Melissa Townsend2012 Birch Lane

Clayton, North Carolina 27520(919) 464-8594

townsendm07@gmail.com

Dear Sir or Madam:

It is with great interest that I am applying for an teaching position. I taught last year as the middle and high school Exceptional Children’s Teacher, Lead EC teacher, and middle school math teacher at Harnett County’s STAR Academy. Previously, I worked as an Exceptional Children’s Teacher at Harnett Central Middle School where I served as the school’s SED Teacher for five years. During that time, I had the pleasure to serve students with a wide range of disabilities and emotional/behavioral needs in grades six through eight.

I graduated from East Carolina University summa cum laude in July of 2009 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Special Education, General Curriculum, with a concentration and reading. I hold a current North Carolina Teaching License in the areas of Middle Grades Mathematics, Middle Grades Science, Middle Grades Social Studies, Middle Grades English Language Arts, K-12 Special Education (General Curriculum), K-6 Elementary Education, and K-12 Reading Specialist.

During my years teaching for Harnett County Schools, I have pursued increased content area knowledge in all four core content areas through professional development. I have also been trained in and taught the Language! and TransMath research-based intervention programs. I am trained in both Reading Foundations and Math Foundations as well. Additionally, I have a strong grasp of CECAS and am literate in the use of PowerSchool.

As a teacher, I feel it is my responsibility to ensure the learning of all students by first and foremost providing an emotionally and physically safe learning environment. I devote myself to implementing rigorous lessons using Universal Design for Learning principles to present information in a variety of ways to address learning styles and deficits. I also offer multiple means of expression for students to demonstrate learning, and I stimulate interest with multiple means of engagement. In addition, I develop tiered units and lessons that incorporate technology to help all students gain full access to content. Frequently used strategies also include heterogeneous groupings, peer tutoring, and lessons that integrate SIOP principles. As an educator, it is my goal to help students feel comfortable in their classroom environment, take ownership of their learning and achieve their personal goals.

I feel that my training and experiences have prepared me to teach in a wide variety of general and special education settings across grade levels and content areas. I have attached my resume and would welcome the opportunity to meet with you to further discuss why I believe I would be a great addition to the community. I invite you to contact me at (919) 464-8594 or townsendm07@gmail.com, at your earliest convenience. Thank you for your consideration!

Sincerely,

Melissa Townsend