Karen Song
Ngatangiia,Cook Islands
Summary
I am a highly-motivated international educator with a desire to take on new challenges. I possess a strong work ethic, adaptability, and exceptional interpersonal skills. I am adept at working effectively unsupervised and quickly mastering new skills. I bring over 17 years years of experience, having taught in South Korea, the United States, China, Thailand, Cambodia, and New Zealand, and now advising in the Cook Islands. I have leadership experience as a Campus Principal, Acting Principal, Curriculum Specialist, Head of Department for Social Sciences, and served as the Director of a community health coalition. These positions have allowed me to develop skills in data collection, analysis, and communicating results to wide audiences, as well as building strong relationships within my communities of learning. I am also a systems thinker and have a deep understanding of connections within the larger picture and the ability to maintain strong communication between organisational levels.
Overview
16
16
years of professional experience
Work History
Secondary English Advisor
Cook Island Ministry of Education
01.2023 - Current
- Conducting a review of the CI English curriculum from year 7 to year 13; Identifying and facilitating professional development for the implementation of the CI curriculum, NCEA standards, and Literacy corequisite; Supporting quality teaching with a focus on high standards of students' educational outcomes through modelling best practices and providing teacher observations and feedback; Developing a new CI assessment tool for year 8 Reading and Writing; Facilitating and supporting principals and teachers with the delivery of literacy across the curriculum and new NCEA standards in English; and Collaborating with other advisors to identify specific areas of support for teachers and principals and providing that support during site visits.
Campus Principal/Secondary Teacher
OneSchool Global NZ
01.2019 - 01.2023
- Managed two campuses in Greymouth and Westport, reported to the Regional Principal in Nelson; Addressed learning challenges to better student achievement through facilitating strong relationships between students, teachers, learning support, church members, and parents; Provided teacher feedback to West Coast teachers using Educator Impact; Secondary teacher of English (Yr 9 - L3) and Social Sciences (Yr 9/10); Collaborated well with staff on West Coast sites, Upper South campus, national team, and Brethren leadership team; Provided pastoral care to all students on the West Coast.
Acting Principal/Curriculum Specialist
CIAPP International School Kingdom of Cambodia
01.2018 - 01.2019
- Created alignment of all academic units at CIA FIRST and CIA PP; Facilitated alignment of all policies, procedures, and administrative systems between CIA FIRST and CIA PP; Provided all team-leading and professional development training; Provided supervision of all teachers, conducted classroom observations and teacher self-evaluation opportunities; Collected and analyzed all student achievement data, modifying units and lessons based on the findings, and linked results to targeted professional development; Was responsible for supervising teachers in all tasks found in Danielson's evaluation instrument domains One (Planning and Preparation), Two (the Classroom Environment), Three (Instruction), and Four (Professional Responsibilities); and Was responsible for the daily operation of the school, including child safety, communication with parents, and staffing issues.
English Language Lecturer
Mahidol University International College Thailand
01.2014 - 01.2016
- Subjects taught: University level Writing, Academic Reading, and Listening and Speaking; Developed and implemented lessons for 75 students per week; Provided advising support to 27 students concerning their independent research projects; and Coordinated with other instructors to reinforce learning objectives and assist students who require different pedagogical approaches.
High School History and English Teacher/Social Science Department Chair
Mahidol University International Demonstration School Thailand
01.2012 - 01.2014
- Subjects taught: World History, English, Project-based Learning; Created the Scope and Sequence for both World History 10 and English 10-12 matching California Common Core Standards to Thai Ministry of Education Standards; Served as WASC focus group liaison to ensure success in the MUIDS international accreditation process; Collaborated with another history teacher to create all unit and lesson plans using the Understanding by Design teaching strategy; and Implemented lessons by differentiating instruction to meet the learning needs of students with different levels of English ability.
Coalition Director
Kearsarge Health Coalition USA
01.2008 - 01.2011
- Developed and implemented the Kearsarge Health Coalition's structure including, but not limited to, the strategic plan, annual work plans, annual budgets, logic models, impact analysis, and program evaluation; Worked to develop a network of strategic community partner organizations; Co-wrote a $75,000 SAMHSA Drug-Free Communities Mentor Grant proposal and was awarded one of sixteen national grants; Wrote a 2011 application for a Drug-Free Communities Grant totaling $625,000 that required commitment from 12 different sectors in the community, as evidence of increased community capacity to support the Coalition's efforts; Trained community members on evidence-based prevention strategies; and Provided coalition member training on substance abuse issues, and parent information sessions, and coordinated national speaker's visits to the Kearsarge School District.
Education
Master of Arts - Community Economic Development
Southern New Hampshire University
New Hampshire USA01-2009
Master of Arts - Political Science
SUNY At Albany
New York USA08-2000
Doctorate in Education - Organisational Change and Leadership -
University of Southern California USA
Master's in Education - Secondary Social Studies -
Franklin Pierce University USA
Skills
- Strong organisational leadership and time-management skills
- Systems-orientated thinking
- Experienced in qualitative and quantitative data collection, analysis, and implementation
- Clear communication, interpersonal skills, and team collaboration
- Experience in managing budgets and handling financial documents
- Program Development and Evaluation
- Policy Implementation
- Performance Monitoring
- Curriculum Development and Evaluation
- Critical Thinking and Judgment
- Student and Parent Relations
- Opportunities Identification
Additional Contact
68271833, secondary.maori@education.gov.ck
References
- Ngavaevae Papatua, Ministry of Education / Languages Manager
- Grant Rogers, OneSchool Global / Upper South Regional Principal, (64) 21-195-1259, grant.rogers@nz.oneschoolglobal.com
- Jim Luders, OneSchool Global / Kerikeri Principal, (64) 21-512-774, Jim.luders@nz.oneschoolglobal.com
Volunteer Experience
- New Coaster's Trustee and Treasurer, NZ
- Kumara Residents Trust Trustee and Secretary, NZ
- Soroptimists International Member of Westland Chapter, NZ
Affiliations
- I enjoy quilting; reading; exploring new places; and spending time with my family.
Accomplishments
- My dissertation research is on teacher facilitation of self-directed learning skills in their classrooms.
Timeline
Secondary English Advisor
Cook Island Ministry of Education
01.2023 - Current
Campus Principal/Secondary Teacher
OneSchool Global NZ
01.2019 - 01.2023
Acting Principal/Curriculum Specialist
CIAPP International School Kingdom of Cambodia
01.2018 - 01.2019
English Language Lecturer
Mahidol University International College Thailand
01.2014 - 01.2016
High School History and English Teacher/Social Science Department Chair
Mahidol University International Demonstration School Thailand
01.2012 - 01.2014
Coalition Director
Kearsarge Health Coalition USA
01.2008 - 01.2011
Master of Arts - Community Economic Development
Southern New Hampshire University
Master of Arts - Political Science
SUNY At Albany
Doctorate in Education - Organisational Change and Leadership -
University of Southern California USA
Master's in Education - Secondary Social Studies -
Franklin Pierce University USA
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