Katherine J. Pethel
Kannapolis
Summary
Knowledgeable educator with proven track record in pre-k-2nd grades. Developed engaging lesson plans and fostered nurturing classroom environment, enhancing student learning and development. Demonstrated strong communication and classroom management skills. Passion for fostering children's love for learning through Christian based principles.
Overview
17
17
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Kindergarten Teacher
First Reformed Church Preschool
09.2024 - Current
- Trained in the Abeka curriculum through the 2024 Abeka Virtual Summer Seminar
- Developed daily lesson plans that included all areas of the Abeka curriculum, along with integrated themes and units, including Election Day, cooking, and Charlotte’s Web
- Incorporated lessons from the Bible using the Abeka Bible Curriculum in order to guide children on their walk with God
- Created a kindergarten quarterly report card and used both formal and informal assessments to help track student progress
- Maintained excellent parent-teacher communication through conferences, monthly newsletters, and weekly communication using Class Dojo
- Helped to plan and implement student programs for families
Lead Teacher- 4 year old class
First Reformed Church Preschool
09.2023 - 09.2024
- Lead students through the alphabet and letter sounds using the Zoo phonics curriculum
- Created weekly lesson plans based around seasonal themes, letters of the week, and Bible stories
- Practiced effective teacher-parent communication through daily and weekly reminders, along with monthly newsletters
Teacher Assistant- 2/3 year old class
First Reformed Church
01.2021 - 09.2023
- Assisted Lead Teacher to help create and implement weekly plans
- Lead students with developmentally appropriate art projects and activities
- Encouraged developmentally appropriate social play in a setting that fostered their social development
Second Grade Teacher
Charles E. Boger Elementary School
03.2020 - 12.2020
- Created and implemented daily lesson plans, including asynchronous instruction to engage students and support their learning both in and out of the classroom
- Established positive relationships and communication beginning early in the 2020-2021 school year through positive phone calls and the use of email and Seesaw to support parents and students during virtual learning
- Assumed an active role of planning and decision making during weekly PLC meetings, where my team and I made decisions to teach most effectively during virtual learning
- Worked remotely with teammates to take over an interim position in second grade from March 2020-June 2020, effectively establishing routine, effective instruction, and positive student-teacher relationships, all while in a remote learning classroom
- Participated in webinars and professional development during remote learning in order to better my skills as a virtual teacher, as well as to expand my knowledge of teaching strategies, including Letterland, use of various LMS platforms, and ways to engage and manage a virtual classroom
Kindergarten Teacher
Enochville Elementary School
06.2019 - 03.2020
- Worked collaboratively with teammates to create an atmosphere for kindergartners that was developmentally appropriate, where they could learn and grow both academically and socially
- Actively took on the “teacher role” as part of the MTSS team, where I continued to plan, implement, and document interventions and remediations for students with academic and behavior concerns
- Developed weekly lesson plans that aligned with the district’s Fundamental Standards for all subject areas, that were hands-on, engaging, and included all types of learners (sensory bins, dramatic play, STEM activities, etc.)
- Co-taught with teammates to give students the most effective form of instruction
- Developed new and old relationships with Spanish speaking families by providing translations and interpretations around the school when needed
- Continued to mentor for a beginning teacher, encouraging her to take risks and to think outside the box in order to help her grow as a new teacher
Second Grade Teacher
Enochville Elementary School
06.2018 - 06.2019
- Created and implemented daily lesson plans designed around Common Core State Standards including technology of various types (Activboard, laptops, iPads, etc.)
