1. CURRICULUM VITAE
MARK E. PENNINGTON
Capital Plaza Towers – Tower B -38-02
Abu Dhabi, UAE
PHONE: HOME: 02 665 8071
CELL: 056 456 8927
E-Mail: penningm52@gmail.com
TITLE: Vice-Principal
EDUCATION:
Masters in Secondary Education 1983
Northern Illinois University, De Kalb, IL,
Bachelor of Science 1979
Major: Biology Minor: Chemistry
Northern Illinois University, De Kalb, IL
A.A.S. Radiological Technologist 1977
College of DuPage, Glen Ellyn, IL
CERTIFICATIONS:
Type 09 Teaching Certificate (6-12)
Type 10 (special - grades K-12 – Department Chair)
Type 75 General Administrative Certificate (Type 75), principal or principal, assistant or
associate superintendent and similar positions.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE:
Vice Principal – Summit International School – Abu Dhabi City, Abu Dhabi, UAE
Responsibilities included but were not limited to:
 ADEC/ADIC Contact-Liaison
 Instructional Technology
 Management of students, staff, parents
 School Improvement Planning and Process
 Enhancement of Student Outcomes
 Teaching and Learning
 Assessment and Evaluation Policy
 Health and Safety of all students and staff
 Oversee Support Personnel (i.e. nurse, Registrar, Teaching Assistants, SEN
Coordinator, Cleaning staff, Technology Coordinator, Occasional Teachers, PRO)
 Implementing School Inspection Recommendations
 SMS, School Web-site
 Teacher Performance Evaluations
 Annual Professional Growth Plans
 Report Card Proof-Reading/Report Card printing, distribution
 School Organization (School Day Times, -Subject Frequency

2. Docent Fermilab National Accelerator Laboratory
 Provide private and public lectures and tours focusing on the Mission of the
Lab and its leading contributions to the field of High Energy Particle Physics.
 Providing field experiences for students Grades K‐12 in Accelerator Physics, Tall
Grass Prairie restoration, natural resource management.
Assistant Principal for Instruction, Technology, and Support Services –
Title later changed to Assistant Principal for Operations 2001 – 2010
 Recruitment, interviewing, recommendations for hiring, observing and the
evaluation of faculty and support staff, within a collaborative framework, taking
the form of dialogue between professionals that care about the main objective of
continual improvement of student achievement.
 District/School administrative role in recruitment (some with colleagues and
some alone) at job fairs in the Midwest.
 Participant in the assessment and analysis of curriculum, instruction and
assessment, which involves curriculum development, support of curricular
needs, reevaluation of current curriculum offerings in a collaborative effort
between department chairs and faculty.
 Trouble shooting. Meet the daily challenges with an open mind and flexibility to
redirect energy, resources (financial, time, and human) to do what is in the best
interest of our students.
 Oversight of professional development programs regarding the delivery of
content, curriculum evaluation, the selection and training of in district
presenters/trainers, creation of professional development calendars, and
alignment with the District 86s Strategic (District Improvement Plan - DIP),
School Improvement (SIP) and Technology Plans.
 As member of the Hinsdale South’s school improvement team (SIP).
 Data Analysis through the gathering all relevant data, carefully analyzing it with
the eyes of the stakeholders, developing a working Action Plan and working it
(which means having a clear and well articulated timeline, set of resources,
accountability, measures and monitoring and revising as needed).
 Coordination and oversight for the crafting of the school student planner.
 Coordination and oversight for the crafting of the school community calendar.
 Administration and oversight of the school bookstore.
 Facilitate and over see the infusion of instructional technologies into the
classroom experience.
 Authorship, implementation and oversight of the District 86 Technology Plan
 (District responsibility), curriculum development, purchase and implementation
of software and hardware technologies, etc.
 Participation on the District 86 Technology Committee.
 Participation on the Building Leadership Team (BLT).
 Participation on the Instructional Leadership Team (ILT).
 A leadership role in the Hinsdale South Failure Is Not an Option process that is a
proactive attempt at early identification and intervention to address and meet
the needs of our incoming freshman and educational services populations.
