Leah L.

Simi
32811 State Hwy M-64
Ontonagon, Michigan
(906) 869-6091
lsimi@alumni.nmu.edu
class website: landofsimi.weebly.com

Education
August 2012-Present
Northern Michigan University, Marquette Michigan
Graduate Credits: 4; towards State of Michigan Professional Teaching Certificate
August 2003-December 2009
Northern Michigan University, Marquette Michigan
Bachelors of Science Degree
Major: English/Secondary Education; Minor: History/Secondary Education
August 2001-2003
Bay De Noc Community College, Escanaba, Michigan

Credentials
State of Michigan
Provisional Certificate: IF0000000330462
Secondary: English (BA) 6-12, History (CC) 6-12
Issue date: 5/12/2010
Expiration Date: 6/30/2016

Courses Taught

British Literature (NTW PSA)

World Literature (NTW PSA and student teaching)
English 10 (NTW PSA and student teaching)
English 9 (Luther L. Wright High School and NTW PSA)
Reading Comprehension Skills (NTW PSA)
Research and Technical Writing (NTW PSA)
English 7 (Luther L. Wright High School and student teaching)
English 8 (long-term substitute)
Science 7 (long-term substitute)

Working with At-Risk Youth

Working with students of Low SES
Instructing 6 different courses per day
Creating creative Lesson Plans, Assignment, Assessments, and Pacing Guides
Using of a Data-driven Instruction
Communicating with other content areas for Cross-Curriculum Instructor
Partnering with Secodary Education English Professor at NMU; Dr. Kia Richmond
Maintaining students grades
Communicating with parents and students via conferences, email, and website
Coordinating with staff on student related data
Working with a Computerized Adaptive Assessment; MAP (measures of academic progress) by NWEA
o Training in use of MAP data
Implemeting the Common Core in ELA lessons
Participating in the maintaining/writing/accomodations and Differentiation; IEP compliant
Working after hours; maintaining Office Time for students
Creative drawing and poster making for use as teaching tools, motivation, art, and reminders
Promoting diverse literature with a large self-maintained Young Adult Literature Collection; course taken
August 2012; Young Adult Literature

Skills

Key Contributions/Special Projects (Luther L. Wright High School and Nah Tah Wahsh
PSA/Hannahville Indian School)

Supervised an After School Homework Lab for 2013-2014 School year for grades 7-9
o Monitored and assisgned students to attend Homework Lab based on grades and attendance
o Communicated with parents
Attended PLCs (Professional Learning Community) regularly
Maintains a class website with updated course work
Training in use of STAR Reading and Accelerated Reader
Training CPI
Part of a Teacher Intiative that took on Attendance issues-SAT (Student Assistance Team)
o Weekly meetings with students identified with attendance and tardy issues
Organized a program for Anti-Bullying Awareness for grades 6-8 (did not get used although accepted by
administration)
o Set up a program with use of student volunteers
o Scripted examples to be role played for high school volunteers
o Started a poster campaign
Contributed a program to Literacy Night; first time high school participated
Celebrated Shakespeares Birthday with student 7-12
o Short educational program designed and created digitally by students; supplemented by instructor
o A menu of Elizabethan foods prepared by instructor and students
Volunteered for the PTSA (Parents, Teachers, and Students Association)
Organized and Chaperoned a Field trip to Appleton WI to view West Side Story at the Fox Cities Performing
Arts Center
Worked with Dr. Kia Richmond, Northern Michigan University Professor, to coordinate a visit to Nah Tah
Wahsh PSA for students to speak with college students who brought in videos and books on education,
English, and writing
o Coordinated a Grant Project for the 2013-2014 (funded) school year for NMU students to
communicate with Nah Tah Wahsh PSA students before and after going to a professional Theatrical
Production
Presented to High School staff on plagiarism
Presented on Domestic Violence Awareness to grades 4-12
Presented and coordinated with the Honors Program at Bay College on two separate occasions
o Involved a discussion after viewing a movie with Nah Tah Wahsh PSA students present
o Involved a book discussion and open discussion at Bay Campus including Native food (frybreadparent volunteer); organized field trip and discussion for over 20 students
Presented a lesson to the FACE Program on essay writing
Presented to staff on how to improve writing; provided handouts on pre-writing
Participated in the Mentor Program for 3 years
Directed High School Christmas Play
Wrote a play for Senior English class to perform and present in a digital format
Formed a Reading Comprehension Skills class that was created due to student needs, identified by data;
MAP data
Formed an extra section of British Literature which was taught after school hours
Formed a Research and Technical Writing class based upon student need
Sat on Committee to Improve Student Writing; Writing Assessments
Created and formed Pacing Guides for 9-12 ELA
Attended 4-day training in Denver, CO on The Power of Teaching

