Kimberly Vellenga
Inglewood
Summary
Dynamic educator and advocate with a proven track record at Da Vinci Connect, excelling in creative lesson planning and compassionate communication. Founded a non-profit tutoring center, achieving significant academic improvements for inner-city students. Skilled in program administration and political advocacy, fostering impactful educational experiences and community engagement.
Overview
27
27
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Substitute Teacher
Da Vinci Connect
08.2023 - Current
- Worked in several classrooms as a substitute teacher. I worked in grades K-8 as needed substituting as the main teacher for the class.
- Formerly Da Vince Innovation Academy
- Executing the teacher’s academic plan for the day.
- Maintaining classroom discipline and managing the flow of the lessons throughout the day.
- Showed flexibility by working in several different classrooms as needed
Political Advocate
World Vision
02.2023 - Current
- Spoke with Senatorial and Representative staffers, in person and via zoom, concerning USAID funding and the excellent work World Vision is doing in the area of humanitarian aid.
- Contacted and scheduled meetings with Representative Maxine Waters staffer to meet via Zoom
- Attended World Vision Summit in DC with other Advocates, meeting together as a group to strategize meeting content.
- Met, in person, with Senatorial and Representative staffers on The Hill to discuss reinstating USAID as well as promoting World Vision as the NGO of choice.
Program Director
Da Vinci Odyssey of the Mind
08.2022 - Current
- In charge of leading academic group associated with the Odyssey of the Mind program.
- Coordinating and administering program of 5-6 teams of students with 6-7 team members per team.
- Travel coordinator for 20-30 people for Odyssey of the Mind World Finals
- Head organizer for fundraising for World Finals Expenses
Main Educator
Da Vinci Connect
08.2015 - Current
- In charge of the education of my children, K-8 while they attend Da Vinci Connect. As the main teacher, I plan, execute and collaborate with other parents (in co-ops) the topics and lesson for my children.
- Formerly Da Vince Innovation Academy
- Research and plan yearly goals, activities and curriculum.
- Collaborate with schoolteachers when needs arise.
- Head of Da Vinci Connect’s Odyssey of the Mind Program/Co-Op
Founder/President/Tutor
Learning Inglewood Style (LIST)
09.2009 - 06.2014
- Founded a low-cost, non-profit tutoring center for the inner city students I was teaching after observing the need for help after school hours since there were no programs available in our area.
- Founded a low-cost, non-profit tutoring center for the inner city students.
- During the five years we were open, we completed 7500 tutoring sessions and saw students improve academically as well as in their social behavior.
- Developed organization from the ground up including the formation of the incorporation, obtaining non-profit status, initial and continuing fundraising as well as initial advertising in the community of services available.
- Provided after school tutoring as well as Saturday art classes, summer science classes and summer tutoring classes.
- Taught two Autistic students to read when all attempts by their teachers had failed.
- Managed volunteer time and involvement.
- Concluded administrative tasks involved with running a non-profit including creating thank you letters/tax receipts for donors, filing taxes both state and federal as well as tasks to maintain non-profit status.
Elementary Teacher (K-6)
Inglewood Unified School District
11.1998 - 06.2007
- Hired as a full-time teacher, instructing all academic subject areas to classrooms of up to 20 kinder, 1st and 2nd grade students.
- Earned high marks for the quality and creativity of classroom teaching, lesson plans and instructional materials used in teaching diverse subjects (e.g., language arts, mathematics, science, social studies and history).
- Mentor teacher for student teachers.
- Taught general education students as well as individuals with learning challenges and special needs within a mainstreamed, inclusive classroom.
- Established positive relationships with students, parents, fellow teachers and school administrators/staff.
- Planned and instructed each subject using a wide variety of teaching aids, motivational and implementation strategies to engage students in active learning.
- Incorporated learning modality principles into classroom and individual instruction.
- Implemented technological approaches to subject material.
- Quickly became a 'first-to-call' resource in substitute teaching role, typically working four days per week.
- Personally requested by many full-time teachers to take over their classrooms during absences.
Education
California Teacher Certification - Grades K-8
Pepperdine University
Los Angeles, CA01.2023
MA - Education
Pepperdine University
Los Angeles, CA01.2001
Professional Clear Teaching Credential -
Pepperdine University
Los Angeles, CA01.2001
BA - History and Political Science
Seattle Pacific University
Seattle, WA01.1997
Skills
- Creative lesson planning
- Curriculum design
- Program administration
- Compassionate communication
- Fundraising expertise
- Experiential learning
- Program development
- Political advocacy
Certification
Certified Elementary School Teacher, K-6
Timeline
Substitute Teacher
Da Vinci Connect
08.2023 - Current
Political Advocate
World Vision
02.2023 - Current
Program Director
Da Vinci Odyssey of the Mind
08.2022 - Current
Main Educator
Da Vinci Connect
08.2015 - Current
Founder/President/Tutor
Learning Inglewood Style (LIST)
09.2009 - 06.2014
Elementary Teacher (K-6)
Inglewood Unified School District
11.1998 - 06.2007
California Teacher Certification - Grades K-8
Pepperdine University
MA - Education
Pepperdine University
Professional Clear Teaching Credential -
Pepperdine University
BA - History and Political Science
Seattle Pacific University