Principal, Middle School Leonard Phelan..............................................................................................................................................1 Cover Letter.........................................................................................................................................1 Résumé...............................................................................................................................................3 Application Questions..........................................................................................................................8
Leonard Phelan Cover Letter P.O. Box 393 East Dennis, Massachusetts 02641-0393 January 24, 2014 Ms. Nikki Fuller, Deputy Director of HR Burlington Public Schools 150 Colchester Ave. Burlington, Vermont 05401 Dear Ms. Fuller: Please accept my application for the position of principal of Hunt Middle School in Burlington, Vermont. I firmly believe that my experience, energy and dedication render me an excellent candidate for the position. Currently I am serving as principal of Harwich Middle School in Harwich, Massachusetts but my school is closing at the end of this school year and our family would very much like to relocate north to Vermont. As a candidate for the principalship of Hunt Middle School, I bring a strong combination of experience, skills and training. I possess the interpersonal skills that will enable me to facilitate community dedication to school excellence. My career I have worked effectively with students, colleagues and community stakeholders to create structures and programs that benefit all students and enhance learning. As a teacher I gained extensive experience working with diverse student populations while teaching in a youth shelter, a middle school adjustment program, and in an eighth grade Social Studies classroom. As a school administrator I have served as assistant principal and summer school director at Dennis-Yarmouth Regional High School, Dean of Students at Mattacheese Middle School, principal of Cape Cod Regional Technical High School and principal of Harwich Middle School. In these roles I have gained much experience in fostering positive change, improving school culture, creating and providing enriching opportunities and programs for students, building high performing teams of educators and all other facets of school leadership. I have worked effectively with local authorities, formed community partnerships, hired quality faculty and staff members, worked within a fixed budget and handled complex student and personnel issues. Additionally, I bring integrity, a strong work ethic, and a very positive attitude to school each day. Throughout my career I have built programs that have engaged at-risk students. I have sought to establish a working knowledge and relationship with all manner of community resources and agencies. While serving as assistant principal at Dennis-Yarmouth Regional High School I served as coordinator of the district’s ad hoc Dropout Study Committee which conducted an in-depth study of that district’s challenges with regard to at-risk students and collaboratively produced a prescriptive report for district use to effectively address these challenges. As principal of Cape Cod Regional Technical High School I was responsible for the creation of an alternative learning program that rapidly and significantly reduced the number of students leaving school prior to graduation. In my current role as principal at Harwich Middle School I have utilized tiered student supports to provide targeted assistance to increase the degree of success experienced by our at-risk students.
Curriculum development is an area of particular interest to me and one that is central to the role of educational leader. I am a strong proponent of continual curricular refinement and I firmly believe that a school must offer exciting and beneficial opportunities for all of its students. In order to foster these opportunities for our students at Harwich Middle School I have built content area proficiency teams Leonard Phelan
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following the DuFours’ PLC model through which our teachers examine student achievement data, plan interventions and initiatives to improve student achievement and share best practice. While serving as a classroom teacher and a Curriculum Team Leader I worked on the development of a comprehensive conceptual framework for social studies instruction. Moreover, I have created a series of copyrighted curriculum maps that are widely used throughout my previous district. I have also facilitated professional development sessions and conference presentations on a number of topics and initiatives. The aforementioned experience and my graduate coursework have provided me with tremendous enthusiasm and drive to focus my energies on managing a middle school that is student-centered, provides valuable, relevant learning experiences, is academically thriving, holds high expectations for students, and is valuable to the community. My wife and I are very enthusiastic about moving northward to Vermont into a community that values high quality education with excellent schools for our own children to attend. I look forward to discussing this great opportunity to lead Hunt Middle School with you. Please contact me if you wish to schedule an interview at your convenience. Thank you. Very truly yours,
Leonard H. Phelan
