Stephanie DeLuca

stephaniejeannedeluca.weebly.com
630 Freedom Drive
Carnegie, PA 15106

(267) 614-2738
stephanie.j.deluca@gmail.com

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
The Environmental Charter School at Frick Park
Pittsburgh, PA
Thinking Lab Educator/Program Developer, Grades 4-7
August 2013 Present
Researched best practices in Human-Centered Design, Visible Thinking, STEAM education, Social
Sciences & Creativity to design and develop the Upper School Thinking Lab program
Analyzed student and school-wide data in the development of the Thinking Lab program
Utilized Understanding by Design to write interdisciplinary, multi-sensory, project and/or problem-based
curricula based on National Standards, best practice, research and data collected
Implemented Thinking Lab program utilizing NGSS Science & Engineering Practices, Visible Thinking,
and Human-Centered Design methods while documenting student learning, process, and growth; WESA
article
Developed positive co-teaching relationship with co-teachers from other disciplines to successfully
integrate meaningful content
Set up feedback loops to understand successes and areas for improvement while program grew
Developed new portfolio-based assessment protocols for Thinking Lab to assess student growth based
around focus areas: content, collaboration, craftsmanship, and creativity
Participated in 6th grade one-to-one device pilot, utilizing Schoology, Google Drive, and Evernote to test
and create platforms for digital portfolios
Trained in Human-Centered Design (HCD) by the LUMA Institute to consider how to best use HCD in
the STEAM classroom
Collaborated with Thinking Lab Coach to assist in developing a STEAM-centered collaborative network
between ECS and other local school districts including PPS, Quaker Valley, Fort Cherry, South Fayette;
TRIB article
Developed collaborative relationships between ECS Thinking Lab local organizations like Assemble,
Union Project, WQED, Pittsburgh Greater Arts Council, & Warhol Museum to provide quality arts and
design-integrated instruction to students with diverse backgrounds
Acted as school-wide Vertical Team Liaison, observing Vertical Team meetings, consulting curriculum
maps, looking for patterns across content areas, consulting with Instructional Coaches, and
communicating about patterns and opportunities for integration of content and routines across the
disciplines
Participated as an active member of the inaugural Green Schools Academy Cohort with Green Building
Alliance, considering how School Sustainability could shape our school and education in Pittsburgh
Annually facilitated ECS Collaborative Budget Process data collection with ECS staff, synthesize data
and present to administration for creating budget for the following school year
Acting Principal, Upper School
August 2013-August 2014
Acted as Principal on occasions when both Principal and Assistant Principal were out of the building
Responsible for supporting PBIS, discipline, communicating with families, communicating with staff
members
Served as a member of the Crisis Management Team, helping to determine school safety policies and
procedures as needed
Principal Internship

January 2013- June

2013

Collaborated with teachers, administrators and coaches to develop structures and curricular framework to
support Thinking Lab in Upper School
Assisted in completion of formal observations and evaluations

Developed a plan for communicating the ECS Guiding Principles with the students in the 2013-2014
school year
Assisted with High School Transition planning and survey development
Participated in the planning of the school renovation project to develop an understanding of how to grow
a small charter school
Collaboratively planned and implemented community outreach events like Internet Safety Meetings, etc.
Developed an Inspired Leader Series for middle school-aged young women inspired to make changes in
the world

Curriculum Supervisor Internship

January 2013- June

2013

Completed needs assessment around the use of Visible Thinking with Environmental Literacy teachers
Developed a new lesson planning document to better meet the needs of Environmental Literacy teachers
Facilitated the Assessment Task Force to begin collecting evidence of assessing thinking and to eventually
develop guidelines to assess thinking, based on work done with Visible Thinking in the past
Assisted in guiding the work of the Curriculum Task Force towards curriculum maps that capture the ECS
experience for a student
Participated in and assisted with the facilitation of a collaborative professional development week around
the use of Visible Thinking, inquiry and choice in the Environmental Literacy classroom
Collaboratively developed a new evaluation tool and supervision system with the building principal,
evaluation committee, and home office administrators
Participated in finance committee meetings and facilitated staff meetings around the collaborative
budgeting process for the 2013-2014 school year

Classroom Teacher, Grade 4

August 2010 to January 2013
Developed Environmental Literacy (EL) Curriculum for Grade 4, integrating Social Studies,
Environmental Science and Writing to develop eco-literate students, with a focus on systems-thinking
Guided students in learning based on inquiry and project-based approaches
Focused on the implementation of place-based instruction integrating the use of Frick Park and the city of
Pittsburgh as contexts for learning
Focused on making thinking visible in the EL classroom
Partnered with community organizations to implement content-related authentic experiences for students
including Grow Pittsburgh, Carnegie Mellon University, Conservation Consultants, Inc., etc.
Worked collaboratively with grade-level, special education, and vertical teammates in planning,
instruction, and assessment
Piloted implementation of Reading and Writing Workshop Model in conjunction with University of
Pittsburgh Professor, Dr. Sarah Scott
Coordinated fourth grade after-school tutoring program, working with other grade-level coordinators
ECS Tutoring Coordinator and Lead Tutor, Grade 4
Pittsburgh, PA
Tutored students identified as at risk
September 2010-April 2011
Utilized PSSA and other qualifying data to identify areas for improvement
Designed and implemented lessons based on students needs
Monitored students progress for learning and growth over time
Managed the job responsibilities of fourth grade tutors to successfully implement the program
Explorations Summer Programs
Southborough, MA
Pre-Season Curriculum Advisor
January 2013 to Present
Guided new instructors to learn the critical aspects of curriculum writing including the used of essential
questions, objectives and assessments
Collaborated to help write and revise curriculum maps, lesson plans, materials, handouts, technology and
budget essentials

