DANA RICKS

3503 Valley Haven Dr. Kingwood, TX 77339

832-527-3417
dricks@newcaneyisd.org

Academic Background
Principal Certification Program
University of St. Thomas, Houston, TX May 2015
Master of Education in School Counseling
Lamar University, Beaumont, TX 2012
Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction Elementary Education
University of Houston, Houston TX -2003
Bachelor of Arts in Journalism
University of Houston, Houston, TX -1996

Professional Certifications
Elementary English Grades 1-8 Texas
Elementary Self-Contained Grades 1-8 Texas
School Counselor

Employment History
School Counselor A.M. Aikin Elementary, New Caney, TX 2013-present
Developed and implemented a comprehensive school counseling plan
Responsible for the Gifted and Talented Program
Served as the Campus Testing Coordinator
Served as the Section 504 Coordinator
Served as the campus administrator when needed
Tutored students after school 2-3 days per week
Language Arts/Science Teacher Creekwood Middle School, Kingwood, TX 2005-2013
Planned cohesive six week units with other teachers
Worked with students to meet state standards
Collaborated with administrators and parents to reach every student
Sponsored the cheerleading squad for three years 2006-2009
Sponsored an after-school club for anime/manga enthusiasts 2009-2015
Ran the school newspaper 2005-2011; yearbook 2010-2011
Self-Contained Classroom Teacher Bear Branch Elementary School, Kingwood, TX 2001-2005
Taught all subjects in grades 2, 3, and 5
Collaborated with other teachers to plan successful units
Worked with students, parents, and administrators to achieve success for all students
Tutored students after school who were in danger of failing the TAKS test

Leadership Experience
Campus Administrator
Handled discipline problems when both principals were off-campus
Participated in ARD meetings when the Assistant Principal was not available
Attended Response to Intervention meetings as a campus administrator
Campus Testing Coordinator
Worked with classroom teachers to plan testing groups for STAAR
Trained certified teachers on my campus in test security and subject-specific rules
Responsible for organizing and securely storing all testing materials
Planned and oversaw all aspects of the campus, district, and state testing processes
Mentor Coordinator
Provided materials to first year teachers and their mentors
Held meetings to discuss concerns and questions of new teachers
Sent reports of meetings between new teachers and mentors to district coordinator
Team College Member
Attended district meetings to review information on new college initiatives
Attended workshops at Rice university with administrators and teachers
Worked to bring AVID college prep strategies to all teachers
Site-Based Decision-Making Committee/District Decision-Making Committee
Attended meetings to review campus and district data and goals
Researched ways to meet agreed-upon school goals
Shared information with campus administrators

Professional Development
Aspiring Leaders Training 2014-2015
Gifted and Talented Trained - 2001
Pre AP Rice Institute for Middle School Teachers of English Summer 2009
Cheerleading Camp Summers 2006-2008
Yearbook Camp Summer 2010
AVID Week-long Workshop Summer 2009, 2012

Grants
Nonfiction is Fun wrote and won a grant to purchase more quality nonfiction books for BBE in 2001
Science Olympiad wrote and won a grant to purchase supplies for a new science elective course to be
offered at CMS in 2012
Counseling Garden worked with a parent to secure funding from Lowes for a counseling garden

Professional Affiliations

American School Counselor Association - 2012

American Federation of Texas Teachers - 2001

References
Trina Persson
A.M. Aikin ElementarySchool, Principal
600 Dogwood Lane, New Caney, TX 77357
281-577- 2900
Vicki Ligon
Creekwood Middle School, Academic Lead Teacher, Science
3603 Lake Houston Parkway, Kingwood, TX 77339
281-641-4468
Richard Delgado
Aldine Independent School District, Athletic Director
1 Lauder Rd., Houston, TX 77006
281-221-1018