Kara M.

Collins
5820 Apsley House Ct. ~Alexandria, VA 22310~C: 617-631-3033 redsoxfan1358@gmail.com

Instructional Coach
Highly accomplished, student and staff-focused, goal-oriented instructional leader. Responsible for implementing standards and
curriculum for language arts and development of teacher capacity across all grade levels through introducing new initiatives for students
and teachers. Responsible for the implementation of literacy training and curriculum, research-based interventions, and developing
teacher’s capacity to implement differentiated strategies to meet standards and student achievement goals. Talent to motivate staff through
creative, rigorous, and relevant professional learning that ensures high levels of learning for all teachers and staff to capture student
attention and bring about student success. Skilled in effective communication and superior interpersonal skills to cultivate and maintain
meaningful relationships with district and school personnel, students, parents, and community partners. True passion for leading, teaching,
and learning.

AREAS OF COMPETENCY INCLUDE:

Learner ~ AVID ~ Developing and Implementing Curriculum ~ Monitor Staff and Student Progress ~ Professional Development
Creator & Facilitator ~ Assessment Creation & Alignment ~ Differentiated Instruction ~ Phonics & Phonemic Awareness ~ Hire,
Recruit and Train Teaching Staff ~ Professional Learning Communities Facilitator ~ Communication and Team Building Leader ~
Fab Four Reciprocal Teaching Trainer ~ Visual Phonics: See the Sound ~ Project Based Learning ~ International Baccalaureate
(IB) ~ Guided Reading ~ Kagan ~ Student-Driven Learning ~ Project CRISS ~ Creativity & Innovation in Curriculum Design ~
Technology Integration into Curriculum ~ Ruler ~ Science of Reading ~ Balanced Literacy ~ Inquiry Based Learning ~ Virginia
Initiative for Science Teaching & Achievement
___________________________________________________________________________________________
EDUCATION & CREDENTIALS
Virginia State Teaching Licensure:
Elementary Education Pre-K – Grade 6
Literacy Specialist
Administration & Supervision
ESL Endorsement

Learning Forward Academy (2020)

Alexandria, VA

Administration and Supervision (2017)

Longwood University, Farmville, VA

Master of Science in Elementary Education and Literacy (2010)

State University of New York at Potsdam, Potsdam, NY
Graduated with academic distinction, Presidential Academic Excellence Scholarship recipient

Bachelor of Science in Computer Information Systems and Business Administration (1996)

Norwich University, Northfield, VT

“What stands out most besides her “Teaching IQ”, quest for learning, and ability to build strong relationships, is her energy level.” I work all over the
country and meet thousands of educators. Kara possesses a rare magical gift that is a mix of creativity, energy, and drive.”
~ Lori Oczkus – Literacy Consultant & Author

LEADERSHIP, COACHING & TEACHING HIGHLIGHTS & CONTRIBUTIONS

 Analyzes and disaggregates data to present to Governance Committee on progress of 653 students in PK-8 IB School.
 Analyzes student data to determine, plan, and implement professional learning.
 Analyzes data with teams and teachers to support design of interventions and extensions for students at all levels.
 Designs, develops, and leads school wide and district level professional learning to enhance and support teacher instruction and
student learning, both in person and virtual.
 Develops goals and standards for teachers and provides support during implementation and continuous coaching cycles.
 Kara M Collins – RESUME PAGE 2 OF 3

