Shaina Neal

I wish to apply for the position of Principal. I hold a Master’s in Secondary Education from Arizona State University and a second Masters in Educational Leadership (with an SEI concentration) from Columbia Teacher’s College. I have over 15 years of educational experience with 6 of those years in leadership. I have also taught overseas in South Korea and England.

Over the past 15 years, I’ve taught 6-8th grade math, and English as a second language, and been an AVID coordinator. I have also served as a Literacy Coach, Dean, and Assistant Principal. I am currently the principal of a Private School in Georgia.

In each of these roles, I’ve led professional development and been responsible for data and assessments. I’ve had the opportunity to observe educational philosophies and systems in several countries which has given me a unique perspective on what students, teachers, and leaders need in a competitive world. I believe my passion for developing teacher leaders and my history of effective teaching would make me a perfect member of your team.

It will be an honor to use the skills I’ve obtained to join your school as a Leader. After searching your website, I find that your core beliefs align with my own beliefs and values and I hope to join your phenomenal team.

Smoke Rise Prep Stone Mountain, Ga July 2021 – Present

Principal

K-8 grade

• Maintained and managed all aspects of school culture and academics
• Trained and coached teachers using “Get Better Faster”
• Implemented a new curriculum to ensure rigor in all classes
• Established schedules for teachers and students
• Oversaw day-to-day school operations
• Managed and maintained the school budget
• Set learning goals for students and teachers based on National Curricula and tests
• Interviewed and hired personnel
• Handled discipline and emotional support for students
• Ensured a safe and clean environment for students 
• Attended conferences to gain knowledge and stay current on educational trends
  1. grade

KIPP INDY Legacy High Indianapolis Indiana July 2019 – Present

Director of Student Services

• Created and continuously refined the Culture/Discipline system
• Served as the Title IX Coordinator
• Sent out daily emails to students detailing where they were as a grade level, cohort, and school and discussed the data with them each morning in the huddle
• Managed BIPS and instructed teachers in best practices for classroom management and relationship building
• Sent out daily emails to staff detailing the biggest areas of strength and growth to be considered the following day
• Observed and coached all teachers utilizing the Uncommon Schools Get Better Faster scope and sequence for intentional and specific coaching, both real-time and using the “See it, Name it, Do it” framework. 
• Fostered a school community that supported the school's mission and promoted respect and appreciation for all students, staff, and families.
• Responsible for planning all student and family events including homecoming, BBQs, dances, and parent meetings. 
• Initiated the process of building the Parent Ambassadors program. 
• Created Legacy Student Ambassadors program for touring visitors, interviewing candidates, and taking part in focus groups. 
• Provided regular one-on-one counseling or group counseling to students and families, including but not limited to restorative circles and mediation. 
• Provided crisis intervention regularly for students experiencing trauma.
• Implemented, financially managed, and ran the Legacy student store “Nealizon Prime” where students were able to use their merits to shop. 
• Managed, tracked, and documented student interactions, behavior, and successes both in PowerSchool and my personal management system.
• Set behavior goals with students and tracked progress towards those goals.
• Created and executed the school-wide positive incentive program and changed systems to make space for e-learning.
  1. grade

Tindley Accelerated Schools, Indianapolis Indiana July 2018 – Present

Assistant Principal/Instructional Coach

• Utilized the Uncommon Schools Get Better Faster scope and sequence for intentional and specific coaching, both real-time and using the “See it, Name it, Do it” framework.
• Implemented the Tindley discipline protocols with fidelity and created a tracking system utilized by all staff. 
• Monitored and Evaluated learning materials to determine where improvements and changes are needed.
• Created and maintained a system for communicating attendance, performance, planning, and other reports. 
• Established and led 10 community partnerships to support the culture of Tindley Collegiate.
• Created and implemented a daily culture walk system checking for student uniforms, room cleanliness, and board agendas in every classroom.
• Established a teacher appreciation calendar with monthly incentives and activities.
• Held the sole responsibility of communicating with all parents about discipline.
• Established Tindley Collegiate as a Troop for Boy Scouts in an unprecedented school-wide partnership. Through this partnership, every gentleman at Tindley is a boy scout. I was asked to speak at the Governor’s Luncheon about the partnership and there we raised over 1 million dollars. 
• Created lesson plans and activities for hour-long “community meetings” held every Friday afternoon.

Valdosta Middle School, Valdosta, Ga July 2017 – July 2018

Avid Coordinator and Elective teacher

6-8 grade

• Led professional learning communities on various AVID strategies on a monthly basis. 
• Observed, coached, and monitored teachers’ use of AVID strategies in the classroom.
• Collaborated with stakeholders (AVID students, AVID parents, AVID counselors, the AVID coordinator, the AVID administrator, and teachers) to develop an AVID program based on a college-going culture.
• Established and maintained high expectations for AVID students’ achievement. 
• Collected and analyzed AVID student data and regularly monitored and tracked AVID students’ academic progress. 
• Advocated for AVID students’ access to and success in rigorous courses. 
• Taught and promoted the use of Costa’s Questions and WICOR instructional strategies across content areas. 
• Hired tutors and completed timesheets and payments. 
• Collaborated with tutors to effectively implement the tutorial process. 
• Implemented and managed a Site team of 15 educators. 

