Etta Willis has over 28 years of experience as an educator, trainer, and administrator. She has worked as an itinerant teacher for the deaf and hard of hearing, increasing student test scores and saving school districts money. Willis has also served as director of a non-profit organization with an annual budget of $450,000. She has a PhD in educational leadership and multiple teaching licenses.

1. Etta Willis
c: 810.241.3058 | DrEttaG@gmail.com | drettawillis.wordpress.com
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Summary
Professional Communicator, Deaf Interpreter, Educator, Trainer and Scholar with 28 years of experience
transferrable to corporate or classroom environments. Certified teacher with classroom experience
spanning every age group and grade level from pre-k through high school, ESL, special education and
corporate classroom environments. Facility Director and Administrator with 6 years of experience
managing a budget, maintaining work protocols, and implementing policies and procedures throughout
the organization. Supervisor and manager of over 25 employees and volunteers with 12 years of
experience. Trainer, Coordinator and Facilitator for workshops and employee training sessions. Non-
Profit Director with 10 years of experience. Public speaker and presenter.
Accomplishments
• Through unique instruction for special population of deaf and hearing impaired students,
increased standardized testing scores by 5%, resulting in 70% of students going on to post-
secondary educational pursuits
• Director for non-profit organization with annual budget of approximately $450,000
• Instructed over 20,000 individual learners over the course of career
• American Sign Language interpreter for over 2,500 individuals over the course of career
Education
PhD Educational Leadership and Administration, Walden University, Expected Graduation 2018
Master of Science in Deaf Education, Rochester Institute of Technology, 2007
Applied Associates in Interpreter Ed & Early Childhood Ed, Mott Community College, 2001
Student of Linguistics ~ 39 Cumulative Credits, Michigan State University, 1991
Bachelor of Arts in English, Minor in Linguistics, University of Michigan State University, 1989
Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies, Minor in English, Michigan State University, 1975
Licenses
English Language Arts Teaching License, Public Education, Grades 8-12
Special Education & Deaf Education License, Grades K-12
Licensed in the following states: Michigan, Georgia, South Carolina & North Carolina
Professional Experience
Itinerant Teacher for the Hearing Impaired, August 2014 to Currently
Buford County School District, 250 H.E. McCracken Circle, Bluffton, SC
• Works with individual deaf and hard of hearing students to increase cognitive skills and incidental
learning, as a response intervention for remedial purposes, saving the school district
approximately $200,000 by eliminating the need for interpreters at each individual school
• Provides direct instruction and consultations, with the goal of 80% proficiency student
achievement in district and national Common Core Standards
• Responsible for implementing program support for hearing impaired students at four public
schools, K-12, resulting in saving over 1500 direct instruction hours for regular education
teachers

