Teach Peace Live Love

Employment: Cleveland Municipal School District Educator, Cuyahoga County Juvenile Detention Center grades 9-12, August 2014 - present Social Studies Teacher, New Tech High School grades 9-12, August 2011-2014 Social Studies Teacher, Collinwood High School grades 9-12, August 1998-2011

“…Teacher actively seeks knowledge of students’ backgrounds, cultures, skills, language proficiency, interests, and special needs from a variety of sources, and attains this knowledge for individual students… Teacher seeks out and uses resources in and beyond the school or district in professional organizations, on the Internet, from families and colleagues and in the community to enhance own knowledge, to use in teaching.” -Erin Frew, Principal

Experience in Leadership Roles, Honors and Additional Skills: National Teacher Award for Excellence in Computer Education, March 2016 Social & Emotional Learning Innovation Grant Award Winner 2016- 2018 Awarded 3Rs Committee Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association Teacher of the Year January 2015 Blogger on Word Press & featured on National Education Blogsites 2015-present School Based Budget Committee 2015 Classroom Meeting Trainer, 2013-2016 Presenter New Tech Network Conference, summer 2013-2014 Social and Emotional Learning Curriculum writer/presenter 2012- present New Tech Network Certified 2012-present District social studies scope and sequence and curriculum writer 2011-2014 Ohio Teacher Evaluation System Certified 2011-present PEAC-C Certified 2009-present PAR (Peer Assistance and Review) Mentor 2010-13, 2015-present Resident Educator Mentor 2013-2017 Cleveland State University & John Carroll University cooperating teacher 2004-2014 Department Chair at Collinwood High School Academic Achievement Plan AP Academy Team Leader, Collinwood High School Mock Trial Coach 2004-2012 Diversity Club Advisor 1998-2011 Not On Our Watch Advisor 2013-2014 College Readiness Assessment Committee for New Tech Network pilot 2013-14

Education and Certifications M.A. English Literature Cleveland State University, Cleveland, OH. 2001 Bachelor of Arts Political Science, History, Social Studies Cleveland State University, Cleveland, OH. 1998 Minors in Communications and Education Five Year Senior Professional Educator License OH State License #1230109 8/26/98-6/30/2020 Comprehensive High School 7-12, All Social Studies 7-8, History 9-12, Political Science 9-12, Psychology/Sociology 9-12 Master Teacher endorsement 2014 New Tech Network Certified Ohio Teacher Evaluation System Credentialed PEAC –C Certified Previous 3 Year License NV State License #0000099930 12/13-12/16 Secondary English (7-12) & Social Studies (7-12)

Melissa Marini Švigelj-Smith has been an educator in Cleveland (Ohio) public high schools for nearly two decades, and has been teaching high school students at the Cuyahoga County Juvenile Detention Center four of those years. In the tradition of Brazilian educator and activist, Paulo Freire, she understands neutrality as an educator is not an option. Thus, she is also a community activist and social justice advocate on behalf of those society oppresses. Her blog msvigeljsmith.blog is part of a national network of education bloggers, and her posts have been featured on other national and state education blog sites. Interviews with Melissa can be found in the archives of the Rick Smith Radio Show, It’s About Justice local radio show, on the podcast Quote Unquote, and in news articles in the The Christian Science Monitor and National Public Radio’s KQED blog, Mindshift. She has been asked to present at conferences nationwide, and to consult on education policy locally and nationally related to social and emotional learning and on behalf of students entangled in the juvenile justice system. She also recruits her four sons and therapy dog to join her in the fight for equity and justice for all.