VITA

A couple of people have commented that they believe I should use more bullets. I would appreciate more feedback about this. I realize in our guide it suggests this, but I did not want my VITA to go over 3 pages, so I opted to use the format shown. Someone also mentioned something about references not listed. In my experience, these are provided upon request, but, again, I would like to hear what others have to say. I noticed earlier the spacing may not copy and paste quite right, but I also have it as an attachment on our board. Thanks in advance for taking a look at it!

                                     Jody L. Kotys

3412 Running Deer Drive ~ El Paso, TX 79936-1825

Home Phone (915) 590-5762 ~ Email JKotys@aol.com

P  E  R  S  O  N  A  L

As a superintendent, I expect to be an instructional leader building effective strategies to engage, challenge and support students in 21^st century learning practices.

E  D  U  C  A  T  I  O  N  /  C E R T I F I C A T I O N

Superintendent Certification Program, Lamar University (in Progress)

Master of Education, Educational Administration, Sul Ross University, 2003

Master of Science in Education, Computer Applications, Nova Southeastern University, 1994

Bachelor of Science in Education, English Major/Urban Education Minor, Kent State University, 1978

 Various Graduate Courses: Kent State University, Texas Tech University, Stephen F.

                                    Austin University, Baylor University, University of Texas, Colorado School of Mines, UTEP

·         Texas Principal’s Certification, 2004, 2009

·         Texas Lifetime Professional in 2 areas- English and English Composite

                                                                      (English, Language Arts, Speech, Reading, Journalism)

·         Texas - Gifted and Talented Certificate

·         International Baccalaureate Administrator’s Certification

·         Small Business Institute Certificate, 2008

E  M  P  L  O  Y  M E  N  T

                                 

       Assistant Principal                               El Dorado High School           2006 – October 2011

                                                                                                  12401 Edgemere Blvd.

                                                                                                  El Paso, TX 79938

Responsibilities included Supervision of the English Department (increased passing rate on TAKS from 90%-95% on exit test Spring 2011), Foreign Language, ESL (reduced SPED/LEP population from 23% to 5%), LEP Coordinator, Special Education (raised Math TAKS scores an average of 250 points in 2010, across the board increase in 2011 by 10%), Social Studies (98% TAKS passing rate), Fine Arts and Career & Technology Departments, as well as the International Baccalaureate Program, Gifted & Talented Program, Attendance, Discipline, UIL Academic Programs, Text Books, Keys, Employee Time Clock, Staff Development, Partners in Education, Parent Volunteers, Nurses, Library, Beginning Teachers Program and Benchmark Testing.

Supervised 20-45 teachers and 16 paraprofessionals; in charge of hiring, training and development of new employees as well as on-going staff development of established employees; supervise hourly employees using time clock while managing over-time and comp time use; conduct conflict resolution sessions between employees and students; conduct formative and summative employee evaluations; develop employee improvement plans.

Manage budgets for Special Education, Fine Arts, Summer School and Gifted and Talented ranging from $36,000 - $180,000.

Develop business contacts for monetary donations, in-kind donations, and volunteer programs- 2008-2009 $56,000, 2009-2010 $60,000, 2010-2011 $65,000.

                            

     STYLE (Fine Arts Magnet Program)    Socorro High School              1990 - 2006

                                  Coordinator, Director of Forensics     10150 Alameda

                                  English/Speech Teacher                      El Paso, TX 79927

                                     Grades 9-12

                                     Theatre Teacher/OAP Director            Ernesto Serna PK-8 School    Spring 2005- 2006

Grades 6-8

                                   Designed curriculum and coordinated the academic program for the Fine Art Magnet 2001 –

                                   2006. Taught Communication Applications, Debate, English IV, Humanities, Analyzing Visual    

                                   Media and Literary Genres 2001 – 2006. Taught Communication Applications, Debate, Public

                                   Speaking, English II, and  Gifted and Talented English II-IV 1993- 2001. As Coach of the

                                   Speech and Debate Team planned, prepared and executed Regional Speech Tournaments,

                                   out-of-state travel for competition, prepared and managed budgeting. Trained students in advanced

                                   Internet research and multi-media presentations using computers 1993 - 2006. Worked with gangs

                                   through the Alternative School Program 1990-1993. Taught grades 7-12 all subjects.

