Mekenna Ellis

8520 Jackson Park Blvd.

Wauwatosa, WI 53226

mekennarae@gmail.com
(262) 945-2037

Professional Profile
Dedicated, talented, resourceful educator with desire to use advanced education in Administration
and Reading to promote excellence in schools. Demonstrates ability to improve teacher
instruction through coaching and professional development workshops. Experienced in meeting
the needs of students at risk and creating a stimulating and challenging learning environment for
all students. Exceptional ability to establish cooperative, professional relationships with parents,
staff, and other administrators. Demonstrates knowledge in the following areas:
Strong Leadership and Mentoring Skills
Literacy Coaching
Teacher Supervision and Evaluation
Curriculum Development
Meeting the Needs of Diverse Learners
Using Data to Drive Instruction
Building Leadership Teams
Grant Writing
PBIS

Universal Design for Learning

Leading Teacher In-Services
District/State Assessment Coordination
Creating Literacy Benchmarks
Co-Planning to Co-Serve
Multiage Education
Response to Intervention and Instruction
Professional Learning Communities

Education and Licensure

PhD in Urban Education (in progress) University of Wisconsin Milwaukee
June 2012 Present
GPA: 3.97
Educational Administration Specialization
Master of Science in Reading Concordia University of Milwaukee
September 2008 June 2010
GPA: 3.91
Action Research Topic: Parental Involvement in Literacy Success
Bachelor of Science in Education University of Wisconsin La Crosse
September 2002-December 2006
GPA: 3.97
Wisconsin Licensure:
Principal (51)
Director of Instruction (10)
Reading Specialist (317)
Middle Childhood to Early Adolescence: age 6-13 (72)
Regular Education (777)

Leadership Experience
Designed and delivered district and building professional development aligned to district
goals
Provided job-embedded professional development and instructional coaching
Lead the building-wide PBIS to use student behavior data to drive decision making
Collaborated with a team of Literacy Leaders to align reading curriculum to Common
Core
Created student disaggregated data procedures to assess strengths and weaknesses of
literacy interventions
Built the capacity of new educators by serving as a member of the New Teacher Mentor
Training program
Served as a member of the Curriculum Council
Used Teachscape and the Charlotte Danielson Framework to complete informal
walkthroughs and evaluations
Served as a member of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Administrative Advisory
Board

Professional Educational Experience

Jefferson Elementary, Wauwatosa, WI

June 2012-Present

Reading Specialist and Literacy Coach

Developed and implemented a school and district-wide literacy plan to improve teachers
capacity to teach literacy effectively
Coached and trained teachers in various aspects of literacy including Common Core State
Standards, Common Formative Assessments, Student Engagement, and Lesson Design
Worked as a district-wide team to implement Universal Design for Learning and other
culturally and racially ethical practices
Created and managed a school-wide summer school program for developing readers
Created and facilitated Advanced Learner Plans for the Gifted and Talented Program
Used data and the RtI process to develop and implement successful literacy plans for
developing readers
Served as PBIS Tier 1 Internal Coach and member of the PBIS Tier 2 team
Trained new teachers as part of the New Teacher Mentor-Training Team
Member of a hiring committee to hire new teachers

Trevor-Wilmot Grade School, Trevor, WI

August 2007 to June 2012

Teacher: Second Grade Teacher: August 2009 June 2012

First and Second Grade Multiage Teacher: August 2007 May 2009
Served as first and second grade team leader
Planned and implemented bi-annual Family Reading Nights
Wrote grants including one to successfully receive 60 iPads to be used classrooms.
Team taught in a multiage classroom setting
Collaborated, developed, team taught units with resource teachers

References
Jennifer Schultz
Principal
Jefferson Elementary School
Wauwatosa School District
schultje@wauwatosa.k12.wi.us

414-773-1210

Stephanie Calarco
Principal
Eisenhower Elementary School
Wauwatosa School District
calarcst@wauwatosa.k12.wi.us

414-773-1100

Dean Nemoir
Supervisor of Human Resources
Wauwatosa School District
nemoirde@wauwatosa.k12.wi.us

414-773-1046

Rhonda Schum
Student Learning Supervisor
Wauwatosa School District
schumrh@wauwatosa.k12.wi.us

414-773-1035