Resume | Mysite

TESSA CORDES

(412)-789-5424 | tessagcarlin@gmail.com | Twitter: @CarlinTessa

Certification
- Pennsylvania Instructional I | PreK4-4 Elementary Education May 2023
- Pennsylvania Instructional I | K-12 Special Education
- Virginia Department of Education | Collegiate Professional License October 2023
- Virginia Department of Education | Special Ed.-General Curriculum K-12
- Virginia Department of Education | Elementary Education PreK-6
Education
- Grove City College May 2023
- B.S. in Education
- - Deans List 2019-2022 - GPA: 3.96
Awards and Certifications
- Syd McCormick Award 2023 : Grove City Education Department - “Student Teacher of the Year”; embodies the values of GCC education program.
- Youth Mental Health First Aid - took a day long training to be certified in YMHFA.
- AVMR (Add+Vantage Math) Course 1 Certification; trained to administer and interpret AVMR testing and design targeted instruction.
- Orton Gillingham Training scheduled in May of 2024.
Teaching Experience 2nd grade | Weyanoke Elementary School | Fairfax County Public Schools August -June 2023-2024
- Developed and taught math, literacy, science, social studies, and social emotional lessons for daily instruction.
- Leveraged responsive classroom techniques to create a welcoming space and encourage academic exploration for students.
- Administered assessments and collected students data to target classroom instruction.
- Cultivated small groups to further differentiate instruction and provide specific interventions.
- Participated in professional developments (e.g., AVMR and Responsive Classroom Trainings).
Student Teaching Experience
- PreK grade | Early Education Center | Grove City College | Grove City, PA January 2023-March 2023
  - Created and led math and literacy lessons for centers on number and letter identification according to specific unit themes.
  - Facilitated small and large group activities through read aloud activities including group work, scavenger hunts, and art projects.
  - Encouraged opportunities for community and family involvement in the classroom such as parent speakers and touring local businesses.
- 7-12th grade | Jamestown High School | Jamestown School District | Jamestown PA March 2023-May 2023
  - Built rapport with 7th and 8th grade students by assisting them in the general education classroom and through teaching them content in the resource room.
  - Aided in the high school life skills classroom, worked with a student in his inclusive history and science class.
Field Experiences
- Life Skills Classroom | Hillview Elementary School | Grove City, PA – Fall 2021
  - Instructed classes ranging in size from 2-9 students depending on the student’s schedule.
  - Adapted curriculum to meet academic and fine motor skills for students with seizure disorders, intellectual disabilities, language disorders, down syndrome, visual impairments, and specific learning disabilities in reading and math.
  - Led extensive instruction on daily routines, calendar reading, pattern identification, and number/letter identification.
  - Partnered with students in inclusive environments and provided aid with their work.
  - Incorporated small group activities to support students’ comprehension of reading and phonics.
  - Prepared and presented a sensory read-aloud using various objects to scaffold learning for the student with a visual impairment.
- Learning Support | Sharpsville Elementary School | Sharpsville, PA – Fall 2020
  - Constructed a functional behavior analysis (FBA) and analyzed a student’s behavior through a case study to inform instruction for the student in the class.
  - Managed small group activities prepared by the classroom teacher and scaffolded students in inclusion activities in the language arts classroom.
  - Co-taught a lesson on place values with the use of math manipulatives and a lesson on pronouns, antecedents, and context clues, with a PowerPoint and real-world examples.
Other Work Experience
- Neighbor to Neighbor | Junior Intern and Intern | June 2017 to August 2020
  - Encouraged and worked with children, grades kindergarten – 6th, in a low socioeconomic area.
  - Taught lessons on different Biblical stories, prepared interactive activities, and prompted reading with the children.
  - Coached gym style physical games and organized art activities with the children.
  - Accompanied children and other interns on weekly field trips.
- Summers Best 2 Weeks | Counselor | June 2022 to July 2022
  - Cared for and directed cabins of campers 9-10 years old, 8-9 years old, and 14-15 years old.
  - Taught Bible studies once a week with the campers, at times adapting the content to better meet the student’s needs.
  - Engaged with the campers at different events, talking to them and aiding them in their activities.
  - Partnered with other counselors to lead overnight camping trips with the campers.
- Sharpsville Area School District| Substitute Aide | January 2023 to January 2023
  - Guided students through their ABA cards in autistic support.
  - Assisted students with special needs within their inclusive environment through errorless teaching of content.
Volunteer Work
- Sharpsville Elementary School| Teacher’s Aid | September 2015-May 2019
  - Worked in kindergarten and 4th grade classrooms.
  - Provided one on one aid to students while the classroom teacher taught.
  - Adapted and led small group activities prepared by the classroom teacher.
  - Administered benchmark testing.
- East Main Presbyterian Church | Sunday School Teacher | September 2021-March 2023
  - Taught lessons and led activities for an hour to a 3rd-5th grade age group.