                                   Directed  MS One-Act Play Spring 2005 (1^st Place Team, Best Actor, 11 Individual Awards).

                                   Developed a PK-8 Theatre Program incorporating newly adopted Theatre TEKS for

                                   Elementary with Vertical Alignment utilizing 8^th grade student mentors.                       

                                  Computer Programming /English Chair  Van Horn High School        1983 - 1990

  Grades 9-12                                             P.O. Box 898

                                                                   Van Horn, TX 79855.

                                  English Teacher                                       Lodge Grass High School  1982 - 1983

  Grades 9-12                                            Drawer AF

                                                                   Lodge Grass, MT 59050

                               English/Social Studies Teacher            Colegio Internacional de Carabobo 1981 - 1982

  Grades 6-8                                              Apartado 103, El Trigal

                                                                  Estado de Carabobo, Valencia, Venezuela

                         

      English Teacher                                     Maplewood Joint Vocational School   1978 - 1981

                                      Grade 11                                                7050 State Route 88

                                                                 Ravenna, OH 44226

C  O  M  P  U  T  E  R     S  K  I  L  L  S

·         Eduphoria PDAS, Aware

·         Microsoft Office: Word, Excel, Publisher, Outlook, Outlook Express; Power Point; Microsoft  Works; Quicken; advanced Internet research; web page construction.

·         29 years experience working with Computer Applications with secondary students. Have worked with new programs and applications as they are introduced to the market.

C U R R I C U L U M    D E V E L O P M E N T

·         Designed, Lead and Implemented Staff Development throughout the school year 2010-2011/2011-2012

·         Lead the redesign of the English curriculum to align with STAAR for 2011-2012

·         Initiated PLCs for RTI implementation 2010/2011

·         Spearheaded the  redesign and organization of Math Supplemental Aids for SPED and Regular Education students for 2010 TAKS testing; SPED Scores improved by 89%; Average increase of 250 points per student; in 2011 all core areas increased by 10%

·         Designed and implemented the Aztec Paraprofessional Training Initiative to provide extra training for paraprofessionals working in special units working with autism, mental retardation, and Downs Syndrome - 2010

·         Member of the SISD Search Committee interviewing Math and Science Teachers 2010

·         Reorganized and Streamlined  SPED Department Procedures 2008-2011

·         Expanded  IB Program to include Visual Arts &  Integrated Technology in a Global Society courses

·         Designed and implemented building-wide in-service on PDAS July 2003/July2005

·         Building-wide in-service presentation on Japanese Education 2003-2004

·         Restructured Fine Arts Magnet Program - Socorro Talent Youth Learning Environment (STYLE)

·         Designed and implemented new curriculum requirements for STYLE Program in Core Area Instruction, Humanities, Creative Writing and Film Studies

·         Initiated cross-curricular planning and team teaching in STYLE Program

·         Coordinated field trips, started STYLE student organization  

·         Interviewed and selected personnel to teach in STYLE Program

·         Initiated and developed the Speech and Debate Program at SHS

·         Conducted Computer Literacy in-service workshops District-wide for teachers

·         Chaired District 5-Year Plan Committee for Writing

·         Designed, wrote, and initiated curriculum for Computer Science

·         Designed and piloted a Computer Literacy course used at middle school level

·         Directed student projects that designed educational and administrative software

·         Assessed district computer needs and developed a 5-Year Plan for expenditure and curriculum development

·         Evaluated and purchased software for interdisciplinary needs

·         Wrote new curriculum for the Senior English Program

E X T R A – C U R R I C U L A R

·         MS One-Act Play Director- Ernesto Serna PK-8 Spring 2005- 2006, District Winner

