EMERSON

208 1/2 UTICA STREET

ITHACA, NY 14850

CAIZA ZABALA
P: (607) 342 - 3066
E : e m e r s o n c a i z a @ g m a i l.com
W : em ers o n ca iza .weeb l y.co m
EDUCATOR AND STUDENT ADVOCATE T: @ s r c a i z a

PROFESSIONAL PROFILE
Diligent, hardworking, dedicated educator and student advocate with over 7 years of experience working to ensure all students have
access to quality inclusive educa@on. Bridging the cultural gap between the varied urban, rural and la@no cultures, I collaborate with
stakeholders to create an environment where personal and academic success is dependent on the dierences each student brings to the
discussion.

EDUCATION EXPERIENCE
SPANISH TEACHER AT CORTLAND JR./SR. HIGH SCHOOL
2010 - 2011 CORTLAND ENLARGED CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | 2016 - PRESENT
MASTERS DEGREE
CORTLAND, NY
Ithaca College
Engaged middle and high school students in rigorous Spanish curriculum. Taught six
Ithaca, NY
sec@ons of Spanish 7, 8 and level 2 to over 130 students.
GPA: 3.80
Collaborated with colleagues on curriculum development. Invigorated curriculum with
M.A.T. in Adolescence Educa@on
project based learning units and completed pacing guides for all levels.
Integrated technology into lessons and units using SMART board and devices. Used
2008 - 2010 Google Apps for Educa@on, Seesaw and Remind to connect with students, families and
BACHELORS DEGREE enhance educa@onal opportuni@es for all students.
SUNY Cortland Created and presented technology based language tools at Foreign Language Parent
New York, NY Engagement night. Demonstrated technology integra@on tools for parents and families,
GPA: 3.47 increasing engagement from stakeholders and students.
Bachelor of Arts in Spanish
Minors: Computer Applica@ons, SPANISH TEACHER AT GROTON JR./SR. HIGH SCHOOL
Mathema@cs GROTON CENTRAL SCHOOLS | 2014 - 2016
GROTON, NY
2006 - 2008 Instructed 7th, 8th, and Spanish 1 classes. Used research based curriculum to engage rst
Tompkins Cortland Community and second year Spanish learners through the use of technology and coopera@ve learning.
College Collaborated with colleagues on aligning World Languages Standards to the Common
Dryden, NY Core Cooperated with Spanish and French colleagues to map out the Language
Department curriculum using Higher Order Thinking Ques@ons.
Contributed to the yearly celebraKon of InternaKonal Day. Par@cipated in the organiza@on,
supervision, and communica@on of this celebra@on with students, families, sta, and school
SKILLS administrators
Professional Learning CommiNee member in a cross district PLC. Ongoing monthly district
Bilingual English-Spanish wide and departmental mee@ngs addressing students needs to help them succeed in
Google Apps for Educa@on school.
TwiQer
SMART Technology SPANISH TEACHER AT NEWFIELD MIDDLE SCHOOL
Social Media management NEWFIELD CENTRAL SCHOOLS | 2013 - 2016
PowerPoint NEWFIELD, NY
MicrosoS Windows, Mac OSX Taught 5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th grade classes. Taught and evaluated students by crea@ng
Academic porWolio engaging lessons using technology keeping in mind individual learning needs.
management Communicated with families, sta, and students. Established communica@on using various
Intercambio language partner plaWorms; such as: remind.com, classdojo.com, eligibility reports, and school websites.
Soccer Coach Created formaKve and summaKve assessments for all secKons of Spanish. Collaborated
with the Middle and High school Spanish teachers to create sound assessments.
Worked with all three grade level teams to reach the needs of all students. Par@cipated in
HONORS team mee@ngs with sta, parents, and students to beQer serve the needs of each student.
Tau Sigma Transfer Honor
ITINERANT SPANISH TEACHER
Society TOMPKINS SENECA TIOGA BOCES. | 2014- 2016
Student-Athlete Excellence ITHACA, NY
Award Traveling Spanish Teacher in both Neweld and Groton Central Schools. Maintained
schedules and systems for both schools while teaching at both schools concurrently.
EMERSON
208 1/2 UTICA STREET
ITHACA, NY 14850

