EXPERIENCE

AVID Coordinator, Foothill Technology High School, August 2018-Present

• Manage our school’s largest elective program raising enrollment by 8.7% since 2018

• Coordinate retreats/university field trips, community mentor program, recruitment

• Hire tutors, maintain tutorial program, counsel students, balance $20,000+ budget,

Various Leadership Positions, Ventura Unified School District, Summer 2020-Present

• Redesign the high school ELA benchmark taken by over 5,000 VUSD students

• Design Credit Recovery Course to replace summer school saving VUSD about $10,000/year

• Develop the Canvas board for all VUSD AVID programs serving seven schools, 500+ students

English, AVID, Spanish, Theater Teacher, Foothill Technology High School, Aug. 2015-Present

• Teach literature, non-fiction, writing, speaking, listening and study skills in English and Spanish

• Lead first-gen AVID 12 in college app process resulting in 96% enrolling in higher education

• Produce plays, taught theater class and managed the Dragon Drama program

Marketing Assistant, Herzog Wine Cellars, July 2008-October 2009

• Managed over 200 wine club accounts and built relationships with clients

• Redesigned marketing materials using Adobe Creative Suite for wine club shipments

• Streamlined the monthly sales and shipping for the club

EDUCATION

Cal Lutheran University, Masters in Education & Teaching Credential - 2016, 2013

Cal State University, Chico, BA in Journalism/Public Relations & Spanish minor - 2008

AWARDS, ACHIEVEMENTS & SKILLS

• You Won’t Stay Lost Forever, Author, 2021

• Gratitude Award, Ventura Unified School District, January 2022

• WISDOM Award, Foothill Technology High School, May 2016

• Soft skills: Coordinator, independent thinker, learner, leader, team player, public speaker

• Proficient in: Google Suite, Adobe Creative Cloud, Microsoft Office, Canva

Being a Distance Learning (DL) teacher during school closures was an honor. I’m not a victim of video conferencing but a privileged pandemic pioneer in a now global society of educators. DL was a structureless system. Some felt it was barren or chaotic. I knew it was a blank canvas. I’ve never been a traditional teacher nor am I a common candidate so this is not a conventional cover letter. I know you receive thousands of seemingly identical applications. In an attempt to not waste your time, here is a succinct summary of my superlative skill set.

1. Problem Solve: Before the pandemic, my district planned to offer an online homeschooling program for fall 2020. School closures left the program orphaned. The librarian and I teamed to run the program ourselves. I’ve become the new teacher trainer, communications specialist, and Edgenuity tech expert on my campus. If hired, not only would I be competent with tech that's new to the whole company but I know how to problem solve.

2. Lead and follow: I don’t want to boast about my leadership skills because I think that's the norm of many applicants. I’d rather humbly admit that I also know how to follow. I’m a learner. I like to try new things. I take directions well, ask for clarification and adapt to my surroundings. For me, the transition to private industry is intimidating. I don’t know everything but will learn. I’ll be a team player.

3. Admit that our greatest growth comes from our failures: I was terrible when I was a new teacher. I didn’t know my own style. I was too strict. I knew I had to make a change. I listened to students’ feedback and we became a team. This taught me about the necessity of company culture. I’d excel in human resources because I know how to build culture, listen, learn, and have empathy.

4. Take risks: I just admitted my greatest professional failure in a cover letter. It’s pretty risky. Maybe you will deem me unprofessional; hopefully you’ll say I have moxie. Please know that I didn't write this haphazardly. I drafted, revised, and sought expert advice. In the workplace, I know how to take calculated risks, manage setbacks, assess areas of growth and inch forward each day.

I realize this is a general cover letter. If I applied for a position in your company, I wrote one specifically detailing my skills and competency for that position. I’d appreciate the opportunity to meet with a recruiter to discuss what I can contribute to your company.

Sincerely,

Sarah Page

It is an honor to be writing this letter of recommendation on behalf of my colleague, Sarah Page. I first had the pleasure of getting to know Sarah when she was hired to be a tutor for the AVID program at Foothill Technology High School where Sarah was eventually offered full time teaching and lead program coordinator positions. In these various capacities, Sarah has been a professional, organized and highly effective teacher and co-worker who has positively impacted her students, peers, and the school environment at FTHS.

I was impressed by Sarah from my first encounter with her. At the time, I was the AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) Coordinator for FTHS. AVID is a program for students who are seeking extra support throughout high school as they work toward the goal of being prepared for and qualifying for attending a university. Sarah was a dynamic tutor and her positive rapport with students was obvious. Once she began teaching at FTHS, these traits naturally helped her develop a classroom atmosphere where students feel valued and the learning environment is based on mutual respect. Her ability to build positive relationships with students has made Sarah one of the most adored teachers on campus. She is a role model to her students and inspires them to create goals and pursue their dreams when she shares her life experiences, such as successfully acquiring Spanish citizenship, traveling extensively and living abroad, and writing a memoir.

When Sarah was hired, she was offered the lead position running the Drama Department where she oversaw the entire drama program. At the same time, she was teaching multiple English courses and was the 12th grade AVID teacher. When I stepped down as the AVID Coordinator, Sarah took on this position and has excelled as the main person to oversee the program of nearly 100 students, many of whom will be first generation college students after graduating high school. I've remained in a support role as an AVID teacher so I have been able to work closely with Sarah and have had the opportunity to witness the remarkable job she's done by managing the AVID program competently, improving it in many ways, and working collaboratively with colleagues for common goals. While Sarah prepares to move to New York, I realize the AVID Coordinator position will need to be filled again. Thankfully, due to her leadership, the new coordinator will inherit a program that has been managed impressively allowing for a smooth transition.

