KELLY ALEXANDRA TROTTA-SCHELLHASE

ktrotta@gcsct.org

OBJECTIVE
To obtain a teaching position in a Catholic school in the areas of Middle School Language Arts (reading and
writing) or Social Studies. I would like to help prepare students for high school level work in these areas, as
well as enhance their understanding of the liberal arts and improve their critical thinking skills.
To obtain a consultant position in the area of literacy for elementary or middle school students.

CERTIFICATION

EDUCATION

Connecticut State Teacher Certification

EIN: 6473932727
Middle School English/Language Arts, 5-8
Alternate Route Program for Certification
New Jersey Board of Education
Praxis Exam: Middle School Language Arts
score: 190/200

Marywood University, November 2009

2011-2013 University of New England

MSEd Literacy

QPA 4.0

11 Hills Beach Road, Biddeford, ME 04005

2006-2008

University of Scranton
MA Theology

QPA: 3.91

800 Linden Street, Scranton, PA 18504

2003-2006

Marywood University
BA Honors English

QPA: 3.94

2300 Adams Avenue, Scranton, PA 18509

Pennsylvania Guest Teacher Certification

1200 Line Street, Archbald, PA 18403

1999-2003

Albertus Magnus High School

NYS HS Diploma
Cum Laude

798 Route 304, Bardonia, NY 10954

TEACHING EXPERIENCE
Jan. 2012 present

Diocese of Bridgeport, CT
Fairfield County, CT
Literacy consultant
In my current role, I have designed, implemented and overseen literacy
programs for students in grades 3 through 8. I have also designed and run
professional development workshops in many different areas for educators in
our Catholic schools. I have also helped with student assessment and goalplanning, curriculum mapping, and special service coordination.

Sept. 2011 June 2014

Greenwich Catholic School

Greenwich, CT
7th and 8th grade homeroom teacher; Middle School ELA, SS, Religion
At Greenwich Catholic School, I worked with 6th-8th graders in different
areas of the humanities. Our English/language arts curriculum is integrated,
meaning that literature, composition, vocabulary, spelling, and grammar are
taught through the same inclusive yet differentiated instruction. Social
studies in grades seven and eight focuses on American history; seventh
graders begin their study with the ancient American civilizations and
conclude in the mid-1800's, which allows the eighth grade to pick up with the

Civil War and conclude in the mid-1900's around the Cold War era. As a
Catholic school, religious instruction takes place formally within religion
class but is also an intrinsic part of every academic subject and extra
curricular event at GCS. Seventh graders study the New Testament and the
foundations of the Church, and in my position I also work with these students
in mass preparation and sacramental participation. I also work closely with
the music department and frequently cantor masses and help lead music
during choir performances
Sept. 2010 June 2011

Sacred Heart Catholic Elementary School

Rockaway, NJ
6 grade homeroom teacher; Middle School Language Arts
th

In my position at Sacred Heart, I taught a 6th grade homeroom, which was

comprised of reading, religious studies, vocabulary, and spelling. As the middle
school language arts teacher, I was responsible for teaching grammar and writing
skills to students in grades five through eight. I also coordinated the annual schoolwide read-a-thon in October. As the language arts teacher, Iwas also the organizer
of the annual literature festival, which was held in February. Though I taught my
homeroom utilizing an inclusive language arts program, the middle school had not
yet switched over to this program universally. Female bullying among our schools
adolescent girls had been a problem in the past, so I established a Girls Friendship
Group that met monthly to discuss peer awareness and promote self-efficacy. I also
cantored bi-weekly masses for our school community.

Nov. 2008 present

St. Therese Catholic Elementary School

Paterson, NJ
7th-8th grade homeroom teacher; Middle School Religious Studies
When I began at St. Therese School, I taught a 7th grade homeroom, which
included reading, writing, social studies, science and math. I also taught 8 th grade
science and co-taught 8th grade mathematics with my principal, Sr. Mary Ann
Jacobs. This year I am responsible for 8th grade, teaching them for religion,
inclusive language arts and social studies; I also teach middle school religion
classes. I organized and proctored this years COOP exams, managed my
students high school application process and helped them prepare scholarship
materials. My concentration with the students this year has been on organization
(especially in their notebooks), essay writing and community awareness. Our
students face many socio-economic challenges and struggle with language
barriers, but every one of their Terra Nova scores improved 100% last year.