 Participation in my own personal professional development through
conference/workshop attendance at local, state and national venues.

3.  Negotiator of certified contracts (Member of District 204 Teachers team) and
Support Staff (Administrator for District 86)
 Outreach responsibilities.
 Mentorship of teachers and students.
 Personal Collaboration with faculty/staff of districts other than the one I work in
(i.e. District 99, Cass District 63, and Gower District 62) for improved quality of
experience for students and staff.
 Professional Networking
 Generation of the master schedule for approximately 1900 students for 3 years.
 Sharing what I have learned and mentor colleagues and students all across the
United States and in Europe through conference presentations, workshops, and
personal appearances:
o Facilitator, Technology and Learning Magazines Tech Forum, Round
Table
o Facilitator for PC Tablets, one-on-one mobile computing, New York, 2004
o Presenter, National School Board Associations T+L2 Conference, Tablet
PCs and the Transformation of the Classroom, Denver 2004
o Presenter, European Council for International Schools Technology
Conference, Using the Internet to Promote Inquiry-based Learning,
WebTools: Managing Your Digital World, Brussels, Belgium, 2002
o Presenter, Technology and Learning Magazines Tech Forum, Using the
Internet to Promote Inquiry-based Learning, MiniQuests: Developing
Mini-Investigative Curriculum Units, New York, 2001
o Presenter, Technology and Learning Magazines Tech Forum, Using the
Internet to Promote Inquiry-based Learning, MiniQuests: Developing
Mini-Investigative Curriculum Units, Chicago, 2000
o Presenter, Professional Learning Communities at Work: Best Practices for
Enhancing Student Achievement Conference, Building a School Climate:
Students, Staff, Parents & Administration Working Together, April 1998
o Presenter, National Association of Biology Teachers Convention, 1993,
1994, 1995, 1996, 1997
Instructional Technology Coordinator Neuqua Valley High School - I was the
liaison between the newly opened state of the art secondary facility and a faculty
that represents a broad continuum of computer expertise, 1997 - 2001.
Co-Chair - Illinois Computing Educators (ICE) Conference Neuqua Valley High
School, 1998
Adjunct Faculty Benedictine University - Instructor for the Introduction to
Technology/ Introduction to Instructional Technologies courses for graduate
students in the School of Education. 1999 to 2002
Access Excellence Fellow (sponsored by Genentech), Member of a digital network of
Biology educators to share ideas and collaborate on shared projects, 1995 to
present.
Mentor Teacher, Telecommunications (Internet), Argonne National Laboratory,
1994 to present.
Mentor Teacher, Project Genethics, Ball State University, 1994 to 1996.
Faculty (Adjunct), Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy, Summer
"AD"Ventures II Program, 1990 to 1996.
Research Associate, Fermilab National Laboratory, Batavia, IL, summers 1985-87.

4. Research Associate, Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, IL, summer 1983
Academic Sponsor for the 2nd place winner overall and the winner of the
Biochemical Division of the science competition "Intech 83", 1983
Academic Sponsor for the regional winner of the Space Shuttle Student
Involvement Program, 1982.
Academic Sponsor for juniors accepted to Indiana University Summer Research
Symposium, 1982.
Coordinator of the Anatomy and Physiology Curriculum at Waubonsie Valley
High School, 1982 to 1986.
Coordinator of the Human Genetics Curriculum at Waubonsie Valley High School,
Aurora, Illinois, 1982 to 1997.
Biology-Chemistry Teacher, Waubonsie Valley High School, Aurora, Illinois, 1979
to 1997.
Anatomy and Physiology Teacher, Waubonsie Valley High School, Aurora, Illinois,
1982 to 1986.
Human Genetics, Bioethics, Biotechnology Teacher, Waubonsie Valley High
School, Aurora, Illinois, 1982 to 1997.
National Biology Teachers Association Selectee to a committee to review and
consult Mainland China about their biology curriculum, summer 1986.
Selectee to attend a Cold Spring Harbor Workshop on Recombinant DNA
Technology at Argonne National Laboratory, summer 1986.
