SARA ELIZABETH CROSTEN

17315 Oldtown Road S.E.

Oldtown, MD 21555
(Home) 301-478-5101 (Cell) 301-697-8753
saratwigg@gmail.com
EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND

May 2015 Master of Education- Educational Leadership

Frostburg State University
Administrator I/II
Frostburg State University, Frostburg, MD
Overall GPA: 4.0 Major GPA: 4.0
May 2011 Bachelor of Science Elementary Education
Frostburg State University
Science/ Middle School Specialization
Frostburg State University, Frostburg, MD
Overall GPA: 4.0 Major GPA: 4.0
May 2009 AAT & A.S. -Elementary Education
Summa Cum Laude Phi Theta Kappa
Allegany College of Maryland, Cumberland, MD
May 2007 High School Diploma
Maryland Scholastic Award Honors Certificate
Fort Hill High School, Cumberland, MD

CERTIFICATIONS

July 2015 Maryland Certification-Advanced Professional Certificate

Educator ID:21- 5903
Certification Areas
Elementary Education 1-6
Middle School: Science 4-9
Administrator I/II

TEACHING EXPERIENCE

2015-Present 6th & 7th Grade Science Teacher

Hancock Middle Senior High School
Washington County, MD
Developed tier two instruction strategies that are implemented weekly
Worked independently developing technology rich instruction for two grade levels of varying abilities
Assisted a first year science teacher in the middle school
th
2012-2015 6 Grade Magnet Science Teacher
Springfield Middle School
Washington County, MD
Teaching cross-curricular lessons to gifted and talented students
Conducting fieldtrips to enrich science concepts
Differentiating instruction to meet all ability levels and intelligences
2011-2012 7th Grade Science Teacher-Long Term Substitute
Warm Springs Middle School
Morgan County, WV
Established a pacing guide for the school based upon the WV 7th Grade Science CSO Curriculum
Taught diverse lessons to meet the needs of my heterogeneously mixed students
Collaborated with the 7th grade team to support at- risk adolescents
Spring 2011 Teacher Intern- 4th
(15 weeks) Cash Valley Elementary School Professional Development School
Allegany County, MD
developed and assessed a geometric math unit
 created and taught Maryland history social studies lessons
directed reading lessons with the Macmillan/McGraw-Hill Treasures reading series
Fall 2010 Teacher Intern- 6th, 7th,8th
(6 weeks) Frankfort Middle School- Professional Development School
Mineral County, WV
taught physics and chemistry with hands on labs
chaperoned an overnight trip to The Mountain Institute for outdoor learning
co-created and conducted a stream restoration as a service learning project
Spring 2010 Teacher Assistant 2nd
(3 weeks) West Side Elementary School
Allegany County, MD
co-created and team taught an integrated unit on Simple Machines & Forces
designed and distributed home newsletter

SCHOOL ACTIVITIES

2015-present School Improvement Team of Hancock Middle Senior High School

Collaborated with collogues to develop our school improvement plan
Learned the various programs and processes occurring in the school and how they are connected

2015-present STEM PLC of Hancock Middle Senior High School

Collaborated to develop a stronger understanding of STEM practices within our school
Conducted a K-12 community STEM Family Night

2015-present Attendance Committee of Hancock Middle Senior High School

Developed problem solving strategies for our schools attendance and tardy problems

2015-present Emergency Committee of Hancock Middle Senior High School

Collaborated to provide a safe school environment

2015-present Science PLC of Hancock Middle Senior High School

Established vertical planning with middle and high school teachers

2015-2016 iTeam of Hancock Middle Senior High School

Developed problem solving strategies for 1:1 technology implementation
Helped develop implementation techniques for 1:1 iPad distribution

2015-2016 WCPS Secondary Task Force

Developed county wide science transfer goals
Developed a geology based cornerstone task for the county
Lead several professional development sessions on UBD

2014-2015 STEM Campus

Spent an entire school year creating a comprehensive and rigorous enrichment program that related to
various curriculums via STEM education for children in grades two through twelve

2014-2015 School Improvement Team of Springfield Middle School

Collaborated with collogues to develop our school improvement plan
Assisted the principal with the development of our school learning objective
Learned the various programs and processes occurring in the school and how they are connected

