Kara Jo Paulson is an experienced educator seeking an administrative position. She holds Iowa administrative licenses in principal PK-12, special education supervisor PK-12, and is a highly qualified special education and elementary teacher. Paulson has over 15 years of teaching experience in both general and special education at the elementary level. She is currently a model teacher at Wallace Elementary in Johnston, Iowa where she provides leadership, mentoring, and professional development. Paulson has a Master's degree in Educational Leadership from Drake University and a Bachelor's degree in Education from Central College.
Kara Jo Paulson is an experienced educator seeking an administrative position. She holds Iowa administrative licenses in principal PK-12, special education supervisor PK-12, and is a highly qualified special education and elementary teacher. Paulson has over 15 years of teaching experience in both general and special education at the elementary level. She is currently a model teacher at Wallace Elementary in Johnston, Iowa where she provides leadership, mentoring, and professional development. Paulson has a Master's degree in Educational Leadership from Drake University and a Bachelor's degree in Education from Central College.
Kara Jo Paulson is an experienced educator seeking an administrative position. She holds Iowa administrative licenses in principal PK-12, special education supervisor PK-12, and is a highly qualified special education and elementary teacher. Paulson has over 15 years of teaching experience in both general and special education at the elementary level. She is currently a model teacher at Wallace Elementary in Johnston, Iowa where she provides leadership, mentoring, and professional development. Paulson has a Master's degree in Educational Leadership from Drake University and a Bachelor's degree in Education from Central College.
Kara Jo Paulson is an experienced educator seeking an administrative position. She holds Iowa administrative licenses in principal PK-12, special education supervisor PK-12, and is a highly qualified special education and elementary teacher. Paulson has over 15 years of teaching experience in both general and special education at the elementary level. She is currently a model teacher at Wallace Elementary in Johnston, Iowa where she provides leadership, mentoring, and professional development. Paulson has a Master's degree in Educational Leadership from Drake University and a Bachelor's degree in Education from Central College.
EDUCATION Master of Science in Educational Leadership (M.S.E), PK-12 Principal Licensure 2017-2019 Drake University Des Moines, IA
Bachelor of Arts (B.A), Education 2001-2004
Central College Pella, IA
ADMINISTRATIVE EXPERIENCE Model Teacher – Henry A. Wallace Elementary School 2015-Present Johnston Community School District Johnston, IA ● Collaborated to develop professional learning opportunities upon needs of building and district staff ● Participated in and applied new learning from national and district trainings (i.e. Cognitive Coaching i & II, PLC Conference, PBL) ● Reflected and planned for improvement using the PDSA process ● Served on and communicated district leadership team decisions to the building level (math and science committees) ● Engaged in frequent collaboration and problem solving with our administration, instructional coach, lead teachers, and other model teachers ● Observed and Modeled Instructional Practices to improve personal practice and techniques ● Administered district assessments to various grade levels as needed (FAST Screening - 1st, CBMR 2nd & 3rd)
TEACHING EXPERIENCES Classroom Teacher – Grades Kdg., 2, & 3, Wallace Elementary School 2007 - Present Johnston Community School District Johnston, IA ● Served as member of Wallace Elementary School’s Instructional Leadership Team ● Collaborated with Wallace Elementary instructional coach to create more authentic, engaging, project-based learning experiences using a math workshop approach ● Communicated and Collaborated with families, grade level and special education teachers, and administration to meet all student needs ● Served on various committees to implement what is best for kids (Math, Science, PBL, Innovation Academy, PBIS, Well-Being) ● Modified and accommodated core subject material based on IEPs, BIPs, PEPs, Student/Teacher Assistant Team (STAT) intervention plans, and classroom data ● Adapted (early) and implemented various project based techniques to increase authentic experiences and student engagement ● Facilitated training for various staff developments centered on technology, readers workshop, flexible seating, or student well-being Classroom Teacher - Kindergarten, Longfellow Elementary 2006 – 2007 Council Bluffs Community School District Council Bluffs, IA ● Modified and accommodated core subject material based on IEPs, BIPs, PEPs, Student/Teacher Assistant Team (STAT) intervention plans, and classroom data ● Adapted (early) and implemented various project based techniques to increase authentic experiences and student engagement ● Communicated and Collaborated with families, grade level and special education teachers, and administration to meet all student needs
Classroom Teacher - Instructional Strategist, Woodrow Wilson Junior High 2005 – 2006 Council Bluffs Community School District Council Bluffs, IA ● Collected and analyzed data to make decisions for students with IEPs, including behavior intervention plans (BIPs) ● Wrote and amended IEPs based on team decisions and data, including BIPs ● Communicated and Collaborated with students, families, grade level teachers, other special education teachers, and administration ● Communicated rights and responsibilities of stakeholders throughout the IEP process ● Conducted initial, annual, and re-evaluations of student IEPs ● Planned, implemented, modified and accommodated math instruction for a a self contained classroom based on IEPs, BIPs, and classroom data ● Adapted (early) and implemented various project based techniques to increase authentic experiences and student engagement