Association Representative for the Indian Prairie Education Association, 1982-
1983, 1988 to 1997
Chairman of the Fringe Benefit Subcommittee of the collective bargaining team,
1988-89.
Educational Consultant, tutor students in math and science, 1986 to present.
PROFESSIONAL SOCIETIES
Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD)
Illinois Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (IASCD)
Illinois Principals Association
International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE)
Illinois Computing Educators (ICE)
National Association of Biology Teachers (NABT)
Illinois Association of Biology Teachers (IABT)
National Association of Science Teachers (NAST)
Illinois Association of Science Teachers (IAST)
Computer Users Group (CUE)
American Association of Radiological Technologists (AART)
AWARDS AND RECOGNITION
Genentech Access Excellence Fellow
Presidential Award State Finalist selected by the Illinois Science Teachers for
Excellence in Science Teaching Association, 1990.
High School Science Teacher Fellowship from the American Society for
Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 1990

5. PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES SUMMARY
Assistant Principal for Instruction, Technology, & Support Services - Hinsdale
(District 86) South H.S.
During my time as Assistant Principal I had the pleasure and opportunity as a Highly
Qualified administrator take on the following responsibilities:
-Recruitment, interviewing, recommendations for hiring, observing and the evaluation
of faculty and support staff, within a collaborative framework, taking the form of
dialogue between professionals that care about the main objective of continual
improvement of student achievement. The end result is the placing of continual
improvement of student achievement for all above all else; while striving to develop
new faculty and staff skills and optimize existing faculty and staff strengths for the
implementation of research supported best practice marshalling all available resources
to that end.
-District/School administrative role in recruitment (some with colleagues and some
alone) at job fairs in the Midwest.
-Participant in the assessment and analysis of curriculum, instruction and assessment,
which involves curriculum development, support of curricular needs, reevaluation of
current curriculum offerings in a collaborative effort between department chairs and
faculty.
-Trouble shooting. In all aspects of my day I meet the daily challenges with an open
mind and flexibility to redirect energy, resources (financial, time, and human) to do
what is in the best interest of our students.
-Oversight of professional development programs regarding the delivery of content,
curriculum evaluation, the selection and training of in district presenters/trainers,
creation of professional development calendars, and alignment with the District 86s
Strategic (District Improvement Plan - DIP) ,
School Improvement (SIP) and Technology Plans. I believe in focused, monitored, and
clearly valued professional development, targeted to improve expertise, build capacity
amongst personnel, ensure appropriate resource allocation, and promote
communication and trust, must be employed to maximize the human potential,
resource allocation, and to free top level administrators, permitting decision making by
personnel (stakeholders) equipped with technical/practical knowledge to address
needs where the solutions need to be found. This will help eliminate non-effective
delays due to bureaucratic issues, promote stakeholder buy-in and support, and risk-
taking for system improvement.
-As a collaborative member of the Hinsdale South’s school improvement team
(SIP), I have been instrumental in building the critical professional relationships,
building a sense of trust, working from a base of truthfulness (although not always
saying what individuals wanted to hear), keeping focus, being open and actively
listening to the concerns, opinions, attitudes, perceptions (and misperceptions), and
beliefs of others. I also worked to build credibility, sharing reliable resources, being

6. open to acknowledging others fears, strengths, challenges, and seeking expertise when I
recognized my own limitations.
-Data Analysis through the gathering all relevant data, carefully analyzing it with the
eyes of the stakeholders, developing a working Action Plan and working it (which
means having a clear and well articulated timeline, set of resources, accountability,
measures and monitoring and revising as needed). This includes soliciting the
participation of representatives of stakeholder groups from the internal and external
communities in the SIP process. This will allow for the dis-aggregation of student data
(PSAE/ISAT) in order to identify individual students academic deficiencies that need to
be addressed through appropriate interventions to insure every opportunity for
academic growth for every student.
-Coordination and oversight for the crafting of the school student planner. This requires
the collaboration between different elements of the school environment that brings
together critical pieces of data from through out the building into one cohesive
document that is an essential organizational and reference (school rules and policies)
tool.
-Coordination and oversight for the crafting of the school community calendar.
