Melissa R. Curtis
Summertown
Summary
Compassionate, creative and effective Teacher with valuable experience learned during student teaching, field experience, classroom management, trauma informed classrooms, behavior management skills, professional development and project planning. Equipped with background in different roles within the education environments. Student-centered instructor, academic facilitator and motivational coach. Competent at performing independently or as member of teaching team. Well-versed in classroom and online technologies. As well as knowledge of students' gain knowledge can be impacted by many variables and how action research is a vital part of being a successful educator.
Overview
8
8
years of professional experience
Work History
Crisis Specialist
Centerstone
Nashville, Tennessee
12.2024 - Current
- Within the 988 chat and text team, I work to promote the safety and to support the visitors that reach out to 988 in a judgement free and supportive manner. Communicate effectively with others in a professional manner, maintain standards that are outlined in our policy and procedures, and work with police departments as needed for safety of the visitors.
Student Teacher
Student Teaching
Ethridge, TN
08.2025 - 12.2026
- Designed and implemented lesson plans aligned with curriculum standards.
- Facilitated classroom discussions to enhance student engagement and comprehension.
- Assessed student performance and provided constructive feedback for improvement.
- Collaborated with mentor teachers to refine instructional strategies and classroom management techniques.
- Cultivated positive relationships with administration, teaching staff, and students.
- Supported diverse learners with differentiated instruction strategies tailored to individual needs and abilities.
- Assisted in administering tests and other assessments to evaluate student progress.
- Monitored classrooms for safety and good behavior, offering students positive reinforcement to maintain discipline.
Hospital Liaison
Centerstone
Columbia, Tennessee
06.2023 - 11.2024
- Assist patients with discharge process, build relationships within the community, coordinate between assigned hospital and Centerstone.
Intervention Specialist
Youth Villages
Columbia, Tennessee
04.2022 - 02.2023
- Work with at risk youth, their family, school system, and/or Department of Children services to help prevent elevated need of care and out of home placement. Collaborate care with providers, provide advocacy in the legal system and school system. Teach coping and calming skills, problem solving skills, parenting skills, implement different clinical interventions as it pertains to the youth and family, and provided support during crisis. Traveled to conduct 3 weekly in home sessions, worked on a flexible schedule, and meet weekly with the team for meetings.
Family Development Specialist
Health Connect America
Columbia, Tennessee
09.2021 - 03.2022
- Work with at risk youth, their family, school system, and/or Department of Children services to help prevent elevated need of care. Built on consumer's learned coping and calming skills, taught parenting skills, and provided support during crisis. Traveled to conduct 3 weekly in home sessions, worked on a flexible schedule, met for a treatment team meeting one time a week, and supervision one time a week. Conduct supervised visitations and facilitates other family support services for the Department of Children services.
Intensive In-Home Community based Specialist
Centerstone of America
Columbia/Hohenwald, Tennessee
09.2018 - 08.2021
- Intensive In-Home Community based specialist - Worked with at risk youth, their family, school system, and/or Department of Children services to help prevent elevated need of care. Collaborated care with all of consumer's providers, provided advocacy in the legal system and school system. Built on consumer's learned coping and calming skills, taught parenting skills, and provided support during crisis. Traveled to conduct 3 weekly in home sessions, worked on a flexible schedule, and met weekly with the team for clinical supervision.
- Case Manager - coordinate care between providers, link to resources, brief education on diagnoses, advocate as needed, refer to resources or identified needs. The Intensive In-Home program no longer allowed providers at a Bachelor level.
Education
Master of Arts - Elementary Education
Walden University
Minneapolis, Minnesota12-2025
Bachelors of Behavioral Science - Emphasis in Psychology
Martin Methodist College
Pulaski, Tennessee05-2018
Associates Degree of Science - undefined
Columbia State Community College
Columbia, Tennessee05-2015
Skills
- Proficient computer and technology skills
- Training in safety and first aid
- Previously certified in CPR and AED
- Social skills with knowledge of working with difficult situations
- Knowledge of working with Child protective services
- Experience with working with the truancy court system
- Proficiency in Ethics within the workplace
- Crisis and Trauma Intervention
- Classroom management
- Relationship building
- Critical thinking
- Lesson planning
- Motivating students
- Student engagement
- Behavior management
- Parent-teacher communication
- Conflict resolution
- Collaborative learning
- Student-centered learning
- Child development
- Group and individual instruction
- Learning strategies
- Time management
- Positive reinforcement
- Parent interaction
- Cultural awareness
- Differentiated instruction
- Teaching strategies
- Student assessment
- Adaptability in technology
Timeline
Student Teacher
Student Teaching
08.2025 - 12.2026
Crisis Specialist
Centerstone
12.2024 - Current
Hospital Liaison
Centerstone
06.2023 - 11.2024
Intervention Specialist
Youth Villages
04.2022 - 02.2023
Family Development Specialist
Health Connect America
09.2021 - 03.2022
Intensive In-Home Community based Specialist
Centerstone of America
09.2018 - 08.2021
Bachelors of Behavioral Science - Emphasis in Psychology
Martin Methodist College
Associates Degree of Science - undefined
Columbia State Community College
Master of Arts - Elementary Education
Walden University
Awards and Organizations
Member of Phi Theta Kappa, Member of Sigma Kappa Delta English Society, Dean’s list 2018, Golden Key International Honour Society, Demonstration teaching for 12 weeks.