I graduated from Tower Hill School in Wilmington, where I was senior class president and captain of the varsity field hockey team. I also played while attending The University of Virginia. I couldn't decide if I wanted to become a doctor or a graphic artist, and so I took a wide range of classes, including advanced calculus. Math has always been my favorite and easiest subject. Science and art are close behind math. I graduated from UVA in 1988, and from studying art abroad in France and at Parson's School of Design in New York City, I also received at the same time, an associate degree from Parsons in Advertising Design. I moved to New York City to work in advertising, after spending two summer months with some friends driving all over the country in my VW convertible to see as much as we could upon graduating from UVA. A few years later, I moved to Italy for a year to teach English at a medical school. I realized there that I wanted to become a teacher, and so when I moved back to the USA, I attended West Chester College of Pennsylvania to be certified to teach grades 1-8. I received a Masters in Education Degree in 1992. During the summer of 2009, I took two doctorate level classes in the Department of Education at the University of Delaware. Since then I have taken several more classes at a few other colleges in the field of education. I aim to obtain a Ed. D in Educational Leadership.
CERTIFICATION AND QUALIFICATIONS I have a current Advanced Professional Certificate in Maryland with endorsements in “Elementary Education 1-6 and Middle School,” “Middle School Math,” and “Art PreK-12.”
My current standard certificate in Delaware has endorsements to teach grades 1 through 8, and middle school math. I am "Highly Qualified" as a middle school math teacher.
TEACHING EXPERIENCE I taught fourth and fifth grades at Pulaski Intermediate in theCHRISTINA SCHOOL DISTRICT. I took some years off full time teaching to stay home to raise our children, and then returned to the same school district in 2008 to teach grade 6 math at Gauger- Cobbs Middle School for a year.
Since August 2009, I have been teaching at the Cecil Alternative Program in the Cecil County Public Schools, Maryland. I teach Middle School Math and High School Art. At CAP, I am currently the chairperson for MSAP and on the Instructional Improvement Committee.
OTHER LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCES AND WORKING WITH CHILDREN
During the years off from full time teaching, I continued to be involved with educating children. I taught computer skills to preschool students with ComputerTots, and art to children at the Western YMCA. I have coached my children's various sports teams, and coached my daughter's Odyssey of the Mind team for many years at Caravel Academy. I substitute taught at Caravel, as well as Appoquinimink School District. My husband and I taught kindergarten Sunday school at our church, GRPC. I have held several leadership roles at church. After teaching Woman’s Bible Studies for many years, I was in charge of all the women’s study ministries for 2 years.
Lacrosse Referee and Field Hockey Referee and Association President
We have been very active in local theater, where my children have performed multiple times, and I have helped sewing costumes and paint scenery.
smlester@ccps.org
EDUCATION
I graduated from Tower Hill School in Wilmington, where I was senior class president and captain of the varsity field hockey team. I also played while attending The University of Virginia. I couldn't decide if I wanted to become a doctor or a graphic artist, and so I took a wide range of classes, including advanced calculus. Math has always been my favorite and easiest subject. Science and art are close behind math. I graduated from UVA in 1988, and from studying art abroad in France and at Parson's School of Design in New York City, I also received at the same time, an associate degree from Parsons in Advertising Design. I moved to New York City to work in advertising, after spending two summer months with some friends driving all over the country in my VW convertible to see as much as we could upon graduating from UVA.
A few years later, I moved to Italy for a year to teach English at a medical school. I realized there that I wanted to become a teacher, and so when I moved back to the USA, I attended West Chester College of Pennsylvania to be certified to teach grades 1-8. I received a Masters in Education Degree in 1992.
During the summer of 2009, I took two doctorate level classes in the Department of Education at the University of Delaware. Since then I have taken several more classes at a few other colleges in the field of education. I aim to obtain a Ed. D in Educational Leadership.
CERTIFICATION AND QUALIFICATIONS
I have a current Advanced Professional Certificate in Maryland with endorsements in “Elementary Education 1-6 and Middle School,” “Middle School Math,” and “Art PreK-12.”
My current standard certificate in Delaware has endorsements to teach grades 1 through 8, and middle school math.
I am "Highly Qualified" as a middle school math teacher.
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
I taught fourth and fifth grades at Pulaski Intermediate in the CHRISTINA SCHOOL DISTRICT. I took some years off full time teaching to stay home to raise our children, and then returned to the same school district in 2008 to teach grade 6 math at Gauger- Cobbs Middle School for a year.
Since August 2009, I have been teaching at the Cecil Alternative Program in the Cecil County Public Schools, Maryland. I teach Middle School Math and High School Art.
At CAP, I am currently the chairperson for MSAP and on the Instructional Improvement Committee.
OTHER LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCES AND WORKING WITH CHILDREN
During the years off from full time teaching, I continued to be involved with educating children. I taught computer skills to preschool students with ComputerTots, and art to children at the Western YMCA. I have coached my children's various sports teams, and coached my daughter's Odyssey of the Mind team for many years at Caravel Academy. I substitute taught at Caravel, as well as Appoquinimink School District. My husband and I taught kindergarten Sunday school at our church, GRPC. I have held several leadership roles at church. After teaching Woman’s Bible Studies for many years, I was in charge of all the women’s study ministries for 2 years.
Lacrosse Referee and Field Hockey Referee and Association President
We have been very active in local theater, where my children have performed multiple times, and I have helped sewing costumes and paint scenery.