Claire Finders

Founding Lead Special Education Teacher

Green Dot Public Charter Schools

​2017 - Present

​

Chief Business Development Officer & Regional Manager

Nexplore

​2015 - 2017

Chief Business Development Officer

• Advise on company direction, brands and overall development 

• Develop new company resources/tools (spreadsheets, PowerPoint, Word docs, etc.) to build Nexplore materials and brands 

• Oversee website development and maintenance 

• Graphically design all business and print materials, flyers, business cards, products etc.

• Oversee and manage CRM databases, campaigns and marketing initiatives 

• Train Regional Managers and foster skill development in research, pitching, tracking and managing leads 

• Develop Nexplore Games lesson plans and curriculum materials 

Regional Manager - Southwest USA

• Conduct market research on developing educational markets, identify target schools and create outreach databases 

• Initiate new client relationships to boost sales

• Coordinate program scheduling, enrollment, promotion and registration information for each school

• Manage communication/outreach/correspondence with 30+ schools, including after school directors, staff and parents 

• Develop and provide schools with a specific working plan, marketing materials, copy of insurance and other requested materials.

• Recruit, interview, hire, train and manage 20+ Nexplore Games and Zumba® Kids independent contractors 

• Manage instructor correspondence, background checks, independent contractor materials, schedules, time sheets, etc.

• Facilitate instructor and school relationship with respect to logistics and programming

 

Business Development/Program Coordinator, Regional Manager & Instructor 

Mind Lab South Florida

​2014 - 2017

Business Development & Program Coordinator

• Conduct regional market research and analysis to target private schools

• Manage communication/outreach/correspondence with 20+ schools, including after school directors, staff and parents

• Coordinate program scheduling, enrollment, promotion and registration information for each school for both Mind Lab and Zumba Kids

• Create, distribute and manage design materials and marketing initiatives to promote Mind Lab and Zumba Kids programs

Regional Manager

• Recruit, interview, hire, train and manage 10+ Zumba Kids and Mind Lab independent contractors

• Manage instructor correspondence, background checks, independent contractor materials, schedules, time sheets, etc.

• Facilitate instructor and school relationship with respect to logistics and programming

Curriculum & Instruction

• Align Mind Lab curriculum materials to Common Core and Florida State Standards

• Differentiate, modify, adapt and create curriculum materials to meet the needs of various types of learners

• Create grade-level, subject-based, standards-aligned lesson plans for in-house fieldtrips and customized school needs

• Provide Mind Lab instruction at 5+ schools 

 

Special Education Teacher (Tenured)

New York City Department of Education

​2011 - 2014

• Taught 12 students: 1 teacher :1 paraprofessional 6th Grade class (students primarily classified Emotionally Disturbed)

• Modified/adapted/differentiated curriculum based on the Common Core Learning Standards to meet students’ needs

• Wrote Individualized Education Plans (IEPs) to facilitate special education services to meet the needs of individual students

• Collaborated with related service providers to ensure that students behavioral and academic needs are being met

• Lead teacher of 6th grade collaborative team (lead meetings, delegate responsibilities and follow-up to ensure task completion)

• Experienced with Expeditionary Learning, CMP3, Social Emotional Learning, Running Records, Words Their Way, Reading A to Z

• Communicated regularly with parents/guardians regarding student achievement, behavior management and academic/behavioral successes

• Participated in teacher interviews, observations and advisory to in-school psychiatric agency (Queens Children’s Psychiatric Center)

• Contributed various rubrics, graphic organizers, systems, strategies on a school-wide level

• Invited to and presented Common Core Math curriculum at the District 75 Principal’s Meeting and various other professional developments

• Lead school-wide professional development on Engrade (grading system)

• Scored 2012-2013 NYS ELA Exams (District 75)

 

Freelance Graphic Designer

Self-Employed

​2011 - present

• Experience with web, print and digital design (flyers, websites, posters, invitations, etc.)

  • Restaurant/Bar: Adella (www.adellanyc.com)

  • Wedding: Claire & Gavin (www.claireandgavin.com)

 

Private Tutor

Self-employed

2007 - present

• Tutored children grades 1-6 in reading comprehension and language arts

• Administered and assessed pretests, post-tests and curriculum

• Designed individualized curriculum to meet students' needs

 

New York City Teaching Fellow

NYC Teaching Fellows

​2011 - 2013

 

• Certified to teach District 75 Special Education grades 1-6 or 5-9 under the Transitional B certificate

• Field training in classroom of 12 students: 1 teacher: 4 paraprofessinals, students with classified with Multiple Disabilities (ages 6-8)

 

Director of Marketing & Public Relations

Pest Away Exterminating, Inc.