Classroom Teacher - Preschool, 3 and 4 year olds - Camp Sunnyside February - August 2005 Easter Seals Camp Des Moines Des Moines, IA ● Modeled and practiced social and independence skills through play ● Adapted (early) and implemented various project based techniques to increase authentic experiences and student engagement ● Communicated and Collaborated with families, grade level and special education teachers, and administration to meet all student needs
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS School Administrators of Iowa (SAI) 2018 – Present
LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCES AND TRAININGS
2018-2019 ● Administrative Learning Experiences ○ Clinical 2 Experience, Drake University Education Leadership Program ○ Brent Riessen, Johnston Middle School Principal (Clinical 2) ■ Gained administrative experience and learning related to building behavior management, prioritization of time/scheduling of people, understanding communication styles of staff, leadership team PLC meetings, and parent communication/meetings ● Drake Leadership Toronto Experience ● Cognitive Coaching I & II Certification ● Collaboration of Master Schedule with Principal Suzie Pearson of Wallace Elementary ● Wallace Elementary Instructional Leadership Team (ILT) Member ● Presenter at Drake Standard Based Grading Symposium Breakout session ● Presenter at Drake Continual Improvement Network - Cedar Rapids Cohort ● Orientation/Mentoring - New Teacher Training JCSD ● Presenter at District Learn.Create.Innovate Professional Development - Read Aloud Strategies (Johnston School District) ● Various Hiring Committees for general education and special education teacher positions ● Johnston Community School District Elementary Self Assessment of MTSS Implementation (SAMI) Training ● Mentoring, coaching, consulted, supervised, and evaluated of a student teacher o Jessica Behrens, University of Iowa ● Mentoring, coaching, consulted, and supervised clinical hours for a college student o Matthew Baird, Des Moines Area Community college (DMACC) ● Mentoring, coaching, consulted, supervised, and evaluated of a school to work student o Jenna Bennett, Johnston High School - senior ● Active Johnston Community School District Elementary Science Committee Member ● Observation of Principal Meredith Mauro of Valerius Elementary (Urbandale Community School District) ● Co-taught and supervised the after school Wallace Elementary Yearbook Committee ● Seesaw App Ambassador
2017-2018 ● Administrative Learning Experiences o Clinical I Experience, Drake University Educational Leadership Program o April Heitland, North Prairie Elementary Principal (Clinical 1) ● Wallace Elementary Instructional Leadership Team (ILT) Member ● Orientation/Mentoring - New Teacher Training ● Presenter at District Learn.Create.Innovate Professional Development- Seesaw Learning Application/Technology (Johnston Community School District) ● Johnston Community School District Elementary Science Committee Member ● Observation of Principal Ryan Woods of Johnston High School (Johnston Community School District) ● Johnston Community School District Elementary Project Based Learning Team ● Various Hiring Committees for general education and special education ● Recipient of Johnston’s District Student Well-Being Award ● Mentoring, coaching, consulted, supervised, and evaluated of a student teacher o Kaylin Winders, University of Northern Iowa ● Seesaw App Ambassador
2016-2017 ● Wallace Elementary Instructional Leadership Team (ILT) Member ● Orientation/Mentoring - New Teacher Training ● White Privilege Conference - University of Northern Iowa ● Johnston Community School District Elementary Math Committee Member ● Wallace Elementary School Student Teacher Assistant Team (STAT) Member ● Various Hiring Committees for general education and special education ● Mentoring, coaching, consulted, supervised, and evaluated of a student teacher o Lexi Willie, Grand View University
2015 – 2016 ● Wallace Elementary Instructional Leadership Team (ILT) Member ● Orientation/Mentoring - New Teacher Training ● Various Hiring Committees for general education and special education ● Johnston Community School District Elementary Math Committee Member ● Wallace Elementary School Student Teacher Assistant Team (STAT) Member ● Wallace Elementary School PBIS Committee ● Classroom Community: Morning Meeting Class -- Heartland AEA Training ● Johnston Community School District Innovation Academy Member ● Mentoring, coaching, consulted, supervised, and evaluated of a school to work student o Natalie Stewart, Johnston High School - senior
2014 – 2015 ● Johnston Community School District Elementary Math Committee Member ● Wallace Elementary School Student Teacher Assistant Team (STAT) Member ● Wallace Elementary School PBIS Committee ● Johnston Community School District Innovation Academy Member
2013 – 2014 ● Johnston Community School District Elementary Math Committee Member ● Wallace Elementary School PBIS Committee ● Wallace Elementary School Wellness Committee ● Supporting the Common Core with General Release - Heartland AEA Training
2012 – 2013 ● Johnston Community School District Elementary Math Committee Member ● Wallace Elementary School PBIS Committee ● Empowering ELLs in the mathematics classroom - Heartland AEA Training 2011 – 2012 ● Johnston Community School District Elementary Math Committee Member ● Wallace Elementary School PBIS Committee ● Building ELL Reading Through Targeted Strategies - Heartland AEA Training
2010 – 2011 ● Johnston Community School District Elementary Math Committee Member ● Daily 5/Cafe Menu - Heartland AEA Training
2009 – 2010 ● Content Area Capacity Building Project: K-5 Math Tier 2 - Heartland AEA Training
