Kathryn Switzer
Damascus
Summary
Dedicated to helping children learn in a positive, nurturing environment. Flexible, caring and eager to work with other professionals who are committed to teaching young children. Caring Teacher with strong communication skills and drive to excite students about learning. Specializing in creating stimulating environments that help students achieve full potential and enjoy learning. Communicates effectively and maintains strong relationships with scholars, families, and colleagues.
Overview
25
25
years of professional experience
Work History
Retired teacher
Montgomery County Public Schools-Garrett Park Elementary School
07.2025 - Current
Kindergarten and First Grade Classroom Teacher
Montgomery County Public Schools-Garrett Park Elementary School
08.2015 - 07.2025
- Fostered a welcoming and engaging classroom environment for 23 students
- Provided a developmentally appropriate balanced literacy and mathematics program for a diverse group of students
- Incorporated technology into daily instruction
- Actively participated and collaborated in weekly team planning sessions
- Performed student assessments and provided feedback to students and parents to improve student performance
- Communicated and interacted with students, parents, staff and community including participation in activities such as: Back to School Night, Back to School Picnic, Math Night, Spring Fair, PTA sponsored Family Reading Night, and Kindergarten Orientation
Special Education Paraeducator
Montgomery County Public Schools-Lois P. Rockwell Elementary School
09.2008 - 08.2015
- Supported a Special Education Teacher in an Intensive Needs afternoon preschool classroom with students who have autism or developmental delays
- Previously supported a Special Education Teacher in both the Pilot and Classic preschool programs. Both typically developed preschoolers and students with mild to moderate developmental disabilities such as downs syndrome or cerebral palsy
- Collaborate with the teacher and therapists on student progress and help implement instruction to meet student needs
- Daily responsibilities include leading small groups, leading circle when teacher is absent, helping students transition from each activity, using sign language, pictures and other strategies to communicate with students who do not have language
Teacher
Kid’s Town Learning Center
Germantown
07.2014 - 01.2015
- Company Overview: Maryland State Department of Education accredited learning center
- Taught the morning preschool class at Maryland State Department of Education accredited learning center
- Responsible for implementing their Houghton Mifflin Pre-K curriculum
- Other responsibilities included leading circle instruction time, small groups, planning academic centers and making social, emotional and academic observations for each student
- Maryland State Department of Education accredited learning center
Long Term Substitute Teacher
Montgomery County Public Schools-Lois P. Rockwell Elementary School
01.2008 - 06.2008
- Lead Teacher in implementing lesson plans and behavior strategies for students with moderate developmental disabilities
- Responsible for tracking if students were making progress on the independent education programs (IEP) goals
Independent Contractor – Loan Officer and Processor
05.2000 - 03.2008
- Worked from home originating loans and processing loans for three mortgage brokers
- Responsible for communicating with customer, bank, appraiser and title company for all required data through origination to settlement
- Requested loan documents, inputted information into mortgage loan software, put loan through automated online underwriting for loan approval, ordered title, appraisal and cleared any outstanding conditions from bank and prepared closing packages for some brokers
Substitute Teacher
Montgomery County Public Schools
03.2007 - 01.2008
- Substitute teacher for grades Pre-K through 5 in Damascus and Germantown Elementary schools
- Carried out lesson plans for absent Teacher for both general education and special education classrooms
Education
Masters Equivalency -
01.2019
Maryland Educator Certificate - Early Childhood Education, Pre-K-3
MD01.2014
Bachelor of Arts - Journalism
Penn State University
State College, PA01.1987
Skills
- Classroom management
- Curriculum development
- Student assessment
- Differentiated instruction
- Technology integration
- Collaboration skills
References
Available upon request
Timeline
Retired teacher
Montgomery County Public Schools-Garrett Park Elementary School
07.2025 - Current
Kindergarten and First Grade Classroom Teacher
Montgomery County Public Schools-Garrett Park Elementary School
08.2015 - 07.2025
Teacher
Kid’s Town Learning Center
07.2014 - 01.2015
Special Education Paraeducator
Montgomery County Public Schools-Lois P. Rockwell Elementary School
09.2008 - 08.2015
Long Term Substitute Teacher
Montgomery County Public Schools-Lois P. Rockwell Elementary School
01.2008 - 06.2008
Substitute Teacher
Montgomery County Public Schools
03.2007 - 01.2008
Independent Contractor – Loan Officer and Processor
05.2000 - 03.2008
Masters Equivalency -
Maryland Educator Certificate - Early Childhood Education, Pre-K-3
Bachelor of Arts - Journalism
Penn State University
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