Laura Donnelly

Hello! I am currently seeking a teaching position in the Raleigh/Apex area that provides continued opportunity for growth as an educator serving the community. In addition to being a skilled ESL Teacher, I am also interested in positions that would help me explore a transition back to my roots in music. I truly miss the joy of sharing my musical talents and knowledge!

My experience with music and theater arts includes:

• Teaching private voice lessons
• Hosting and leading various interactive vocal music, rhythm/percussion, and movement workshops (all ages)
• Leadership roles - community theater music director and choreographer; choir director; song leader

Most recently, I enjoyed organizing and leading a drum circle welcome/kick-off for my ESL team's International Festival, and I have been honored to cover band and chorus classes as a WCPSS Substitute Teacher. The students - and their teachers! - were delighted to discover I could conduct and help them rehearse their music. These experiences have stayed on my mind and within my heart, and I long to return to sharing my passion for music!

ESL Teacher - 50% LEP (Terminating Contract) at WAKE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS (2021 – 2026)

MILLBROOK MAGNET HIGH SCHOOL (2025 – 2026); SANDERSON HIGH SCHOOL (2024 – 2025); HUNTER MAGNET ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (2023 – 2024); HOLLY GROVE MIDDLE SCHOOL (2022 – 2023); WCPSS Substitute Teacher (2021 – 2022) - Including long-term ESL sub at HGMS

I have grown as an educator each year and have gained significant knowledge and insight on the role of the ESL Teacher in the district by attending the quarterly ESL Institute / EL Contact meetings and training sessions, WIDA Standards sessions, WIDA Screener/ACCESS certification, BT meetings, and various other PD opportunities.

Skills and knowledge obtained and/or enhanced include, for example: Sheltered Training, Effective Collaboration, SEL competencies and the Zones of Regulation, boosting achievement when working with SLIFE language learners, and RAZ+ language comp and decoding resources.

• MMHS: Transitional ML Teacher/Advocate currently supporting a caseload of 58 MLs who no longer attend regular ESL classes; ESL team LEIP Matrix data manager; BT Capstone presentation: Interpreting ML Data / Intro to ELLevation
• SHS: ESL III/IV Curriculum Lead/Teacher & ESL I Teacher
• HMES: ML caseload of 27; met regularly with all 27 each week
• HGMS: ML caseload of 33 students; saw 10 students daily for ESL I & ESL II classes

ACCESS TESTING: Planned/coordinated and conducted all ACCESS testing at HGMS; Completed same with the assistance of the testing team at HMES; Prepped students for and administered ACCESS to my caseload at SHS

Private ESL Instructor & Enrichment Tutor at SELF-EMPLOYMENT (2015 – 2018); Contract ESL Instructor at HR BEST SOLUTIONS (2016 – 2017) and CARTUS GLOBAL LANGUAGE TRAINING NETWORK (2015 – 2017)

• Planned and conducted one-on-one or group ESL lessons designed to meet the specific needs of the student
• Intercultural and language solutions delivered to internationally relocated business assignees and their family members
• Provided in-home private ESL instruction and transition assistance to corporately assigned clients
• Offered comprehensive language training including general or advanced ESL, accent modification, idiom usage, colloquialisms, local dialects, and business communication
• Highlighted insight and understanding of cultural and cross-cultural influences in global business and local daily life
• Provided private clients with a variety of enrichment lessons (ESL/Japanese/Vocal Music) for individual students or groups of all ages; also conducted occasional workshops (Music/Art/Cultural Diversity)

ESL / EOG Tutor at TORCHLIGHT ACADEMY (w/ G.A. Ed. Partnerships) (2017)

• Assisted Mrs. Sands' 5th grade class with EOG preparations, working closely with six ESL students, approximately 5-6wks.
• Occasionally taught assigned lesson plans to the entire class as requested by lead teacher

Lay Worship Leader (Volunteer) at UNIVERSALIST FELLOWSHIP OF RALEIGH (UUFR) (2013 – 2018)

• Planned, created, and led special worship services and workshops for children and adults, incorporating collaborative music, drumming, and movement activities
• Worship Leader for seasonal celebrations; planned and prepared all materials; presented services solo, or coordinated with staff or other lay leaders as necessary
• Served 2yrs as Worship Associate for regular Sunday services, preparing my own presentations or presenting assigned materials as needed
• Memorial Service Soloist – Honorarium (paid performer), as requested

Administrative Assistant / Substitute Teacher at DYNAMIC COMMUNITY CHARTER SCHOOL (2014 – 2015)

General assistance provided with all office needs to the charter school's board, administration, as well as all staff.

