Sara M.

Gadwa
9970 Bullard Rd. Clarkston, MI, 48348 (248)-860-7127 sgadwa@gmail.com Portfolio: saragadwa.weebly.com
Professional Goals:

I hope to become a mathematics teacher at the secondary level. I strive to engage and motivate students so they can gain a deeper understanding of mathematical ideas and concepts.
Education:
2013

Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI

College of Education Michigan Secondary Teaching Certification

2011

Highly Qualified: Mathematics (6-12) (EX) Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI
College of Natural Science, College of Education Bachelors of Science Degree: Major: Mathematics Minor: Chemistry Lake Orion High School, Lake Orion, MI Troy High School, Troy MI August 2012- April 2013 Pre-Calculus, Algebra 2 Honors, Fundamentals of Algebra 2 Created and implemented unit plans for Pre-Calculus, Algebra 2 Honors, and Fundamentals of Algebra 2 (Algebra 2 over a two year period) within the district's curriculum and Common Core Standards Completed 12 credits of MSU teacher education classes each semester concurrently Through daily reflections and being observed by my mentors, field instructor, and other teachers, I continually reflected on teaching strategies and my students' understanding, as well as adjusting pedagogical techniques to improve my ability to teach for understanding Established a personal connection with students by getting to know students interests and hobbies through conversation, meetings, and after school help Built a rapport with each student, enabling me to connect with diverse learning styles o Attended sporting events, plays, concerts, dances, and asked about their lives Implemented High Cognitive Level Tasks and different forms of assessments so that students could explore, discover, and develop mathematical ideas for a deeper conceptual understanding of the material Attended Professional Development Sessions and monthly staff meetings for the duration of my internship Participated in parent-teacher conferences as active participant in fall and spring semester Collaborated with other teachers in lesson studies and with lesson planning Proctored Michigan Merit Exam, ACT, Michigan Work-Keys Test, and AP Tests Was available to students before and after school to assist with homework and any other questions regarding the material Member of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics and used this resource to create lessons for each of my classes th Holt 9 Grade Campus, Holt, MI January 2011- April 2011 Geometry Planned, taught, and analyzed conceptually based lessons for ninth grade geometry classes Observed lessons, classroom management skills, teacher-student relationships, and technology in the classroom Worked with other teachers to plan and analyze lessons Applied pedagogy and used hands-on experience to advance as a teacher Interacted regularly with students; ensuring they were on task and answering any questions pertaining to the subject or assignment

2007

Teaching Experiences:
Year-long Internship

Senior Year Placement 4 hours/week

Senior Year Placement 4 hours/week

Sexton High School, Lansing, MI September 2010-December 2010 Algebra Essentials Planned, taught, and analyzed conceptually based lessons for an algebra essentials class in an urban environment Observed and examined classroom rules/procedures, mathematical concepts and content, and management in order to develop my own practice Clarkston, Lake Orion, Utica, and Brandon, MI March 2012 Present Substitute taught in several different classroom types and atmospheres ranging from th Kindergarten-12 grade Implemented lesson plans and maintained order in the classroom Responsible for the students in the classroom and required to make decisions in difficult situations Assisted students with any questions and work in the classroom Troy High School, Troy, MI August 2012 - October 2012 Assisted with teaching the rules and regulations and in the development of the girls form and ability Aided with the evaluation of player skills and selection of team members Holt High School, Holt, MI June 2011 Judged Math Oral Final Exams for tenth and eleventh grade students Observed and experienced a different form of assessing students Graded students on their ability to explain their reasoning and thought process and show knowledge of the material through speech and mathematical work Parks and Recreation Department, Clarkston, MI June 2012- Present Responsible for general supervision of games, fields, and safety of individuals Required to make decisions about play and to implement rules of the game Developed working relationship with coaches, parents, other umpires, and the players Walters Financial Group, Clarkston, MI Summers 2007 to 2011 Direct hands-on experience with customers and employees: advanced my communication skills Extensive work in computer software, including Microsoft Word, Excel, and others

Teaching Related Work Experiences:

PESG Substitute Teacher JV Girls Golf Assistant Coach Math Oral Exam Judge

Other Work Experiences:

Site Supervisor/Softball Umpire Administrative Assistant

Personal Interests:
My interests and hobbies include watching all sports, playing golf, swimming, bowling, and spending time with family and friends. In high school, I was a member of the drum line /marching band where we competed at state finals all three years that I was involved. I also was captain of the JV golf team and helped my bowling team reach state finals. At Michigan State University, I was involved with intermural sports all four years I attended. In the future, I would love to become a coach. I have had experience coaching and with many sports during my life and am excited to share my knowledge with students.

References:
Jerusha Ondra Mathematics Teacher (Mentor) Troy High School 4777 Northfield Pkwy Troy, MI 48098 248.823.4473 jondra@troy.k12.mi.us Dr. Kristen Bieda Secondary Mathematics Subject Area Leader Michigan State University 317 Erickson Hall 620 Farm Lane, Rm. 317 East Lansing, MI 48824 kbieda@msu.edu Aaron Zimmerman TE 803 Course Instructor Michigan State University 773-895-4389 zimme223@msu.edu James Markle Internship Field Instructor Michigan State University Erickson Hall 620 Farm Lane East Lansing, MI 48824 517-881-7738 marklej@msu.edu Dennis C. Walters Walters Financial Group 7410 M.E Cad Blvd, Ste B Clarkston, MI 48348 (248) 620-0707 denny@waltersfinancialgroup.com

Joan Stratman Mathematics Teacher (Mentor) 4777 Northfield Pkwy Troy, MI 48098 248.823.4463 jstratman2@troy.k12.mi.us