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Résumé Leonard H. Phelan Education Salem State College Salem, Massachusetts, Massachusetts Master of Education Major: Educational Leadership GPA: 3.950 Credit Hours: 36 Attended September 2002 to May 2004 Degree conferred May 2004 Providence College Providence, Rhode Island, Rhode Island Master of Arts Major: History GPA: 3.500 Credit Hours: 30 Attended September 1994 to May 1998 Degree conferred May 1998 University of Massachusetts - Dartmouth North Dartmouth, Massachusetts, Massachusetts Bachelor of Arts Major: History Attended September 1987 to June 1990 Degree conferred June 1990
Experience Monomoy Regional School District Jan 2011 - Present Principal, Harwich Middle School Harwich, Massachusetts PRINCIPAL: Provides a safe and supportive learning environment, develops and maintains positive student, parent, staff and public relations and partnerships, supervises one administrator and 40 + teachers and staff, responsible for the day to day scheduling and operation of a 420 student public middle school, established and supervises the ongoing functions of content area proficiency teams following the Professional Learning Communities model within our school, established a world language program for all of our students, facilitates the offering of an expanding array of interscholastic sports and after school activities, facilitated the changeover of our Industrial Arts shop to a Technology and Engineering Lab and the development of an integrated STEM program, serves on regional STEM education/industry committee, presents and arranges for professional development activities, initiated development of a student support program, works on green initiatives including starting a school-wide recycling program and presents on this topic at professional conferences, collaborates with community resource agencies and entities, serves on district evaluation negotiation team, works with administrative team to facilitate creation of a new regional school district, co-chairs middle school design team to design our new regional middle school, serves actively in regional and state administrative organizations and committees including Massachusetts Secondary School Administrators Association Middle-Level Committee and Legislative Committee, lobbies local and state elected officials on educational law and Leonard Phelan
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policy, organizes the administration of state standardized testing. Serves on the Board of Directors of the Westgate Foundation and the Education Foundation for Dennis and Yarmouth. Reason for leaving: Current position. School closing in June 2014. Supervisor: Mr. Scott Carpenter, Superintendent (508 945-5130) Experience Type: Public School, Full-time It is OK to contact this employer
Mattacheese Middle School Jul 2009 - Dec 2010 Dean of Students West Yarmouth, Massachusetts 02673 DEAN OF STUDENTS: Built positive relationships with the student body, faculty, staff and parents, served as liaison to PTO and Parent School Council, managed transition for students entering and graduating. Organized MCAS academic support tutoring programs, conducted student discipline in a 550 student middle school. Worked with PLCs and individual teachers to enhance the effectiveness of instruction. Started a school-wide recycling program. Serves on the Board of Directors of the Education Foundation for Dennis and Yarmouth.
Reason for leaving: Left to take position as Principal of Harwich Middle School in Harwich, Massachusetts Supervisor: M. Catherine Wollak (508 778-7979) Experience Type: Public School, Full-time It is OK to contact this employer
Cape Cod Regional Technical High School Jul 2006 - Jun 2009 Principal Harwich, Massachusetts PRINCIPAL: Provided a safe and supportive learning environment, developed and maintained positive student, parent, staff and public relations, supervised and evaluated administrators, teachers and staff, responsible for the day to day operation of a 670 student regional vocational high school, worked collaboratively with post-secondary institutions for the benefit of our students, completed a comprehensive collaborative special education review, facilitated and coordinated response to NEAS&C Five-Year Focused Visit, presented and arranged for professional development activities, initiated development of a new alternative learning program, revised admissions policy and procedures, worked on green initiatives including starting a school-wide recycling program, collaborated with community resource agencies and entities, served actively in regional and state administrative organizations and committees, organized the administration of state standardized testing. Reason for leaving: Moved back to a more comprehensive school setting. Supervisor: William N. Fisher (508 432-4500) Experience Type: Public School, Full-time It is OK to contact this employer
Dennis-Yarmouth Regional High School Jul 2004 - Jun 2006 Assistant Principal South Yarmouth, Massachusetts ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL: Built positive relationships with the student body, faculty and staff, parents and the student supervised and evaluated teachers, organized and supervised the administration of the MCAS exam. Organized MCAS academic support tutoring programs, wrote and administered grants, conducted student discipline in an 1150 student high school. Served as project coordinator for district Leonard Phelan
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dropout prevention committee. SUMMER SCHOOL DIRECTOR: Hired summer school staff, implemented summer school budget, registered students, assembled schedule, addressed teacher and student needs, maintained discipline, counseled students and teachers, communicated with students, parents, school administrators, Department of Social Services, police, and juvenile judiciary personnel during the summer of 2003, 2004 and 2005.
