Nina R. Piper

I was born and raised in Pennsylvania. In 2007, I graduated from West Chester University of Pennsylvania with a Bachelor's of Science in Education, focusing on secondary English.  I spent the following two years teaching at Newport-Mesa Early College High School in Costa Mesa, California.  This school offered many socioeconomically disadvantaged students the opportunity to complete high school courses while earning college credits. While teaching in California, I also attended the University of San Diego to earn my CLAD (Crosscultural, Language, and Academic Development) certificate, allowing me to instruct English learners.

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I moved back to Pennsylvania with a new interest and passion for English learners. While working at Southwest Accelerated Learning Academy in Southwest Philadelphia, I continued my education at Temple University with a major in Teaching English to Students of Other Languages (TESOL).  I completed this Master's program in 2013 while teaching at Palisades High School in Kintnersville, Pennsylvania. Although I started my career at Palisades by teaching English learners, the district did not need me in the same capacity after I completed my Master's. To stay abreast of teaching strategies for English learners, I worked as a Professional Development Coordinator at Springboard Education in addition to my regular teaching schedule.  This experience allowed me to support teachers and, consequently, sparked my interest in pursuing educational leadership.

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In 2020, I completed my Master's in Educational Leadership at Lehigh University.  These classes have allowed me to look past the walls of my classroom and view my organization as a whole. Furthermore, I found a new interest in assisting students through the support offered to teachers. At the start of the 2017-2018 school year, I was hired as one of two Deans of Students at Palisades High School.  This position was temporary for that school year only, but being Dean of Students offered a wealth of knowledge and experience, and by the end of the school year, I could visualize myself as an administrator and felt more confident in my administrative skills. Having just completed my Master's in Educational Leadership, I look forward to finding a position in administration and to continue supporting teachers, students, and community members.