This requires the collaboration between different elements of the school environment
that brings together critical dates and events from through out the building into one
cohesive document that is an essential planning tool for students, families, staff, and
community.
-Administration and oversight of the school bookstore with the goal of creating an
culture of reflection and self evaluation for the purposes of continued improvement of
student/family service that directly impacts a students/family’s perspective about
Hinsdale South setting a positive tone and a feel for the school experience from the start
to the end of the school year.
-Facilitate and over see the infusion of instructional technologies into the classroom
experience. This includes the creation of technology specific staff development
opportunities with emerging and/or well established instructional technologies,
oversight of the Hinsdale South Technology Committee, the creation and organization of
focus group opportunities for faculty/staff to experience existing/emerging educational
technologies and to share the current use of existing technologies and to ponder the
potential uses of existing/emerging in producing more effective instruction.
-Authorship, implementation and oversight of the District 86 Technology Plan
(District responsibility), curriculum development, purchase and implementation of
software and hardware technologies, etc.
-Participation on the District 86 Technology Committee (five people) where I play a
critical role in the implementation of the District 86 Tablet PC initiative at Hinsdale
South High School (by 2007-08 all students and faculty will be learning and teaching in
a wireless mobile computing environment). In addition I am a member of the newly
created District 86 Technology Task Force charged with identifying what we have,
where we would like to be, what tools and resources would be needed in order to

7. develop a long term plan for optimization of resources we currently have and the
integration of newly emerging technologies for the improvement of student learning.
-Participation on the Building Leadership Team (BLT) whose responsibility is to deal
with the issues and the logistics that assures a safe, functional environment for the
Hinsdale South students and staff. This includes dealing with critical issues as they arise
by assuming vital roles in authorship, implementation, and review of the crisis plan,
school policy, school rules, and unpredictable incidents that could impact the safety and
welfare of South students and staff.
-Participation on the Instructional Leadership Team (ILT) whose charge is to deal with
the issues and the logistics that directly impact student achievement through dialogue
and collaboration the results in the identification, prioritization, implementation,
monitoring of curriculum and curriculum supports that are necessary for a call to
action. This includes dealing with educational issues of curriculum selection and
development, the study of best practice and it implications to student achievement; the
identification of professional development needs in order to implement best practice,
the creation of appropriate professional development experiences, and a monitoring
system that will provide clear assessments of our actions helping define a set of next
steps in this ever evolving process.
-A leadership role in the Hinsdale South Failure Is Not an Option process that is a
proactive attempt at early identification and intervention to address and meet the
needs of our incoming freshman and educational services populations. Parts of this
collaborative development are interventions that address the reading and math
deficiencies of these targeted populations. The interventions are block classes for
English and Math (2 periods). The English experience is one period traditional English
class the second focusing on reading and reading strategies.
The Math experience provides first semester (2 periods a day) for Algebra I Part 1 and
the second semester (2 periods a day) for Algebra I Part 2. The intent is to keep these
students on pace with their peers and still provide the intense intervention to address
their immediate learning needs.
-Participation in my own personal professional development through
conference/workshop attendance at local, state and national venues (i.e.
Leadership Institute: Data Mining and Test Scores by Anthony Amato,
Superintendent New Orleans Parish Schools; Professional Learning
Communities at Work: Best Practices for Enhancing Student Achievement,
Richard DuFour & Robert Eaker); Administrator Academy Participation (i.e.
Administrative Leadership for Challenging Times Management by Excellence,
Grant writing: Preparing Competitive Proposals, Educational Technology: Black
Hole or White Light; Effective Instruction Research and its Role in Professional and
Organizational Development).
-Negotiator of certified contracts (Member of District 204 Teachers team) and
Support Staff (Administrator for District 86)
-Outreach responsibilities. Through out my career I have played a key role in outreach
initiatives involving elementary, middle, high and tertiary school experiences for

8. faculty, staff and students. I have provided staff development opportunities for all of the
above listed levels, I was an adjunct faculty member for the Illinois Mathematics and
Science Academy for five years working on integrated science experiences for middle
school students hosted by Eastern
Illinois University. This afforded me the opportunity to work collaboratively in a
multidisciplinary team that included Math, Social Science, Language, and Science
teachers to create thematic science immersion experiences for students in a multi week
camp setting. I was an adjunct faculty member for Benedictine University teaching basic
certification courses integrating technology into teaching and learning.