Reason for leaving: Acquired position as principal of Cape Cod Regional Technical High School Supervisor: Kenneth T. Jenks (508 398-7630) Experience Type: Public School, Full-time Please do not contact this employer
Cape Cod Community College Jan 1998 - Jun 2004 Teacher/Advisor West Barnstable, Massachusetts TEACHER/ACADEMIC ADVISOR: Responsible for planning and providing academic support, counseling, lifeskills instruction, and career awareness training to thirty eighth grade students per year in this grant-funded partnership between Cape Cod Community College and the Dennis-Yarmouth Regional School District called the Cape Cod College Bound program. Reason for leaving: Acquired position as assistant principal at Dennis-Yarmouth Regional High School Supervisor: David Ziemba (877 846-3672) Experience Type: Other, Part-time It is OK to contact this employer
Mattacheese Middle School Jan 1997 - Jun 2004 Teacher West Yarmouth, Massachusetts TEACHER: Provided classroom instruction in Social Studies to eighth grade students, evaluated student assignments, communicated with parents, served as yearbook advisor & class advisor, organized and coordinated fund raising for annual class trip, served on Student Assistance Team, Cultural Diversity Committee and District Accommodation Team. CURRICULUM TEAM LEADER: Worked collaboratively on development of a conceptual K-12 Social Studies curriculum for the district. Developed copyrighted curriculum mapping tools for all content areas. Presented team initiatives to the school committee. Facilitated teacher alignment of course material with the Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks. Created faculty inclusion practices handbook. Served as professional development chair for the Social Studies Curriculum Team. Conducted analysis of MCAS results and developed action plan. TEACHER: Responsible for the development and practical implementation of the Middle School Behavioral Adjustment Program. Responsibilities included developing curriculum and providing classroom instruction and remediation in all subjects to behaviorally challenged middle school students. Wrote Individual Educational Plans, advocated for students, and worked with colleagues to develop plans for the successful inclusion of Special Education students into general education classes as appropriate.
Reason for leaving: Acquired position as Assistant Principal at Dennis-Yarmouth Regional High School Supervisor: Emily A. Mezzetti (508 778-7979) Leonard Phelan
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Experience Type: Public School, Full-time It is OK to contact this employer
The Key Program-Cape Cod Youth Shelter Oct 1995 - Jan 1997 Teacher South Yarmouth, Massachusetts TEACHER: Developed curriculum and provided classroom instruction in all subject areas for the educational component of a shelter for troubled adolescents. Introduced program to Cape and Islands school departments and community officials, acted as advocate for student clients, & tutored outreach clients. Certified PAYA Trainer, CPI Crisis Intervention Trainer, First Aid and CPR certified. Reason for leaving: Acquired a position as a teacher at Mattacheese Middle School Supervisor: Melissa Fisher (508 675-0686) Experience Type: Other, Full-time It is OK to contact this employer
Rose Arbor Vacation Properties Oct 2000 - Feb 2014 Owner Dennis, Massachusetts and Bartlett, New Hampshire Owner of vacation rental business with properties on Cape Cod and in New Hampshire. Purchased & renovated rental properties. Marketed properties, maintained contact with current, former and prospective customers, negotiated rental terms with customers, and maintained properties. Supervisor: Self (774 487-8376) Experience Type: Other, Part-time It is OK to contact this employer
Help On The Way Interior/Exterior Painting May 1987 - Jun 2004 Owner/Painter and Wallpaperer Fall River and Dennis, Massachusetts SELF-EMPLOYED HOUSE PAINTER: Summer and weekend work painting and wallpapering. Provided cost summary/estimates for customers, negotiated working conditions and terms, completed required work, troubleshooting for customers, and performed light carpentry. Reason for leaving: Acquired position as assistant principal at Dennis-Yarmouth Regional High School Supervisor: Self (774 487-8376) Experience Type: Other, Summer It is OK to contact this employer
INTERESTS & ACTIVITIES • Family life and outdoor pursuits including bicycling, travel, hiking, skiing, running and sailing • Reading • Travel to museums and other historic sites • Member of Phi Alpha Theta, international honor society for the study of history • Member Massachusetts Secondary School Administrators Association and serves on MSSAA Middle Level and Legislative Committees • Member National Association of Secondary School Principals • Member Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development • Member Cape & Islands Principals’ Association Leonard Phelan
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• Included in 2003 & 2005 Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers • Serves on the Board of Directors of the Westgate Foundation • Serves on the Board of Directors of the Dennis-Yarmouth Education Foundation • Serves on the Cape Cod Community College STEM Education Strategy Group • 2013 Recipient of the Massachusetts Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary's Award for Excellence in Energy and Environmental Education
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Application Questions 1. At the Burlington School District, the celebration of diversity is a core value. We believe that true excellence can only come from a diversity of people who bring diversity of thought and experience to the District’s vision. We, therefore, strive to increase our diversity where we lack representation, while at the same time valuing the infinite range of unique characteristics, experiences, talents, and backgrounds of every student and employee in the District. Tell us about your unique background, characteristics, experiences, and talents and how they might support the District’s core value of diversity. I have been fortunate enough to be in diverse environments for my entire life. Growing up in Fall River, Massachusetts, a textile mill town, enabled me to become familiar with people of many different and diverse cultures. Throughout the 19th and 20th centuries people of many different nationalities and backgrounds moved to Fall River to work in the textile industry. I benefitted greatly from friendships and acquaintances with people from these diverse groups, learning about their culture and traditions. Later as a social studies