Kathryn A.

Stirk
Current Address: (630) 303-0572 Permanent Address:
211 E. John St. Apt 102 kathryn.stirk@gmail.com 807 Rock Spring Road
Champaign, IL 61820 http://kstirk.weebly.com Naperville, IL 60565

Objective
To continue my commitment in helping children learn and grow to the best of their ability by obtaining a position in an
elementary or middle school setting

Education
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Expected Graduation: May 2011
Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education GPA: 3.44/4.00
Area of Concentration: Mathematics
• Dean’s List: Fall 2009
• Middle Grade Endorsements in Mathematics, Science, & Social Sciences

Relevant Work Experience

Edison Middle School, Champaign, IL – Senior Practicum January 2011 – Present
• Scaffolded instruction to build on background knowledge and optimize learning
• Integrated a variety of primary sources into instruction to encourage students to use higher order thinking
• Handled disciplinary issues by using effective classroom management strategies
• Established positive communication and working relationships with students, parents, and staff in both formal and
informal settings

Robeson Elementary School, Champaign, IL – Interim Senior Practicum August 2010 – December 2010
• Led the classroom in whole-group, small-group, and individual lessons
• Provided differentiated and individualized instruction based on the variety of students’ learning needs,
including individualized reading instruction in small groups of students
• Developed and implemented creative and engaging lessons, aligned with Illinois State Learning Standards
and the district curriculum, that required students to use higher order thinking
• Supported educational progressivism by creating lessons that established connections between the
curriculum and real-life experiences
• Fostered a sense of curiosity and deeper understanding of varied subjects through interdisciplinary units,
including reading, writing, spelling, math (based off the Everyday Math program), science, and social studies
• Stimulated student creativity and curiosity through hands-on activities in reading, writing, math, science,
and social studies using learning centers, experiments, observations, and manipulatives
• Worked with the Daily 5 program to enhance student learning in reading, writing, and spelling
• Fostered a sense of community between home and school by participating in the Robeson Open House and
parent-teacher conferences

St. John Lutheran School, Champaign, IL – Junior Practicum September 2009 – December 2009
• Observed in a 4 grade classroom once a week to obtain a minimum of 30 hours of observation in the areas of math,
th

social studies, and spelling

• Assisted in grading assignments and helped students with assignments one-on-one
• Developed and implemented two separate lesson plans, one on pictographs and the other on spelling, aligned with
Illinois State Learning Standards

Gregory Middle School, Naperville, IL – Classroom Aide November 2008 – January 2009
• Assisted in grading papers
• Observed both the students and teachers
• Provided extra assistance to struggling students
Campus Middle School for Girls, Urbana, IL – Tutor November 2008 – December 2008
 • Tutored two 6th grade students in math after school
• Used effective instructional strategies to help the students learn their math facts and rules

Westview Elementary School, Champaign, IL – Classroom Aide October 2008 – December 2008
• Monitored the classroom during instruction
• Helped a small group of students with daily language and literature lessons, primarily an English as a Second
Language student with reading

Other Work Experience

Subway, Champaign, IL – Sandwich Artist February 2011 – Present
• Greets and serves customers
• Maintains food safety and sanitation standards

Eddie Bauer, Naperville, IL – Sales Associate May 2008 – January 2011

• Assisted customers with merchandise selections
• Processed sales at the cash register
• Maintained the store’s neatness
College of Education at the University of Illinois, Champaign, IL – Registration Assistant May 2010 – June 2010
• Assisted incoming students in organizing their schedule for the coming semester
Christopher B. Burke Engineering, Ltd., Rosemont, IL – Intern Summer 2006, Summer 2007
• Prepared material quantity data and performed calculations for engineering reports using Microsoft Excel
• Modified site plan documents
• Observed the process of preparing, reviewing, and approving proposal documents
The McGrath Family, Naperville, IL – Nanny Summer 2005
• Fed, entertained, and chauffeured three children, ages 5, 8, and 11
• Worked approximately 30 hours a week

Achievements and Activities

IEA-NEA Student Program Fall Conference, attendee November 2010
Orange Krush, Varsity member September 2010 – Present
Illini Pride, member September 2010 – Present
Student Education Association, Social Chair/member September 2008 – Present
IEA-NEA Student Program Fall Conference, attendee November 2009
Golden Apple Pathway Scholar, finalist January 2009
Vis-A-Vis, Volunteer September 2008 – May 2009

Volunteer Experience
Over 500 hours of community service hours. Activities include tutoring students after school at Edison Middle School;
teaching 7th grade R.E.; working at PADS; creating food and gift baskets during The Giving Tree; painting and general
cleaning at a sister parish in Aurora; giving Christmas gifts to the needy through the Big Sister program; student teaching at
the elementary and junior high level.

Interests and Future Goals

Eager to participate in extracurricular and coaching activities, particularly basketball

References
Erika Boettcher 1310 S. Sixth Street, MC 708 Cell: (716) 816-9936
Interim Practicum Supervisor Champaign, IL 61820 Email: eboettch@illinois.edu
Elizabeth Rotramel
Cooperating Teacher
Edison Middle School
306 W. Green Street
Champaign, IL 61820
Cell: (217) 390-5802
Email:
rotramel@champaignschools.org
Karen Gschwend
Practicum Supervisor
4306 Ironwood Lane
Champaign, IL 61822
Home: (217) 378-7373
Email: kgschwen@illinois.edu