Sara O.

Derdiger
(847) 454-5157 sara.derdiger@gmail.com
https://saraoderdiger.weebly.com

English Language Arts Teacher

Student Motivation  Classroom Technology  Co-Teaching  Cross-Curricular Teaching  Curriculum
Design  Backwards Design  Differentiation  Social/Emotional Learning  ESL and Special
Education Experience  Data Collection and Analysis  Common Assessment Creation and Analysis

Experience
Elk Grove High School Elk Grove, IL 2018-Present
Instructional Assistant/JV Bowling Special Education Assistant
 Collaborated with teachers from the English, Social Studies, and Physical Education
departments to create, plan, and teach a pilot program for students with extreme academic,
behavioral, and social/emotional needs (Sophomore Leadership Cohort)
 Attended field trips, service learning, and activities with students in the Sophomore
Leadership Cohort, providing support with behavior management, activity completion, and
reflection on the activities
 Met with teachers, social workers, case managers, and other staff to provide academic and
social/emotional supports for students in the Sophomore Leadership Cohort and iLit classes
 Created, analyzed, presented on, and wrote a blog post about a Zones of Regulation Survey,
used twice a week for students to inform teachers in the Sophomore Leadership Pilot of their
emotional state and needs for the day
 Created spreadsheets tracking student needs, health concerns, and accommodations for the
Sophomore Leadership Cohort
 Was trained in using the iLit program for reading intervention and provided technical and
teaching support in three iLit classrooms providing reading intervention to freshman and
sophomores
 Supported students in iLit classes by helping them complete work for the program, providing
1:1 support when needed
 Taught classes as both a substitute, when needed, and as an instructional assistant
 Supported two wheelchair-bound students on the Junior Varsity bowling team in practice and
competition

Lake Forest High School Lake Forest, IL July-August 2018

ACT Prep and Transition to Honors Summer School Teacher
 Created and taught two weeks of ACT Prep and a Transition to Honors Course, preparing
students for the switch from regular level English courses to Honors and Advanced level
English courses

Lake Forest High School Lake Forest, IL 2017-2018

Special Education Teaching Assistant
 Worked as a 1:1 aide for a student with Autism, creating and administering accommodations,
working with the student’s support team and parents to strategize and create the student’s
IEP, and provided academic and emotional supports
 Supported all students and teachers in both general education and special education courses
by providing accommodations, reteaching and reviewing course materials, and collaborating
with teachers on instructional strategies and student needs
  Collaborated with teachers to adapt and modify course materials for students with IEPs and
504s
 Created Google Forms and spreadsheets to collect and analyze student data in order to better
support students’ academic and social/emotional needs
 Substituted for absent teachers and taught classes when asked

Hsinchu American School Hsinchu, Taiwan 2015-2017

English and Social Studies Teacher/World Scholar’s Cup Co-Sponsor
 Taught one year of Introduction to Literature for students who were low-level readers or ELL
 Created the syllabus and taught one year of Honors Dystopian Literature, Advanced Writing,
American Literature, seventh grade World History II, and seventh grade Writing
 Created the syllabus and taught one and a half years of seventh grade Literature
 Co-taught one semester of College Essay Writing and co-counseled students on college
applications
 Collaborated with colleagues to create common assessments for Advanced Writing,
American Literature, World History II, Introduction to Literature, and seventh grade
Literature and to analyze data collected from these assessments
 Successfully advocated for the creation of an ESL program across grade levels 6 through 12

Hamilton International Middle School Seattle, WA April 2015-June 2015

Study Skills Teacher/English Teaching Assistant
 Taught a Study Skills course for students with learning disabilities
 Instructed students in executive functioning skills
 Adapted coursework for students with IEPs and 504s
 Collaborated and communicated with the teachers of students in Study Skills to insure
improvement in courses and coursework completion
 Provided in-class support in eighth grade Language Arts by providing accommodations for
students with IEPs and 504s, as well as supporting reading comprehension

Seattle Public Schools Seattle, WA January 2015-April 2015

Substitute Teacher
 Worked as a day-to-day substitute across Seattle in grades Pre-K through twelve

Nelsen Middle School Renton, WA August 2014-January 2015

English Language Arts Teacher
 Taught five sections of seventh grade Language Arts
 Co-created common assessments
 Served on a team piloting the new College Board SpringBoard curriculum for seventh grade

Education
Master of Arts in Teaching Secondary Education, National Louis University 2015
Bachelor of Arts in Creative Writing, Columbia College Chicago 2012

Endorsements and Certifications

6-12 English Language Arts (2013), 6-8 Social Studies (2013), Google for Educators Level 1 (2017)
Skills
 Basic speaking, reading, and writing skills in Spanish and Traditional Mandarin
 Proficiency in learning management systems (Canvas, Google Classroom, Schoology)
 Introductory skills in Flipped Learning/Blended classrooms
 Creation of data collection tools and data analysis

Workshop and Conference Attendance

Zones of Regulation Survey Presenter October 15, 2018
Elk Grove High School

White Teacher Toolbox: Developing a “Positive” Racial Identity November 2, 2018

Northeastern Interdisciplinary University Seminars for Teachers

Cognitive Behavioral Intervention for Trauma in Schools Training September 25-26, 2018
Lurie Children’s Hospital

School Mental Health Symposium January 26, 2018

Oakton Community College

Executive Functioning Teaching Workshop November 2017

Rush NeuroBehavioral Center

Technology for Creating a Flipped Classroom Presenter April 2015

Hsinchu American School

FlipCon Taipei April 15-16, 2015

Jon Bergmann Keynote Speaker

Northwest Conference on Teaching for Social Justice October 18, 2014

Portland, OR