-Mentorship of teachers and students. I have encouraged and supported students and
faculty to extend themselves beyond their own expectations; as a result students have
become productive and significant members of society and faculty have risen to
positions of significant responsibility in education and community.
-Assumption of building responsibilities in the absence of key administrative personnel.
-Personal Collaboration with faculty/staff of districts other than the one I work in (i.e.
District 99, Cass District 63, and Gower District 62) for improved quality of experience
for students and staff.
-Networking - Over my 26 year career I have had the privilege to work with and share
my expertise with a large number of students, parents, colleagues, educational experts,
content experts, and community members that have all in some way impacted who I
am, what I believe, and what I do as a professional educator. I find this one of my most
valuable resources in my professional toolbox. I tap into this resource often and it
always enhances the learning and teaching experience wherever I work when I can call
on other to share and collaborate.
-Generation of the master schedule for approximately 1900 students for 3 years.
- Sharing what I have learned and mentor colleagues and students all across the
United States and in Europe through conference presentations, workshops, and
personal appearances listed elsewhere in this application.
All of the above professional experiences have molded me into an individual that
personally and professionally values the critical importance of and the necessity for
crafting relationships among and between: students, parents, teachers, staff,
administration, and community in order to make substantive, continual gains toward
improved student achievement, the established vision of the school/district, and
establishing the value added relationships between all listed above. In addition these
experiences have been broad in scope allowing me to be involved in all aspects of
school administration across the curriculum and up and down all levels of education
(elementary, middle, high and tertiary).
These experiences and the development of skills places me in an excellent position to be
a positive contributor to a districts Administrative Team as Principal.

9. INSTRUCTIONAL TECHNOLOGY COORDINATOR
Neuqua Valley High School
I was the liaison between the newly opened state of the art secondary facility and a
faculty that represents a broad continuum of computer expertise. I work with the
faculty and facilitate their use of technology in the classroom. I participate in our
distance-learning consortium to coordinate our distance learning programs. I am
involved in the strategic planning for the purchase and implementation of hardware
and software for NVHS.
ADJUNCT FACULTY BENEDICTINE UNIVERSITY - Instructor for the
Introduction to Technology and Introduction to Instructional Technologies courses for
graduate students in the School of Education.
ACCESS EXCELLENCE FELLOW -
(Sponsored by Genentech)
Member of an electronic network of Biology educators to share ideas and collaborate on
shared projects. The purpose of this group was also to act as a catalyst in developing a
broad electronic network of biology instructors for the advancement of biology
education.
MENTOR TEACHER TELECOMMUNICATIONS
Internet
I was selected as a mentor teacher of other educators to introduce them to culture of
the electronic highway. My responsibility is to expose other educators to the
advantages and uses of the Internet. The goal is to cultivate a community of life long
learners that are telecommunications literate. Training educators on how to navigate
within the Internet in a graphic and non-graphic mode and how to communicate with
each other through email should increase the comfort level and translate into classroom
use and student exposure.
MENTOR TEACHER
Project Genethics
I was selected to participate in a National Science Foundation funded program dealing
with educating biology teachers in the current topics and applications in genetics
instruction. This program originates from Ball State University and is directed by Dr.
Jon Hendrix. It includes the development of curriculum and the participation as a team
member in a two-week seminar format at a site somewhere in the country.
FACULTY FELLOW- SUMMER ADVENTURES SCIENCE EXPERIENCE -
Illinois Math and Science Academy
Summer ‘AD’Ventures is a three-week intensive summer integrated science/
mathematics experience. Students from across Illinois are selected to attend and are
exposed to a thematic, interdisciplinary, "hands on" learning experience that
interconnects math, science, and technology in a relevant and useful way. The faculty’s
responsibility is to focus on strategic planning of the curriculum, and residential life.