​2010 - 2011

 

• Re-branded the company with new slogan, logo, office, online presence and marketing campaign

• Managed all press/media materials, inquiries, pitches for new clients and press releases

• Artistically directed color, scheme, layout, navigation and wrote copy for 2 company websites

  • The Bed Bug Survival Guide (www.bedbugsurvivalguide.com)

  • Pest Away Exterminating, Inc. (www.pestawayinc.com)

• Coordinated entire office move, doubling office size (logistics, design, layout, storage, employee space transfer, etc.)

• Maintained company's social media and online presence (Facebook, Twitter, AdWords, reviews and copy for directory listings to improve SEO)

• Coordinated all online merchandise sales (ZenCart, Amazon, Craig's List, etc.)

• Managed all company databases (CRM, logs, client contact info & time sheets)

• Created and followed up on all proposals (writing, structuring, etc.)

• Implemented & trained staff for new software systems (Salesforce & PestPacMobile)

 

Assistant / Business Services

Stiletto Entertainment

​2009 - 2010

 

• Coordinated all logistics, design and details for several 3-day events for 200+ guests at Las Vegas hotels

• Events:

  • Las Vegas BMIFC Convention, Hilton Las Vegas (May 2009)

  • Barry Manilow VIP Parties, Hollywood Bowl, Los Angeles (2009)

  • BMIFC Party in Paris, Paris Hotel, Las Vegas (2010)

• Managed finances (check requests, project finances, expense reports)

• Assisted with ticketing for company events/artists/engagements/concerts

• Coordinated travel logistics, charity packages and charity projects

 

Volunteer

Kids Enjoy Exercise Now (KEEN) Los Angeles

​2009 - 2010

• Volunteered at semi-monthly sessions to promote positive play for children with special needs

• Created a 2-minute promotional video and distribution strategy to increase awareness and recruit new volunteers

• Streamlined and managed session registration & coach/athlete pairing

• Instructed and oversaw volunteer training and activities

• Fielded parent, coach and athlete questions and concerns

 

Executive Director

Youth Exploring Passion (YEP)

​2008 - 2010

• Directed a mentoring program for pregnant and parenting teenagers in South Central Los Angeles to educate,promote and facilitate academic and career opportunities after high school

• Established official organization Constitution outlining objectives, protocols and regulations

• Managed an Executive Board of 10 members

• Coordinated the pairing of mentors and mentees to best suit strengths and schedules

• Broadened campus presence and increased membership by 20%

 

Researcher / Copywriter

Green Key Environmental Solutions

​2010

• Conducted and compiled market research on green trends, composting, food waste, environmentalism, etc.

 

Print Advertising Intern

Fox Searchlight Pictures

2009

• Conducted research on actors, reviews, film concepts, etc. for upcoming projects

• Assisted managing a critic quote grid

• Read, summarized and conceptualized creative ideas for new scripts

• Managed/converted image files in Photoshop

 

Freelance Researcher

American Apparel

​2009

• Prepared cumulative reports for the video development department (demographics, competitors, statistics, etc.)

 

Marketing & Publicity Coordinator

Stiletto Entertainment

2008 - 2010

• Conducted research on actors, reviews, film concepts, etc. for upcoming projects

• Assisted managing a critic quote grid

• Read, summarized and conceptualized creative ideas for new scripts

• Managed/converted image files in Photoshop

 

Assistant Public Relations Coordinator

Pitchblend Media

2007 - 2008

• Prepared Media Alerts, Press Releases, Media Kits, Pitch Letters, SWOT analysis reports, and various proposals

• Managed various client accounts

 

Tutor

Academic Advantage

2007 - 2008

• Tutored students in Grades 1-6 in reading comprehension and language arts (approx. 4 hours/student/week)

• Administered and assessed pretests, posttests and curriculum

• Developed age-appropriate and creative curriculum to meet each student's learning strengths and needs

• Communicated weekly with students' parents by providing oral and written feedback on student progress

 

Wedding Day-of Coordinator

Self-employed

2007

• Coordinated wedding day itinerary

• Managed traffic flow of wedding party and 400+ guests throughout the day

• Partnered with the venue and vendors to arrange table placement, place cards and gift management