teacher I was able to foster student understanding of the creation of our nation through the hard work of a diverse people. Early in my career I moved to Cape Cod as part of a three person team working for an agency that was opening a youth shelter in South Yarmouth, MA. I was the resident teacher for a year-and-a-half at this shelter which was the first of its kind in the region. Through this experience I gained a striking understanding of the range of challenges that students face, often unbeknownst to teachers and other school personnel. Working with the students that were residents at our shelter and subsequently in a middle school adjustment program has since driven me to seek a deeper understanding of the factors that detract from student performance. As a teacher school administrator I have sought to create programs and structures that support the learning of all students and to recognize and celebrate differences. I have created alternative learning programs that support at-risk students and foster student progress among students who have not experienced much success. I have also created structures and programs that have benefitted all students. At Harwich Middle School we’ve converted our former Industrial Arts shop into a Technology and Engineering Lab with a companion Mathematics Applications class to provide all of our students with an integrated STEM Program. I have also served on a district cultural diversity committee which provided culturally relevant and sensitive professional development workshops to district personnel. As you can see I have enjoyed living and working in diverse settings for my entire life. I believe that my work and experience is very relevant to the Burlington Public Schools’ core value of diversity and look forward to the potential of supporting it wholeheartedly as part of the Burlington Public Schools. 2. Read the vignette below. What is your initial reaction? In light of this vignette, describe for us what you believe being cultural competent means and what you may need to learn. What would be a culturally competent response in this situation? "The athletics director in an after-school program approaches a young Somalian girl who is sitting on a bench watching the relay race. Encouraging her participation, he tells her to “get into the game!” Fatima doesn’t move, and finally says: “I feel too weak. I’m fasting.” The counselor pauses, sure that the girl is on some kind of fad diet, and admonishes her for not eating. “Go to the cafeteria and eat – it’s not smart to go all day without nourishment.” Tears begin to drip down the girl’s cheek, and she whispers, “I can’t eat today. It’s my family’s way. Please don’t make me run.” He feels an annoyance towards the family for not being sure Fatima had breakfast in the morning and a healthy lunch that day."
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My initial reaction to the provided vignette is one of horror. The athletics director should have been cued in to the young lady’s not eating as being part of her religious or cultural customs by the girl’s use of the word fast. It is very unfortunate that he did not sense the context of the moment as his reaction seemed to just serve the function of making the young lady feel negative about her place and her family’s place in the community. While we certainly want all students to have a nutritious breakfast to start the day, it is also imperative that school personnel are sensitive to and respectful of cultural and religious traditions and practices. A culturally competent response to this situation would have been to find a way to include her that did not require much physical exertion on that day, like being timekeeper, and encouraging her to come out to run with the other students on a non-fasting day for her. In light of the vignette I would define a culturally competent person as having an awareness of the characteristics of culture and how diverse people honor and practice these in different ways. While it is very important for educators to be aware of the characteristics of the cultures present in their own community, it is also important to be sensitive to cultural practice that we are not aware of or familiar with. There was much in the young lady’s dialogue with the counselor that indicated that her fasting stemmed from her family’s cultural practices and traditions. It is shameful that he did not pick up on it. I would work to ensure that my staff and I were far more culturally competent. 3. Describe for us what has been your greatest passion as an educator. My greatest passion as a school leader has been the creation of new ways to address challenges, problems and to bring about positive changes. Throughout my career I have sought to solve problems for students, staff and schools through creative and collaborative thinking and problem solving. I was part of a small team that created a youth shelter for students aged 8-18 on Cape Cod for which I wrote curriculum and established routines and built school and community connections. I took over as the teacher in a middle school adjustment program after my predecessor faxed in his resignation and built a structured learning environment for my students. As a social studies teacher and curriculum team leader I was part of a team that created a pre-k-12 conceptual social studies curriculum in which our core concept was interdependence. As summer school director and high school assistant principal I created a state grant funded student support system that provided data-driven tutoring and summer school for students at risk of failing state testing. As a high school principal I created an alternative learning programs that significantly reduced the drop out rate for our students and in my current school I have created a range supports for at risk students. I have also instituted programs to benefit all students and the school communities in which I’ve worked. I have brought recycling programs to three o the schools in which I have served as an administrator. In each of the schools there had previously been no recycling happening at all. I have institute content area proficiency teams of teachers following the DuFours’ PLC model and an all-school remediation and enrichment block called FOCUS in our school when these teacher teams meet. In short my greatest passion as an educator is to look at challenges, see how we can turn them around to create solutions that benefit the school community of which I am part. I look forward to the opportunity to discuss how I may institute these types of creative solutions at the Hunt Middle School.
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