FRANCES CARHART FINAN

Redmond, WA 98053 (425) 444-3116 (cell) francescarhart@me.com www.linkedin.com/in/francescarhart

PROFILE
Experienced Harvard-educated instructional designer with outstanding communication, organizational and project management skills. Highly motivated, collaborative education leader seeking an opportunity to make a significant impact on childrens lives while contributing and growing in a challenging, fast-paced environment.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE:
COLLEGEFIT COLLEGE CONSULTING, OWNER Aug. 2005-Aug. 2010 Designed and ran successful small business focused on matching high school teenagers with best fit colleges. Generated client base from referrals, siblings and very satisfied families. Recognized as an ethical and hard-working consultant among community, public school counselors, parents and students. Instructed more than 100 students individually on the college admissions process. Students ranged from 8th-12th grade and came from public, private and home-schooled educations. Personally visited over 100 U.S. college campuses. Met with an additional 75 college admissions representatives during visits to the Seattle area and conference presentations. Created and maintained PowerPoint slides about each college. Presented 90-minute individualized college lists to each client and his/her family. Helped each student identify their key strengths and unique passions using a collaborative approach of StrengthFinderTM, Myers-BriggsTM for teens, and a proprietary student survey. Requested repeatedly by Redmond PTSA to speak about college admissions to parents. Presentations included College Admissions 101and Competitive College Admissions for up to 200 parents. Asked to speak at annual Redmond Youth Summit 2012. Annually collected and maintained local college acceptance data for Seattle-area consultants to calculate and track admissions statistics. SKYLINE HIGH SCHOOL, ISSAQUAH PUBLIC SCHOOLS Aug. 1998-June 1999 th Instructed 9 grade English humanities block. Curriculum developer for new interdisciplinary English and History program. NORTHWOOD JUNIOR HIGH, KENT PUBLIC SCHOOLS April 1996-June 1998 Selected by administration to open new junior high and serve on Leadership Team. Instructed blocked language arts and social studies class to regular and gifted students. CEDAR HEIGHTS JUNIOR HIGH, KENT PUBLIC SCHOOLS Awarded First-Year Teacher of the Year. Aug. 1995 June 1996

MICROSOFT, PRODUCT MANAGER July 1992-July 1994 Conducted Excel demonstrations at trade shows, routinely traveled to sales region to solicit customer feedback and coordinated with manufacturing personnel weekly to manage inventory.

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COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP IN EDUCATION

SEATTLE COLLEGE FAIR COUNSELING TABLE 2006-2011 Answered questions from students and families about specific colleges, the college application process and financial aid during fall and spring fairs. TRANSITIONS COMMITTEE HEAD, HORACE MANN ELEMENTARY 2009-2011 Met the needs of at-risk families identified by school counselor. Directed efforts to provide meals, money and encouragement to families facing life transitions, including one family awaiting a heart transplant for their 10-year old son. Organized visit by Redmond Fire Dept. and over 100 students, parents and faculty to surprise 2 students undergoing chemotherapy. LITERACY VOLUNTEER 2002-2012 Invited into classrooms to teach novel groups, work 1-1 with struggling students and motivate kids to learn. WESTERN WA WELLESLEY CLUB June 2008-June 2010 Attended weekly board meetings as Directory Chair to update and maintain contacts of over 200 Western Washington Wellesley Alumnae. Assisted with annual fall luncheon, solicited donations for spring auction and prepared care packages for Washington state first-year students. EDUCATION: HARVARD UNIVERSITY GRADUATE SCHOOL OF EDUCATION Masters in Education and Teaching Certificate, Teaching and Curriculum Program WELLESLEY COLLEGE Bachelor of Arts Degree, English Major Cambridge, MA Wellesley, MA

OTHER Current Washington State Teaching Certificate with English and History endorsements (7-12th grade.) In-depth knowledge of Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook. Accomplished public speaker. Extensive coursework and training in the Six-Trait Writing Program. Enjoy distance running, mountain biking and skiing.