantees, and data collection and analysis• Analyzed former Title II, Part A monitoring protocols and developed recommendations for strengthening the them; these recommendations informed the revision of the protocols to be used in the upcoming fiscal year and the formulation of long- and short-term strategies for further refining and strengthening the protocols

Office of School Turnaround in the Office of Elementary and Secondary Education.• Directed the OST Technical Assistance work group, which was responsible for developing and executing technical assistance efforts to states and local education agencies (LEAs) receiving a School Improvement Grant; this work included the development and finalization of a technical assistance plan, the performance management of all technical assistance projects, the creation of an FY13 National Activities Plan, and the representation of OST on cross-department initiatives over the collaboration of technical assistance efforts.• Led the development and execution of the School Turnaround AmeriCorps grant program, a $15 million joint initiative between the U.S. Department of Education and the Corporation for National and Community Service; this included the coordination of efforts between the programmatic, legal, communication, and strategic partnerships arms of both agencies over the development of a Notice of Funding Opportunity, an interagency agreement, application review, and the grant-making process.• Managed the development and dissemination of over 125 profiles on best practices in school turnaround at the school, district, and state level, a primary component of OST’s technical assistance strategy.• Assisted in the development of policy for the School Improvement Grants program through updating program guidance for grantees and in developing strategy for the re-regulation of SIG; a particular focus of this work was on providing grantees more guidance around their work supporting schools and LEAs in monitoring and evaluating external providers.• Served as the point of contact for six state educational agencies (SEAs) and provided professional leadership and guidance to state officials in planning, developing, and carrying out their school turnaround work, including the School Improvement Grants program and Principle 2 of ESEA Flexibility.

• Created performance management plans for the four teacher/principal residency programs funded by the Race to the Top grant, outlining communication structures, site visits and protocols, and indicators of progress/success on objectives specified by the programs• Initiated analysis of teacher/principal residency program objectives; developed revised performance objectives and facilitated communication between the residency programs and the Office of Teacher Education and Preparation• Executed performance management plans for teacher/principal residency programs: conducted quarterly check-ins with programs, collected data on program outcomes, and conducted site visits to monitor progress toward objectives• Analyzed a university’s proposal for a Learning Centered Leadership Preparation Program (a principal preparation program); denied conditional approval (the program’s ability to begin to recommend principals for licensure) and outlined standards/issues for revision• Conducted research on best hiring practices of school districts, charter schools, and education-related organizations; compiled this information into deliverables to superintendents and school leaders at conferences• Organized and revised a report on alternative (transitional) licensure for the legislature• Edited bill analyses (on proposed legislation) related to transitional licensure• Created work plan for reform of teacher professional education standards, endorsements, and clinical/induction component (to align with rigor of Common Core Standards); created work plan for reform of teacher preparation program approval (to forge links between teacher performance and licensure renewal/advancement)• Provided support to project leads in the division on implementation of project charters

• Assisted in the compilation and organization of student data for analysis• Executed scripted reading plans and instruction• Consulted on lesson efficacy and methods for improvement• Monitored and tracked student progress in program

Office of Research and Education Accountability

The Commissioner of Education's Transition Team

• Co-wrote, analyzed, and edited Ethnic Community Self-Help federal grant and created logic model for grant activities; it was awarded a total of $510,000 over three years• Analyzed Citizenship Education Program and Naturalization Application Preparation Program, programs serving over 150 Nashville immigrants and refugees per year, and made recommendations for improvement in organizational structure, curriculum, and program evaluation based on research and data• Analyzed previously submitted and unfunded grant proposals and revised and strengthened them for resubmission• Revised and edited final proposals prior to submission• Conducted fact-finding, pre-writing, and targeted research during grant writing period

• Achieved 1.3 years of growth in writing, measured by diagnostic and formative assessment; progressed from 32% passing rate on the state test in reading and writing to 46% passing rate• Planned, created, and executed sixth grade writing curriculum• Supervised and managed sixth grade classrooms, tracked and analyzed student achievement data, used data to inform instruction and affect student achievement• Organized and implemented grade level activities• Managed and implemented student behavioral plans and contracts• Communicated with and built relationships between parents, students and teachers to foster community and safe, high-achieving learning environment

• Conducted professional development seminar on grammar and writers workshop instruction• Coordinated activities with Teach for America corps members• Mentored first year Teach for America teachers• Created and developed reading and writing resources for corps members

• Supported teachers in sheltered-based special education instruction• Assisted in the evaluation of student work and assessments• Contributed to teachers’ lessons, conducted individualized reading lessons and pull-out mathematics instruction for targeted students• Conducted focused instructional lessons for autistic learner

• Analyzed Internet usage behavior utilizing Webalizer statistics and Web log analysis techniques• Compiled and analyzed information on Web log statistics analysis programs and FPL Internet user behavior in a report and presentation for Communication Office • Edited and reformatted FPL Web pages • Facilitated communication between Communication Office staff

• Provided constituent outreach and assisted in public relations • Conducted legislative and general research on constituent/policy related issues• Corresponded with other legislative offices and state agencies to relay and receive information regarding constituent issues• Assisted in the research and drafting of press releases, columns and letters to the editor• Drafted and prepared e-mails and letters from Sen. Robson to district constituents • Attended press conferences and updated office staff on their content and significance