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Aja Kweliona, Ed.M Curriculum Vitae

aja.@instituteforinnovators.org
(646) 287-5378

EDUCATION
Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, 2010
Ed.M., International Education Policy & Management

Howard University, Washington, DC, 2004
B.A., Human Communication and Culture, with honors
Minor: Human Development & Psycho-Educational Studies

PROFESSIONAL TRAINING & AWARDS
New School Creation, University of California Berkeley Graduate School of Education & High Tech High, 2014
Charter Design Institute, Illinois Network of Charter Schools, 2013
Understanding By Design, 2013
Charlotte Danielsons Framework for Teaching, 2013
State Superintendent Achievement Award for Significant Gains in 7
th
Grade Mathematics, GA, 2008
Americas Choice Middle School Mathematics Institute, 2007
Columbia University Teachers College Reading and Writing Project Coaching Institute, 2006
Teach For America, New York, NY, 2004 Corps Member

ORAL PRESENTATIONS
Kweliona, A. (2011, September). Customizing Education: Effectively and Efficiently Impacting Student Achievement.
Presentation at Teach For America School Leadership Summit, Jones Graduate School of Business, Rice University,
Houston, TX.

RESEARCH EXPERIENCE
Kweliona, A. (2009). Teacher Quality and Human Capital Development. (Unpublished). Harvard University, Cambridge,
MA.

Overview: Despite numerous reforms in curriculum and school structure for secondary and vocational schools, students
fail to yield adequate scores on the TIMSS (Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study), and employers voice
concerns about recent secondary graduates lacking basic skills necessary to advance private sector initiatives. This paper
provides insight into effective inputs for improving teacher quality and student achievement and proposes a teacher
quality development program design. The author also examines program evaluation strategy and feasibility of program
implementation and scaling up through examination of stakeholder influence.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Chief Executive Officer, Institute for Innovators Charter School, Atlanta, GA 2014 Present
Institute for Innovators is 6
th
-12
th
grade college-preparatory, STEM, finance, and entrepreneurship school for low-income
students. Responsible for the successful design, launch and sustained growth of Institute for Innovators Charter School in
Atlanta.
Approve annual organization plan that includes concrete, measurable goals consistent with the charter and
accountability plan.
Ensure adequate resources by approving fundraising targets and goals, assisting in carrying out the development
plan, approving and monitoring the annual budget, accounting, and personnel policies through periodic financial
reports.
Ensure programs and services are consistent with the mission and the charter by approving measurable organization
outcomes, monitoring progress in achieving outcomes and goals, and assessing the quality of the program and
services.
Serve as an ambassador, advocate, and community representative of the organization.
Provide for a written annual report and public presentation that details the mission, programs, financial condition,
and progress made towards charter promises.
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Ensure legal and ethical integrity and maintain accountability by establishing policies to guide the organizations
board members and staff, developing and maintaining adequate personnel policies and procedures (including
grievance mechanisms), and ensuring compliance with all federal, state, and local government regulations.
Recruit and orient new board members and assess board performance

