th

Katherine (Katie) Zuzek

11594 120 Street South, Hastings MN, 55033, 651-387-1805, ktzuz.10@gmail.com

Objective:

Teach children the skills, knowledge, and attitudes they will need to be successful in an everchanging world; and continue to grow as a teacher, a professional, and a person. I will do this
through highly effective teaching practices, activities that deeply engage the whole student,
and a balance of rigorous expectations with a passionate and caring persona.

Education:
Undergraduate: Saint Marys University of Minnesota, Winona, MN
Major: Elementary Education (K-6) with a middle school math endorsement (5-8)
Overall GPA: 3.71/4.0; Deans List: 6 semesters/8 semesters
Graduate: Saint Marys University of Minnesota, Apple Valley, MN
Major: Teaching and Learning- Currently in first semester of course work, and will be
completed with the program in May 2017.
Teaching Experience:
5th Grade teacher at Farmington School District, Meadowview Elementary School (20142015 School Year)
Taught a fifth grade class of 28 students in all core subjects until March25th. Several service needs
were represented including: Special Education, 504, and Gifted and Talented.
Used written notes, email, schoology, phone calls, and web-based applications to facilitate
home/school connection.
Followed district curriculum in reading and math that was aligned with Minnesota state standards,
and altered to meet the needs of the inquiry based instruction I provide to my students.
Worked collaboratively with my 5th grade team of teachers to align state standards with the test in
ways for our students to be the most successful in each content area.
Created new writing projects for 5th graders to complete schoolwide that helped to push students to
their greatest potential in writing, such as a persuasive writing unit and a how to speech unit.
3rd Grade teacher at Tri-City United, LeCenter Elementary School (2014-2015 School Year)
Taught a third grade class of 23 students in all core subjects. Several service needs were represented
including: Special Education, ELL, 504, and Gifted and Talented.
Used written notes, email, telephone, and web-based applications to facilitate home/school
connection.
Aligned district power benchmarks with Minnesota state standards for third grade reading and
math
Worked collaboratively on: Math Curriculum Committee, Team Leaders committee (Technology
Leader Representative), and Professional Learning Community work focused on student assessment
design, data review, and alignment of standards and instruction
Class Dojo, classroom behavior (monitoring) management tool, building level power user and
mentor
Attended workshop: Guided Math: Strategies to Differentiate Instruction, Using Learning Centers
Collaboratively investigated a scaffold for Tier I, Tier II, and Tier III Reading Strategies to be used
across 3rd and 4th grade
Participated in the Individual Professional Growth Plan process, and the Peer Observation and
Mentoring program to collaboratively improving instruction throughout the district
Field Experience:
Student Teaching Placements and Special Project
Jefferson STEM Elementary, Winona, MN, Mrs. Sara Fellman, 1st grade (Fall 2013)
Deeply involved in the use of STEM teaching methodologies and instructional technologies
Participated in all aspects of Staff Training and Professional Learning Communities

