SUSAN N.

OLSON
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412 6th Street, Traer, IA 50675 | 319.269.5877 | susanolson3366@gmail.com

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_________________________PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY__________________________
Self-driven, highly organized, goal-oriented educator who thrives on the progress,
success, and growth of PreK-12 students and staff. Leads with integrity, sets high
expectations, promotes and models being a leader as learner, encourages colleagues to
increase the rigor in their classrooms, promotes student engagement, facilitates leadership
opportunities for colleagues, passionate about growing personally and professionally, and
is an effective verbal and written communicator.
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____________________________CORE COMPETENCIES____________________________
*Implementation of Academic Standards, K-12 *Cultivate Leadership in Others
*Student-Centered Learning Approach *Learning Strategies
*Cross Curricular Planning *Growth Mindset
*Vertical Alignment *Student Assessments
*Shared Vision *School Culture
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_____________________________KEY ACHIEVEMENTS____________________________
 Promotes and facilitates Learning Labs, K-12
 Helps establish, implement, & manage Personalized Professional Development
 Envisioned, created, implemented, and maintains Professional Learning Communities
 Mentor for first-year and new-to-the-district teachers
 Group Leader for Authentic Intellectual Work (AIW)
 Active member of 504 Team
 Facilitating Productive and Effective Co-Teaching
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________________________PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE_________________________
Instructional Coach 08/2016-Current
North Tama Community School Traer, IA
 Facilitates formal Coaching Cycles with teachers in grades K-12
o Formulates pre-assessment to establish baseline for student
needs
o Creates learning targets for students
o Aligns curriculum with Common Core & NGSS
o Facilitates inclusion of new instructional strategies
o Co-plans & co-teaches with teachers
o Implements and manages Learning Labs
 Informally coaches teachers in grades K-12
o Helps reach learning targets by using current instructional
strategies
 Developed a 6-Prong Approach for our Model Teacher Leadership Team

Secondary English Teacher, 08/2011 to 07/2016

North Tama County Community School Traer, IA
 Taught English 9, English 10, Rhetorical Techniques, Individualized Reading, &
Great Books
  Helped to facilitate the transition into being a 1:1 school
 Orchestrated the integration of Plus-1 Mondays into school calendar
 Actively engaged in 504 Plan Committee, Hiring Committee, Calendar
Committee, Negotiations Committee, and Remediation and Enrichment
Committee
 Appointed leader of AIW Group in Fall of 2015
 Mentor to first year English teacher
 Mentor to second year Special Education teacher

Language Arts Intervention Specialist 02/2010 to 06/2011

East Aurora High School Aurora, IL
 First-year implementation of Expert 21, a 21st century program for students
 Designed curriculum and implemented this curriculum to freshmen through senior
students
 Accommodated curriculum for students who held an IEP
 Differentiated curriculum to enhance learning for students with Lexile levels from
200-1500
 Taught Read 180, an intervention program for freshmen
 Assumed the position of "Expert 21 model classroom" for other districts to visit and
learn how to implement the Expert 21 program

Adjunct ESL Teacher 08/2007 to 06/2011

Waubonsee Community College Aurora, IL
 Planned, prepared, and organized curriculum for adults learning English
 Accommodated material for adults with special needs
 Provided written and oral assessment for students
 Created environment that was safe and affirming for students who were from different
cultures
St. Pauls Lutheran School 08/2003 to 06/2008
Reading Specialist Aurora, IL
 Planned, prepared, and organized reading materials for students in grades 2-8
 Prepared enhanced reading lessons for lower-level reading students in grades 1 & 2
 Matched appropriate reading level materials to challenge and meet student’s individual
needs
 Tutored students in a one-on-one setting, involving English, reading, math, science, and
social studies subject areas
 Developed summer reading program, “Summer Cyclers,” for increased readiness and
remedial education

Junior High English 08/97 to 05/99

Liberty Junior High, Liberty, Missouri 8/97-5/99
 Planned, prepared, and organized materials for thematic units (fiction and non-fiction
writing, Teenage Awareness, Identity)
 Developed units and accommodated materials for students with special needs (one-on-
one sessions, audio taping materials, enlarged print handouts)
 Participated in administrative and departmental meetings
 Assessed students by actively and thoroughly responding to their work
 Created assessment tools to be used in the classroom (rubrics, portfolio)
 Integrated computer technology throughout thematic units
 Junior High Foundations of Journalism-Yearbook, 8/98-5/99
 Assumed the position of advising the new class, Foundations of Journalism Yearbook
 Created a high precedent for future students who are selected into the Yearbook
program
 Established the course criteria and curriculum
 Formulated the layout sessions and facilitating the activities within these sessions
Curriculum Writing Team
 Selected to be a member of an ongoing curriculum writing team
 Involved with writing the curriculum for an all-district reading program

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______________________________ EDUCATION___________________________________
Bachelor of Arts May 1997
The University of Iowa
Concentration in English

Master of Arts in Education (MAE) May 2019

As PK-12 Principal
The University of Northern Iowa

Credentials at The University of Iowa, Educational Placement Office

302 Lindquist Center N., Iowa City, Iowa 52242-1529 (319) 335-5353