2014-2015 Targeted Intervention and Enrichment Committee of Springfield Middle School

Developed schedules for students to receive target interventions and enrichment
Developed literacy enrichment activities
Planed and helped coordinate communications about programs being offered
2014-2015 Intervention Focused Improvement Process Team of Springfield Middle School
Collaborated with reading specialist, lead teachers, the special education case manager, and the
principal to establish innovative plans to help the most struggling learners achieve more in school

2012- 2015 Magnet Committee of Springfield Middle School

Developed informational newsletters for parents
Coordinated guest speaker opportunities for students
Participated in Springfield Middle Schools STEM Family Night

2012-2015 Science Department of Springfield Middle School

Implemented a school science fair
Collaborated with teachers across various grades and disciplines of science
Receive Flinn Scientific Safety Training

2011-2012 Emergency Procedures Group of Warm Springs Middle School

Co-directed a mock evacuation to Berkeley Springs High
Co-facilitated multiple fire drills at the command post

RELATED EXPERIENCE

Winters Science Fair Judge

2010-2011 Frankfort Middle School, Short Gap, WV
investigated students knowledge of scientific concepts and the experimentation process
Summers Vacation Bible School Teacher
2004-2013 Oldtown United Methodist Church, Oldtown, MD
taught pre-school and primary classes and incorporated many kinesthetic activities
Winter 2009 Tutor -1st
Frostburg Library, Frostburg, MD
strengthened phonics skills and letter making abilities of one child over three weeks
Fall 2008 - After-School Education Volunteer 1st-3rd
Spring 2009 Northeast Elementary School After-School Program, Cumberland, MD
administered dolch word list, conducted running records, and taught mini lessons
Fall 2007- Library Volunteer 2nd
Spring 2009 Northeast Elementary School, Cumberland, MD
helped students select books to read, read to students, assisted with book fairs during school

HONORS & AWARDS

2011 Maryland State Department of Education Teacher of Promise

2009-2010 Deans List Award
2010 Educational Testing Services Recognition of Excellence
2009 Pre-Professional Award in Science from Allegany College of Maryland
2009 Maryland Association of Teacher Educators Distinguished Teacher Candidate Award-Allegany College of MD

ACTIVITIES

2004-2016 Olivers Grove United Methodist Church

Young Adults Group
Sunday School
Local Lay Speaker
Vice-Chair of Worship Committee
Education Committee
Choir
Staff Parish Relations Committee
2009-2010 Autism Speaks: Cumberland Tri-State Annual Autism Walk
The Givers Team Captain

2009 Frostburgs Storybook Holiday

Elf Olympics dressed as an elf and competed in several festive physical competitions
Wandering Elf- skipped around Main Street directing children to various activities

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Spring 2017 Washington Countys SMART Amp Course

Fall 2016 Washington Countys Standards Based Grading PLC
Summer 2016 Wonders of the Wetlands Workshop
Summer 2016 NASAs Live from the Sun Workshop
Summer 2016 Washington Countys Curriculum Shifts in Middle School Science due to NGSS
Summer 2016 Hancock Middle Senior High School Tech PLC
Spring 2016 Hancock Middle Senior High School Book Study on UBD
2014-2015 Springfield Middle School Differentiated Instruction Cohort I
November 2014 National Association for Gifted Children Conference
Fall 2014 Safe School Training
Summer 2014 Project Learning Tree, Project Wet, Project Wild, Project Aquatic Wild Workshops
Fall 2013 AVID WICOR Weekend
Spring 2013 Gifted Learner I
Summer 2013 Gifted Learner II
2012-2013 Washington County New Teachers Seminars
Spring 2013 AirWatch Training
Fall 2012-2013 Maryland Educators of Gifted Students Conference
2011-2012 Morgan County New Teachers Academy
Summer 2011 Chesapeake Bay Foundation Week Long Watershed Training Course
Spring 2011 Maryland Teachers of Promise Institute and Mentor Program
Fall 2010 ActivLearning: An Inrtoduction to ActivInspire (Studio)
Fall 2010 ActivLearning: Learner Response Systems
Summer 2010 Zanner-Bloser Handwriting Course