Ashley Szar
Summary
Dedicated education professional with a strong desire to contribute to a school's strategic vision and foster a culture of academic achievement, faculty and student well-being, and positive relationships among all stakeholders. Seeking a principal or assistant principal position to leverage experience and expertise in driving positive change and creating an environment conducive to student success. Committed to promoting collaboration, implementing innovative educational practices, and ensuring overall growth and development of students and staff.
Overview
24
24
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
DAA High School Assistant Principal
Dubai American Academy
08.2022 - Current
- Through strategic leadership, exceptional planning, and effective communication, creates and refines structures and systems to maximize resource efficiency and promote student, division, and school success.
- Supervises and evaluates teaching and support staff through instructional leadership and professional development.
- Supports hiring, training, and disciplinary action in compliance with legal guidelines and requirements.
- Plans and leads high school professional development sessions, to include staff induction weeks, divisional professional development sessions; coordinates external IB and AP training.
- High school curriculum lead and K-12 Curriculum Council representative; responsible for the development and review of high school curriculum, to include vertical alignment between divisions.
- Through curriculum development and pedagogical leadership, ensures that DAA High School maintains outstanding results on external assessments, including IB, AP, and MAP assessments.
- Developed Literacy Across the Curriculum initiative in response to KHDA reading literacy focus.
- GEMS Review Member - Egypt and Abu Dhabi; classroom observations and documentation review supported host school development and enhanced personal evaluation and leadership practices
- Supports KHDA inspection preparation as the K-12 SEF lead for curriculum and science
- Continually seeks process improvement in response to stakeholder needs and feedback; led the development of the PowerSchool Graduation Credit Tracker, refined the new student onboarding process, established grade-level specific Counselor-Parent-Student Conferences.
- Directed analysis of MAP, CAT4, and NGRT data to promote teacher awareness of class and individual student needs and refinement of written and taught curriculum
- Effectively communicates with all stakeholders; authors the High School SPOTS Newsletter and weekly staff updates; presents Parent Coffee Mornings and Course Selection sessions.
- Oversaw schedule management and protocols for orientation, registration, and related activities.
- Built productive relationships with parents of students facing difficult situations at school or at home.
- Monitored and evaluated educational programs to maintain high-quality performance objectives and standards.
Director of High School Academic Pathways
Dubai American Academy
08.2021 - 07.2022
- Responsible for the development of pathways to graduation to meet the needs of Dubai American Academy's increasingly diverse learners.
- Led the expansion of the AP Program and high school course offerings.
- Program Coordinator for GEMS Network - Arizona State University Universal Learner Courses Program; led four course advisors and 26 students through their first college courses; communicated details of the pilot program and benefits of the Arizona State University partnership to GEMS Network schools.
- Led the development of the Artificial Intelligence and Emerging Technologies school-based syllabus expression of interest.
- Liaised with local and international universities to provide enrichment opportunities for students.
Head of High School Science, IB Biology Teacher, HS Science Teacher
Dubai American Academy
08.2017 - 07.2021
- Led and collaborated with a team of 10 teachers in support of school, division, and department objectives.
- Completed a strategic NGSS gap-analysis to better prepare 9th and 10th grade students for IB or US high school pathways by realigning content to address NGSS and MAP Learning Continuum objectives.
- Collaborated with 8th Grade Science teachers to improve vertical alignment of NGSS science and engineering practices to prepare students to meet the expectations of high school science.
- Analyzed MAP and CAT4 data to identify areas for individual student growth and curriculum revision resulting in improved test scores.
- Supported division objectives as a member of the High School Assessment Committee, High School Literacy Committee, and Council of International Schools Re-accreditation Committees.
Teacher, 6th and 7th Grade Science
Spring Branch Middle School
08.2015 - 07.2017
- Led 6th Grade Science team in lesson planning, pacing, and student-centered materials preparation; efforts led to Spring Branch Middle School 6th graders earning the district's highest scores on common assessments.
- Developed curriculum and delivered instruction based on data analysis and research.
- Mentored student teacher in planning, instruction, and classroom management.
Teacher, 9th Grade Honors Biology
Early College Leadership Academy
08.2014 - 06.2015
- Facilitated a 100% pass rate on Biology STAAR End of Course with 12% of students achieving Level III Advanced (highest level).
