Melissa McGowen is seeking a position as an educator and has extensive classroom experience in both suburban and inner-city schools. She holds New York State certification for grades 1-6 and has a bachelor's degree in childhood education. Currently, she is pursuing a master's degree in special education and is gaining further experience by substituting in various districts. McGowen has worked as a teacher, assistant, AmeriCorps member, and student teacher in a range of grade levels and subject areas. She is dedicated to student development and believes in engaging instructional strategies and parental involvement.

1. Melissa McGowen
33 Dayton Street - Lockport, NY 14094
mcgomm14@yahoo.com - 716.280.8804
New York State Certified Childhood Education Grades 1-6
Dear Educational Professionals,
Thank you for considering me as a potential member of your educational team. My experience and
activities outside of the traditional classroom, have given me a diverse background with much to offer. I hold a
New York State Certification for grades 1-6 and a Bachelor's Degree in Childhood Education for grades 1-6
from Buffalo State College. I am enrolled in the Master of Special Education program at Canisius College. I am
dedicated to the academic and social development of students. It is important for children to become responsible
and caring citizens that are motivated to learn. I enjoy developing organized, instructional lesson plans, that
engage students, and keep them interested. Parental involvement is of the utmost importance to student’s
success and I will include parents in the learning and growth of their children.
Currently, I am substituting in districts around my home. I am learning about many types of schools and
communities, while I gain classroom experience. I work students of all levels, from K-12, English language
learners, special education programs, AIS, arts, music, and even physical education. I am familiar with many
curriculum programs, routines, and a wide variety of teaching practices. The creative ideas I have seen are
endless and I'm excited to implement these strategies into my own literacy-rich learning environment. At Al-
Rasheed Academy, I taught English Language Arts and Social Studies at the middle school level. At Al-
Rasheed, I planned curriculum using Common Core, teacher-designed lessons, common-core Pearson textbook
series, and the Wordly Wise 3000 program. I completed professional developments, administered New York
state assessments, collaborated with other teachers, wrote newsletters, kept student records, filled out report
cards, held parent-teacher conferences and planned and chaperoned field trips. I improved and implemented
classroom management procedures, detention and punctuality policies, and classroom and building matrixes.
At Buffalo Public School #43, I assisted teachers in daily activities and headed the transportation department. I
assisted with routine office necessities, monitoring students during lunch and recesses, and transitioning
students from classrooms to specials. My time in the Buffalo school system allowed me to gain valuable
experiences inside and outside of the classroom. During my time in AmeriCorps, I worked in three
Kindergarten classrooms at Pinnacle Charter School in Buffalo, New York. I gained skill in classroom
management and preparation. I gained experience reflecting upon student abilities and needs and helped create
diverse lessons that catered to students on a personal level and according to their Individualized Education
Plans. I received Response to Intervention Training with Jim Wright and English Language Learners Training
with Clare Malachowski. In AmeriCorps I worked on emergent reading skills among Kindergarteners, in the
areas of fluency, decoding, phonics, word work, vocabulary and comprehension. I assisted classroom teachers
in the scaffolding the Kindergarten common core writing skills of sequencing, three-page stories, and the
various steps involved in the writing process. In mathematics, I taught students number recognition, skip
counting, the concept of zero, making tens, and the addition and subtraction of numbers 1-10. I planned and
implemented many center activities and worked with students individually.
My professional education and experience as a Teacher, Assistant, AmeriCorps member, and student
teacher, in suburban and inner-city school districts, allows me to be confident in my ability to be a valuable
asset to your district. I am a hard-working and well-rounded educator, and I look forward to discussing with you
the many ways in which I can make a difference in your educational program. Thank you for your time and
consideration.
Sincerely,
Miss Melissa McGowen