Kara Mieszanek

EDUCATIONAL LEADER

Elmhurst, IL
MISSION

To serve as an educational leader in an

mieszanek13@gmail.com
environment that values innovation,

promotes courageous leadership,

supports a full educational experience, https://kmieszanek.weebly.com/

and champions equity.

262.287.8826
To provide students with an exceptional

learning experience and partner with a

community to foster a trusting @karamieszanek

relationship with their school district.

EDUCATION SKILLS IMPACT

“From curriculum and instruction, to personnel management

Distributed Leadership
Doctorate in Educational Leadership
and board governance, Dr. Mieszanek

has expanded her leadership to see beyond the day-to-day

Professional Learning Communities
National Louis University, 2020

towards a focus on long-term

Vision Implementation strategic planning. She is an advocate for diversity,

inclusion, belonging, and equity, which are

Masters in Educational Leadership
Multi-tiered Systems of Support central to her core values.” -Dr. T. Bresnahan

Concordia University, 2013

Collective Efficacy Dr. Mieszanek has the leadership qualities of determination,

passion, vision, and drive which are qualities needed to

Bachelors in Science Capacity Building
lead in today's schools and districts." -Ms. L. Travis

Illinois State University, 2007

Curriculum & Instruction

"Her participatory leadership style values the sharing of

multiple perspectives while encouraging team-oriented

Type 75 | Superintendent Authentic Relationships
decisions that promote organization-wide accountability."

Type 10 | Special -Mr. D. Ontiveros

EXPERIENCE

LEADERSHIP | DIRECTOR OF TEACHING & LEARNING

Berkeley SD 87
Instituted and continue to facilitate ongoing professional development of Professional Learning Communities across the district along
Berkeley, IL
with providing differentiated coaching and supports at each of our buildings
2021-Present
Facilitate and lead all forms of local and state assessments along with data review and programatic decision-making based on the

results which also translates into our work around Multi-tiered Systems of Support

Collaboratively work with district and building teams to further develop our curricular programming resulting in increased academic

achievement by our students

Consistently model distributed leadership practices which empowers staff at all levels to share in their strengths and contribute to the

larger team

Facilitate opportunities to further build the capacity of the building and leadership teams through committee work and district-level

PLCs

Provide ongoing, embedded professional development to staff based on current social emotional and academic data to encourage

continuous growth and reflection of our practices

Presented a number of initiatives at the district level and develop long term plans to foster full implementation with embedded tools

to measure progress toward goal

Oversee the recently implemented math program in our district and determine needs for continued professional development

opportunities

Currently leading the implementation of an ELA pilot program in our K-8 classrooms which has required ongoing professional

development around the program, skillful facilitation of instructional review, and data collection

Orchestrated the creation of our hybrid and remote learning scheduling during the pandemic
 "What you do has far greater impact than
what you say." - STEPHEN COVEY

LEADERSHIP | PRINCIPAL Berkeley SD 87

Berkeley, IL
Embedded and fostered the growth and development of Professional Learning Communities from its infancy to a well-established
2018-2021
practice

Completed a three year research study with my building level staff regarding establishing and developing a collaborative culture

through trust

Partnered with ELLevation, a tool designed specifically to support ELs, in creating videos of their strategies being utilized in our

classrooms along with interviewing with them to share in our success with our multilingual learners

Implemented local and state assessments along with data review and building level decision-making based on the results

Developed a positive, courageous, brave culture of educational leaders through capacity building which was designed from year long

embedded building-level professional development around culture

Collaboratively planned with district and grade level teams to successfully implement a new math program which continually has

resulted in growth in our students' annual math scores

Created a strategic process over the course of two years to further develop our understanding around teaching multilingual learners

that yielded an ACCESS exit rate that tripled our previous years'

Built our capacity and understanding around restorative practices and effective behavior management fostered through teacher-

student relationship building

Participated and presented in local organizations regarding effective leadership practices

Implemented two-way communication methods with families that have allowed for fluid communication between home and school

Revamped our building level problem solving team to include both a focus on academic and social emotional needs with a more fluid

system to record and document progress

Took the lead of using various technology tools including: Class Dojo, Twitter, Facebook, Flocabulary, and ELLevation which became

adopting across other schools within the district

Instituted and facilitated a weekly meeting with fellow leadership colleagues to ensure consistency and support of system

implementation across the district

LEADERSHIP | ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL Berkeley SD 87

Berkeley, IL
Supported the implementation and development of PBS - leading professional development and facilitating meetings

2014-2018
Worked in collaboration with the building principal to ensure alignment of the vision across all systems

Co-facilitated instructional leadership meetings to triangulate data and determine appropriate school improvement goals

Developed all testing schedules in partnership with teachers to execute effective and efficient testing environments

Oversaw our after school programming and facilitated the implementation of it within the building

Worked with students displaying difficulty with management by building relationships and working with teachers to develop supportive

plans tailored to student needs

TEACHING | PHYSICAL EDUCATION TEACHER, DRIVERS Antioch CCSD 34

Antioch, IL
EDUCATION TEACHER, MATH SUPPORT INTERVENTIONIST, PBIS 2007- 2014

INTERNAL COACH
Antioch
Served as the content area leader and facilitated both grade level and district level meetings

Taught in elementary to high school settings providing me with a perspective of the K-12 educational experience Community High

Fully developed a content-based curriculum for grades 2nd-5th aligned in the areas of health, physical education, and social- School Dist 117

emotional standards Antioch, IL

Served in the role of PBIS Coach leading the building and district in PBIS implementation, professional development, and data 2007- 2014

analysis

Developed lasting relationships with students, staff, and families within the community that have continued on to this day
Warren Township
PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS | MEMBER High School

ASCD Dist 121

Midwest Principals' Center Antioch, IL

Illinois Association of Principals
2007- 2008

"DARING LEADERSHIP IS ULTIMATELY ABOUT SERVING OTHER PEOPLE, NOT OURSELVES. THAT'S WHY WE CHOOSE COURAGE." - BRENE BROWN