Teaching Highlights & Contributions continued…

 Actively involved in school improvement initiatives through committee memberships that included Building Literacy Leader,
AVID Site Team Coordinator, Reading Lead Teacher, Curriculum committee, Leadership committee, Language Arts committee,
Positive Behavior and Intervention Supports (PBIS), and School Improvement Teams.
 Member of 2.6-million-dollar text book and ancillary material curriculum adoption for district wide literacy materials
 Designs and models lessons for teacher observation and learning.
 Supports and guides teachers, students, and other staff towards improving education quality.
 Observes classroom lessons and implementation of classroom tools, to include walkthroughs and fidelity checks to improve
teaching processes and best practices.
 Trains new teachers to implement curriculum and behavior management strategies, routines, and procedures.
 Creates and delivers professional development on new curriculum.
 Addresses teacher needs and model implementation of aligned curriculum.
 Designed differentiated lesson plan formats for teacher use to meet the needs of all learners.
 Responsible for aligning staff development plan to school improvement plan and teacher and student goals.
 Assists teachers in aligning curriculum to the Virginia Standards of Learning as well as cross walking grade levels.
 Assists teachers in analyzing student data to drive instruction and assessments.
 Integrates Literacy across the curriculum using AVID strategies and methodologies.
 Facilitates training for educators in developing literacy stations, creating assessments, improving reading instruction through
training on the Jan Richardson model, Reading and Writing Strategies, shared reading, independent reading, and Words Their
Way word study instruction, phonics and phonemic awareness strategies, Really Great Reading phonics programs.
 Mentors new teachers and supervises, coaches, and supports all teachers, providing guidance and council in educational best
practices, classroom management, effective planning development, and research based strategies.
 Organizes school wide reading initiatives, including Read Around the Town, Read Across America Day, Read with Nutzy (local
baseball team reading program), and summer reading around the neighborhoods.
 Designed, developed and planned a schoolwide professional development session with Lori Oczkus (Literacy Consultant and
Author), teachers were able to observe a lesson being taught to their students by Lori and then debrief during a question and
answer session immediately following, before implementing the Fab Four strategies.
 O.B. Gates Elementary School Teacher of the Year 2017 and Ettrick Elementary School Teacher of the Year 2013.
 Teacher of the Year finalist at First Presbyterian Christian Academy, 2006.

PROFESSIONAL TEACHING EXPERIENCE

JEFFERSON HOUSTON SCHOOL (PreK-8 IB), ALEXANDRIA CITY PUBLIC SCHOOLS–ALEXANDRIA, VA 2017 – PRESENT
INSTRUCTIONAL COACH
INSTRUCTIONAL COACH, AVID SITE COORDINATORE, PROFESSIONAL LEARNING COMMUNITY BUILDING LEADER, LITERACY BUILDING LEADER,
SCHOOL WIDE LEADERSHIP TEAM, ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT, MENTOR, AVID SITE COORDINATOR

O.B. GATES ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, CHESTERFIELD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS–CHESTERFIELD, VA 2015 – 2017
LITERACY SPECIALIST
LITERACY SPECIALIST TEAM LEADER, LITERACY BUILDING LEADER, SCHOOL WIDE LEADERSHIP TEAM,
ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT, MENTOR

ETTRICK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, CHESTERFIELD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS – ETTRICK, VA 2011 – 2015
LITERACY SPECIALIST 2014 – 2015
LITERACY BUILDING LEADER, SCHOOLWIDE LEADERSHIP TEAM, SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT TEAM, MENTOR
CLASSROOM TEACHER 2011 – 2014
LEAD TEACHER, SCHOOLWIDE LEADERSHIP TEAM, SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT TEAM, MENTOR

BRADLEY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, FORT LEAVENWORTH, KS 2010 – 2011

CLASSROOM TEACHER
MENTOR, SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT TEAM

CARTHAGE CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT, CARTHAGE, NY 2008 – 2010

TEACHER
LITERACY SPECIALIST PRACTICUM TEACHER

WALTON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, PRINCE GEORGE COUNTY, PRINCE GEORGE, VA 2006 – 2008
CLASSROOM TEACHER
MENTOR, SCHOOLWIDE LEADERSHIP TEAM

FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHRISTAN ACADEMY, HINESVILLE, GA 2001 – 2006

CLASSROOM TEACHER
BOOK FAIR COORDINATOR, TEAM LEADER, MENTOR, SCHOOLWIDE LEADERSHIP TEAM
Kara M Collins – RESUME PAGE 3 OF 3

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT & MEMBERSHIPS

AVID District Trainer

Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development Member
International Literacy Association Member
International Literacy Association Conference
Comprehensive IMSE Orton-Gillingham Trained
Intermediate IMSE Orton-Gillingham Trained
Lindamood Bell Seeing Stars Trained
Lindamood Bell Visualizing and Verbalizing Trained
Learning Forward Academy Class of 2020
Summit on PLC at Work
ACPS Coaches Academy
AVID Summer Institute
Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment
Literacy Teacher Leader (develops and leads professional development)
VISTA-Virginia Initiative for Science Teaching and Achievement
Virginia State Reading Association Conference
Multi-Sensory Intelligence (MSI)
Virginia Area Science Teachers (VAST) Conference
ELEHSS-Elementary History and Social Sciences Institute

“Mrs. Collins has earned the trust and respect of not only the students, but the entire school community. It takes a “village to raise a child” and our entire
school is focused on literacy development due to Mrs. Collins’ belief that all children have the right to enjoy reading!”
~ Giuliana Brink – Principal – O.B. Gates Elementary School ~