2. Etta Willis
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Interim Itinerant Teacher for the Hearing Impaired, April 2014 to June 2014
Henderson County Public Schools, 414 Fourth Avenue, Hendersonville, NC
• Facilitated classroom education and consultations for 20 students with hearing loss IEPs
• Provides direct instruction and consultations resulting in meeting 85% of district and national
Common Core Standards, goals and objectives
• Responsible for implementing program support for hearing impaired students at thirteen schools,
ranging from pre-school to college level
English & Language Arts Instructor, October 2013 to April 2014
Old Redford Academy, 22122 W McNichols Rd, Detroit, MI
• Constructed lesson plans for eighth grade students, ensuring plans aligned with core curriculum
for content area, meeting 80% of district and national targets, including instructing special
education students in inclusion classroom environment
• Incorporated individual, small group, and differentiation student collaboration into classroom
instruction, for an at-risk student population, resulting in a 1.5% increase for standardized test
scores
Substitute Teacher at the Michigan School for the Deaf, April 2013 to June 2013
Communication Access Center, Educational Staffing, 1277 West Court, Flint Township, MI
• Provided teaching services in English and American Sign Language translation in various
classrooms as assigned, working with over 50 of students daily
• Implemented lesson plans as provided by absent teachers, serving kindergarten through high
school students
Education Liaison, September 2012 to March 2013
Ohio School for the Deaf, 500 Morse Road, Columbus, Ohio
• Collaborative member of the Individualized Educational Plan (IEP) Team, provided observation
and data as requested for individual hearing impaired students including using auditory input
devices, academic performance, behavioral issues, and social skills
• Recommended updates to IEPs for qualifying students, ensuring upwards of 85% accuracy for
state and national reporting and grant funding purposes
English Language Arts Instructor, January 2009 to July 2012
Eastern North Carolina School for the Deaf, 1311 Hwy 301 North, Wilson, NC, May 2009 to July 2012
Jonesboro High School, 7728 Mt. Zion Boulevard, Jonesboro, GA, January 2009 to April 2009
• Developed daily curriculum and presenting classroom instruction by way of technology and
strong visual components for two groups of approximately 35 deaf and hard of hearing high
school students,
• Prepared and presented English Language Arts curriculum for regular education students,
preparing them for post-secondary education, increased national test scores by 2.5%
• Taught transition students in non-regular education curriculum, who did not plan to attend post-
secondary education, independent daily living skills, self-advocacy, and personal-social and
occupational skills, which included strong emphasis in equipping students with writing skills
useful for work life after graduation
Substitute Teacher, November 2006 to November 2009
Flint Community Schools, 923 E. Kearsley Street, Flint, MI, November 2007 to 2009
The Romine Group, 7877 Stead STE 100, Utica, MI, November 2006 to 2009
• Implemented lesson plans as provided by absent teachers, serving kindergarten through high

3. Etta Willis
c: 810.241.3058 | DrEttaG@gmail.com | drettawillis.wordpress.com
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school students
Long-Term Substitute Teacher for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, May 2001 to 2005
Communication Access Center for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, Michigan School for the Deaf
• Provided daily curriculum lessons for middle school students, covering subjects including
English, Social Studies, Reading, and Math
Interpreter for the Deaf, May 2001 to 2004
Various Interpreting Agencies including Flint Community Schools, and Carman-Ainsworth Schools
• Conveyed communication for deaf and hard of hearing individuals and groups of students in
inclusion mainstream educational classrooms
Program Director, June 1996 to July 2001
Daystar Childcare Center, 1295 East Maple Avenue, Burton, MI
• Oversaw daily operations of the center including administrative tasks such as establishing
employee policies and procedures, and ensuring local, state and federal facility requirements were
met according to standards
• Responsible for accounts receivable for entire organization, which had an approximate annual
budget of $450,000
• Acted as Human Resources representative, hiring and training 25 employees worth $200,000 in
collective salaries annually, responsible for planning master schedule
• Responsible for Public Relations and Customer Service, ensuring both parents and children were
comfortable and satisfied with provided services
• Oversaw instruction of daily living skills and care for deaf clients living in community group
homes
Teacher for Kindergarten through 1st
Grade, August 1988 to May 1996
Daystar Childcare Center, 1295 East Maple Avenue, Burton, MI
• Facilitated instruction and learning of early childhood education reading, writing and math skills
• High School Teacher, 1993 to 1996, developed composition writing course, study skills and SAT
preparation
• Middle School Teacher, 1991 to 1993
• Teacher for Kindergarten and 1st
Grade, 1988 to 1991
Honors & Rewards
American Women’s Business Association Scholarship, 1989
Mott Community College: Recognition for Academic Achievement, 2001
Professional Affiliations
Council of American Instructors of the Deaf, 2009 to Currently
Walden University Kappa Delta PI, Secretary, 2009
References
• Dr. Anita Harrison, Baker College, English Professor, aharrison777@gmail.com, 810.422.7967
• Dr. Gerry Bateman, Department Chairperson, National Technical Instituted for Deaf and Hard of
Hearing, gcbnmp@rit.edu,
585.475.6400
• Mrs. Nora Shannon, Supervising Coordinator of Student Teachers, nbsncp@rit.edu, 585.475.6400