Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Timeline
Generic

Heather  Ford

Columbus

Summary

Dynamic educator with a proven track record at Annunciation Catholic School, skilled in differentiated instruction and fostering parent-teacher communication. Successfully enhanced student engagement through creative lesson planning and effective classroom management, resulting in improved early reading skills and a supportive learning environment. Passionate about nurturing emotional growth and collaboration among students.

Knowledgeable educator with proven track record in early childhood education. Developed engaging lesson plans and fostered nurturing classroom environment, enhancing student learning and development. Demonstrated strong communication and classroom management skills.

Experienced with creating engaging lesson plans tailored to young learners' needs and abilities. Utilizes effective classroom management techniques to maintain positive and productive learning environment. Knowledge of early childhood education principles and practices ensures solid foundation for student growth.

Certified Kindergarten Teacher creates and runs programs to educate beginning students and improve school readiness. Fosters growth and development in children while encouraging strong partnerships with families. Manages behavior issues through innovative and constructive correction.

Kind Kindergarten Teacher with 29 years of experience. Detail-oriented planner with talent for developing individualized lesson plans and cultivating classroom atmospheres of positivity and progress. Committed to comprehensive student growth.

Dedicated teacher with demonstrated ability to motivate and engage students in learning. Manages diverse classroom, assessing student progress and developing positive relationships with students and parents.

Dynamic individual with hands-on experience in early child education and talent for navigating challenges. Brings strong problem-solving skills and proactive approach to new tasks. Known for adaptability, creativity, and results-oriented mindset. Committed to making meaningful contributions and advancing organizational goals.

Demonstrates strong analytical, communication, and teamwork skills, with proven ability to quickly adapt to new environments. Eager to contribute to team success and further develop professional skills. Brings positive attitude and commitment to continuous learning and growth.

Thorough team contributor with strong organizational capabilities. Experienced in handling numerous projects at once while ensuring accuracy. Effective at prioritizing tasks and meeting deadlines.

Detail-oriented individual with exceptional communication and project management skills. Proven ability to handle multiple tasks effectively and efficiently in fast-paced environments. Recognized for taking proactive approach to identifying and addressing issues, with focus on optimizing processes and supporting team objectives.

Equipped with strong problem-solving abilities, willingness to learn, and excellent communication skills. Poised to contribute to team success and achieve positive results. Ready to tackle new challenges and advance organizational objectives with dedication and enthusiasm.

