RACHEL MARCOTTE
I’m a National Board Certified teacher with a Masters in Education from The University of Illinois at Chicago and a Bachelors of Fine Art from The School of the Art Institute of Chicago.
I've worked in education for over 25 years with 17 of those years as a classroom teacher. My career in education began in Chicago at education nonprofits with a focus on the arts. I quickly realized that I wanted to participate and contribute directly to a school community and that is when I pursued my Masters to become a classroom teacher. In addition to my focus on classroom education, I have taken on leadership roles in assessment with a specialty in Standards Based Learning.
While my background is in the arts and education, I have also sailed over 4,000 nautical miles. Long before I became a passionate educator, I was the youngest "skipper" at Camp Maplehurst. I spent my childhood summers messing about with small sailing dinghies. Some 4,000 nm later, it's clear to me that much of what we become as adults is shaped so very strongly by who were as eight year olds.
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
2011-2013, 2015-present
Third Grade Teacher
COLEGIO JORGE WASHINGTON
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Instruct students in a third grade, self-contained, ELL classroom
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Implement the Teachers College Units of Study
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Experienced with teaching Eureka Math, Amplify Science, and TCI Social Studies Alive
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Establish conflict resolution protocols in the classroom using Talk It Out
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Presented Cultivating Conflict Resolution In Your Classroom at the 2019 Tri-Association Conference
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Chair of the Professional Development Committee 2012-2013
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Chair of the PLC Committee 2017-2018
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Leader of the A-Team, student conflict resolution group, 2011-2013, 2018-2019
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Led professional development in Words Their Way, Conflict Resolution, and Designing Classrooms for Balanced Literacy
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Served on the Behavior Committee 2011-2012 collaborated in creation of REACHES
2016-present
Lead Assessment Teacher
COLEGIO JORGE WASHINGTON
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Managed the development of the Standards Based Learning report card
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Designed and led professional development to support transition to Standards Based Learning
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Led PD in how to use MAP data
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Co-presented about Standards Based Grading at the Tri-Association Conference in 2018 with Dr. Lee Ann Jung and Dr. Nick Glab
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Participated in ASCD one-on-one webinar with Dr. Lee Ann Jung about Standards Based Grading
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Organized and led a one day SBG Conference for schools in Colombia
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Serve on the Academic Council
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Expanded position to include Literacy Lead Teacher in 2021
2004-2011
Third Grade Teacher
RACHEL CARSON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
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Taught a third grade, self-contained, monolingual and ELL classroom in Chicago Public Schools
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Member of The Response to Intervention Team, 2010-2011
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Member of Literacy Leadership Team and Literacy Night Planning Committee, 2008-2011
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Served on the Art Now committee, 2005-2011
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Participated in a collaborative Urban Gateways artist-in-residency grant, 2006-2010
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Implemented the conflict resolution program, Talk It Out
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Led Parent Meetings and Student-Led Conferences
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Mentored Teacher Interns from University of Chicago UTEP program, 2007, 2009, 2010
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Co-led school-wide professional development about literacy and RTI
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Co-led professional development about Partner Reading and Content Too (PRC2) for Chicago AMPS schools
EDUCATION ADMINISTRATION EXPERIENCE
2000-2003
Programs Manager
READING IN MOTION
RIM improves students’ reading scores through arts-based reading curricula
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Managed after-school and summer teacher training programs
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Managed Chicago Annenberg Challenge funded programs
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Designed and implemented collaborations with arts education organizations
1997-1999
Grant Writer
CREATING PRIDE INC.
Creating Pride builds self-esteem by making art a regular part of
student's learning
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Managed grant department and raised funds through writing grant proposals
EDUCATION
2002-2004
Master's Degree
MASTER IN EDUCATION
The University of Illinois at Chicago
1995-1997
Bachelor's Degree
BACHELOR OF FINE ART
The School of the Art Institute of Chicago
1993-1995
University
The University of Michigan School of Art
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CERTIFICATIONS
Illinois Master Elementary Teaching Certificate, since 2010
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National Board Certified, Middle Childhood Generalist Certificate, since 2009
English as a Second Language Approval, since 2005
Illinois Self Contained General Education, Kindergarten – Grade 9, since 2004
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Google Certified Educator Level 1, since 2018, renewed in 2021
SKILLS AND EXPERTISE
Conflict Resolution: I have taught conflict resolution following the Talk It Out model for 16 years along with leading sessions to teach teachers how to bring conflict resolution to their classrooms at both my school and the Tri-Association Conference in 2019.
Organization: I am highly organized and have led professional development at a regional literacy conference at my school about designing classrooms for balanced literacy. I have also led professional development at my school and have consulted with teachers about classroom design.
Curriculum Experience: I have hands-on classroom experience in The Teachers College Units of Study, Amplify and Eureka Math/Zearn. I attended a week-long Teachers College training in 2009. In addition, I attended the 2020-2021 Reunions held by the Teachers College in October and March.
Assessment: I am passionate about issues of purposeful assessment and have invested in understanding feedback, how to build consistency across grade levels, as well as building validity. I collaborated in identifying power standards. During distance learning and the return to the classroom, I have focused on best practices with supporting students through meaningful feedback.
Teamwork: My third grade team is recognized as being highly functional and productive based on our smart collaborative nature. I support new teachers as well as experienced teachers. My goal is to find ways to tap into my team's strengths, work efficiently, and consistently to support student learning.
Language: Limited working Spanish.