Paula K.

Smith
11631 Dam #5 Road Clear Spring, MD 21722
Smithpau@wcps.k12.md.us
301-331-6200

January 11, 2016

Ms. Heidi Black
Washington County Public Schools
10435 Downsville Pike
Hagerstown, MD 21740
Dear Ms. Black,
I am very interested in an intern administrator position for the 2016-2017 school year. Currently, I am a math
teacher at E. Russell Hicks Middle School (ERH), teaching two rounds of Math 6 and one round of Math 7.
Prior to teaching, I was a student intervention specialist at both Clear Spring Middle School and ERH. I am
confident that my skillset and experience make me an outstanding candidate for this position.
As a math teacher, I focus on the eight math practices, incorporating student-directed lessons into my daily
plans. Additionally, I instruct both sixth and seventh grade students, helping to achieve mathematical proficiency
by developing both conceptual understanding and procedural fluency.
As a math teacher, it is my responsibility to develop, select, and differentiate instructional plans and materials to
meet the needs of all students. To do this, I implement technology into daily lessons as well as foster an
atmosphere and environment conducive to the intellectual, physical, social, and emotional development of my
students. I also diligently update student records using the Synergy system and use data analysis to monitor
student achievement.
This school year (2015-1016), I developed, and am currently directing, the Tutoring for Success after-school
program. This program targets students who are two or more grade levels below their current grade level in
reading and math. There are currently 42 students enrolled in this program. Additionally, in the summer of 2014,
I was the coordinator of the Summer Learning Program for E. Russel Hicks Middle School and supervised four
teachers and one para-professional with an enrollment of fifty students.
Throughout my ten years as a student intervention specialist, I worked closely with at-risk students to improve
their attendance, behavior, and academics. In this role, I focused on improvement, not perfection, an important
step to increase student achievement.
Furthermore, during the 2005, 2006, and 2007 school years, I was the Project GREAT EXPECTATIONS
coordinator and managed the monthly curriculum and activities with students and parents. Our curriculum
included offsite trips, such as a visit to the Choices in Colleges and Careers event at Hagerstown Community
College and educational field trips to colleges and businesses. I also organized the monthly speaker series and
after-school activities including observing a South Hagerstown High School Advanced Placement biology
course.

I will complete my Master of Education in Administration & Supervision degree in the summer of 2016. The
courses I have taken correlate directly with the responsibilities of the intern administrator and I look forward to
applying my knowledge and skills in a real-world setting.
Please feel free to contact me should you have any questions or require additional information. Thank you for
your consideration and I look forward to hearing from you soon.
Best regards,
Paula K. Smith