Amber LamAmber LamCandidateCandidate

Carroll County Public SchoolsCarroll County Public SchoolsPrincipal - Oakland ElementaryPrincipal - Oakland Elementary

89 Braveheart LaneGalax, VA 24333

ablam@ccpsd.k12.va.us(276) 233-6776

About me….About me….Education:Education:

Master of Science DegreeMaster of Science DegreeRadford University (May 2010)Radford University (May 2010)Educational LeadershipEducational Leadership

Bachelor of Science Degree – magna cum laude Bachelor of Science Degree – magna cum laude Radford University 2006Radford University 2006preK-6 Elementary EducationpreK-6 Elementary Education2003 Honor Graduate2003 Honor GraduateCarroll County High SchoolCarroll County High SchoolHillsville, VirginiaHillsville, Virginia

Related Experience:Related Experience: I have been employed four years by Carroll County Public Schools as a classroom teacher.I have been employed four years by Carroll County Public Schools as a classroom teacher. I am currently the lead kindergarten teacher and serve on my school’s leadership team.I am currently the lead kindergarten teacher and serve on my school’s leadership team. I was a trained substitute teacher for grades K-12 for the Carroll County Public School I was a trained substitute teacher for grades K-12 for the Carroll County Public School

System for two years.System for two years. I was a volunteer with the Beans and Rice Organization at Pulaski Elementary during 2005.I was a volunteer with the Beans and Rice Organization at Pulaski Elementary during 2005. In high school I completed the Teacher Cadet training program and engaged in a forty-hour In high school I completed the Teacher Cadet training program and engaged in a forty-hour

field experience program at Hillsville Elementary.field experience program at Hillsville Elementary.

About me… (continued)About me… (continued)

Related Information:Related Information:

I am a member of the I am a member of the National Association for Elementary School National Association for Elementary School PrincipalsPrincipals

I am a member of Phi Theta Kappa and Kappa Delta Pi international honor I am a member of Phi Theta Kappa and Kappa Delta Pi international honor organizations.organizations.

I was on the Dean’s List at Radford University and graduated Magna Cum I was on the Dean’s List at Radford University and graduated Magna Cum Laude.Laude.

I was a member of the National Honor Society and graduated with honors I was a member of the National Honor Society and graduated with honors from Carroll County High School in 2003.from Carroll County High School in 2003.

Oakland ElementaryOakland Elementary

Where are we now?•pK-5 School

•Part of a ten school division in a county nestled along the Blue Ridge Mtns. Carroll Co. has approximately 28,000 citizens.

•Approx. 230 students – increasing yearly

•Population comprised of a rural, agricultural, middle to low income community

•Steady increase in ESL students

•Nearly 20% increase in instructional faculty holding master’s degrees compared to 2005-2006 school year

Where do we go from here?Where do we go from here?

Continue to educate students with current philosophy- Continue to educate students with current philosophy- children come first.children come first.

Plan for prospective student population (mindful of Plan for prospective student population (mindful of current economic situation and effects on the budget)current economic situation and effects on the budget)

Maintain relationships and create new partnerships with Maintain relationships and create new partnerships with external community membersexternal community members

Recruit the most highly qualified teachers who will serve Recruit the most highly qualified teachers who will serve as keepers of the culture our school establishes.as keepers of the culture our school establishes.

Meet the needs of our faculty by providing relevant Meet the needs of our faculty by providing relevant professional development professional development

But how?But how?

Utilize the most efficient instructional strategies to meet Utilize the most efficient instructional strategies to meet the needs of each learner the needs of each learner

Collaborate to create/modify an approach to student Collaborate to create/modify an approach to student behavior in which our school will experience successbehavior in which our school will experience success

Explore creative scheduling to maximize instructional Explore creative scheduling to maximize instructional time time

Foster working relationships with families – family night, Foster working relationships with families – family night, homework help to parents, etc.homework help to parents, etc.

EDUCATE EACH CHILD…. Our curriculum should not EDUCATE EACH CHILD…. Our curriculum should not serve as our sole basis of instruction. It should, instead, serve as our sole basis of instruction. It should, instead, guide instruction.guide instruction.

My Philosophy of EducationMy Philosophy of Education(notably condensed)(notably condensed)

We, as educators, exist in a results oriented, We, as educators, exist in a results oriented, data-driven profession. HOWEVER, our data-driven profession. HOWEVER, our profession remains a people centered business. profession remains a people centered business. To forget that people, namely children, come To forget that people, namely children, come first is to fail as educators and deprive society of first is to fail as educators and deprive society of the most flourishing civilians we can possibly the most flourishing civilians we can possibly provide.provide.

My Personal VisionMy Personal Vision

Each child in our school will be successfulEach child in our school will be successful Success is not a universal term – each learner experiences Success is not a universal term – each learner experiences

it individually- our school will embrace uniquenessit individually- our school will embrace uniqueness We will not do this alone; we must involve and rally support We will not do this alone; we must involve and rally support

from parents, students, neighboring schools, central office from parents, students, neighboring schools, central office staff and school board members businesses, and staff and school board members businesses, and community members to foster relationships conducive to community members to foster relationships conducive to learning.learning.

We will tailor our instructional program to meet the needs We will tailor our instructional program to meet the needs of each learner by utilizing effective research-based of each learner by utilizing effective research-based strategies and various models of teaching that solicit self strategies and various models of teaching that solicit self reflection and Bloom’s higher order thinking skills.reflection and Bloom’s higher order thinking skills.

My Personal VisionMy Personal Vision(continued)(continued)

Together we must establish a climate of trust and Together we must establish a climate of trust and acceptance, where differences are valued and students acceptance, where differences are valued and students feel welcome and part of something greater than one. feel welcome and part of something greater than one.

Faculty and staff will embrace an environment of Faculty and staff will embrace an environment of collegiality and collaboration by engaging in meaningful collegiality and collaboration by engaging in meaningful professional development and activities centered around professional development and activities centered around student learning.student learning.

Why me?Why me?

I’m a natural leader and believe in the I’m a natural leader and believe in the power of one. I will help inspire others to power of one. I will help inspire others to make the difference in the life of a child.make the difference in the life of a child.

It only takes one It only takes one

““The function of leadership is to produce The function of leadership is to produce more leaders, not more followers.”more leaders, not more followers.”

~ Ralph Nader~ Ralph Nader