Failure will never overtake me if my determination to succeed is strong enough ~ Og Mandino
My Resume
5460 58 A Street Crescent 403-318-6767
Lacombe, Alberta [email protected] Follow me on Twitter @Tia_Grahn T4L 1L7
Tia Vandermeer
Professional Teaching ExperienceSeptember 2018- Current: Ponoka Secondary Campus, junior high generalist teacher. For the first half of the day I enjoy teaching a grade seven class all academic subjects. I weave curriculum of language arts, mathematics, social studies and science together to create a meaningful project based learning environment for my students. We have done everything from producing pop music songs to creating a children’s story (using math and science topics) to teach and inspire others. I focus on empowering my students with voice and choice. In my room I am the facilitator and the students are the teachers. In the afternoon I enjoy teaching grades seven to nine a variety of option classes from flex (service learning and goal setting class) to mad science then business education. During certain days and times I facilitate a newspaper club in our school and I volunteer as the ATA representative for our school. This year has been an incredible journey that I am grateful to be a part of.
September 2017- June 2018: Ponoka Secondary Campus, junior high generalist teacher and senior high media studies teacher. This year I enjoyed teaching grade seven and eight science. I created a project based learning environment for both grade seven and eight science curricula. We embarked on a journey together building our own structures, exploding gummy bears, dissecting frogs, fetal pigs, eyeballs and beyond. In the afternoons I dove into teaching high school communication technology. This was a project based course where students created everything from movies to movie posters and robotics programming. When I was not teaching grade science or communication technology I was teaching Knowledge and Employability Skills to a group of grade ten to twelve students. This was an amazing year where I added extra curricular experience and made strong relationships with a new group of students. September 2016- June 2017: Ponoka Secondary Campus, Knowledge and Employability Skills teacher for grades ten to twelve as well as grade seven science teacher. I taught K and E for half of the day and Science for the other half of the day. With the K and E class, I ran an extensive read 180 literacy program to help build their literacy skills. I provided another teacher in the division with professional development around this program. I also worked heavily with the pyramids of interventions using a software program CRM by jigsaw learning as well as providing professional development around this software. As a former learning and technology coach in the division, I continue to provide leadership by building competency of technology integration and 21st-century teaching skills with my staff on a daily basis. I also coached volleyball and ran a tutorial club after school Mondays and Wednesdays. For the past three years, I have created and lead an Eco-Vision club for grade seven to nine students where we had applied and were granted three hydroponic tower gardens that we grew food for our cafeteria as well as a greenhouse and green space project funding. September 2015- June 2016: Ponoka Secondary Campus, grade seven teacher. I taught full-time science and math to a total of three grade seven classes. I had eighty-four students and I ran a project-based program with purposeful integration of technology in order to create a well-rounded 21st-century learner. I ran a homework club as well as a girls club during lunch hours. The homework club is for grade seven students focusing specifically on curriculum intervention/enrichment and project completion. The girls club is used to focus on self-esteem and age appropriate social behavior. September 2014-June 2015: Ponoka Secondary Campus Media Studies, foods teacher, and technology integration leader as well as an instructional coach for the remainder of my FTE. The first semester I taught high school media studies and the second semester I taught Junior high foods. I wanted the experience of teaching both junior high and high school. That was an important learning experience. I also planned and ran a student senate in our high school. I presented professional development sessions to my staff during PD days and as well at different technology conferences and leadership days in Wolf Creek School Division on technology tools for the classroom. Everything from a game based learning to use your drive to drive your instruction. I also have a strong passion for project-based learning and brought back new professional development on this topic regularly. I was able to study PBL at High Tech High in San Diego for a week this year and this gave me many valuable resources to share. I also taught digital citizenship to the whole school every Friday. As well, worked closely with teachers needing support, team teaching and planning. This entails a strong set of collaboration skills in order to organize and balance tasks effectively.
September 2013-June 2014: Grade six teacher/technology and instructional coach as well as the ATA representative at Rimbey Elementary School. I team taught all subjects with another colleague to a grade six class and I ran a tutorial club twice a week and continue the badminton club after school during the month of May. I also taught digital citizenship to the whole school throughout the year. I completed my Master of Education Degree in leadership and school improvement from the University of Alberta in the beginning of March 2014. I ran professional development sessions on excellent learning environments with many different teaching tools including effective technology integration.
September 2012- June 2013: Grade six teacher and AISI leader at Rimbey Elementary School. During this year I taught part time in grade six, language arts, social studies, art, health, and physical education. I ran a homework club during the noon hours twice a week and ran a badminton club for the month of May after school. I began my Master of Education Degree in leadership and school improvement from the University of Alberta. I run professional development session on the elements of an excellent learning environment in the 21st Century classroom. I focused heavily on teaching the four C's broken down into specific elements taught to me by Wolf Creek School Division.
September 2011-June 2012: Grade six teacher at Rimbey Elementary School. During this year I was teaching full time all core subjects including Physical Education. I am also teaching a technology course to two grade, six classes, twice a week. I run homework club during noon hours three days a week. I also run a badminton club for the month of May after school. September 2010- June 2011: Grade six teacher at Rimbey Elementary School. During this year I taught full time all core subjects including Physical Education. I taught a very interesting environmental science option to three grade six classes. Homework club was run by myself and a fellow teacher three days a week. I also ran a badminton club after school. This year I received the Edwin Parr nomination from my division and ended up winning the award at the ceremony. APT 2010- Grade five/six split, Terrace Ridge School, Lacombe: During this practicum, I taught grade five Language Arts, Math, Science, Physical Education. I taught grade six Language Arts, Math, Social Studies, Science, and Physical Education. I also taught a movie making option to grade five,six, and seven and ran a girls club during lunch hour. I ran a badminton club after school as well with a fellow teacher.
Education September 2011-2014: Edmonton, AB · Completed 2 years of courses and obtained my Master of Education in Educational Studies Degree from the University of Alberta. · This competitive admissions program at the University of Alberta specializes in leadership and school improvement. The following is a list of courses I completed during this time: Leadership for Educational Change, Plan for Educational Change, Fundamentals of Educational research, Foundation of Curriculum, Leadership in Educational Settings, Introduction to School Improvement, Graduate Ethics Training, Conducting Educational Research, Directed Research Project, Differentiated Instruction, and Cognitive Coaching. Master of Education Degree obtained.
September 2008-April 2010 Red Deer, AB University of Alberta Collaborative Red Deer College Middle Years Program · This is a competitive admission program at the Red Deer College that specializes in education for grades 4-9. The following is a list of curriculum courses I have taken: Math, Science, Social Studies, Language Arts, Assessment, Curriculum Integration, Inclusive Education, Phys. Ed, Art, and EDIT (computers and technology). The non-curriculum courses I have taken include Classroom Management, psychology, Sociology, Drama, Magic Numbers, Education Policies, Law and Ethics, and Perception. Bachelor of Education Degree obtained. September 2006-2008: Medicine Hat, AB · Completed 2 years towards my Bachelor of Education Degree · Bachelor of Arts Diploma received June 7th, 2008
September 2001-April 2004: Lethbridge, AB · General studies Certificate received · Business Administration- Management Certificate received
Awards and Certificates · Edwin Parr Award for excellence in first year teaching received November 2011. · Jason Lang Scholarship from Red Deer College for the year 2008/2009. · Inducted into the Phi Theta Kappa Honour Roll Society in 2008.
References:Kathy McTaggart, Principal of Ponoka Secondary Campus [email protected]403-783-4411