- Mark Sension has over 30 years of experience in education, including teaching English at various levels, as well as experience in administration and consulting. - He holds advanced degrees in English and education and has taught at numerous schools across several states, including California where he recently retired. - In addition to teaching, he has experience in writing, photography, nonprofit work, and volunteering to support youth programs.

1. Mark Stephen Sension
2424 66th
Avenue / Oakland, California 94605
Mobile: (510) 309-1455 E-mail: Mark@Sension.org
Education: University of Texas at El Paso
MA conferred in May, 1992
Major: English Literature and Creative Writing
Overall GPA: 3.83
Thesis Title: Selected Poems and Fiction
Thesis Director: Rick DeMarinis. Thesis Committee: Wilkie English, Ph.D. and John West, Ph.D.
This degree was completed while I was a full-time student working full-time as a high school
English teacher.
University of Wisconsin - River Falls
BS Secondary Education conferred in May, 1989 with Senior Academic Honors.
Major, English: GPA 3.69 Minor, Sociology: GPA 3.52
Education Courses: GPA 3.79 Overall: GPA 3.44
This degree was earned while working full-time to support my family.
University Honors and Activities included:
Dean’s List, Winter, 1986/87 through graduation.
Member, UWRF Honor Society.
Member, Dean’s Advisory Committee, College of Education.
Student Member, Faculty Search and Interview Committee for the English Department.
Member, Kappa Delta Pi, an Honor Society in Education, Chair, Last Lecture Series Committee.
Member, Tomorrow's Educators.
Student Member, Wisconsin Council of Teachers of English & the National Council of Teachers of
English.
Staff, Student Voice, Chief Photographer for the campus newspaper.
Contributor, Prologue, the university literary magazine.
Elmwood High School, Elmwood, WI
Diploma conferred in May, 1975
College preparatory.
Professional
Certifications: California: Clear Single Subject (English Language Arts) Credential
Administrative Services Credential Certificate of Eligibility
Colorado: Provisional License, expired, renewable
Texas: Lifetime High School English.
Wisconsin: Five Year English/Sociology, expired, renewable.
Present
Employment: Free-lance Writer and Photographer / Educational and GLBTQ Youth Issues
Consultant
Self-employed December, 1991
to
Present
Accomplishments: Sold feature stories, fiction, photographs, short articles and book reviews to
newspapers and periodicals.
Edited news copy for a monthly paper.
Contracted to write test items and assist in test design with Education Testing Services (ETS) among others.
Assist nonprofit GLBTQ Youth organizations in the design and implementation of educational and
recreational programs, fundraising, and grant-writing, co-founding the Rainbow Pride Youth Alliance
(www.rpya.org).

2. Past
Employment: Teacher/Department Chair/Teacher-to-Teacher Coach
Club Sponsor/ Academic Team Coach
San Bernardino City Unified School District August, 1998
777 North F Street to
San Bernardino, CA 92410 June, 2015 (retirement)
(909) 381-1100
Accomplishments: Have successfully taught all grade levels of high school English to a diverse student
body, presently teaching senior college preparatory English
Chaired the English Department 2001-2002.
Provided coaching assistance to the Pacific High School Academic Teams for four years, serving has Head
Coach in 2001-2002.
Served on the Leadership Team and the Technology Committee.
Was selected and trained as an II/USP Teacher-to-Teacher Coach, served in this capacity for three years.
Developed and implemented teacher training and support programs.
Improved student performance on standardized tests, graduation rates, and overall student success.
Prepared thousands of students to succeed in post-secondary educational and work environments.
Provided and led student and faculty international travel opportunities including trips to Australia, New
Zealand, and Ireland, Scotland, Wales, and England.
Served on the Human Rights Committee of the SBTA, securing the endorsement of programs that support
GLBTQ youth within schools and community.
Established Pacific High school’s First Gay Straight Alliance (GSA).
English Instructor (Temporary Civilian Position)
United States Air Force Academy Preparatory School Winter, 1998
5216 Cedar Drive, Suite 313 to
USAF Academy, CO 80840-3100 Summer, 1998
(719) 333-2583
Accomplishments: Taught college level English composition and literature preparing candidates
for entry into the United States Air Force Academy.
Received positive evaluations from faculty, military staff, and students.
Assisted with military training, student advising, and character development programs.
English Faculty
University of Phoenix, Southern Colorado Campus April, 1997
5475 Tech Center Drive to
Colorado Springs, CO 80919 August, 1998
(719) 599-5282
Accomplishments: Successfully taught literature, basic studies, communications, and composition
classes, using compressed courses and other non-traditional methodologies while scoring high on
student and faculty evaluations.
Adjunct English Instructor
Pikes Peak Community College January, 1995
5675 S. Academy Blvd. to
Colorado Springs, CO 80906-5498 August, 1997
(719) 576-7711
Accomplishments: Taught Freshman composition to adult and young adult learners scoring high on
student and faculty evaluations.