• Key assistance provided for student enrollment processes, class and teacher schedules tracking, all student data formatting and updates, parent communications, school supply orders, printing, etc.
• Provided high level of organization and a positive office environment; managed front desk, handling late student check-in, early check-out, and greeting all visitors; handled all incoming calls
• Taught classes as needed for Drama, English, Music and Projects classes (substitute teaching)

Choreographer at BENSON LITTLE THEATRE: Once Upon A Mattress (2015)

Planned and taught choreography for their summer Youth Workshop's theatre performance.

Administrative Assistant / Training Coordinator at McDONALD'S USA, LLC (2006 – 2014)

Performed as Regional Training Coordinator in Northwest Region (4yrs) and Raleigh Region (1yr), supporting Training Manager, Training Team, and network of Owner/Operator customers.

• Organized and implemented database cleanup to verify and correct all student records in OnTrack prior to 2007 upgrade, and again in 2011 to merge records to the new online Learning Management System (LMS)
• Managed and updated Training Dept webpages to be user friendly; managed communication to region regarding schedule/venue changes, and new online course prerequisites
• Received and graded course pre-assessments; communicated scores (prior to LMS upgrade)
• Set up "English Under the Arches" (EUA) registration procedures and helped kick off program; piloted new EUA online assessment process, assisting home office with roll out to other regions
• Provided organized overviews and "best-bets" presentations on newest versions of Outlook, Communicator, and SharePoint at regional and national levels
• Additional administrative support provided over the years for two different Director of Operations and multiple departments including finance, development, field service, reception, and general office support

Vocal Music Instructor / Performer at LA CASA DE LA CULTURA (1998 – 2000; 2006)

Presented occasional music workshops for young adults; also provided solo performances for seasonal events.

Preschool Teacher at CHILDREN'S WORLD (2004 – 2005)

Lead Pre-K Teacher; also worked frequently with toddlers and after-school care children K-6.

Private ESL Instructor at AMI-ENGLISH CO. and ETC, INC. (1994 – 1998), AMI-ENGLISH CO. and ETC, INC. (1987 – 1989), TEPCO HIGH SCHOOL (1987 – 1989), and LAKE SAIKO SUMMER CAMP (1988)

Individual, group, and classroom English Conversation lessons with students of all ages.

ADDITIONAL MUSIC & THEATRE ARTS EXPERIENCE:

I have had many more years of experience, having been a performer most of my life! In junior high/high school and college I was an active participant in band (clarinet and oboe), chorus, show choir, and musical theater productions. My years of vocal performance solo and ensemble experience, as well as theater arts experience, includes performing and/or directing with the following community choirs, local theater groups, professional ensembles, and other professional organizations.

• Mount Chalon Madrigal Singers (paid)
• Vivacé Performing Arts (community theater cast member and board member)
• L'Esperance Singers (semi-professional solo & ensemble)
• Tokyo International Singers (Soprano Section Leader)
• Printemps Tokyo (paid solo & ensemble)
• NHK WORLD - JAPAN, Public Broadcasting (semi-professional solo & ensemble)
• Yokosuka Little Theatre Group (Casting Director, Music Director, Cast and Board Member)
• Chapel of Hope, Catholic Choir Director (paid)
• Yokohama International Ladies Sing (paid song leader)
• Unitarian Universalist Church of Jacksonville (paid soloist/song leader)
• Macaroni Grill Singing Hostess (paid)
• Bellevue Chamber Chorus (semi-professional)
• Snowflake Lane Parade Performer/Singer (paid)
• The Bellevue Collection's Holiday Quartet Singer (paid)
• Washington State Fair "Country Idol" Finalist (regional karaoke competition)
• JoyFuel (interactive art and drumming workshop /paid)

I also co-wrote and sang with an original folk trio for a few years. We took second place in the Spring 2014 Shakori Hills GrassRoots Festival of Music & Dance regional band competition.

Bachelor of Music Degree in Vocal Performance – Mount Saint Mary's College (1993)