Victoria Abbondanza

124 West Sandle Avenue Pittsburgh, PA 15237 Phone: 412-779-0451 E-Mail: vmabbondanza@gmail.com

EDUCATION
Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, PA
Anticipated May 2016
B.S. Education and B.A. Classical Latin, May 2016
Primary Major: Latin Education, Secondary Major: Classical Latin; GPA: 3.95/4.0
License: Latin Education K-12, pending May 2016

STUDENT TEACHING

Hampton Township School District, Allison Park, PA

January 2016 present
Student Teacher, Eighth through Twelfth Grade, one hundred students in class sizes ranging
from eight through 28, three students with 504 Plans
Implemented exit tickets, tests, and projects as formative evaluations of student
progress and modified lesson plans to accommodate students needs
Created curricula accommodating varied learning abilities to incorporate requirements
of 504 Plans
Applied scaffolding lessons to build students toward independence in understanding
Latin grammar
Integrated cross-curricular components through project-based learning to help students
generalize and utilize Latin in multiple disciplines with English grammar, world history,
and mathematic numerals

FIELD EXPERIENCE
Mt. Lebanon High School, Mt. Lebanon, PA
September November 2015
Eleventh and Twelfth Grade, forty students
Observed and tutored particular students with a lack of motivation by walking them
through exercises and scaffolding activities until students felt confident to try the
activity without help
Reviewed Roman numerals with students through age-appropriate videos, technology,
and examples to engage students in the lesson topics
Hampton Middle School, Allison Park, PA
February April 2015
Eighth Grade, twenty-five students
Observed teacher on methods appropriate for Latin language acquisition and ways to
gain student interest in the class
Created Roman numerals lesson for students using PowerPoint, interactive games,
worksheets, and charts with the focus of accommodating for multiple modes of learning
North Allegheny Intermediate High School, Pittsburgh, PA
September November 2014
Ninth and Tenth Grade, fifty students
Observed students on developmental advances, focusing on student-to-student
interactions and how students participate in academics with the influence of
psychological, emotional, and physical changes
Mt. Lebanon High School, Mt. Lebanon, PA
February April 2014
Ninth and Twelfth Grade, forty-two students
Observed students for developmental skills, noticing advances while taking an
educational psychology course; observations gave research-like support to methods
from college course
Oakland Catholic High School, Pittsburgh, PA

September October 2013

Ninth through Twelfth Grade, fifty students

Observed teacher on methods appropriate for Latin language learning and ways to
incorporate student interest into class
Sacred Heart Elementary School, Pittsburgh, PA
February April 2013
Second Grade, sixteen students
Co-taught Junior Achievement lessons on assembly line practices and community
impact, incorporating Total Physical Response activities to engage students and give
hands-on understanding of lesson concepts
Cooperated with fellow student teaching candidate to instruct pre-planned lessons while
making accommodations as needed

WORK EXPERIENCE

Duquesne University Office of Residence Life, Pittsburgh, PA

August 2014 present
Resident Assistant
Guide 35 freshmen female residents in adjusting to college by providing support,
guidance, and resources, while holding residents to standards and integrity of the
university
Mentor fellow Resident Assistants to maintain disciplinary action within residence hall,
while gaining senior staff attention and praise for work with other staff members within
the department
Organized program discussing societal perceptions of members and how they are
perceived in society, led by special education professor; program was awarded as Best
Program of the Month for the department
Higher Achievement Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA
June 2015 July 2015
Enhanced student comprehension in Social Studies and Literature through augmented
curricula and materials by challenging students with varied written, oral, and projectbased activities
Maintained a classroom website containing curricula-related supplemental materials,
including background information on class topics, assignments, and engaging games
related to class themes
Introduced students to Free Rice, a website that sparked interest in both learning and
helping others, gaining interest from the Pittsburgh program director in cross-curricular,
philanthropic effort for students

LEADERSHIP AND COMMUNITY SERVICE

Mentor, Higher Achievement Pittsburgh

September 2015 - present
Tutor fifth and seventh grade students from low-income and underprivileged areas on
supplemental Literature topics, with a focus on freedom and justice, while modifying
pre-planned lessons to accommodate for students needs and ability levels while
creating comprehensive and engaging activities
Coordinate with professional staff and other mentors to work on mentor and tutor
development strategies to enhance services given to students, done so through weekly
workshops after mentoring sessions
Vice President of Membership, Gamma Sigma Sigma Service Sorority
January December
2015
Oversaw new member induction process and welcoming of potential members into
organization

Coordinated sisterhood events to promote bonding experiences amongst members,

often times doing so on campus and at other organizations philanthropy events
Organized a night in which current members wrote advice and welcoming words to give
to future new members, demonstrating a warm acceptance into the organization by
fellow members

Co-President, Pittsburgh Association for the Education of Young Children

December 2014
December 2015
Organized 50+ members on the foundation of helping young children in the Pittsburgh
community
Led the organization of an event in coordination with another School of Education
organization, at which members created blankets for newborn in local hospitals
Coordinated campus-wide fundraiser to donate funds to childrens organizations in need
Student Ambassador, School of Education Student Ambassadors
Spring 2014 Fall 2015
Recruited potential Duquesne University students at university and School of Education
information events by advocating for the Leading Teacher Program and sharing
information on the education profession