Director of Teacher Leadership, Lighthouse Academies, Gary, IN 2012 2014
Selected to directly manage 10 new and veteran teachers in grades six through ten (all subject areas) in a high poverty,
low-income, turn-around environment.
Through instructional coaching and effective leadership, achieved the following gains as indicated by the Fall to
Winter NWEA growth report (based upon national norms):
o Increased 10
th
grade ELA student achievement by 285%
o Increased 10
th
grade Algebra II/Math student achievement by 142%
o Increased 9
th
grade Geometry/Math student achievement by 195%
o Increased 8
th
grade ELA student achievement by 117%
o Increased 8
th
grade Algebra I/Math student achievement by 113%
Within two months, increased the number of students meeting or exceeding mastery goals in 7
th
grade mathematics by
50% as indicated by Acuity.
Increased the percentage of students passing the Algebra 1 End-of-Course exam from 49% to 78% in one year.
Using Fall NWEA data, created an Honor Society Program which served as a restructuring of the 6
th
& 7
th
grade
academy. All students who fell below the 50
th
percentile were provided in-classroom tier two services including
push-in support in Reading, Writing, and Math, and instructional small group centers which leveraged programs such
as Leveled Literacy Intervention (a Fountas & Pinnell program), Achieve 3000, IXL (an individualized math support
program), and Pearsons Writing Coach (an individualized writing support program).
Created and implemented a Scholar Dollar program, which provided students tangible positive rewards (play money)
for successful academic performance which they could use to purchase calendared incentives (access to ice cream
socials, pizza parties, nacho parties, dress down days, movie and snacks, etc).
Using Common Core State Standards, scripted curriculum maps and unit assessments for all subject areas and
selected all instructional materials.
Provided coaching around all components of Danielsons Framework for Teaching, leveraging resources such as Data
Driven Instruction, Teach Like A Champion, UbD, Leverage Leadership, etc., as a foundation for instructional
coaching and mentoring.
Leveraged a variety of coaching strategies including weekly observation and check-ins (using the Leverage
Leadership 6-step feedback framework), collaborative and modeled planning, co-teaching, instructional modeling,
real-time coaching, video analysis (teacher and exemplar), and take-over.
Created systems for time-efficient transition of students including arrival and breakfast, class to class, lunch and
dismissal, and managed academy culture.
Introduced the Northwest Indiana region to the NWEA-Acuity-ISTEP-ACT-Explore/Plan linkage study,
revolutionizing the regions approach to data and enabling the region to identify trends across multiple, previously
disconnected data points.
Created and executed professional development sessions for all staff covering topics including, but not limited to
Common Core Instructional Shifts, Depth of Knowledge, Readers and Writers Workshop, Student Culture and
Behavior Management, PBIS, UbD, Constructing Effective Performance Tasks, Danielson Framework, Leveraging
Metacognitive Strategies in ELA Instruction, Analyzing Data to Drive Instruction.
Created and implemented a school-wide framework for Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) and managed one
of four of the PLCs (Rigorous Instruction).
Planned and executed several staff culture development activities including, but not limited to, the Halloween
Monster Mash (staff dress up day with relay games) and Fall Festival (thanksgiving potluck dinner, board games, and
whole school capture the flag).
Supported the Director of Student Services with identifying students in need of tier three services, scripting behavioral
plans, leading case conferences, and identifying IEP goals.
Supported Directors of Teacher Leadership with scripting professional development workshops utilizing Leverage
Leadership as a framework for coaching around developing and evaluating effective PD sessions.
Led the school during the Principals absence (roughly 15% of the school year).

Advisory Board Member, Derrell Talent, Various Locations 2011 - Present
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Appointed as one of three advisors of a niche-market company providing local, regional, and national education-based
organizations access to high-quality educators of color.
Contribute insight into the knowledge, skills and mindsets necessary for fellows success in high-powered educational
institutions (i.e. TFA, KIPP, etc.)
Provide insight into effective strategies for evolving Derrell Fellows knowledge, skills, and mindsets for success in
competitive educational institutions

Manager, Design & Strategy of Leader Recruitment, Rocketship Education, Palo Alto, CA 2010 - 2012
Selected to create and implement an unprecedented national recruitment model and process for the organization, as well
as set and meet ambitious diversity goals.
Built brand awareness through partnerships with national and local education organizations (i.e. TFA, colleges and
universities, etc), as well as affinity-based education organizations (i.e. National Association for Black School
Educators, Howard University, etc.)
Delivered pro-hybrid seminars in person and via webinar to numerous audiences across the nation convincing
stakeholders to integrate blended learning into classrooms and districts
Created publications and print advertisements published in TFAs One Day and national newsletters
Built a replicable and scalable model to draw high-performing talent to the organization

Strategic Management Consultant, NJLEEP, Newark, NJ 2010
Requested by executive director to design and implement managerial and pedagogical strategies for 8-12
th
grade, college
preparatory, after & Saturday school program. The program offered students paid internships at law firms across
Newark, NJ, opportunities to compete in city-wide constitutional debates, essay-writing preparation, and partial
scholarships.
Developed mission-driven strategies for improving multiple areas of work including: student academic performance,
organizational communication, and process formalization (i.e. formal employee evaluations, employee promotional
policies, etc)
Designed and led instructional professional development around content, rigor, constructivism and experiential learning
Observed and coached instructors based upon our instructional vision of excellence
Mitigated pre-existing organizational tensions around role responsibilities and generated buy-in into the new strategies

