SANDRA 

215 .8 72 .05 00

sderst inedesai@gmail.com

DERSTINE-DESAI 4 Tem ple Terrace West Rox bu ry MA 021 3 2

SUMMARY

Effective, innovative educator with 15+ years of experience in secondary humanities education and higher
education.  Strong expertise in curriculum design and implementation, technology integration, and
interdisciplinary collaboration.  Passionate about creating authentic, student-centered learning experiences
with a focus on civic action.

SKILLS & STRENGTHS

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

• Adapting history curriculum to include UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS BOSTON       

essential questions relevant to students, Associate Lecturer & Practicum Supervisor / 2014-present

rigorous primary sources, and more

diverse voices and stories
• Taught 2 graduate courses: New Literacies and Emerging
Technologies Across the Content Areas, which explored new
• Integrating reading, writing, and thinking
literacy demands, challenges, and opportunities for
skills into the study of history

educators and learners in the 21st century classroom, and

• Creating a student-centered, Assessment in Teaching, which focused on the current trends
collaborative learning environment
and climate of assessment, collection, management, and
analysis of student learning data, and development of
• Thinking in an innovative way about
authentic, equitable, and outcomes-oriented assessment
equitable assessment and grading
practices across all content areas

practices, project-based learning, and

the use of technology in the classroom
 • Advised ELA and History graduate student teachers in the
Teach Next Year program, a year-long residency program in
the Boston Public Schools; prepared monthly seminars on
E D U C AT I O N & C E R T I F I C AT I O N S

topics such as lesson planning, instruction, academic

language, best practices, and assessment; collaborated with
Massachusetts Teacher Certifications 
mentor teachers and residents to set and revise goals;
History / Professional 5-12

completed formal observations and oversaw licensure

ELA / Preliminary 8-12

requirements, including the DESE Candidate Assessment of

Moderate Disabilities / Expected

Performance cycle and completion of an educator portfolio


SEI Endorsement 

University of Massachusetts, Graduate

College of Education  FACING HISTORY AND OURSELVES
Masters of Education / with distinction
Online Course Facilitator / 2019-present

2006

• Facilitated multiple sessions of A New Approach to Teaching

Syracuse University, College of Arts and To Kill a Mockingbird, an online course which incorporates
Sciences & The Maxwell School civic education, ethical reflection and historical context into
Bachelor of the Arts in Policy Studies a literary exploration of the novel; managed discussion
and Political Science / cum laude
boards, prepared live learning sessions, cultivated and
2002
shared resources, and advised teachers in the creation of
units for graduate credit

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AWARDS & HONORS
TECHBOSTON ACADEMY / BOSTON PUBLIC SCHOOL
Selected as District Instructional
Resource Specialist to design high-
quality curriculum and instructional
materials for history teachers across the
district / 2012-2014

Selected to facilitate district-wide
training on writing in the history
classroom and a summer graduate
seminar at Simmons College on history
instruction and curriculum
development / 2012-2013
 interdisciplinary curriculum; assisted department members
Selected as one of two classrooms for
President Obama’s visit to TechBoston
Academy / 2011

Selected as a faculty advisor for a two-
year US State Department funded
exchange program with students from
two schools in Massachusetts and two
schools in Rwanda / 2008
 prepare students for the SAT, including supplemental
Selected to serve as the Chair of the
Instruction Committee for our school’s
NEASC accreditation cycle / 2007
Educator / 2005 – 2014
• Taught US History I and II, World History II, and Advanced
Placement US Government and Politics to diverse student
groups in an urban pilot school focused on technology

• As History Department Coordinator, directed ongoing
educational professional development for the history team,
collaborated with administration to set goals for the
department, disseminated information about district-required
assessments, initiatives, and professional development,
worked closely with the English department to encourage
with development of goals and action plans for two-year
evaluation cycles, maintained a current inventory of all
textbooks and materials (2012-2014)

• As Advanced Placement Coordinator, arranged summer
trainings for teachers, recruited students for AP classes, and
directed national exam logistics (2007-2014)

• As SAT Coordinator, expanded school-wide opportunities to
classroom curriculum and additional practice exam
opportunities  (2007-2009)

• Served as Supervising Practitioner for DESE CAP Student
Teacher Candidates from the University of Massachusetts
Boston and Northeastern University for 4+ years

• Served as the Debate Team Coach, Senior Class advisor,
and advisor for the Poetry Club and “Not In Our School”
Club