·         Speech coach for 27 years including VICA; BPA; FBLA; FFA; HOSA; TFA and NFL CX Debate, Lincoln Douglas Debate, Original Oratory, Student Congress; UIL Informative and Persuasive Speaking, Poetry and Prose Interpretation ; Coached UIL Literary Criticism, Ready Writing, Spelling, and Current Events

·         Debate Team invited to compete at the Harvard and Stanford National Invitational Tournaments 7 years in a row

·         Directed HS One-Act Play competition for 7 years; Regional competitors 5 years

·         National Honor Society Advisor 7 years

H O N O R S

·         2012 Texas Association of Secondary School Principals Region 19 HS Assistant Principal of the Year

·         2011 Scholarship Recipient for Superintendent Certification Program, Lamar University

·         2011 Elite American Educator – one out of five from Texas/ only 35 in the US

·         2010 Cambridge Who’s Who VIP Member of the Year in Secondary Education

·         2010 Cambridge Who’s Who Recipient

·         2010 TASSP Region 19  Nominee High School Assistant Principal of the Year

·         2009-2013 TASSP Region 19 Co-coordinator

·         Charter Member Lions Club International El Paso Far East Chapter

·         Secretary Lions Club International El Paso Far East Chapter 2007-2008

·         National At-Risk Education Network National Conference Presenter 2006 on Schools within Schools

·         Selected to serve on  the TEA Review Committee for the 2006 TAKS English/Language Arts Exit Test

·         Fulbright Memorial Fund Scholar as Guest of the Japanese Government - 2003

·         Awarded 3 National Scholarships for Professional Study at Baylor University,

       The University of Texas and Colorado School of Mines

·         Contributed to National Blue Ribbon School - 1996

·         Coached winners of national, state, and regional speech, debate and theater contests

·         Teacher of the Year - 1989

·         Nominated for Teacher of the Year - 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004

Reading

I am trying to read as much as possible this weekend and there is so much good material! I see one of our classmates is on TK20 already. I think that will be my next project to get that up and running. I was trying to see if we could upload documents here, but it looks like the wiki is a better place whereas this blog is better to record ideas and journal thought as we along. I guess the more I use this, the more comfortable I will become and will see more possibilities.

Educational Use of Blogs

Blogs are all over the Internet. There are no shortage of them. Among colleagues I have worked with, blogs have provided a means of communication between administrators and teachers providing directions about how to use certain computer programs, create group discussions, and get feedback. I have seen teachers assign blogs to their students to create online communities, stimulate a different type of discussion that appeals to students who may not be comfortable with verbal discussions in class, and introduce technology to some students who may not be familiar with this format.

While I have seen a few blogs written by superintendents, most have not been maintained. One in particular wrote one about a year ago and has yet to update it. Saying that, it seems to me that if a superintendent makes the commitment to post a blog, it should be added to on a fairly regular basis. Keeping it relatively short and to the point may be the key to stimulating discussion and creating good public relations.

Action Research and Educational Use of Blogs

Action research is a dynamic use of problem-solving, best practices, analysis and change in a collaborative atmosphere. It is a deliberate on-going process addressing a specific goal. As another colleague said, because this kind of research takes place in the classroom, campus or district, problems can be identified more quickly and solutions can be put into place and evaluated in an effort to constantly improve in a more streamlined way.

As an educational leader, it is imperative we empower campus administrators, teacher teams and individual teachers to be creative in their application of best practices. Without that creatve input, we put our districts in danger of stagnation. Building trust in the people leading, as well as in the vision for the district, is something a superintendent must constantly work improve. Unless teachers feel comfortable sharing their ideas about what needs improved and committing to that improvement, a district will not be as successful as it could possibly be. Success of action research is also dependent on campus administrators being trained to encourage leadership among teachers and the development of teacher action research teams. Becoming a leader of leaders is the key to success in this model. It just makes sense to develop this in our districts to bring in the best ideas to address problems unique to our own communities.