Curriculum+Vita

=Amy Merrill's Professional Curriculum Vita=

Educational Objectives:
· To create a school wide literacy and learning environment that meets the educational and personal needs of the 21st century learner. · To provide, promote and advocate for continuous access to the highest quality resources, in both print and electronic formats for students and faculty.

** Areas of Expertise: **
Collaborative teaching, literacy curriculum development, literacy-related professional development presentations, storytelling, poetry presentation, literacy promotion and advocacy, children’s literature, literacy assessment and data analysis, = = = = = = =Educational Background:=

Susquehanna Valley School District Senior High School, Binghamton, NY Graduated 1990

Early Childhood Education Program Broome Community College, Binghamton, NY 1990 – 1991

Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education N-6 State University College at Oneonta, NY Graduated 1993

Masters of Science degree in Reading Education, K-12 Binghamton University, NY Graduated 1996

Masters of Education degree in School Library and Information Technologies, K-12 Mansfield University of Pennsylvania Graduated May 2011

Additional courses taken at the following institutions: Reading Academy through Voyager University Broome County BOCES

** Professional Experiences: **
Elementary Reading Specialist Employed by the Binghamton City School District, Binghamton, NY, September 1999 to present __Responsibilities include__: provide small group reading interventions to students in grades K-2, work collaboratively with classroom teachers to provide instructional support in reading, conduct various types of reading assessments, interpret the assessment data to inform instruction, offer literacy enrichment experiences, provide professional development to staff through collaboration, research, information sharing and presentations. Additionally, I work to offer whole school literacy enrichment opportunities by promoting and organizing various projects such as; "Poetry Breaks!" the annual Poetry Recitation Day and author visits.

Prekindergarten Teacher Employed by the Broome County Child Development Council, Binghamton, NY, September 1994 to 1999

Nursery School Director/Teacher Employed by YWCA, Binghamton, NY. September 1993 to 1994 = = = = = = =Professional Associations and Committees:=

Co-Chair of Binghamton City School District Building level Literacy Committee 2009 – present

Initiated the Calvin Coolidge Annual Poetry Recitation (with Ellen Mouillesseaux) 2008 – present

District Representative for BARC (Binghamton Area Reading Council) 2008 - present

Member of NYSRA (New York State Reading Association) 1994 - present

Member of BARC (Binghamton Area Reading Council) 1994 – present

Member of SLST-East (School Librarian’s of the Southern Tier) January 2011 - present

Member IRA (International Reading Association) 1996 - 2006

Member of NAEYC (National Association for Education of Young Children) 1990 - 1998

**Workshops Presented**:

 * “The ABC’s of Phonemic Awareness”
 * “Phonemic Awareness at the Intermediate Level: Poetry”
 * “Hangin’ Loose with Mother Goose: Teaching Reading with Nursery Rhymes”
 * “Reaping Reading Rewards with Reader’s Theater”
 * “Comprehension Connections”
 * “Meta-cognitive Thinking Strategies in Reading”
 * Differentiating Reading Instruction in Kindergarten”
 * “Using the //100 Book Challenge// Independent Reading Program”
 * “Creating a World of Literacy”
 * Parent Program – “Bringing Books to Life”

**Technology Skills:**
Use of Web 2.0 tools, internet and subscription database search and retrieval, social networking in education, podcasting, e-book resources, electronic search tools (children’s literature), and electronic resource sharing.

**Adaptive Technology, Equipment and Resources:**
Working knowledge of Intel Readers, ZoomText computer software, CC TV’s, Victor and Daisy Readers, RFB&D (Recording for the Blind and Dyslexic, Talking Books and Braille Library, AVRE (Association for Vision Rehabilitation and Employment), NYS Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired, use of Braille, magnification tools, and text to speech tools.

**Additional Activities:**
Children's Literature Reviewer for **//Library Media Connection Magazine//** June 2011 - present

"Book Banter" Writer for //**The Reading Scene Newsletter**// (NYSRA) Summer 2011 - present

Creator of “Pocketful of Poems” wiki (poetry resources for students and teachers) 2010 – present

pARTners (parent/child arts & education program) “Take a Trip Across America” (using storytelling, music, drama and art to explore United States geography) 2010

Reader’s Theater Club (lunch time program) 2009

Coordinator for the //100 Book Challenge// independent reading program 2001- 2002

Preschool Story times (Broome County Public Library Branches) Summers 1995 & 1996

**Travel Experiences:**
England, Mexico, Canada, Washington DC, California, Florida, all New England states, New Jersey, Virginia, and Delaware.

**References:**
Mrs. Karry Mullins Principal Calvin Coolidge Elementary School 261 Robinson Street Binghamton, NY 13904 607-762-8290 mullinsk@binghamtonschools.org

Ms. Susan Hendery Early Reading First Coordinator 23 Vestal Avenue Binghamton, NY 13903 607-762-8180 henderys@binghamtonschools.org
 * MacArthur **** Elementary School **

Mrs. Tonia Thompson Director of Early Childhood and Elementary Education
 * Binghamton **** City School District **
 * 164 Hawley Street **
 * P.O. Box 2126 **
 * Binghamton ****, NY 13902 **
 * thompsont@binghamtonschools.org **

23 Vestal Avenue Binghamton, NY 13903 607-762-8180 piercel@binghamtonschools.org
 * Mrs. Lonna Pierce **
 * Elementary School Teacher/Librarian **
 * MacArthur **** Elementary School **