Belinda Chance 443-691-9997 belinda_chance@yahoo.com
Baltimore, MD 21217
A PDF version of this document is available for download here.
Objective:
To display strong dedication and tireless work ethic in enriching young people’s lives, and developing community through the visual fine arts as a public school educator
Education:
Bachelor of Arts, Track in Art- Salisbury University, Salisbury, MD and
Bachelor of Arts, Track in Art Education- University of Maryland Eastern Shore, Princess Anne, MD
Student Teaching / Internships:
Northwestern Elementary, Mardela, MD & Prince Street Elementary, Salisbury, MD
Parkside High School & The Visual and Performing Arts Program at Wicomico High School, both in Salisbury, MD
Work Experience:
Baltimore City Public School System - August 2003- Present
Eighth year art teacher, at Dickey Hill Elementary Middle School #201
5025 Dickey Hill Rd. Baltimore, MD 21207 Phone: 410-396-0610
Teach visual art to Pre-K through eighth grade, managing an average of twenty classes weekly. Major responsibilities include differentiating instruction that reflects the MSC, Core Knowledge curriculum and Baltimore City Art curriculum. Collaborate with classroom teachers to provide cross-curricular, hands-on experiences for reinforcement of specific skills. Additional responsibilities include conducting ongoing assessments of student achievement, analyze data, maintain grades, communicate regularly with parents and guardians, serve on school committees, display current student art throughout the school, and maintain the art room and all art materials for the school, including ordering, inventory, cleaning and organization. Each spring the most successful student artwork is exhibited in an event called Arts Night.
Ceramics Museum of Art - Jan. 2005- Present
Conduct a ceramics club that is made possible by a grant from the museum. We meet two times a week teaching hand building techniques and glazing to third through eighth grade students. Some are third year club members who have dramatically developed their clay building skills. Responsibility and craftsmanship are highly emphasized aspects of the club. The materials provided are also used for ceramics units in art classed during the school day.
Kilby Designs LLC – Summers of 2009 & 2010
Worked in several capacities including Illustrator and User Interface Architect. I have participated in several projects that can be found in the Apple App Store & Android Marketplace today. I hope to expand my role in this quickly growing industry while working on updates for some of my existing apps.
Bell, Building Educated Leaders for Life - Summers of 2007 & 2008
Summer Enrichment Teacher who wrote the visual art curriculum for a 5-week program. Students in each grade level learned about the art and culture from a world region. The units were rich in informational text and visuals. Beginning activities built skills in technique and led to a final fully developed project. The entire program culminated with an assembly where all of the student art was exhibited. Bell was established specifically to supplement academic services for urban youth.
Parks and People Foundation - Oct. 2004- May 2005
Head Coach for Starlings Urban Volleyball League, Girls 14 & under- Practiced three times per week after school and played in Saturday competitions with six other Baltimore middle schools at Western High School
G.A.T.E. - Nov. 2003 and Jul.- Aug. 2005
First program met after school twice weekly to learn about African myths, and completed a mural based on the main animal characters from the stories. The second program met over four weeks during the summer. Worked with a different group each week to develop a 10’ x 28’ mural in the Dickey Hill cafeteria that represents the relationship between our urban setting and our experiences backpacking with Outward Bound. Also emphasized a leadership piece with a journaling and a speaking component.
Innovative Educational Systems - Oct. 2004- May 2005
Led after school IEP tutoring group of fourth graders twice weekly. Lessons reinforced basic grade level math and reading skills. Students were expected to be able to explain how they solved problems or developed their ideas.
Core Know Summer Writing Institutes - Summers of 2004 & 2005
Wrote three fully developed Core Knowledge art based units for regular classroom educators’ use. They included kindergarten Medicine Pouches, 4th grade African Masks and 3rd grade Color Theory Science and Application.
Paradise Gallery – Dec. 2000- Aug. 2001
Gallery Assistant, Sarasota, FL. Responsibilities included repair of artwork and frames, cleaning, merchandising. Later, assisted with interior designer on home visits to hang artwork for possible purchase. Eventually invited by the owner to create pieces for specific clients, that fulfilled size, color scheme, style and subject requests.
Other School Based Activities and Committees:
Artist in Residency Programs - Four Programs, Oct 2005- Nov. 2008
Approved by The Baltimore Office of Promotions and the Arts for a grant-based program where a professional artist comes to work with the art teacher and a select group of students. Each residency culminates with a power point assembly for third through fifth grade classes, our sponsors and administration. The first program focused on perspective drawing. The second helped finish a 28’ mural that was 75% complete after a Summer G.A.T.E. Program. The third was an intensive clay workshop. Fourth grade students created clay shoes and African masks. The third residency designed and executed a 32’ mural in the school lobby. It featured children rock climbing and landscape that is reminiscent of the Appalachian Trail. Dickey Hill’s level of engagement and productivity has cemented our partnership with The Baltimore Office of Promotions and the Arts.
Art Club - Oct. 2003- Present
Students applied by completing a visual and a written assignment to show their dedication to the after school club. Work on various projects for school wide special events such as drama scenery, decorations, and displays. We also gained experience with a greater variety of art materials in a less restrictive, more expressive atmosphere. The art club specializes in murals and ceramic hand building. Baltimore Kids Chess League was put on the chess map this year when they acquired the state title and the high school national championship victory, first among 38 states.
Chess Team - Oct. 2004- Present
Facilitate Dickey Hill’s chess club. Students have participated in the citywide novice and advanced chess tournaments since the beginning of the program at Dickey Hill. The middle school team has won 1st place before in a novice tournament. Students learned strategies, sportsmanship, and spatial cognitive thinking skills. Recruit students and promote the idea that intellectual activities can be cool.
Outward Bound & Friends of the Gwynn’s Fall – Spring 2005- Present
Dickey Hill is located next to the Gwynn’s Falls. This promotes participation in many outdoor activities. Accompanied 6 groups of eighth graders on five day backpacking and rock climbing expeditions on the Appalachian Trail in PA. One expedition was also an urban experience, backpacking and “camping” at night in various Baltimore museums, a school and a recreation center. In addition to day trips to the park, planned clean up days, and attend the Friends of Gwynns Falls meetings to enhance the partnership between Dickey Hill and all entities associated with the park.
School Family Council, Co-Chair & Chair, Previously SIT Team – Sept. 2004- Present
Facilitate every meeting, and encourage others to attend and become active participants. Take back up notes, and reinforce important information that attendees take back to their grade level teams. Occasionally prepare a meal, or plan potlucks for meeting attendees.
Family and Community Engagement Chair - Sept. 2003- Present
Plan many special events to foster relationships with community members. Communicate pertinent information. Developed the newsletter, and change the outdoor marquee to highlight important information. Ensure school compliance with BCPSS, Title 1 and NCLB regulations regarding Parent and Community Involvement by maintaining all documentation.
Assist with Several Other Committees – Sept. 2003- Present
Library- Clean, decorate and reshelf books in their proper area
Attendance- Generate and display data graphs and bulletin boards, brainstorm and implement strategies to increase attendance; such as, using attendance is an incentive for event eligibility
Provide other signage for many sub-committee needs.
Awards and Achievements:
Baltimore City Public Schools Teacher of the Year Honoree - May 2005 & 2010
Maryland Distinguished Scholar for the Visual Arts - May 1992
NJCAA Field Hockey Championship Team Member - Nov. 1995
Computer Skills:
Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, Microsoft Office Suite, Windows & Mac Operating Systems