3. Middle School English Teacher
Lewis-Palmer Middle School August, 1995
11776 Woodmore Drive to
Monument, CO 80132 May, 1997
(719) 488-4776
Accomplishments: Taught English/language arts to a diverse sixth and eighth grade student population,
scoring high on teacher performance evaluations.
Assisted in the development of a long term technology plan and served on the middle school Technology
Committee.
Developed and presented in-service teacher training in technology and language arts.
Assisted in the production of two sixth grade medieval festivals.
Sponsored and participated in educational travel experiences in the United States and Great Britain.
Successfully completed the state approved induction program for teachers new to the State of Colorado.
English/Language Arts Teacher (INR)
Challenger Middle School January, 1995
Colorado Springs, CO 80228 to
(719) 598-2566 May, 1995
Accomplishments: Successfully assumed responsibility for 119 eighth grade students at mid-year as a full-
time, temporary teacher.
Developed and implemented highly participatory lesson plans within the context of the middle school
model, improving student attitudes and learning.
Developed strong working relationships with parents, administrators, and professional support staff.
Adjunct English Instructor
Metropolitan State College of Denver June, 1994
Post Office Box 173362 to
Denver, CO 80217 January, 1995
(303) 556-3211
Accomplishments: Taught Freshman composition to adult and young adult learners.
Writing Center Director and Consultant, English Teacher, and Academic Coach
Socorro High School August, 1989
El Paso, TX 79927 to
(915) 869-3500 June, 1994
Accomplishments: Managed and directed the Socorro High School Writing Center, a state of the art,
Computer-assisted writing lab, selecting and training student tutors while training faculty, and
supporting writing instruction across the curriculum.
Produced and presented programs in teacher development.
Modeled lessons for teachers in all disciplines designed to infuse writing skills across the curriculum.
Introduced and regularly edited Writing Right, a publication of the Socorro High School Writing Center
designed to encourage teachers in all subject areas to incorporate writing activities into daily
instruction.
Developed and presented teacher in-service instruction.
Evaluated, purchased, installed, and maintained computer hardware and educational software in support of
reading, writing, and academic competition programs.
Developed, co-developed, and adapted instructional strategies effective in increasing student ability and
interest in thinking, speaking, reading and writing.
Cooperatively designed the gifted and talented program at Socorro High School, co-authoring the G/T
curriculum.
Taught all levels of high school English using traditional and non-traditional methods and settings.
Maintained high student success rates as measured by various instruments.

4. Worked with a large percentage of economically and socially disadvantaged students who have gone on to
post-secondary education.
Have consistently scored at the highest level of performance, achieving Career Ladder level II in the
Shortest possible time within the Texas Teacher Evaluation System.
Inaugurated the Academic Decathlon program, coaching AD and other academic teams including High-Q,
Knowledge Masters, and UIL events producing more than a two dozen top medal winners in a three
year period and receiving commendations from the board of education for each year.
Cooperated with the College of Education at the University of Texas, El Paso as a supervising teacher in
support of the teacher education field experience and student teacher training.
Developed skills in bilingual English education working with a large Hispanic student population.
Adjunct English Instructor
El Paso Community College August, 1993
PO Box 20500 to
El Paso, TX 79998 August, 1994
(915) 594-2000
Accomplishments: Taught English composition to adult students.
Evaluated as "Superior" by students and faculty, the highest possible rating.
Other
Employment: In addition, I held a wide variety of part-time, short-term and temporary jobs with several
organizations while a student and at various times to supplement my income. These experiences include
work as a Police Officer and Ambulance Attendant for the Village of Elmwood, Wisconsin; Parts Clerk for
10,000 Auto Parts, Cooks Assistant for the Elmwood Nursing Home; Orderly at the River Falls Nursing
Home, Fry Cook, Farm Hand, Life-skills Teacher at the El Paso Center for Children, Operations Manager
with the Ricks Center at the University of Denver; Insurance Sales Representative with Massachusetts
Mutual; Gas Station Attendant; Photo-Journalist with The Student Voice; Advertising Sales Representative;
Fire Detection Equipment Sales Representative; Substitute Teacher; and Cashier. I also had a very
successful 10 year career in private industrial security service supervision and management, prior to my
career in education.
Volunteer
Experience: I began my life as a volunteer at the age of 12 as the first male Candy Striper at Divine
Redeemer Hospital in South St. Paul Minnesota. As a teenager and young adult I served as a volunteer for
various faith-based and community organizations.
Later, I served with the Very Special Arts Festival of River Falls, Wisconsin on behalf of
developmentally disabled children and as a Board Member of the Western Wisconsin Refugee Orientation
Center (1987-89).
More recently, I have served as a volunteer peer counselor and as an elected member of the Board
Directors of the Gay and Lesbian Center of the Inland Empire, eventually being designated as the Director of
Youth Programs (1998-2000), and later as the President of the Governing Board of the Rainbow Pride Youth
Alliance (RPYA), a nonprofit charitable corporation established to support at-risk GLBTQ youth. In addition,
I volunteered my time and services to the San Bernardino Teacher’s Association where I have been an NEA
delegate and now serve as a Site Representative, Co-Chair of the Human Rights Committee, and a
delegate to State Council.
References and other supporting documentation available upon request.