Heather Boylan, PhD

1020 15th Street, #16H

(303) 638-0333

heather@heatherboylanphd.com

Profile

Highly driven self- motivated educator with sixteen years of proven success in leadership, curriculum development, program management, customer service, teaching and teacher training.  Problem solver, thriving on ability to understand and integrate into viable solutions the unique needs of students, trainees, and colleagues, as well as institutional demands and constraints.  Able to work effectively and creatively within parameters set by multiple stakeholders while also seeing where parameters might need to be re-assessed or even re-defined.  Demonstrated ability to motivate, lead and work effectively with persons from diverse life experiences, cultures and backgrounds.  Proven achievement in a variety of work environments.

Education and Other Credentials

PhD, Educational Foundations, Policy and Practice, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado

MEd, Secondary English Education, Xavier University, Cincinnati, Ohio

BA, English Literature, DePauw University, Greencastle, Indiana

Colorado Professional Teaching License in Secondary English and English as a Second Language, Valid until February, 2012

Level II Certified Snowboard Instructor

Some proficiency in Spanish

Career History

Metropolitan State College of Denver, Denver, Colorado

Assistant Professor, Linguistically Diverse, Elementary, and Secondary Education

·     Led ten-member Linguistically Diverse Education (LDE) program revision task force through a successful curriculum transition to assure program compliance with new state teacher licensure rules; included developing new curriculum as well as facilitating and assuring program’s approval by the college and State Department of Education.

·     Managed LDE program and minor, advising college faculty and over 100 students of program rules and changes.

·     Developed utilized, and refined electronic templates and tools utilized to document and assess student progress through the LDE program.

·     Represented LDE program at education department Leadership Advisory Council.

·     Managed activities of four off-site grants sponsoring students through their undergraduate and teacher licensure coursework.

·     Designed and taught more than eight different online and in-person teacher education courses.

·     Consistently earned outstanding teaching evaluations from department chair and students.

·     Supervised pre-service teachers in their practicum and student teaching assignments, helping them develop and refine their teaching knowledge and skills while documenting and assessing their progress. 

·     Facilitated faculty search processes and the diversity of hiring pools for the School of Professional Studies, developing and utilizing a database of contacts at Historically Black Colleges and Universities and Hispanic Serving Institutions.  Also monitored and documented the progress of searches through the Equal Opportunity Office and in the academic departments hiring new faculty.

·     Pioneered Metro’s community outreach effort through a joint venture with the Downtown Denver Partnership, teaching a course live in Skyline Park during summer of 2006.

·     Recruited and sponsored practicing teachers to participate in Metro’s LDE program with a grant from the Coors Brewing Company.

Beaver Creek Ski and Snowboard School, Avon, Colorado

Private Lesson Snowboard Instructor

·     Taught private lessons to students of all ability levels, focusing on outstanding guest orientation and customer service.

·     Assisted co-workers as necessary to begin lessons on time and to deliver students to lesson meeting areas.

·     Exceeded part-time commitment by nine days.

Copper Mountain Ski and Ride School, Copper Mountain, Colorado

Group and Private Lesson Snowboard Instructor

·     Taught private and group lessons to adults and children of all ability levels with an emphasis on student needs, efficiency, and technique.

·     Achieved second highest private lesson request rate during 2000-2001 season.

·     Only part-time instructor to be within the top ten volume producers during 1999-2000 season.

·     Screened, hired, and trained new instructors.

·     Organized, coordinated, and led training for the Instructor Assistant Program for high school students teaching in ski school during the 2000-2001 season.

·     Helped organize and coordinate Snowboard Outreach Society’s Copper Mountain Program, 2001.

Summit High School, Frisco, Colorado

Classroom Teacher and Teacher on Special Assignment (English Language Acquisition)

·     Successfully facilitated all aspects of the school’s English as a Second Language program which grew from serving 30 students to over 120 in 3 years.

·     Monitored program’s compliance with state and Office of Civil Rights regulations.

·     Researched program graduation and drop-out rates, utilizing results to re-vamp program and re-train school faculty to teach in ways that would assure the academic engagement and success of immigrant students.

·     Hired, trained, and supervised cadre of para-educators who assisted teachers, counselors, and administrators in working with immigrant students and their families.

·     Extensively documented and reported to school and district officials students’ attendance, linguistic progress, and entrance to and exit from the ESL program.

University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado

Graduate Instructor and Graduate Lead Teacher

·     Designed and taught undergraduate teacher education courses while pursuing PhD.

·     Consulted with other graduate instructors about best practices for preparing pre-service teachers.

·     Consistently earned outstanding teaching evaluations.

Cincinnati Public Schools, Cincinnati, Ohio

English Teacher and Faculty Trainer

·     Served as school leader and faculty trainer in school’s transition into membership in national school reform movement: The Coalition of Essential Schools.

·     Taught English to high-risk youth, focusing on targeting and meeting individual and group student needs.

Relevant Professional Development and Scholarly Activities

Ongoing presentations as representative of the Equal Opportunity Office to department and faculty search chairs about diversification of hiring pools and best hiring practices.

Co-Presenter at National Conferences of the National Association for Multicultural Education and Phi Delta Kappa International.

Presenter of English Language Acquisition teaching methods to colleagues and their teacher licensure classes.

Regular participation in ongoing training provided by Colorado Department of Education and other state and local sponsors.

Related College and Community Service

Colorado Association of Teacher Educators – Current President; former Board Member at Large.

Colorado Department of Education – Assessment Committee, Evaluating Colorado English Language Assessment (CELA) test items for validity, reliability, readability, and other factors.

School of Professional Studies – Curriculum Committee. 

Faculty Senator representing Education Department.

Integrated Marketing Plan Committee – Work on committee developing a new “brand” and marketing campaign for the college. 

Junior Symphony Guild – Volunteer and contributor to JSG, an organization presenting educational orchestra concerts to children throughout the Denver area.

Shining Stars Foundation – Volunteer and contributor to organization providing activities and support for children with cancer and their families.  Fall, 2006- present.

Professional Memberships

Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages

National Association for Bilingual Education

Colorado Association for Bilingual Education

Colorado Association of Teacher Educators

Association of Teacher Educators (National)

Phi Delta Kappa International                                 

National Association of Multicultural Educators

American Association of Snowboard Instructors