CAIZA ZABALA
P: (607) 342 - 3066
E : e m e r s o n c a i z a @ g m a i l.com
W : em ers o n ca iza .weeb l y.co m
EDUCATOR AND STUDENT ADVOCATE T: @ s r c a i z a

INTERESTS EXPERIENCE CONTINUED

Naturalist and Conserva@onist
Varsity Soccer Athlete
Outdoor Sports
Travel in Central and South
America
Interna@onal Cuisine
Innova@ve technology
World Music
REFUGEE SPONSOR
VOLUNTEER FOR A FAMILY OF BURMESE REFUGEES | 2011 - PRESENT
ITHACA, NY
Connected refugees with educaKonal resources. Encouraged high school students to apply
for internships, jobs and programs to increase likelihood of college acceptance.
Mentored high school students. Counseled two high school students through the college
applica@on process.
Served as the academic liaison between school, parents and students. Helped the students
explain the educa@on system to parents with beginning English skills and experience.

REFERENCES TEACHING ASSISTANT AND SPANISH ACADEMIC INTERVENTION SPECIALIST TEACHER

ITHACA HIGH SCHOOL | 2012 - 2013
CATHY GRIGGS ITHACA, NY
NEWFIELD CENTRAL Provided remedial Spanish lessons to struggling students to help them meet academic

SCHOOLS requirements. Students were facing mul@ple barriers to success in the classroom and
PRINCIPAL beneted from 1:1 support.
(607) 564 - 9955 x2126 Instructed and guided students for various levels of Spanish during A.I.S. classes.

cgriggs@neweldschools.org Assisted and collaborated with other subject instructors on the A.V.I.D. Site Team.

Mentored students needing non-tradiKonal support to be academically successful.

LAURA NORRIS FAMILY GROUP LEADER AT LEHMAN ALTERNATIVE COMMUNITY SCHOOL

GROTON CENTRAL SCHOOLS
PRINCIPAL
(607) 898 - 5803 x2426
lnorris@groton.cnyric.org
ANNETTE TWITCHELL
GROTON CENTRAL SCHOOLS
DEPARTMENT CHAIR
(607) 898 - 5803 x2311
atwitchell@groton.cnyric.org
ENRIQUE WISSAR
NEWFIELD CENTRAL
SCHOOLS
DEPARTMENT CHAIR
(607) 564 - 9955 x3226
ewissar@neweldschools.org
JAKE KOZLOWSKI
NEWFIELD CENTRAL
SCHOOLS
SPANISH TEACHER
(607) 564 - 9955 x2321
jkozlowski@neweldschools.org
ITHACA CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | 2011 - 2012
ITHACA, NY
Communicated and facilitated in and out of school acKviKes with parents and students.
Constructed team based retreat for students, building leadership skills.
Collaborated with students to create realisKc and meaningful long and short term goals
across all subjects. S@mulated students self reec@on processes to promote personal,
academic and social growth.
Monitored student progress and met regularly with students, families, and sta to achieve
student success. U@lizing all stakeholders to help reach students full poten@al.
SPANISH TEACHER AT LEHMAN ALTERNATIVE COMMUNITY SCHOOL
ITHACA CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | 2011 - 2012
ITHACA NY, NY
Coordinated the development of student por[olios addressing all four language skills.
Reading, wri@ng, listening and speaking skills were demonstrated using prezi.com bringing
technology skills into the academic environment.
Wrote evaluaKons for each student involved in Family Group, Spanish classes, projects,
commiNees, trips. Increased students self-awareness by including them in the decision
making processes which dictated their success in school.
Enabled a diverse and inclusive learning community by creaKng an open environment
conducKve to success. Students from all backgrounds and life experiences were
par@cipa@ng in a democra@cally governed environment.
Incorporated the business world into the language classes by bringing the students to
Spanish-speaking environments, creaKng a larger sense of belonging. Enabled by bringing
in leaders from their respec@ve elds, broadening the horizons for all students.
GRADUATE ASSISTANT, DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN RESOURCES
ITHACA CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT. | FALL 2010
NEW YORK, NY
Conducted research on teacher candidate diversity on behalf of the district.