RESUME

Amber Lynn Rutan

Union City, MI, 49094
Work Phone: (269) 441-6550 ext. 8483
Work Fax: (269) 952-6034


Harper Creek High School
12677 Beadle Lake Road
Battle Creek, MI, 49014
(269) 441-6550
http://www.harpercreek.net/home
OBJECTIVE:
To inform, educate, and mentor students in language arts so they are prepared for the
reading and writing rigor that will be expected of them after they graduate high school. By
utilizing strategies specifically related to reading apprenticeship and reading and writing
workshop, students will also be taught ways to find the value of English beyond the
classroom and to seek out their own reading/writing identity for the real world.

Education:

Masters of Arts in Teaching and Curriculum Michigan State University
2014

Bachelors of Arts in Education Western Michigan University
2009 English/History


Certification:
Michigan Provisional Secondary Certificate (Highly Qualified)
6-12 English (BA) History (CC)



Professional Experience:

2010-Present English Teacher Harper Creek High School
-Taught English I, English III, English IV, English IV Support, Creative
Writing, and AP Literature and Composition.
-Taught block schedule and worked with all grade levels while
focusing specifically on reading and writing skills, writers workshop,
AP level literary analysis, ACT preparation, and discussion of different
genres of writing from plays, poetry, short stories, scholarship
writing, and several full length novels.
-Use Data Director for evaluation on students growth for grammar,
reading, and writing.
-Worked with para-pros and special education teachers to maximize
the learning of all students.
-Created and maintained an EChalk webpage for all classes being
taught.


RESUME


2009 to 2010 English Teacher Battle Creek Central High School
-Started as a part-time English teacher working with a senior and
junior class from September until October.
-Mid-October took over for another English teacher and taught five
sections of juniors as a full time instructor until April (then returned to
previous part-time position).
-Created lessons and activities that encouraged growth in writing,
argument, and grammar and focused on the skills necessary for ACT
preparation as well as worked on five full-length novels.
-Worked with a special education teacher to maximize the learning of
all students.

2009-2010 Homebound Tutor Battle Creek Central High School
-Taught a homebound senior, starting in November, who hadnt
attended school since the start of the year.
-Tutored, supported, and transferred materials for five different
classes to the student and school.
-Ensured the students successfully completed her first semester
courses and supported student with her second semester online
learning program.
-Successfully helped the student graduate on time with her class.

2009-2010 Substitute Teacher Kelly Educational Staffing
-Taught as a substitute teacher throughout the area and with several
schools including Battle Creek Central High School and St. Philip
Catholic High School.
-Fulfilled the lesson plans left by the teacher and/or created activities
for students to keep them engaged in their class.
-Made detailed notes for the teacher upon their return of the
students productivity and conduct during the class periods.

2009 English Teacher Northwestern Middle School
-Taught a group of students recovering their ninth grade English
credit over the summer.
- Taught students a condensed version of both first and second
semester English.
-Lesson planned, evaluated assessments, and maintained classroom
management and disciple for four hours of instruction every day for
four weeks.







RESUME
Professional Activities:
Student Teaching
2009 Intern Teacher Battle Creek Central High School
-Instructed, guided, and assisted six sections of English preps,
including Freshmen and Junior English.
-Taught lessons and utilized cooperative learning techniques to
engage a diversity of learners, including students with special needs
and disabilities.
-Created lesson plans and multicultural units that facilitated a
students growth and development with literacy and writing.
-Encouraged a productive and supportive environment for academic
integrity.


2008 Pre-Intern Teacher Springfield Middle School
-Observed and instructed in several middle school classes, including
fifth grade Economics and eighth-grade honors English.
-Co-taught and assisted students within the classroom and created
several lesson plans and assignments.
-Taught and coached a large group of ESL students who spoke
Burmese throughout the semester.
-Worked cooperatively with another pre-intern and intern teacher to
engage in a diversity of teaching perspectives and styles.

In-School Collaborative Initiatives and Leadership
2013-Present Technology Committee Harper Creek High School
-Collaborated about technology for the Harper Creek High School.
-Met with other teachers to help them better apply new technologies
in the classroom.
-Meet both personally and digitally with others to share new ideas
about technology.

2010-Present Literacy Coach (mentee) Harper Creek High School
-Observed by a literacy coach twice a year for impartial evaluation.
-Met with coach after observations for discussion, revision, and
critique of class instruction.
-Conferenced about literacy strategies for the classroom individually
and in larger planning block PD sessions throughout the school year.


2010-Present Collaborative Action Team Member Harper Creek High School
-Collaborated, discussed, analyzed data and curriculum with other
members of the English department at the high school level.
-Taught co-workers strategies from the AP conferences during
professional development.
-Created common assessments and lessons for specific grade levels.
-Set goals and collected data for department for evaluation.

RESUME
Conferences/Workshops
2013-Present Reading Apprenticeship
-Attended bi-monthly workshop days to collaborate, discuss, and
research different reading strategies for students and the classroom.
-Read literature and research about reading and applied that research
to the classroom.
-Had the mentor teachers leading the workshop observed my
classroom and see the application of reading apprenticeship within
my daily lessons.

June 2013-July 2013 Red Cedar Writing Project
-Attended all-day workshops Monday-Thursday for four weeks
collaborating, researching, and creating lessons related to writing,
grammar, and workshop in the classroom.
-Participated in writing activities on a personal and professional level
to better exploring the writing process.
-Created a presentation to share at the MCTE Conference in October
2013 over writers notebooks in the classroom.

2011-Present Rethinking Secondary Literacy
-Attended several workshop days, typically every other month during
the school year to discuss new strategies for reading and writing,
especially writers notebooks, and reading/writing workshop.
-Read assigned pedagogy books for workshop discussions.
-Key Note Speakers have included Ralph Fletcher, Penny Kittle, and
Kelly Gallagher.

2011-2012 AP Summer Institute Conference
-Attended both summers to discuss, train, and plan for the AP
Literature and Composition course.
-Worked over the course of week on collaborating and revising the AP
program for Harper Creek High School.
-Attended at two separate locations: Oakland University and
Grandville High School.

Extracurricular Activities
2012-Present Teacher Chaperone Harper Creek High School
-Chaperoned school dances, including the homecoming, winter
formal, and prom.


2011-Present Extended Learning Teacher Harper Creek High School
-Helped students afterschool with English every Wednesday and
Thursday.

2011-2012 AP Lit. Exam Tutor Harper Creek High School
-Taught study sessions, afterschool, for students taking the AP Exam
in May.
RESUME


Other Work Experience
2004-2009 Comerica Bank Battle Creek, MI
-Completed assorted teller duties such as: transitions, money
counting and organizing, customer service, and referring new
accounts.


Awards/Honors
-Harper Creek Teacher of the Year 2012-2013
-Graduated Magna Cum Laude 2009
-Western Michigan University Deans List 2005-2009
-Nomination for Brown Award 2009

Community Service
2010-Present Bi-Annual Highway Clean up Battle Creek, MI
-Picked up trash on 4 mile stretch of interstate in the fall and spring.



Hobbies and Personal Interests

-Running
-Scrapbooking
-Travel
-Reading and Book Clubs