- Worked collaboratively with coworkers at all grade levels in order to analyze data and make changes to instruction based on problematic areas
- Continued to create weekly lesson plans for the grade level following the Orton Gillingham style of instruction
- Advocated for students, faculty, and community by holding membership on the School Improvement Team for 5 plus years
- Established excellent parent-teacher communication in the classroom and around the school by providing translations and interpretations for Spanish speaking families
- Mentored a beginning teacher in order to help her establish effective instructional and classroom management practices
First Grade Teacher
Enochville Elementary School
06.2017 - 06.2018
- Worked with teammates on differentiated, daily lesson plans that aligned with the first grade Common Core Curriculum
- Trained to teach Orton Gillingham and implemented daily spelling plans and activities that aligned with the curriculum
- Collaborated with Media Specialist and Tech Facilitator to create PBL’s and STEM activities for students
- Documented detailed behaviors, as well as created various behavior plans and interventions for students with academic and behavioral discrepancies
- Continued to assist in translating for Spanish speaking families around the school
Second Grade Teacher
Enochville Elementary School
06.2015 - 06.2017
- Collaborated with teammates during summer months to familiarize myself with the second grade curriculum
- Created and implemented daily lesson plans and units that aligned with the second grade curriculum
- Planned several PBL’s, where students could apply social studies, science, and math concepts to real world scenarios
- Analyzed data from multiple assessments in order to make plans for instructional changes and practices
- Represented the grade level at Data Team Meetings and on the School Improvement Team in order to demonstrate areas of success and discuss areas where changes needed to be made
- Assisted Spanish speaking families at the school by providing Spanish translations and interpretations
Rowan Salisbury School’s Summer Reading Camp Teacher
China Grove Elementary School
07.2016 - 07.2016
- Assisted students in strengthening their reading skills in their transition from first to second grade
- Created daily lesson plans and activities to help students with individual needs
- Communicated with parents through weekly progress reports that also included suggested activities for practice at home
- Maintained positive relationships with students and acquired positive attitudes from all students based on academic, developmental, and social needs
Kindergarten Teacher
Enochville Elementary School
02.2008 - 06.2015
- Planned and executed lessons in all subject areas that aligned with North Carolina Standards for Kindergarten
- Utilized manipulatives and technology to differentiate and accommodate for various learning styles and special needs
- Maintained strong relationships with parents, encouraging academic and social support for their child
- Administered various kindergarten assessments to monitor social and academic skills of students
- Collected formal and informal data to help make instructional decisions for each individual child
- Attended various workshops and visits, including Reading Foundations, the Math and Science Partnership, Apple iPad training, and Number Worlds in order to keep instructional practices current
Read-to-Achieve Summer School Teacher
Landis Elementary School
07.2014 - 07.2014
- Created and implemented lesson plans in literacy, phonics, grammar, and comprehension to help students gain skills needed to successfully pass the Read-to-Achieve Test
- Trained in Read-to-Achieve materials, including administering and scoring of the test
- Maintained parent communication of student’s individual progress
- Successfully assisted students in the instruction and encouragement needed to pass all 12 standards of the Read-to-Achieve Test
Education
B.A. - Elementary Education
UNC Charlotte
Charlotte, NC01.2007
B.A. - Spanish
UNC Charlotte
Charlotte, NC01.2007
Skills
- Parent-teacher communication
- Classroom management
- Technology integration
- Creative teaching strategies
Certification
- NC Teacher's License- Elementary Education
- CPR Certified
Additional Experience and Trainings
Abeka
Letter Land
Orton Gillingham
Reading Foundations
iPad and Smartboard
Timeline
Kindergarten Teacher
First Reformed Church Preschool
09.2024 - Current
Lead Teacher- 4 year old class
First Reformed Church Preschool
09.2023 - 09.2024
Teacher Assistant- 2/3 year old class
First Reformed Church
01.2021 - 09.2023
Second Grade Teacher
Charles E. Boger Elementary School
03.2020 - 12.2020
Kindergarten Teacher
Enochville Elementary School
06.2019 - 03.2020
Second Grade Teacher
Enochville Elementary School
06.2018 - 06.2019
First Grade Teacher
Enochville Elementary School
06.2017 - 06.2018
Rowan Salisbury School’s Summer Reading Camp Teacher
China Grove Elementary School
07.2016 - 07.2016
Second Grade Teacher
Enochville Elementary School
06.2015 - 06.2017
Read-to-Achieve Summer School Teacher
Landis Elementary School
07.2014 - 07.2014
Kindergarten Teacher
Enochville Elementary School
02.2008 - 06.2015
B.A. - Spanish
UNC Charlotte
B.A. - Elementary Education
UNC Charlotte
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