Technology

Office 7&8 Products

o Word products
o PowerPoint etc
InFocus
SmartBoard
PowerSchool/PowerTeacher
MAP
STAR Reader/Accerlerated Reader through Renaissance Learning
Digital Photography
MAC and IBM

Google Earth
Skype/FaceTime
Internet
o Youtube
o TeacherTube
o Use of Weebly.com for class website
o TEDed
iPad/iPhone
o Digital storytelling
o Weebly
o Storyrobe
o EduCreations
Course taken June 2013: Technology Tools in the Classroom

Work History

October 2013-May 2015

Luther L. Wright School, Ironwood, Michigan, 49938
Supervisor: Michelle Kanipes/Daniel Niemi
Title: After School Homework Lab-Supervisor
September 2013-June 2015
Luther L. Wright High School, Ironwood, Michigan, 49938
Supervisor: Michelle Kanipes/Timothy Kolesar
Title: English Instructor; assigned to grades 7 and 9
October 2012-June 2013
Nah Tah Wahsh PSA/Hannahville Indian School, Wilson, Michigan 49896
Supervisor: Thomas Ohman
Title: 6-12 Cheerleading Coach
Key Contributions: Ordering and Purchasing of new uniforms

August 2010-June 2013

Nah Tah Wahsh PSA/Hannahville Indian School, Wilson, Michigan 49896
Supervisor: William Boda/Adrienne Soucy
Title: 9-12 ELA Instructor
Awards: Communitys Choice

March 2010-May 2010

Ontonagon Area Schools, Ontonagon, Michigan 49953
Supervisor: John Shiner
Title: Substitute Teacher
January 12, 2010-February 17, 2010
Bessemer Area Schools, Bessemer, Michigan 49911
Supervisor: Mark Johnson
Title: Long-term Substitute
October 2009-February 2010
Bessemer Area Schools, Bessemer, Michigan 49911
Supervisor: Shelley Mettler
Title: Junior High Cheerleading Coach

Key contributions: Fundrasing, Presenting to Booster Club, Ordering and Purchasing of new
uniforms

August 2003-June 2009

Shopko, Marquette, Michigan 49855
Awards: Star Service Award

October 2005-December 2006

Father Marquette Schools, Marquette, Michigan 49855
Title: 6-8 Cheerleading Coach (2 seasons)

November 2001-August 2003

Elmers County Market, Escanaba, Michigan 49829
Title: Customer Service Manager, Cashier

Volunteer History

July 19-July 22,2008

July 18-July 25, 2009
Camp Michigamme-Methodist Church Camp
Supervisors: Deane Wyllys and Dave Wallis
Title: Middle School Summer Camp Counselor
June 5-June 11 2008
Bay Shore Camp-Methodist Church Camp
Supervisor: Jeremy Peters
Title: Middle School Summer Camp Counselor
References

Michelle Kanipes
Ironwood Area Schools
650 E. Ayer Street, Ironwood, Michigan 49938
Contact Number: 906-932-0932
Relationship: Supervisor, High School Principal
Timothy Kolesar
Ironwood Area Schools
650 E. Ayer Street, Ironwood, Michigan 49938
Relationship: Supervisor, Superintendent
Daniel Niemi
Ironwood Area Schools
650 E Ayer Street, Ironwood, Michigan 49938
Relationship: Supervisor, Dean of Students

Michelle Palmgren
1789 20th Rd. Bark River, Michigan 49807
Contact Number:(906) 280-3486
Relationship: Colleague; Special Education Teacher
Dr. Kia Jane Richmond
Northern Michigan University, English Department
1401 Presque Isle Ave., Marquette, Michigan 49855
Email: krichmon@nmu.edu
(817) 683-4980
Relationship: Supervising Professor in English Education; Colleague

Gina Zanon
926 S 18th St., Escanaba, Michigan 49829
Contact Number: (906)789-1296
Relationship: Colleague; Health/Physical Education/Gifted and Talented Instructor