Education Consultant, Inside Out Learning, Nairobi, Kenya 2010
Selected as program and curriculum designer for a city-wide start-up teacher training program
Designed the train-the-trainer model for turn-key implementation allowing over 60% of Nairobi teachers to gain access
to the teacher training program
Researched the most effective strategies for student instruction and teacher professional development
Designed constructivist and experiential based science curriculum for students
Designed and led the professional development series that allowed teachers to learn how to implement a constructivist
and experiential curriculum

Chair, Your Life Your Vision, Forest Park Middle, Jonesboro, GA 2008 2009
Created a college and career preparatory program for 8
th
grade students allowing them to build the knowledge and
mindsets necessary to matriculate into and persist through college and beyond.
Designed curriculum, scope, and sequence for YLYV, integrating lessons with core subject areas
Managed a team of 14 and held them accountable for meeting the goals and outcomes for YLYV

Teacher Mentor, Forest Park Middle, Jonesboro, GA 2008 2009
The youngest teacher selected among 1% of applicants to provide department-wide coaching in mathematics
Observed and coached all math teachers in data-driven instruction, constructivist learning, higher order thinking skills
and activities, classroom management, and content breadth and depth.
Increased the number of students scoring proficient or advanced by 40% department-wide leading to our removal from
the state needs improvement list

Eight Grade Mathematics Instructor, Forest Park Middle, Jonesboro, GA 2008 2009
Chosen as the strongest teacher to improve 8
th
grade mathematics performance through instruction and department-wide
coaching
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Increased the number of students scoring at proficient or advanced by 62% (previously at 31%)
Led our school to ranking number one in the county in eight grade mathematics (previously at 17
th
)

Seventh Grade Mathematics Instructor, Forest Park Middle, Jonesboro, GA 2007 2008
Selected as one of two teachers responsible for turning around mathematics performance at the 7
th
grade level after 9
consecutive years of students failing to meet adequate yearly progress.
Surpassed school goals and led 94% of students to proficient or advanced mastery with 42% scoring as advanced
Led our school in becoming the 2
nd
highest ranked middle school in the county for 7
th
grade mathematics performance
(up from 14
th
)
Won the 2008 State Superintendent Achievement Award for significant gains in mathematics

Sixth Grade Instructor, Teach For America | Public School 18, New York, NY 2004 2007
One of 7% of 13,000 applicants chosen to increase student achievement through classrooms, school leadership, political
impact and advocacy.
Increased an average of 97% of students at least 1.5 grade levels in years one, two and three
Managed classrooms with 30% of students identified as special needs
Designed culturally relevant, constructivist and project-based curriculum, threading together all subjects




PUBLIC OUTREACH EXPERIENCE

Campaign Co-Manager, Save Darfur Coalition, New York, NY 2006
Assisted in executing Save Darfur Now: Voices to End Genocide Rally garnering over 20,000 participants.
Created community organization coalitions and planning boards with national and international organizations including
Amnesty International, International Crisis Group, American Jewish World Service, and Human Rights Watch.
Assisted in the securing of rally day speakers and musical performers including former Secretary of State Madeleine
Albright, Rep. Charles Rangel (D-NY), and Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ).
Assisted in general rally day functions including securing permits, securing media coverage, organizing stage
production and audience setup, organizing volunteers, accommodating interstate travelers, etcetera

Volunteer, Sanjos Home, Inc, Brooklyn, NY 2005 - 2006
Created and evaluated youth development, prevention, and intervention programs focused on inter and intrapersonal
development, health and wellness, economic and political literacy, conflict resolution, creative and cultural expression,
career planning, academic achievement and environmentalism
Created partnerships with New York City public schools including Bushwick Community High School, Sankofa
Academy, and Public School 18, bringing programs to each site
Planned, monitored and co-produced student-initiated positive artistic expression forums such as Creative Liberation,
Liberation Fridays, and Quilombo Saturdays which incorporated positive hip-hop, poetry, theater, dance, and other
visual and performance art created by youth in the program.

Volunteer, Sankofa Community Empowerment, Inc., Brooklyn, NY 2004 - 2006
Provided diversity workshops at New York University, Medgar Evers College, and State University of New York.
Increased brand awareness by composing press releases, flyers, and brochures, and appearing for print, television and
radio announcements
Increased diverse support by building and maintaining partnerships with local organizations including African
American Clergy and Elected Officials (AACEO), Black New Yorkers for Educational Excellence (BNYEE), Malcolm
X Grassroots, Independent Commission on Public Education (ICOPE), etc.