1. Dr. Denise M. Spirou
8161 Man O War Road
Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33418
561-776-1133-H
561-214-0391-C
Highlights of *Gifted Endorsement Instructor
*Effective leadership skills
Qualifications *Implementation of Learning Styles in a gifted curriculum
*Excellent verbal and social skills
*Florida Certified-Elementary Education, Gifted Endorsed,
Educational Leadership
Experience:
The Weiss School, Head of School, Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33418 6/2011-Present
• Lead and oversee the school’s fundraising
• Strategic Planning
• Enrollment growth
• Financial Aid Allocation
• Attend all Board of Directors’ meetings.
• Cultivate positive relationships with parents and the local community.
• Communicate regularly with teachers, parents, and students both informally and through formal and
informal staff channels.
• Oversee all programs, services, and activities to ensure that program objectives are met.
• Ensure that the school runs smoothly, efficiently, and on budget.
• Ensure school compliance with all relevant federal, state, and city guidelines.
• Oversee student recruitment process to ensure that the school achieves targeted enrollment
projections.
2. • Work with teachers to constantly assess and improve student achievement results.
• Formally supervise, observe, and evaluate all school staff.
• Work with teachers to improve their teaching practice through coaching, professional development,
modeling, and collaborative planning.
• Keep abreast of successful instructional methodologies and practices.
• Provide ongoing professional development including high quality curricular training and resources
to staff.
• Ensure consistencies in instruction and practice amongst team of teachers.
• Foster culture of professionalism among teachers and staff.
• Ensure learning environment and classroom instruction maximizes student learning.
• Supervise and mentor all staff.
• Recruit, select, and hire school staff, including teachers and school-based support staff.
• Continually monitor progress on all measures of school and staff performance.
• Provide for adequate supervision, training, and evaluation of all staff and volunteers.
• Communicate the vision that supports the school’s goals and values.
• Create an effective team of people jointly responsible for the attainment of school goals and
committed to achieving excellence.
The Weiss School, Assistant Head of School, Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33410 6/2008-8/2011
Duties include:
*Solicited organizations and businesses to rent facility for events
*Created marketing materials
*Conducted school tours
*Recruited eligible students
*Submitted weekly school news and special events to media
*Dealt with emergency situations as outlined in the disaster manual
*Offered educational classes and workshops to staff
*Applied for applicable grants
*Increased Artist-In-Residence program
*Scheduled Extended Day Program
*Organized Open Houses for potential families
*Coordinated Annual Golf Tournament
*Implemented Grandparents’ Day
The Weiss School, Administrator for Admissions, Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33410 6/2006—6/2008
Duties include:
*Solicited organizations and businesses to rent facility for events
*Created marketing materials
*Conducted school tours
*Recruited eligible students
*Submitted weekly school news and special events to media
*Dealt with emergency situations as outlined in the disaster manual
3. The Weiss School, Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33410 8/2000-6/2006
Duties include:
*Taught second, third, and fifth grade curriculum integrating Howard Gardner’s
Multiple Intelligences
*Customized lesson plans to meet the needs of children who are gifted based on their
learning styles
*Past PTA Vice President
*Mentor to new teachers of the school
*Picture coordinator
*Yearbook Advisor
Palm Beach County School System, West Palm Beach, FL 33406 1997-2000
Duties include:
*Fourth Grade Drop Out Prevention-North Palm Beach Elementary
*Substitute teaching children in grades one through twelve
*Successful accomplishments in the flexibility for all ages
Clearview Elementary School, Stroudsburg Area School District 1992-1995
Stroudsburg, PA 18360
Duties include:
*Worked with children using a thematic approach to teach all subject areas in a third
grade classroom
*Worked closely with the special education teacher to accommodate students who
were in the inclusive program
Learning Disabilities of Monroe County, Stroudsburg, PA 18360 1993-1996
Duties include:
*Coordinator/Teacher of Living and Learning Through the Arts Summer Program
*Worked with children between the ages of seven and thirteen with specific learning
disabilities
*Students learned through a thematic approach with an emphasis on art
*Thematic units used were: Space, Egypt, and the Environment
Education:
Specialist in Educational Leadership December 2009, Nova Southeastern University
Doctorate in Teacher Leadership June 2008, Walden University
Masters in Education May 1995, East Stroudsburg University
Bachelor of Science May 1991, East Stroudsburg University
4. Professional Experience:
*Chair of Florida Council of Independent School’s Accreditation Teams
*President Elect for the North Palm Beach Chamber of Commerce Education Life and Science Committee
*Instructed over 300 educators in Florida to obtain their Gifted Endorsement
Honors/Awards
North Palm Beach Rotarian of the Year 2007
Nominated for FLAG’s Creative Teacher of the Year 2005
Nominated for The Disney Award 2003-2005
Nominated for Who’s Who Among American Teachers 2004
Chamber of Commerce Teacher of the Year 2003
Learning Disabilities of America Award 1993-1996
William Brownfield Award 1992
Academic Dean’s List 1990