For the past three summers this experience has been held on the campus of Eastern
Illinois University.

10. SMALL GROUP DISCUSSION FACILITATOR REGIONAL WORKING CONFERENCES
Illinois Math and Science Academy
The INISA Regional Working Conferences Series was collaboration between members
of a district team, which included all strata of their educational community (i.e.
teachers, parents, business leaders, and administrators). The goal of the small group
sessions was for the teams to identify their strengths and weaknesses with respect to
how to educate their students in math, science, and technology. The scope included
consideration of the future national trends according to such national studies such as
Project 2061 (science), Technology: A National Imperative (technology), and
Curriculum and Evaluation Standards for School Mathematics (math). The task was to
brainstorm to identify the needs and the creative ways to overcome what appears to be
obstacles but may be in fact be old "habits of the mind." As a facilitator, the object was
to keep the discussions flowing and focused and to involve everyone in the process.
Each team was to walk away with a plan and a direction reached by consensus that they
could act upon.
RESEARCH ASSOCIATE - SUMMER FELLOWSHIP-
Northwestern University Medical Center
The American Society selected me as a High School Science Teacher Fellow for
Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. The fellowship involved participation in
recombinant DNA research and its application to the study of and a greater
understanding of cancer. This type of research is on the cutting edge of the ever-
expanding field of biotechnology.
RESEARCH ASSOCLATE
Fermilab
I was responsible for establishing a set of protocols to be followed to protect
endangered and threatened species from the potential disruption and destruction of
their habitats when new construction was to take place on the lab site. These protocols
were to be in line with the criteria set forth by the Environmental Protection Act of the
federal government.
RESEARCH ASSOCIATE
Argonne
I helped Drs. Norman and Leigh Anderson in their research to develop a Human
Protein Index through the use of two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. They are part of
the vanguard that is on the cutting edge of the development of this type of technology.
ACADEMIC SPONSOR OF LOCAL AND NATIONAL SCIENCE COMPETITIONS
I have acted as the academic liaison for students who have desired to compete in
science competitions at the local and national level. One of my students was one of
twenty regional winners of the Space Shuttle Student Involvement Program with his
proposed experiment on "Zero Gravity and its Affects on Tissue Regeneration in
Planarian." NASA sponsored this program. Another student of mine was the winner of
the biochemistry division of the Intech 83 science competition with research pertaining
to some of the sex hormone and their chemical roles to fertility in “Drosophila
melanogaster”. In his research he used some two-dimensional-gel-electrophoresis
experiments to collect some of his data.

11. COORDINATOR OF THE ANATOMY & PHYSIOLOGY CURRICULUM -
Since the inception of this course at Waubonsie it had been my responsibility to develop
and update the A & P curriculum. These responsibilities include text
selection, development of course goals, development of learning objectives,
accumulation of supplementary materials, development of a test package, and the
continual modification of the course to maintain a current and relevant class.
COORDINATOR OF THE HUMAN GENETICS CURRICULUM -
The development of this course, its content, its text, its learning objectives, and its
testing package has been my responsibility since its inception. The updating and
accumulating material for this course is ongoing. In 1994 this course was rewritten to
include Bioethics and Biotechnology with a strong Lab component.
TEACHER -
The subject areas that I am or have been responsible for in the classroom are biology,
chemistry, anatomy & physiology, and human genetics. My responsibilities are to
expose students to the scientific process and the scientific method in a variety of
modalities. These include lecture, lab, library research, and computer assisted
instruction components using the above disciplines as vehicles to the exposure of the
scientific process.
I was an active member of Indian Prairie Education Association. I serve the organization
in many capacities in order to improve the working conditions and relationships
between community, administrators, and staff in our district.
EDUCATIONAL CONSULTANT -
I tutored struggling students in areas of math and science. I find a very special kind of
satisfaction when I deal with a student on a one-on-one basis.
PUBLICATIONS -
I have acted as a book reviewer for The American Biology Teacher, which is the official
journal of the National Biology Teachers Association. These books are on a variety of
biological topics, some are to be used as texts and some are used as resource material.