Valdosta Middle School, Valdosta, Ga July 2014 – May 2017

Certified Teacher, Department Head, Mentor Teacher 

Eighth Grade, Math

• Taught various 8th-grade math classes: Advanced Content, Remediation, 8th-grade math with no accommodation, ESOL, Special Education Inclusion
  • Differentiated instruction on whole-class and individual student levels.
  • Created high-interest, engagement-centered lessons and activities rooted in CCGPS standards.
  • Fostered a positive classroom environment using a raffle ticket system as a form of classroom management and positive reinforcement. 
  • Fostered authentic classroom discussion by allowing students to share diverse opinions and insights.
  • Tracked student progress using formative and summative assessments to drive lesson planning
• Led professional learning sessions on creative classroom management and student data tracking.
• Collaborated with all eighth-grade Math teachers to formulate standards-based units, lessons, activities, and projects.
• Trained in AVID (student achievement program), and implemented AVID learning strategies to boost student achievement.
• Implemented regular use of technology to fuel student engagement and track progress
  • Google Forms to create online worksheets and surveys—used student data to drive lesson planning.
  • Regular use of Google Chrome books for every student in all classes
  • Student/Parent-centered Facebook page where announcements, extra practice, and videos are posted.
  • The online version of GO Math Collections textbook to create visual assistance.

Engaging Educators in Renewable EnerGY (ENERGY), Georgia Southern June – July 2017

1 of 10 educators selected from the South East Region

• Demonstrated collaborative skills gained from designing and conducting team research, including fabrication, and testing of energy systems that benefit school, industry, environment, and society
• Correctly used instruments to conduct experiments in renewable energy, mechatronics and controls.
• Developed ENERGY-based lessons to be implemented in the classroom.
• Evaluated the impact of ENERGY lessons on student learning.
• Interviewed Undergrads, Graduates, and Doctors in an effort to encourage minority students in STEM fields.
• Synthesized learning into professional quality scientific and engineering.
• Presented lesson at the Georgia STEM conference. 
• Currently in the process of publishing a paper on my research and findings. 

Lakenheath Middle School, Suffolk, England June 2013 – April 2014

Substitute Teacher

All grades, All Subjects

• Filled roles for both long-term and short-term subbing.

Cheongju English Center, South Korea July 2010 – July 2011

Master Teacher, Curriculum Specialist, English teacher

All grades, English

• Created entire curriculum for new English School.
• Implemented 10 different situational classes that aided language acquisition.
• Taught 90 different students a week for one academic school year.
• Focused on grammar skills by facilitating daily grammar mini-lessons that built on content mastery from each previous day.
• Fostered authentic classroom discussion by allowing students to share diverse opinions and insights.
• Created higher-order questions in every unit to encourage high-level thinking and participation.
• Regularly met with co-teacher to discuss special needs of students, department meetings, and faculty meetings.
• Designed and Facilitated the Adult English Immersion Program.
• Created curriculum for Adult Immersion classes and taught conversational English.
• Tutoring of adult students in the online portion of the course.

Gateway Middle School, Phoenix, AZ June 2007 – May 2010

Algebra, Pre-Algebra, Writing, Newspaper, Cheerleading Coach

Seventh and Eighth Grade

Department Leader

• Created lessons for Mathematics instruction including fluency, algebra, and geometry.
• Aligned lessons with Arizona State Standards and Common Core Standards.
• Provided relevance and rigor in instruction.
• Created the entire Algebra 1 curriculum.
• Scaffold instruction to gain an increase in understanding.
• Worked with parents, students, and administration to set goals and ensure success is attained.
• Lead students to master state standards and IEP goals.
• Provided language support and differentiated instruction for ESL students. 
• Used effective instructional teaching techniques and strategies. 
• Collaborated and co-taught with vertical and horizontal grades and content-level teachers.
• Taught interactive hands-on lessons using realia (real-world material).

Education

Berea College 2003-2007

Bachelors of Art in Psychology

Arizona State University 2007-2009

M. Ed Secondary Education with a concentration in Math

Columbia University 2018-2019

Summer Principals Academy

M. Ed Education Leadership in Public Schools

School Building Leader Certification

Secondary Math Education

Georgia Department of Education Certificate: Exceptional Learners Certification

Gifted Learners Certification

Other Certifications: ESL Certification

TEFL Certification

AVID Certification 

School Building Leader Certification