Sarah Page is a reliable and determined individual who values education, has been passionate in her support for students and their overall welfare, and has been a pleasure to get to work with throughout the last 8 years, I whole-heartedly recommend Sarah for the position she is seeking with your organization.

Sincerely,

Heather M. Ferris

AVID, AP Psychology, Health, Global Health

Studies Social Science Department Chair

Foothill Technology High School

I have had the privilege of working with Sarah Page at Foothill Technology High School where she skillfully serves as an English teacher and a director and instructor in our model AVID program.

Sarah is a lifelong learner who continually evaluates how to improve her already extremely skilled craft. Sarah possesses a unique ability to reach students, motivate them to do their best, and encourage them to reach their fullest potential. Her strengths include amazing content knowledge in language arts, strong classroom management skills, unique lesson design ideas, a desire to reflect and continually improve a collaborative disposition and a genuine compassion for the students she works with.

Ms. Page possesses a unique determination to do the best in all that she does. This drive, accompanied with her passion for life and sense of adventure, results in her seeking out and bringing back to her students experiences and educational opportunities that go beyond what they may receive in most classrooms.

Sarah has demonstrated, through the planning of her English courses, the power of collaboration between English and History teachers in the secondary curriculum. Sarah is a lead teacher in working collaboratively amongst the humanities staff to integrate these traditional subject areas into a well-rounded humanities program. Her work to promote the humanities as one discipline has included seamlessly integrating language, literature, analysis and writing with culture, policies and history.

Ms. Page would be a wonderful addition to your program as she is a wonderful collaborator, is inquisitive and would put this learning opportunity to good use with our students. She is a gift to those she works with as their instructor or their colleague. I recommend her without reservation and with the highest recommendation.

Katie Tedford

katie.tedford@venturausd.org

Assistant Principal

Foothill Technology High School

It is my pleasure to write this letter of recommendation for Sarah Page. Sarah has been working with me since August of 2015. When she started at Foothill, she was thrown head first into teaching senior English. The beginning of that year was a trying time for her. Sarah came from a school that functioned much differently than FTHS and she brought that organizational structure with her. Her peer teachers realized that her management style, and way of interacting, which worked well at her previous school, would not fit the student body at Foothill. We pulled her aside for an uncomfortable and difficult conversation. Sarah handled the feedback with maturity and grace. She immediately adjusted and pivoted. She was vulnerable but composed as she made a quick change. She has been completely successful ever since. She is a quick thinker, is coachable and ready to do what is best for her students.

The first key element for teaching success is the ability to create a rapport with the students. Sarah has a natural rapport with students; she is direct, clear and effectively communicates her expectations. She is kind, caring and considerate, which makes her the perfect fit for the AVID and freshmen students that she teaches. She is approachable but knows where to draw the line between being a mentor and being a friend. Many young teachers spend a lot of time figuring out how to be a teacher and mentor and not an older friend, Sarah has a maturity that is far beyond that of the average teacher. She has clear boundaries set and is able to be a support without being a friend.

I am also extremely impressed with her content knowledge. In lesson planning meetings she helps devise detailed, in depth and interesting lessons. She consistently finds articles, you tube videos and pieces that add depth to what is being studied in class. Sarah is a learner and she desires deeper knowledge of the subjects that she teaches. She is a culturally sensitive and responsible teacher who wants to expand her knowledge so that she can be an even better teacher. Sarah enjoys rich and deep experiences and conversations. She is well travelled and loves to immerse herself in cultural adventures and learning. She is a champion for and respectful of all cultures and belief systems.

Sarah is a joy to have as a colleague. I jokingly call her my little sister but my bond with her is genuinely special. She drops by often to troubleshoot lessons and student situations and to unpack her day. Her visits are some of the most joyful times of my day. I love listening to her interesting ideas. But she is also a great listener. I have been teaching for 20 years and she uses my experience to help her figure out tough situations; she is not intimidated by asking for help, in fact she thrives on the collaboration.

Should you require any other information, please call me at 805-289-0023 x 2108 or e-mail me at melanie.lindsey@venturausd.org

Yours sincerely,

Melanie Lindsey

Sarah Page has requested a letter of recommendation and I am delighted to comply. Sarah was my Student Teacher Candidate...Sarah displayed a number of qualities which we consider crucial to success in teaching. Among these were detailed preparation, creativity, flexibility, excellent classroom management, the ability to improvise when conditions warranted, the ability to respond to suggestions and constructive criticism, and she displayed wonderful and warm relationship with her students. I observed Sarah at least five times formally and several informal visits and was never disappointed. She was always well prepared and "on her game" so to speak. Her students loved and respected her and looked forward to her creative approach to teaching. Sarah comes from a "teaching family" and it shows. She does things almost intuitively where others struggle...

...After a lengthy career in the public schools of Los Angeles County and nearly 15 years of New Teacher Preparation in the Graduate Schools of Pepperdine and California Lutheran Universities, I am confident that I can select the "good ones". Sarah Page certainly fits that description. Her potential is unlimited and I am certain that she will become not just a good classroom teacher but an outstanding one. At this stage of her development, I would rate Sarah in the top one percent of all whom I have supervised! As such, Sarah has my highest recommendation.

Donald W. Kobabe

Adjunct Professor and Student Teacher Supervisor

California Lutheran University