Vice President of Product Development at ECS Learning Systems (2021-01 – Present)
- Responsible for leading the strategy and direction of the company's entire suite of curriculum and supplemental curriculum products and services
- Plan, direct, coordinate, and oversee the internal operations of the Product Development department to ensure outputs from the department provide monetary gains for the company
- Lead, monitor, and mentor Product Development directors to ensure effective team building and productivity and to ensure departmental goals are met and support the mission of the company
- Work closely with the organization's CEO on new product initiatives and forecasting budget allocations for products and services
- Write proposals and set projected costs in response to Request for Proposals (RFPs) to successfully acquire new and profitable multi-million-dollar business partnerships
- Communicate and collaborate across the organization on new product assessments, risk management and problem solving, and workstream processing and resourcing
Director of Product Development at ECS Learning Systems (2019-01 – 2021-12)
- Responsible for directing the development and execution of both print and digital K-12 curriculum support products and services
- Created product roadmaps for short-term and long-term product goals to support the company's mission
- Collaborated with Sales and Marketing leadership on product placement, promotions, and messaging
- Assisted in the proposal writing of responses to Requests for Proposals (RFPs) to secure new business partnerships
- Communicated and collaborated with executive-level leadership team on departmental status updates
Manager of Product Development at ECS Learning Systems (2016-01 – 2019-12)
- Responsible for managing a team of content, editorial, and graphic design experts creating K-12 standards-based supplemental classroom curriculum products
- Worked closely with executive-level leadership on setting product roadmaps, including project timelines, workflows, and budgets for print and digital educational products
- Senior reviewed behind development team members on assigned grade and subject-area projects, from conception to completion
- Wrote and edited marketing copy to accurately promote product understanding
- Presented product information at educational trade shows and other marketing conferences
Product Development Specialist at ECS Learning Systems (2013-01 – 2015-12)
- Responsible for creating, designing, writing, editing, and proofing supplemental classroom materials
- Researched and applied curriculum best practices to the development of new classroom products
- Ensured standards alignment in all developed items for all core competencies
- Copy edited product marketing copy for errors and accuracy
- Promoted products one-on-one with potential customers at educational trade shows
Senior Editor at Pearson (2004-01 – 2010-12)
- Responsible for supervising and project managing all editorial services on the Virginia Standards of Learning, ELA state assessment; the Arkansas Comprehensive Testing, Assessment, and Accountability Program state assessment; and the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Career consortium for national assessments
- Managed editorial project team and coordinated workflow assignments
- Performed senior copy-editing reviews of test items and passages throughout development and publication in paper-based, online, and next generation assessments
- Worked with test development managers to update project-based content-specific style guidelines according to client feedback and implemented changes as needed on procedural checklists
- Communicated in editorial team meetings and cross-functional project team meetings, providing project status updates, contributing to solutions regarding program risks, and offering subject matter expertise in editorial processing and resourcing
Senior Editor at Pearson (2012-01 – 2013-12)
Independent Contractor at Pearson (2010-01 – 2012-12)
- Wrote English language arts passages for publication in educational assessments, following project-specific guidelines and assigned state standards
- Copy edited test items and passages prior to publication in educational assessments, ensuring style guidelines were met, as well as editing for grammar, spelling, punctuation, sentence structure, concision, and clarity
- Proofread educational assessments and ancillary materials, following provided checklists and schedules to meet specific requirements and deadlines
Lead Editor at Pearson (2002-01 – 2004-12)
- Responsible for leading all editorial operations on the Ohio Graduation Tests, the Mississippi Subject Area Testing Program, and Arizona's Instrument to Measure Standards
- Developed and trained assistant editors on project specifications and copy-editing functions and procedures
- Collaborated with program managers, project directors, content specialists, and production managers to facilitate the workflow through development reviews, composition rounds, and final approvals of files to print
- Provided project workflow updates in functional meetings and project team meetings
Assistant Editor at Pearson (2000-01 – 2002-12)
- Responsible for assisting the lead editor on the Ohio Graduation Tests and the Mississippi Subject Area Testing Program
- Performed copy editing of test items and passages through development stages
- Proofread and cross-checked test booklets, answer documents, and ancillary materials through composition rounds
- Reviewed advances of all printed materials
Social Worker at Easterseals Tennessee (1999-01 – 2000-12)
- Managed caseload of forty developmentally disabled adults working at agency-contracted workshop and/or living at agency-supported group homes
- Worked with each individual's Circle of Support and advocated for each individual's vision of the future, developing implementation plans documenting monthly progress on each individual's goals
- Served on Incident Management, Advocacy, Behavior Intervention, and Records Review committees
- Supervised Personal Assistants and performed on-call duties on a weekend rotation
Intensive Focus Specialist at West Tennessee Healthcare—Pathways | Henderson County (1998-01 – 1999-12)
- Worked with guidance counselors in the school system in response to referrals made of at-risk students
- Assessed students referred for early intervention program based on state- and agency-mandated criteria
- Developed and implemented program curricula based upon group dynamics
- Conducted support group sessions serving students in kindergarten through Grade 12 at high risk of abusing alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs
Case Manager at Tennessee Department of Children's Services (1997-01 – 1998-12)
- Managed caseload of twenty abused, neglected, and/or unruly children under age 18 and their families
- Ensured appropriate services were arranged for child and family so that permanency goals were met
- Arranged staffings, presented cases before Foster Care Review Board, and attended hearings on each child
- Performed home studies as ordered by the court, assisted Child Protective Service's Investigator, and performed on-call duties on a weekly rotation