Prepared lessons, developed instructional units, and used a wide variety of data gained from
assessments to make instructional decisions for differentiated grouping.
Assisted in the development of Tier II interventions as a part of RTI structures
St. Charles High School, St. Charles, MN, Mr. Kittleson, 7th grade Math (Nov. and Dec. 2013)
Taught both independently and collaboratively in structures of 50 minute classes.
St. Marys University and Jefferson El. Collaborative Science Initiative (May, 2013)
Worked collaboratively with Jefferson Elementary teachers and principal, and staff and
student volunteers from SMU to provide a day-long, hands-on, inquiry-based STEM fields
experience for 80 fourth grade students.
Jefferson Elementary, Response to Intervention (RtI) (Spring, 2014)
Received significant training and implemented specific Tier 1, 2, and 3 Reading Strategies
Teacher Observation, Classroom Assistance, Practicum Placements:
Jefferson Elementary, Winona, MN (Fall 2011), First Grade
Middle School, Winona, MN (Fall 2011), Reading, English/Language Arts
High School, Winona, MN (Fall 2011), Tenth grade, Math
Jefferson Elementary, Winona, MN (Spring 2012) Third grade STEM
Madison Elementary, Winona, MN (Fall 2012) Third grade
Work Experience:
YMCA, Hastings, MN (2006 to present)
Kids Stuff Staff and Lead Staff (2006-Present): Cared for children ages six weeks old to ten
years
Summer at the Y (2010- 2012): Developed and facilitated activities, games, and crafts
Day Camp Spring Lake (2012- Present): Supervised and cared for twenty pre-schoolers and
kindergartners in whole-day programs and developed and facilitated activities, games, and crafts.
Certified in: first-aid, CPR, Oxygen Administration, Shaken Baby Prevention, and Child Abuse
Prevention
Black Dirt Theater Public Relations Director, Summer 2012, 2013, 2015, 2015
Created banners and signs, and guerilla marketing campaigns, Volunteer Coordinator
Leadership and Service Experience:
Student Senate President, Saint Marys University, 2013-2014, Student Body President
Student Activities Committee, Saint Marys University, 2010-Present, Executive board 2011-2013
New Student and Parent Orientation Leader, Saint Marys University, Summer 2013
Serving Others United Love (SOUL) Trip to the White Violet Center for Eco-Justice, 2013
Together Encountering Christ #70 (TEC) Retreat Leader, March 2013
Together Encountering Christ (TEC) Table Leader, #64, #65, #68, (2011-2012)
Student Senate, Saint Marys University, VP of Media and Communications, 2011-2013
ASCD Student Chapter President, Saint Marys University, 2012-2013
ASCD Active Member, Saint Marys University, 2010 to Present
Minnesota Council of Teachers of Mathematics (MCTM) Conference, Duluth, MN, March 2013
National Association of Campus Activities (NACA) Conference, 2012 and 2013
Power in Diversity Leadership Conference, St. Cloud, Minnesota, January 2013
College Awards and Recognitions:
Deans List (7 of 8 semesters); SMU Celebration of Scholarship, Presenter: formative assessment to
differentiate groups in the classroom; Kappa Delta Pi, Education Honors Society, Delta Epsilon Sigma,
SMU Lasallian Honors Society, and St. Cecelia Music Scholarship
High School Activities and Recognition:
Hastings Rotary Club Scholarship recipient, Most Outstanding Female Senior Award,
Student Council President, Choir letter, Show Choir, Tennis letter recipient.
Related Skills:

Extensive Computer Skills, Microsoft Office Suite, SMART Board Technology, iPad applications, and
Apple IOS and Windows, Class Dojo, Go Noodle

References:
Mrs. Becky Bican
Princpal
Meadowview Elementary
651-460-3154 x3102 (office)
rbican@farmington.k12.mn.us
Mrs. Renee Parla
5th Grade Team Teacher
Meadowview Elementary
651-460-3154 x3152 (school)
651-338-6924 (cell)
rparla@farmington.k12.mn.us
Mr. Brian Grensteiner
Princpal
LeCenter Elementary
507-357-6802 (office)
952-261-5208 (cell)
bgrensteiner@tcu2905.us
Ms. Nikki VanOverbeke
Social Worker
LeCenter Elementary
507-357-6802 (school)
nvanoverbeke@tcu2905.us
Amy Rowan
YMCA, Summer Camp Director
Spring Lake Park, Hastings
651-261-8171 (cell)
651-480-8887 (work)
amy.rowan@ymvcatwincities.org
Scott Sorvaag. Ed. D
Dean of Education Department
Saint Marys University
507-457-6612 (office)
507-474-1818 (home)
ssorvaag@smumn.edu
Ms. Sara Fellman
1st Grade Teacher, Field Experience Supervisor
Jefferson STEM Elementary
507-313-4989 (cell)
507-494-2085 (school)
sara.fellman@winona.k12.mn.us