Overview

30
30
years of professional experience

Work History

Kindergarten Teacher

Annunciation Catholic School
08.2008 - Current
  • Built positive relationships with students and families for safe, trusted learning support.
  • Enhanced classroom management by establishing clear expectations, rules, and routines.
  • Collaborated with colleagues to share resources, brainstorm ideas, and problem-solve challenges faced in the classroom environment.
  • Implemented differentiated instruction strategies to meet the diverse learning needs of all students.
  • Promoted learning through play with engaging activities, games and lessons.
  • Promoted a positive learning environment with the use of collaborative group work and hands-on activities.
  • Delivered lesson plans, implemented school curriculum and used data to create, monitor, and establish personalized learning plan for each student.
  • Improved student reading skills by implementing phonics-based instruction and guided reading activities.
  • Developed strong relationships with families to address any concerns or issues impacting student success.
  • Recognized children's physical, emotional and social needs for personalized support.
  • Utilized assessment data to modify instruction and target areas of weakness for individual students.
  • Increased parent involvement through regular communication, parent-teacher conferences, and workshops.
  • Monitored and evaluated student progress through regular assessments and observations.
  • Reported to parents and administration about student progress.
  • Evaluated student progress regularly through formative assessments to inform instructional decisions.
  • Played games with students to increase understanding of subjects.
  • Exercised good classroom management focused on positive behavior support by clearly articulating fair and consistent expectations along with appropriate natural consequences.
  • Served as a mentor for new teachers, providing guidance on lesson planning, classroom management, and instructional strategies.
  • Assisted in curriculum development to align lessons with state standards and improve overall instructional quality.
  • Created, managed, and participated in variety of learning environments and activities to support opportunities for students to develop full potential and achieve learning objectives.
  • Collaborated with other faculty and staff to promote rigorous learning opportunities, general well-being of school and collective interest of staff and student body.
  • Fostered social-emotional growth in students through daily morning meetings, conflict resolution strategies, and character education lessons.
  • Applied evidence-based practices for classroom management to enhance learning results.
  • Developed and implemented individualized educational plans for special needs children.
  • Adapted teaching methods and materials to meet evolving educational standards and best practices, ensuring high-quality education.
  • Cultivated love for reading among students by integrating interactive storytimes into daily routines.
  • Developed and implemented multicultural curriculum, promoting inclusivity and respect for diversity among students.
  • Implemented technology in classroom to aid learning, using educational apps and interactive whiteboards.
  • Provided regular feedback to parents on their child's progress and areas for improvement through detailed report cards and parent-teacher conferences.
  • Supported emotional development by teaching and modeling empathy, patience, and communication skills.
  • Boosted students' understanding of basic math concepts with use of hands-on learning tools and activities.
  • Encouraged positive behaviors and growth mindset among students through use of motivational charts and awards.
  • Fostered safe and welcoming classroom atmosphere, enabling students to feel valued and heard.
  • Strengthened students' problem-solving abilities with integration of thematic units that require critical thinking.
  • Encouraged creative expression among students through introduction of weekly art projects.
  • Facilitated individualized learning plans for students with special needs, ensuring their successful integration into classroom.
  • Promoted culture of reading and learning by setting up classroom library accessible to all students.
  • Improved learning with well-prepared lesson plans that cater to various learning styles and needs.
  • Enhanced students' physical coordination and teamwork skills with structured group activities during physical education sessions.
  • Increased students' vocabulary and language skills with daily interactive language games.
  • Initiated school garden project to teach students about nature, responsibility, and basics of science.
  • Enhanced classroom behavior through implementation of positive reinforcement strategy, leading to more conducive learning environment.
  • Delivered structured lessons on readiness skills by emphasizing phonics, language skills, literature, and handwriting.
  • Arranged parent-teacher conferences to address student progress and collaboratively set goals for areas of improvement.
  • Collaborated in planning, organizing and implementing instructional programs to facilitate academic, intellectual, and social development.
  • Teamed with other professionals to enhance student learning experiences.
  • Incorporated art, music and physical activity into curriculum for well-rounded education.
  • Kept accurate documents about student progress for school and parent records.
  • Created and supervised variety of hands-on learning activities for fun and engagement.
  • Helped struggling students by motivating and encouraging kids to reach full potential.
  • Encouraged and prepared students to become independent readers through systematic, multi-sensory instruction in phonemic awareness and decoding skills.
  • Rewarded student success by utilizing praise and positive reinforcement techniques.
  • Developed and implemented behavior management strategies for creation of ideal learning environment.
  • Utilized various assessment strategies to evaluate student performance.
  • Advanced learning techniques by using differentiated instruction strategies to accommodate student needs.
  • Assisted students by serving as advocate for children in school and community.
  • Inspired students to take ownership of learning and become autonomous thinkers.
  • Established and maintained consistent classroom rules and expectations for obedience.
  • Monitored use of technology, enhancing student learning and technological skills.

4 Year Old Preschool Teacher

First United Methodist Early Learning Center
08.2003 - 04.2008
  • Developed strong relationships with parents and caregivers, providing regular updates on their child''s progress and addressing any concerns proactively.
  • Developed weekly lesson plans and activities to engage children and promote learning.
  • Maintained organized, fun and interactive classroom to help children feel safe.
  • Sanitized toys and play equipment each day to maintain safety and cleanliness.
  • Designed creative lesson plans that incorporated hands-on activities and interactive learning experiences to foster curiosity and engagement in young learners.
  • Ensured a safe and nurturing environment for all students, adhering to health and safety guidelines in the classroom.
  • Established positive communication with parents in daily conversation and formal conferences.
  • Applied play-based strategies to provide diverse approaches to learning.
  • Gave one-on-one attention to children while maintaining overall focus on entire group.
  • Boosted children''s social development by promoting positive interactions among peers through group activities and collaborative projects.
  • Strengthened communication skills among preschoolers through daily dialogue practice during circle time sessions.
  • Monitored students' academic, social, and emotional progress and recorded in individual files.