Curriculum Design at The Environmental Charter School at Frick Park

Pittsburgh, PA
Curriculum Writer
May 2011 to August 2011
Worked collaboratively with administrators and education professionals to create curriculum maps
Developed Poetry Literacy Curriculum including lesson plans, power point presentations, and all other
materials, grades 3-6
Abington Heights School District
Clarks Summit, PA
Classroom Teacher, Grade 4 at Clarks Summit Elementary
August 2009 to August
2010
Developed detailed lesson and unit plans around standards-based, district-wide curriculum
Consistently integrated use of Smart Board technology in the classroom
Piloted implementation of Everyday Mathematics Program in AHSD
Worked cooperatively with fourth grade teammates to develop and incorporate new Social Studies
Language Arts integrative curriculum
Collaboratively planned and taught with a full-time Special Education Teacher in the classroom to
effectively teach a fully-included Special Education student with severe physical handicaps and
accommodation needs
Tutored students after school to help improve literacy skills including: fluency, comprehension, and
writing
Central Bucks School District
Doylestown, PA
Student Teacher, Grade 4 at Groveland Elementary School
January to May 2009
Implemented classroom instruction, daily activities and management strategies
Planned and taught whole-class and small group lessons daily, eventually teaching the entire curriculum
full-time
Consistently used Airliner and presentation station, incorporating technology in the classroom
Developed a comprehensive unit plan on Pennsylvania History for Social Studies
Created and employed various assessment techniques, recording results and tracking student progress
Kids on Campus, Bucks County Community College
Newtown, PA
Instructor
June 2006 to August 2010
Cooperatively designed and implemented literacy based, week-long summer programs for children in PreK through First grades with another regular education instructor
EDUCATION
Gannon University
Master of Education Degree
Educational Leadership Program: Principal K-12
Educational Leadership Program: Supervisor of Curriculum K-12
Cumulative GPA: 4.0/4.0
The Pennsylvania State University
The Schreyer Honors College
2009
Bachelor of Science in Elementary and Kindergarten Education
Minor in Special Education
Cumulative GPA: 4.0/4.0
CERTIFICATIONS
Elementary Education (K-6); Instructional II
Principal Certification (K-12)
Supervisor of Curriculum Certification (K-12)
PROFESSIONAL PRESENTATIONS AND PUBLICATIONS

Erie, PA
December 2012
July 2013
July 2013
University Park, PA
May

Presenter, Project Zero Perspectives Conference: Think, Create, Innovate. Atlanta, GA. Cultivating Creativity in the
STEAM-Centered Classroom. May, 2015.
Presenter, ECS Conference: Committed to Rethinking Education. Pittsburgh, PA. Thinking Lab Content
Integration, Thinking, Assessment, Design. February, 2015.
Presenter, Three Rivers Educational Technology Conference. Pittsburgh, PA. Thinking Lab at ECS Deeper
Learning Track. November, 2014.
Franklin, S. & Serriere, S. (2009, Oct.). The status of elementary social studies in Pennsylvania. Paper presented at
the annual meeting of the Pennsylvania Council for the Social Studies (PCSS), Johnstown, PA.
Franklin, S. & Serriere, S. (2010, September). The status of elementary social studies in Pennsylvania. Paper
submitted for peer-reviewed publication to the Pennsylvania Council for the Social Studies Journal (PCSS).
HONORS AND ACHIEVEMENTS
Academic Excellence Award
May 2013
Awarded to one graduate student for outstanding achievement at Gannon University
Commencement, Elementary Education Student Marshal
May
2009
Awarded to one senior at the top of the graduating class within their major
Evan Pugh Scholar Award (Senior and Junior)
Spring 2009, Spring
2008
Presented annually to the students in the upper 0.5 percent of their graduating class
Presidents Sparks Award
Spring 2007
Presented annually to students with a cumulative GPA of 4.0 upon completion of 36 to 59 credits
Presidents Freshman Award
Spring 2006
Presented annually to freshman with a first semester GPA of 4.0
LEADERSHIP AND PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development
Member of both National and Local organizations to stay connected and current on best practices in
curriculum, instruction, and leadership
Subscribe to education publications like Education Weekly to continue to learn and grow as a
professional
Inaugural Green Schools Academy Program, Green Building Alliance
Collaborated with colleagues from various industries to consider how to consider sustainability to
improve education in Pittsburgh
Pennsylvania Association of Environmental Educators
Utilized materials and publications for broadening knowledge and awareness of environmental education
in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania Council for Social Studies
Attended annual conference, learned new approaches for teaching social studies in the elementary
classroom
Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society
Utilized continuing education opportunities to facilitate a love of learning