Laura Hurwitz
Orleans
Summary
Compassionate educator with thirty years of experience. Dedicated to equity and inclusion and the emotional well being and academic growth of all students and staff. Skilled at inter-personal communication and possesses mediation and leadership skills with staff, families and community members from diverse socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds.
Professional leader with strong record of driving organizational success and fostering team collaboration. Adept at strategic planning, project management, and policy development. Known for flexibility in dynamic environments and results-driven mindset. Strong communication, problem-solving, and leadership skills that ensure consistent achievement of goals.
Overview
23
23
years of professional experience
Work History
Deputy Director
Hoopa Tribal Education Department
09.2022 - Current
- Facilitated training programs to enhance staff capabilities and promote professional development.
- Improved coordination and communications across organization to increase operational efficiency.
- Optimized team productivity by providing ongoing training and support for staff members.
- Enhanced communication within the organization through regular interdepartmental meetings and updates.
- Spearheaded initiatives aimed at improving employee satisfaction, engagement, and retention rates.
- Cultivated strong relationships with external partners to facilitate successful collaborations on joint projects.
- Fostered a positive work environment by promoting collaboration, transparency, and open communication among team members.
Education Coordinator
Yurok Tribe
09.2018 - 09.2022
- Helped supervise teaching staff as well as site supervisors and family service coordinators
- Mentor to teaching staff/ Coach
- Developed a regular weekly collaboration space for all teaching staff to promote team building and wellness during the pandemic
- Fostered relationships in multiple school districts with administration, Office of Education, Regional Center and Private contractors to advocate for disability services.
- Spearheaded training and professional development for teachers as well as site supervisors and family service coordinators, based on data as well as staff passions and interests.
- Personally participated in year long reflective practice cohort as well as finding free mental health services and building an internal reflective community of practice to supervisors, family service coordinators and Head Start manager
- Developed positive behavior supports with site supervisors, teachers and families on behalf of students with challenging behaviors.
- Managed data and assessment systems
- Spearheaded gardens at all sites and provided starts and training on outdoor education
Head Start Teacher
Yurok Tribe
09.2016 - 09.2018
- Created a positive classroom environment where all children felt valued and belonging
- Promoting early childhood literacy to students and families and fostering a love of reading
- Identified gap in special education services and worked to build bridges with KTJUSD and HCOE
- Effectively supervised long and short term staff in the classroom
- Implemented Second Step and Creative Curriculum to fidelity
- Built and maintained edible play yard and school garden
Community Organizer
Amavay/ Orleans Food Collective
08.2012 - 08.2016
- Organized with at risk teens to prepare and sell organic lunches weekly, hosted community farmers markets and flea markets, dug and maintained community garden, wheel whacked, brushed and oversee community park and maintain trash and recycling
- Planned and managed community meetings, public forums and outreach events including a community cobb oven building project, canning workshops and seed exchanges
- Planned and participated in a wide variety of community fundraising efforts for different community groups
- Helped raise awareness about food insecurity and food justice
Pre-school teacher / Founder
Siskiyou County First Five
09.2002 - 06.2008
- Founded pre-school in rural area in response to community need
- Secured grant funding as well as reported on grants
- Created classroom curriculum
- Made program available for free to all students
- Worked with families and students with disabilities to transition and support children in mainstream kindergarten classroom (LRE)
Education
M.A. - Environment and Community
Humboldt State University
Arcata, CA05.2017
B.A. - Human Development
Pacific Oaks University
Oakland, CA08.2010
Skills
- Building Trauma Informed Systems
- Communication and Relationship Building
- Reflective Supervision
- Strength Based Approach
- Organizational development
- Program oversight
- Staff development
- Employee relations
- Crisis management
- Negotiation
- Meeting facilitation
- Leadership and people development
- Approachable leader
- Relationship and team building
- Analytical and critical thinker
- Community outreach
- MIssion and vision
Timeline
Deputy Director
Hoopa Tribal Education Department
09.2022 - Current
Education Coordinator
Yurok Tribe
09.2018 - 09.2022
Head Start Teacher
Yurok Tribe
09.2016 - 09.2018
Community Organizer
Amavay/ Orleans Food Collective
08.2012 - 08.2016
Pre-school teacher / Founder
Siskiyou County First Five
09.2002 - 06.2008
B.A. - Human Development
Pacific Oaks University
M.A. - Environment and Community
Humboldt State University
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