MARIA HARLESS

329 Stacy Drive Charleston, WV 25302 · 681-945-4092

mlawson@mail.kana.k12.wv.us / Twitter: MLawsonPinchEL

I have taught a year in each of the following grades: Kindergarten, 4th grade and 3rd grade. I helped write
the iBook for Pinch Elementary School which was the first Apple Distinguished school in West Virginia. I
hold an Apple Teacher certificate of accomplishment and have decided to get my Master’s Degree in
Elementary Education with an endorsement as a math specialist. I integrate technology into my lessons
and help students strive to achieve both their personal and academic goals.

EXPERIENCE
JULY 2016 – CURRENT
CLASSROOM TEACHER, KANAWHA COUNTY SCHOOL
I was a student teacher in the Spring of 2016. In July 2016, a position became available and I was
lucky enough to teach all subjects for 4th grade my first year at Pinch Elementary School. My
second year at Pinch Elementary School I moved to 3rd grade and taught all subjects. While being
a classroom teacher I have been a technologist for 3rd-5th grade teachers in the building. I am
responsible for the safety and well-being of the students in my classroom and creating learning
opportunities for all students. I have used a variety of programs in my classroom to deliver
lessons, the following are some programs I have used/taught students to use: ST Math, Prodigy,
Green Screen, iMovie, Keynote, Schoology, Near Pod, Educreations, Pages and even Dot and
Dash. I have created mini PBL experiences based on weekly stories for the classroom and STEM
lessons bi-weekly for Makers Space hands on learning.

JUNE 2016 – CURRENT

SITE SUPERVISOR, WVU EXTENSION SERVICE ENERGY EXPRESS
For two summers, I have served as a site supervisor for a summer program that services children
in rural areas of West Virginia. The site supervisor takes on the role of a principal in a school for
the summer. They are responsible for college mentors teaching children in grades 1st-6th along
with anywhere from 30-60 children. I am responsible for approving mentors’ hours, tracking
breakfast & lunch meals served to the children in the program, getting the community involved
in the summer program, testing students reading levels before and after the 8-week program
and creating a site community service project for the community.
EDUCATION
MAY 2018
MASTERS ELEMENTARY EDUCATION/MATH SPECIALIST ENDORSEMENT, MARSHALL
GRADUATE
My Master’s Degree has consisted of 36 hours of course work including 15 hours in teaching
math courses, and an intense thesis class. I completed over 100 hours teaching mathematics in
different grade level settings along with completing two action research projects. I am graduating
with a 4.0 GPA in graduate school and have kept a full time schedule every semester since
starting in August 2016.

MAY 2016
BACHELORS OF SCIENCE ELEMENTARY EDUCATION, WEST VIRGINIA STATE
UNIVERISTY
I graduated from West Virginia State University with a 3.0 GPA. I received my West Virginia Read
Aloud certificate from a teach reading class I took at WVSU. I completed over 300
observation/teaching hours and one semester as a student teacher while at WVSU. I made the
Dean’s List six different semesters while at WVSU and even was a judge for the Kanawha County
Science and Social Studies fair.

CERTIFICATES
 WV Read Aloud Certificate  KCS Vanguard Member
 West Virginia State K-6 Teaching License  Apple Teacher Certificate
(Expires June 2019)  Spelling Bee Coordinator Pinch

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
 Leadership Academy Completion 3 Hour  BEST Teaching Completion 3 Hour Graduate
Graduate Course Course
 Blended Learning 1 Completion 3 Hour  PLC Backward Design Course
Graduate Course  Blended Learning 2 Completion 3 Hour
 BEST Teaching 2 Completion 3 Hour Graduate Graduate Course
Course  How to Learn Math Completion 3 Hour
Course

The 7 courses listed above do not go to my Master’s Degree but are courses I have taken to keep up
with Professional Development in the teaching field over the past 2 years. The courses were offered
from KCS and had graduate credit from Marshall University. The courses consisted of assignments,
presentations and teaching and learning from other educators that taught from K-12 grade.