Michael Dragoni

michaeldragoni@mac.com

Education
Maryville University, St. Louis, MO Doctorate in Teacher Leadership, currently enrolled
Maryville University, St. Louis, MO Certificate in Gifted Education, 2014
Maryville University, St. Louis, MO M.A. Ed, Educational Administration and Leadership, 2013
Maryville University, St. Louis, MO B.A. Ed, Art Teaching Certification, k-12, 2009

Professional Experience
ART TEACHER, BUDER ELEMENTARY, RITENOUR SCHOOL DISTRICT, 2009-PRESENT

Created and taught lessons to a highly diverse, low-income population of 500+ students.
Served as student mentor, AimsWeb reading proctor, and ran multiple after school clubs (Art
Club, Robotics Club, Chess Club, Kickball League). Served on PD committee, Tier 3 team, MAP
Motivation Team, Site & Safety committee, Technology team, & Building Leadership Team.
PROJECT LEAD THE WAY TEACHER, BUDER ELEMENTARY, RITENOUR SCHOOL DISTRICT, 2014-PRESENT

Taught engineering and computer science courses aligned with Common Core State
Standards in math and English Language Arts, Next Generation Science Standards, and other
national and state standards.
DEPARTMENT CHAIR/LEAD FACILITATOR, VISUAL ARTS, RITENOUR SCHOOL DISTRICT, 2011-2013

Planned and facilitated district meetings of all visual arts teachers. Led professional
development sessions in coordination with Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and
Instruction. Administered district wide art show.
ADJUNCT FACULTY, MARYVILLE UNIVERSITY ROBOTICS PROGRAM FOR GIFTED STUDENTS, 2014-PRESENT

Designed and taught lessons to gifted students aged 8-12 in creative problem solving,
robotics, stop-motion animation, and video game design.
DIRECTOR, MARYVILLE SUMMER ARTS INSTITUTE, 2009-2013

Implemented full-day art program for 40+ students aged 10-16. Hired and supervised art
faculty, approved curriculum, and taught visual arts courses. Addressed faculty, student and
parental concerns. Maintained a safe and secure environment for students including
transportation and dining issues. Administered student art show.
TEACHING ASSISTANT, MARYVILLE PRE-COLLEGE ART & DESIGN PROGRAM, 2008

Assisted in implementing and teaching art and design curriculum for high school students.


Related Experience
PRESENTER, PROJECT LEAD THE WAY STATE CONFERENCE, 2015

Created and presented a session entitled, Getting Started with Launch Robotics and
Automation in the Classroom, an orientation for teachers considering the implementation of
PLTW robotics platforms in the elementary setting.
RECIPIENT, INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGY IN EDUCATION FUND GRANT, 2015

Wrote and received a grant totaling $53,253 to create a kindergarten-5th grade video
production and film making curriculum. Students in all grades will create a self-reflective video
chronicling their year, including literacy samples, biographical commentary, dreams and
aspirations. 5th grade students both act as video producer for kindergarten students as well as
create a culminating video with samples from each of their elementary years.
RECIPIENT, INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGY IN EDUCATION FUND GRANT, 2014

Wrote and received a grant totaling $67,992 to transform a traditional elementary art program
into one emphasizing STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics).
Coordinated with Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum & Instruction and building Principal
to examine ways in which to incorporate STEM into the visual art curriculum.
COOPERATING TEACHER, MARYVILLE UNIVERSITY, FALL 2014

Served as cooperating teacher for university students during their student teaching semester.
NATIONAL ART EDUCATION ASSOCIATION CONFERENCE, 2014, 2015
NONVIOLENT CRISIS INTERVENTION TRAINING, 2013
COMMON CORE & STEM WORKSHOP, EDUCATION PLUS, 2012 - 2013
MIDWEST EDUCATIONAL TECHNOLOGY CONFERENCE, 2013, 2014, 2015
PRESENTER, SYSTEMS THINKING IN SCHOOLS INSTITUTE, WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY, 2012

Delivered presentations on the fundamental habits of Systems Thinking and ways in which
educators can create new tools for their own use.
NEW TEACHER MENTOR, 2011-2013

Mentored two art teachers throughout their first two years of teaching.
RECIPIENT OF MISSOURI ARTS COUNCIL GRANT, 2010

Wrote and received a grant of $2500 to facilitate a mural created by 5th grade students in the
lobby of Buder Elementary school.
CULTURALLY & LINGUISTICALLY RESPONSIVE TRAINING, 2009
SYSTEMS THINKING, LEVEL 1 TRAINING, 2009

Honors
FINALIST, MISSOURI STATE TEACHER OF THE YEAR, 2016
TEACHER OF THE YEAR, RITENOUR SCHOOL DISTRICT, 2015

DEANS AWARD, MARYVILLE UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF EDUCATION, 2014

OUTSTANDING BEGINNING TEACHER, MISSOURI ASSOCIATION OF COLLEGES FOR TEACHER EDUCATION,
2011
FIRST CLASS TEACHER AWARD, RITENOUR SCHOOL DISTRICT, 2009 (NON-TENURED TEACHER OF THE YEAR

Volunteer Experience
WISH GRANTER, MAKE-A-WISH FOUNDATION, 2006-2009, 2015

Serve as a liaison between wish children and the Make-A-Wish foundation, helping to plan and
deliver their wish.