Teacher-kindergarten and 4th Grade

Columbus Municipal School District
08.1998 - 11.2001
  • Developed strong relationships with students, parents, and colleagues by maintaining open lines of communication and fostering a supportive learning environment.
  • Managed classroom behavior effectively by establishing clear expectations, modeling appropriate conduct, and consistently enforcing established rules and consequences.
  • Enhanced classroom engagement through the use of interactive teaching methods, such as group projects and hands-on activities.
  • Maintained accurate records of student progress, attendance, and behavior to facilitate ongoing communication with parents about their child''s educational journey.
  • Differentiated instruction to accommodate diverse learning needs, ensuring each student had an equal opportunity for success.
  • Assessed student performance regularly using both formative and summative assessments to inform future lesson planning.
  • Collaborated with other teachers to plan interdisciplinary units that connected subjects and promoted deeper understanding among students.
  • Identified struggling students early on and provided additional support through tutoring sessions and modified lesson plans.
  • Continuously pursued professional development opportunities such as workshops or conferences to stay current in educational trends.

Gifted and Talented Teacher

Noxubee County School System
08.1997 - 05.1998
  • Balanced individual and group instruction to accommodate different academic levels and learning styles.
  • Implemented project-based learning approaches to promote creativity, problem-solving abilities, and deeper understanding of course material.
  • Improved student engagement by incorporating hands-on learning activities and group projects.
  • Identified children's collective and individual learning needs to plan, prepare and deliver instruction designed to maximize individual learning and capture interest.

Kindergarten Teacher

Yazoo City School System
01.1995 - 05.1996
  • Organized field trips to local museums and cultural sites, enhancing students' understanding of their community and wider world.
  • Improved parental involvement in children's education by organizing monthly parent-teacher meetings to discuss progress and challenges.
  • Observed and assessed student performance and charted progress.
  • Designed innovative initiatives to engage parents in educational process for student benefit.
  • Built positive relationships with students and families for safe, trusted learning support.
  • Enhanced classroom management by establishing clear expectations, rules, and routines.
  • Collaborated with colleagues to share resources, brainstorm ideas, and problem-solve challenges faced in the classroom environment.
  • Implemented differentiated instruction strategies to meet the diverse learning needs of all students.
  • Promoted learning through play with engaging activities, games and lessons.
  • Promoted a positive learning environment with the use of collaborative group work and hands-on activities.
  • Delivered lesson plans, implemented school curriculum and used data to create, monitor, and establish personalized learning plan for each student.
  • Improved student reading skills by implementing phonics-based instruction and guided reading activities.
  • Developed strong relationships with families to address any concerns or issues impacting student success.
  • Recognized children's physical, emotional and social needs for personalized support.
  • Utilized assessment data to modify instruction and target areas of weakness for individual students.
  • Increased parent involvement through regular communication, parent-teacher conferences, and workshops.
  • Reported to parents and administration about student progress.
  • Evaluated student progress regularly through formative assessments to inform instructional decisions.
  • Played games with students to increase understanding of subjects.
  • Exercised good classroom management focused on positive behavior support by clearly articulating fair and consistent expectations along with appropriate natural consequences.

Education

Bachelor of Science - Elementary Education

Mississippi State University
Starkville, MS
12-1994

Skills

  • Differentiated instruction
  • Parent-teacher communication
  • Lesson planning
  • Early childhood development
  • Classroom management
  • Classroom organization
  • Classroom instruction
  • Parent communication
  • Behavior management
  • Documentation and record keeping
  • Curriculum planning
  • Social skills
  • Faculty collaboration
  • Early reading
  • Group and individual instruction
  • Creative teaching strategies
  • Emotional support
  • Educational games

Timeline

Kindergarten Teacher

Annunciation Catholic School
08.2008 - Current

4 Year Old Preschool Teacher

First United Methodist Early Learning Center
08.2003 - 04.2008

Teacher-kindergarten and 4th Grade

Columbus Municipal School District
08.1998 - 11.2001

Gifted and Talented Teacher

Noxubee County School System
08.1997 - 05.1998

Kindergarten Teacher

Yazoo City School System
01.1995 - 05.1996

Bachelor of Science - Elementary Education

Mississippi State University
Heather  Ford