June 2009 Aug. 2009

Apple Tree School Summer Enrichment Program

Teacher for children grades first through sixth

River Edge, NJ

This enrichment program was designed for gifted elementary school students who
wished to continue their education over the summer months. I had a total of
eighteen children in the class, varying in ages from six to twelve years old. I taught
each level individually for reading, writing and mathematics, and taught universally
applicable science and social studies to the entire group together; I also taught art
and music several times a week. For social studies, we learned about the fifty states,
basic civics and the birth of our nation; I focused on these lessons because the
majority of my students came from immigrant families. Our science curriculum was

split between basic astronomy and life science; we culminated our study of the later
discipline by raising our own Painted Ladies from caterpillar to butterfly and
releasing them into the wild. I did not have a teachers aid, and was responsible for
all planning and teaching within the classroom.

June 2009 Aug. 2009

Private Academic Tutor

ESL students grades two through six

River Edge, NJ

As an ESL tutor, I worked with Korean-speaking children on grade appropriate

material as indicated by New Jersey state standards. Our lessons focused on
mathematics skills, reading comprehension, writing proficiency and speech/fluency.
The students had assigned homework and were evaluated on a weekly basis.
Nov. 2006 present

All About Theatre SchoolWaverly, PA

Private Voice Teacher and Musical Theatre Instructor
As a voice teacher, I instruct students, ages four through eighteen, in basic singing
techniques and music theory. I also direct recitals and represent my students in
various regional performances. As a musical theatre instructor, I advise several
classes of students (from Pre-K through High School) in writing their own original
musical theatre pieces, of which I then direct the performances. In these classes I
concentrate on basic acting skills, music theory, stage movement, and vocal
technique.

Aug. 2006 Mar. 2007 Penn Foster UniversityScranton, PA

English Instructor
As an English instructor, I taught college level writing classes and basic English
composition to students across the country via an online/mail-based institution. My
students varied in degree level from those pursuing GEDs to those working to
achieve their Masters.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

ADDITIONAL QUALIFICATIONS

Founder and Moderator of Greenwich Catholic

School Girls Book Club
GCS Positive Climate Committee: Middle School
Representative
GCS English/Language Arts middle school
curriculum advisor
Chair of GCS Exit Standards Formation Committee
Writer of GCS Press Releases
PLC Representative for St. Therese School in the
Diocese of Paterson
Musical Theater/dance instructor for St. Therese
School Aftercare Program
Development of year-long, unit, and learning
experience plans for 6th-8th ELA, 7th-8th SS, 6th-8th
Religion, and 7th Mathematics

SMART Board trained (Diocesan Observation

Assessment: Outstanding)
Writers Workshop: Nancy Attwell Training
Cross-curricular Literacy: Carol Scearce
Training
Differentiation: Sr. Remegia Kushner, PhD
Training
Foundations of RTI: Pat Quinn Training
Curriculum Mapping and Development: Sr.
Mary Ann Jacobs, PhD Training
Professional vocalist and actress
Minor in dance

HONORS, PUBLICATIONS, AND ACTIVITIES

Lambda Iota Tau (National English Literature Honors Society)

Theta Alpha Kappa (National Religious Studies and Theology Honors Society)
Delta Epsilon Sigma (National Catholic Collegiate Honors Society)
Kappa Gamma Pi (National Catholic Graduate Honors Society)

In Her Image and Likeness: The Feminine Nature of God in Christian Theology and
Modern Literature (published in Scientia, Spring 2006)

Eucharistic Minister and Lector

Cantor

2001-present
1997-present

PROFESSIONAL REFERENCES UPON REQUEST