Victoria V. Downer
Metairie
Summary
Observant individual with excellent interpersonal and communication skills builds meaningful relationships with clients and families. Experienced in working with clients from diverse cultural and religious backgrounds.
Overview
13
13
years of professional experience
Work History
Lead PK 4 Teacher
ReNEW Schools
07.2022 - Current
- Modeled positive behavior and communication skills for students.
- Incorporated music, art and literature into curriculum.
- Collaborated with teachers, parents and administrators to facilitate positive outcomes for students.
- Implemented age-appropriate curricula to meet needs of young learners.
- Utilized creative teaching strategies to engage students in classroom.
- Developed innovative activities to engage young children in learning process.
- Planned and executed activities to stimulate physical, social and intellectual growth.
- Organized and supervised large and small group activities.
- Encouraged use of technology to support student learning.
- Organized activities to teach preschool children foundational learning skills such as letters and numbers.
- Guided students to develop social, emotional and physical skills.
- Developed and implemented behavior management plans.
- Established positive relationships with students and families.
Lead Teacher
Causeway Head Start
02.2016 - 07.2022
- Plans, organizes, and coordinates with appropriate Staff, the daily and weekly classroom activities to ensure the 8 domains of education, social emotional, medical, and nutritional requirements (including lunch count, special dietary needs folder) of the Head Start Program are met
- Instructs and interacts with pre-school age children in all center activities and joins them at mealtime
- Monitors each child's health/hygiene and ensures steps are taken to correct problem areas
- Supervises and directs the activities of the Assistant Teacher and assigned Child Care Workers in all phases of the daily program, evaluates and provides for the continual learning of the assistant, supplemented with frequent appropriate conferences
- Requests and secures all equipment/supplies for the daily activities, and maintains center/classroom facilities in safe, clean and proper order
- Duties include proper maintenance in the pre-logs and reports on all equipment and supplies
- Participation in the home visits, evaluations, assessments and parent-teacher conferences.
Teacher
Bright Beginnings Daycare
06.2015 - 02.2016
- Planned and implemented integrated lessons to meet national standards.
- Communicated frequently with parents, students and faculty to provide feedback and discuss instructional strategies.
- Kept students on-task with proactive behavior modification and positive reinforcement strategies.
- Incorporated exciting and engaging activities to achieve student participation and hands-on learning.
Lead Support Teacher
McGaw YMCA
07.2012 - 06.2015
- Taught Theoretical lessons and handled practical sessions
- Coordinated games and fun activities among children
- Taught and executed children's projects from conception to completion
- Educated and took care of students from ages 1-6
- Created and managed lessons plans for the whole class
- Planned and organized variety of activities such as playing, dancing, singing, gaming, arts and crafts to bring out student's talents and improve their skills
- Helped increase the students interest and attention on academic learning
- Helped students to learn letter recognition, numbers, science and nature with ease and interest
- Took story telling sessions for children to increase students' vocabulary and creative thinking
- Used audio visual aid in teaching to make each lesson more interesting
- Attended to each student's problem about lessons and coordinated with their parents discuss their children's progress and/or weaknesses
- Worked with other professionals such as occupational therapists and speech therapists
- Provided support for students who are unable to fully participate in activities
- Helped to complete the individual Education Programs for students
- Prepared displays of students work.
Assistant Worker
Anixter Center
01.2014 - 05.2015
- Took on additional shifts during peak work periods to keep projects on schedule.
- Worked with clients to provide resources based on needs.
- Provided psychosocial support to develop coping skills and support personal goals for recovery.
- Prepared reports to summarize clients' mental health status and treatment progress.
- Worked collaboratively with other mental health professionals to provide consistent care and minimize diversion.
- Assessed mental health needs to determine nature and extent of clients' emotional, behavioral or mental health issues.
- Consulted with other staff members regarding treatment plans as deemed appropriate by team leader.
- Assessed clients in feed, changing, bathing, and attending trips
Education
Bachelor of Arts - Early Childhood Education
National Louis University
Chicago, IL06.2019
Associate of Arts - Early Childhood Education
City Colleges of Chicago-Kennedy-King College
Chicago, IL05.2012
Elementary Education
Eureka College
Eureka, IL2006
High School Diploma -
Neal F. Simeon Career Academy
Chicago, IL05.2005
Skills
- Microsoft Office
- Child Plus
- Brigance
- Ready Rosie
- Student records management
- Classroom management
- Lesson Planning
- Group and individual instruction
- Safety awareness
- Parent-teacher collaboration
- Child development
- First-aid and CPR
- Confidential Services
Timeline
Lead PK 4 Teacher
ReNEW Schools
07.2022 - Current
Lead Teacher
Causeway Head Start
02.2016 - 07.2022
Teacher
Bright Beginnings Daycare
06.2015 - 02.2016
Assistant Worker
Anixter Center
01.2014 - 05.2015
Lead Support Teacher
McGaw YMCA
07.2012 - 06.2015
Bachelor of Arts - Early Childhood Education
National Louis University
Associate of Arts - Early Childhood Education
City Colleges of Chicago-Kennedy-King College
Elementary Education
Eureka College
High School Diploma -
Neal F. Simeon Career Academy
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