Keri Kittsen
Hamilton,Waikato
Summary
I currently live in Hamilton with my husband and 2 year old son. I have had the opportunity to teach overseas, following on from my own schooling in International schools in Asia. Having the opportunity to work with people from all over the world in various curriculums and schools has truly enriched my practice as an educator. I have worked in both the Primary (as a teacher, Learning Support Coordinator and Literacy Leader) and Early Years sectors, which has given me a complete view of the trajectory of child development, and how to best support the children I work with. Collaboration has been a large part of my teaching experience and I believe that this is a strength of mine. Building strong, authentic relationships with the children and their families form the foundation of my practice and philosophy. I am a passionate educator, priding myself on my creativity, collaboration and dedication to the profession.
Overview
10
10
years of professional experience
Work History
Across School's Literacy Leader
Te Kauwhata Kaahui Ako
01.2024 - Current
- Designing and delivering effective professional development workshops around explicit teaching for the acceleration of literacy learning across our cluster of schools
- Mentoring and coaching educational leaders for accelerated student learning
- Developing and implementing comprehensive literacy curriculum progressions
- Providing individualized teacher support and mentorship
- Utilizing data analysis to drive informed decision-making and interventions
- Implementing Structured Literacy programs for foundational literacy skills
Teacher- Year 1-3
Te Kauwhata Primary School
01.2024 - Current
- Job share role on a Monday, Tuesday and Friday, with my Across Schools' Literacy role on a Wednesday and Thursday
- Designing an early years program to run alongside the primary years program to accommodate students whose cognitive and emotional development is pre-school age
- Using my experience as a Learning Support Coordinator to set up learning initiatives and accommodations for assessments and learning intentions
- Flexible classroom and behaviour management strategies- continually reviewing these
- Tracking and analysing student data to catch trends early and effectively implement initiatives or review of pedagogical/ behavioural and classroom management strategies
Learning Support Coordinator
Te Kauwhata Primary School
03.2022 - 12.2023
- Conducted thorough evaluations of curriculum materials to ensure alignment with diverse learners' needs
- Implemented innovative tools and technologies to enhance the effectiveness of learning support initiatives
- Promoted effective communication among all stakeholders involved in each child''s education process leading towards better outcomes
- Empowered teachers by providing them access to relevant resources, tools, and strategies to serve their diverse student population effectively
- Working with the Ministry of Education to apply and provide additional learning support
Teacher- Year 1 & 2
Te Kauwhata Primary School
01.2020 - 09.2021
- Developed strong relationships with students, parents, and colleagues by maintaining open lines of communication and fostering a supportive learning environment.
- Managed classroom behaviour effectively by establishing clear expectations, modelling appropriate conduct, and consistently enforcing established rules and consequences.
- Developed and executed formative and summative assessments to monitor student progress, adjusting teaching strategies accordingly.
- Enhanced classroom engagement through the use of interactive teaching methods, such as group projects and hands-on activities.
- Maintained accurate records of student progress, attendance, and behaviour to facilitate ongoing communication with parents about their child''s educational journey.
- Collaborated with other teachers to plan interdisciplinary units that connected subjects and promoted deeper understanding among students.
Hillcrest Community Childhood Centre
Hillcrest Community Centre
01.2018 - 12.2019
- Designing learning opportunities through provocations for children aged 2 to 5 years old
- Explicit and deliberate observations of each child to build interests, skills and cultural backgrounds into learning experiences
- Writing learning stories for each child in my group to share their learning with their families
- Developing socio-emotional skills
- Working collaboratively with the teacher team to develop learning experiences
Literacy Teacher- Year 5 & 6
ICademy Middle East
05.2016 - 12.2018
- Conferencing regularly with families of children in my homeroom class (50 students, years 0-9) to mentor and support them as they homeschool their children
- Run twice weekly structured literacy lessons for students in years 5 & 6
- Utilising technology such as virtual classrooms, online communication tools, assistive technology and monitoring and tracking software to track achievement
- Fortnightly conferences with students in my homeroom class to discuss their learning and provide any additional support where needed
Teacher- Years 1- 3 (maternity Leave Position)
Haig Primary School
01.2015 - 04.2016
- Teaching the British National Curriculum on the British Royal Artillery Base
- Part of the curriculum development team for mathematics and social sciences
Education
Postgraduate Diploma - Early Childhood Education
University of Canterbury
Christchurch, NZ12.2018
Bachelor of Arts - Bachelor of Primary Education
Griffiths University
Gold Coast Australia09.2014
International Baccalaureate -
Nanjing International School
Nanjing International School06.2009
Skills
- Mentoring/ supporting pedagogical practices
- Whole school 'big picture' thinking when designing educational initiatives
- Organisation
- Collaboration and effective communication with colleagues, parents and students
- Promoting student agency
- Early intervention and acceleration
- Parent-Teacher Communication
- Student Engagement
Scuba diving, camping, travelling, spending time with family
Travelling has been a big part of our lives, having lived in 9 different countries, and continues to be a big part of our lives. I am a scuba diving instructor and have worked in Thailand and Australia. My husband and I enjoy the outdoors, taking our son on camping and skiing trips.
Timeline
Across School's Literacy Leader
Te Kauwhata Kaahui Ako
01.2024 - Current
Teacher- Year 1-3
Te Kauwhata Primary School
01.2024 - Current
Learning Support Coordinator
Te Kauwhata Primary School
03.2022 - 12.2023
Teacher- Year 1 & 2
Te Kauwhata Primary School
01.2020 - 09.2021
Hillcrest Community Childhood Centre
Hillcrest Community Centre
01.2018 - 12.2019
Literacy Teacher- Year 5 & 6
ICademy Middle East
05.2016 - 12.2018
Teacher- Years 1- 3 (maternity Leave Position)
Haig Primary School
01.2015 - 04.2016
Postgraduate Diploma - Early Childhood Education
University of Canterbury
Bachelor of Arts - Bachelor of Primary Education
Griffiths University
International Baccalaureate -
Nanjing International School
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