ZACHARY ALAN CHASE
3017 W. Girard Ave. #3F
Philadelphia, PA 19130
(941) 544-5811
zchase [at] scienceleadership [dot] org
EMPLOYMENT:
Teacher – English (Fall 2008 – Present)
Science Leadership Academy, School District of Philadelphia
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Developed and taught 10th and 11th grade English curriculum.
- Created and implemented SLA’s Professional Learning Communities.
- Created after school improvisational comedy club.
- Organized and advised SLA Literary Magazine.
- Coached SLA Cross Country Team.
- Hosted Freedom Writer Sonia Pineda’s visit.
- Hosted visiting artist Rachel Oakes’ visit.
- Worked with a team to develop 11th grade Advisory.
- Co-Chaired EduCon 2.1, school reform conference.
- Presented at PETE&C 08, Penn State’s 08 1:1 Laptop Conference, and NYSCATE 08.
- Co-wrote and edited Freedom Writer Teachers’ Diary to be published by Random House Fall ’09.
- Served as SLA’s Testing Coordinator.
Teacher – Language Arts (Fall 2005 – Fall 2008)
Phoenix Academy, School Board of Sarasota County
Sarasota, Florida
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English Department Chairperson.
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Coordinated partnership between Phoenix Academy and Sarasota Young Professionals Group to create 1:1 mentoring program.
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Facilitated partnership between Phoenix Academy and Sarasota Film Festival to create young screenwriters program.
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Next Generation Teaching Program Pilot Teacher.
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Member, SBSC Next Generation Learning Technology Implementation Committee.
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Kagan Cooperative Learning Certified Trainer.
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North-County Promethean ActivBoard Trainer.
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Pilot Freedom Writers Teacher via Freedom Writers Foundation Long Beach, CA.
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Architect of writing program that improved student writing proficiency from 49% to 71%.
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Nominated for Teacher of the Year for ’06-’07 and ’05-’06 school years.
- Co-Presented at National Staff Development Council’s 08 Summer Institute.
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Utilized community ties to build school presence in local media outlets.
Journalist – Freelance (August 2005 – Present)
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Contributing Editor, SRQ: Sarasota’s Premiere Magazine.
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Contributor, Creative Loafing , Sarasota, FL.
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Editor – ad hoc, Springfield Urban League, Inc., Springfield, IL.
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Contributing Columnist, Herald-Tribune of Sarasota, FL – wrote regular column dealing with issues, needs, successes and failures within the classroom.
Teacher – Language Arts (Fall 2003 – Spring 2005)
Sarasota Middle School, School Board of Sarasota County
Sarasota, Florida
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Assistant Coordinator for SMS’s Welcome Everybody (WEB) program.
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Coordinator of Reading Partners reading mentoring program.
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CRISS trained.
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Participated in 2004 Summer Character Education In-Service Program and 2004 Summer Literacy Conference.
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Attended 2004 Florida Council of Teachers of English Conference.
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Track Coach for 2003-2004 and 2004-2005 seasons.
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Nominated for Teacher of the Year after first year of teaching.
Editorial Intern
Forbes.com
New York City (Summer 2003)
Position held: Editorial intern
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Took various stories from conception to publication, assisted with production of daily content.
Editor-in-Chief and various sub-editor positions (September 1999 – December 2002)
The Daily Vidette, Illinois State University – collegiate newspaper
Normal, Illinois
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Managed staff of more than 100 in production of daily newspaper.
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Collaborated with management team to supervise distribution of $1 million budget.
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Earned 12 awards from Illinois Collegiate Press Association, while serving as Editor.
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Won 2003 ICPA Award for editorial writing.
EDUCATION:
Bachelors of Arts – English and Secondary Education May 2003
Illinois State University – Normal, Illinois
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Honors Student, graduating with University Honors Certificate.
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Member and Vice President of Sigma Tau Delta, International English Honors Fraternity.
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Undergraduate Liaison on Educating Illinois Coordinating Team.
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Completed Diversity and Cultural Competency training – only undergraduate representative invited.
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Founding Executive Officer of Educating Illinois Student Advisory Council.
PRE-PROFESSIONAL TEACHING EXPERIENCE
Bloomington High School – Bloomington, Illinois (January 2003 – April 2003)
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Taught Junior Literature and Composition-Essentials (junior and senior remedial level) as well as Speech Communications (sophomore level).
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In an attempt to meet the needs of all students, designed assignments for multiple intelligences and incorporated multimedia into the classroom environment.
Illinois State University – Normal, Illinois (August 2002 – December 2003)
Undergraduate Teaching Assistant – Foundations of Inquiry (college level).
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In this introductory course, utilized critical thinking assignments as well as guest speakers and out-of-classroom meetings to stimulate static learning.
Undergraduate Teaching Assistant – Introduction to Literary Genres (college level)
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Facilitated discussion and learning from students of varied backgrounds in the areas of poetry, prose and drama.
University High School – Normal, Illinois (March 2002 – April 2002)
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Team taught elective Shakespeare course (King Lear Unit).
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Working cooperatively with three other pre-service teachers, designed a unit plan that incorporated higher and lower level questions as well as opportunities for success of students with multiple intelligences.
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT AND ACTIVITIES:
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Co-moderated Youth Town Hall Meeting on Diversity
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Member, Advocate, Sarasota Chamber of Commerce Young Professionals Group
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Member, National Council of Teachers of English
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Member, Florida Council of Teachers of English
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Trained for and completed:
- Bank of America Chicago Marathon – 2008
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ING New York City Marathon – 2006
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LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon – 2006
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LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon – 2005
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Walt Disneyworld Marathon – 2005
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LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon – 2002
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Coach, Sarasota High School Improv Underground Improvisational Comedy Troupe
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Member, Florida Studio Theatre Improvisational Comedy Troupe
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Member, Becky’s Rejects Musical Improvisational Comedy Troupe
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Big Brother, Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Sun Coast