- Differentiated instruction through the development of a 'Geek Squad' for advanced students and tailored small-group instruction for students performing below grade-level.
- Served on Districtwide Educational Improvement Council member and Calendar Committee.
- Recognized as Campus Exceptional Teacher.
Operations Manager
E-Freight International
09.2008 - 12.2011
- Responsible for the financial control of an international fixed- and rotary-wing fleet of 50 aircraft.
- Successfully renegotiated an aircraft-handling contract to secure continued revenue of $6.3 million annually.
- Methodically researched, revised, and secured payment for $37 million in contested invoices.
Protocol Officer/Public Relations Officer
United States Air Force
03.2002 - 12.2003
- Selected from over 600 candidates to manage all aspects of military and civilian protocol on an installation comprised of 6,100 personnel.
- Communicated regularly with general officers, internal, and external executive stakeholders.
- Lead officer for all matters relating to protocol, including high-priority visits, ceremonies, and official correspondence with US Congressional delegations.
Logistics Officer/Flight Commander
United States Air Force
10.2000 - 03.2002
- Managed the daily operations and training of 69 military and civilian personnel to ensure combat readiness.
- Oversaw the logistical support of 68 F-16 and A-10 aircraft and 39 base organizations.
- Supervised the budget, delivery, inspection, storage, and inventory of a $193 million, 45,000 line-item supply account through report monitoring and warehouse management; ensured asset availability/accountability.
- Recognized with two-time award of Company Grade Officer of the Quarter, ranked #1 of 19 officers.
Education
Master of Arts in Teaching - Single Subject Science
University of Southern California
06.2014
Master of Science in Management - undefined
University of Maryland University College
12.2005
Bachelor of Science in Biology - undefined
University of Texas at San Antonio
08.2000
Skills
Organizational Leadership
Instructional Leadership
Program Development and Coordination
Curriculum Planning and Development
Performance Evaluations
Student and Parent Relations
Critical Thinking and Judgment
Master Class Schedule
Public Speaking
Certification
- Texas Teaching Certificate Science, Grades 4 - 8
- Texas Teaching Certificate Life Science, Grades 7 - 12
- Texas Teaching Certificate General Science, Grades 7 - 12
- IBDP Workshop - Biology - Category 1
- IBDP Workshop - Biology - Category 3
- IBDP Workshop - Leading the Learning - DP - Category 2
- IBDP Workshop - Planning for Program Evaluation - DP - Category 3
- Gifted and Talented Trained
- Advanced Placement Trained
- GEMS Train the Trainer Workshop
- Adaptive School Foundation Seminar
- GEMS Reviewer Training
- NESA 2024 Learning Futures Summit
- Universal Design for Learning Workshop
Timeline
DAA High School Assistant Principal
Dubai American Academy
08.2022 - Current
Director of High School Academic Pathways
Dubai American Academy
08.2021 - 07.2022
Head of High School Science, IB Biology Teacher, HS Science Teacher
Dubai American Academy
08.2017 - 07.2021
Teacher, 6th and 7th Grade Science
Spring Branch Middle School
08.2015 - 07.2017
Teacher, 9th Grade Honors Biology
Early College Leadership Academy
08.2014 - 06.2015
Operations Manager
E-Freight International
09.2008 - 12.2011
Protocol Officer/Public Relations Officer
United States Air Force
03.2002 - 12.2003
Logistics Officer/Flight Commander
United States Air Force
10.2000 - 03.2002
Master of Science in Management - undefined
University of Maryland University College
Bachelor of Science in Biology - undefined
University of Texas at San Antonio
- Texas Teaching Certificate Science, Grades 4 - 8
- Texas Teaching Certificate Life Science, Grades 7 - 12
- Texas Teaching Certificate General Science, Grades 7 - 12
- IBDP Workshop - Biology - Category 1
- IBDP Workshop - Biology - Category 3
- IBDP Workshop - Leading the Learning - DP - Category 2
- IBDP Workshop - Planning for Program Evaluation - DP - Category 3
- Gifted and Talented Trained
- Advanced Placement Trained
- GEMS Train the Trainer Workshop
- Adaptive School Foundation Seminar
- GEMS Reviewer Training
- NESA 2024 Learning Futures Summit
- Universal Design for Learning Workshop
Master of Arts in Teaching - Single Subject Science
University of Southern California
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