Born January 3, 1977 in Los Angeles, CA, La Shawn Denise Witt currently resides in Inglewood and works as an Assistant Principal in the Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified School District. She previously spent the last 16 years as a middle school life science teacher, assistant principal and teacher on special assignment in Inglewood Unified School District.

She currently holds two Bachelor degrees from Loyola Marymount University, two Master's degrees from Mount Saint Mary’s College and Pepperdine University and a Doctorate in Educational Leadership from Argosy University.

She is the single mother to one child, Morgan Airriel-Josephine Williams who is a sophomore at Howard University in Washington, DC. Morgan is studying African American Studies and History with aspirations to become a Civil Rights Attorney. Morgan is also the official school disc jockey at Howard.

She is an active member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority- Inglewood Alumnae Chapter, Jack and Jill of America where she serves as the Inglewood Associate Chapter’s Correspondence Secretary and Event Coordinator, Tabahani Book Circle, Phi Delta Kappa Sorority, Inc., National Association of University Women and The Links, Incorporated. She currently attends West Angeles Church of God In Christ where she often sings in the mass choir.

Outside of her professional and personal commitments, La Shawn indulges in her passions of shopping, traveling, reading, doing community service and enjoying time with the loves of her life, daughter Morgan and Shih Tzu’s Dolce & Gabbana. She is very active with her sorority and has aspirations of National Leadership.

In addition, she owns a wedding and special event business based out of Beverly Hills, CA with satellite locations throughout the country. It was her dream to provide clients around the country with quality event planning that they could trust at an affordable rate. After working in the event industry for the past 22 years, she has established a reputation of being dependable and trustworthy, has produced over 450 events, and maintains working relationships with many of Los Angeles’s top event industry professionals. La Shawn is an event scholar that makes sure all of her events shine and the guests go home wanting more. La Shawn sees each event as a unique opportunity to design the experience of a lifetime and give clients a personalized and elegant event.

She describes herself as being ambitious, personable, and easy to work with.  She is also punctual and very hard working, self-motivated and driven to follow tasks through to completion.
 

 K-12 ADMINISTRATOROffering 14 Years of Achievement in Developing Productive Student-Focused Environmentsto Maximize Learning Experiences

Highly skilled student-focused instructional leader that has been recognized for developing mutual trust and respect, building collaborative teams, public speaking, and sharing information through honest and open communication. Maintains a positive school climate in which students can mature and develop a sense of responsibility, self-worth and good citizenship. Effectively manages change and innovates to improve student achievement. Good organizational and critical thinking skills and can devise creative solutions for issues in the school environment.  Exceptional interpersonal skills, handles parent interactions with tact and diplomacy. Thrives in a fast-paced environment and able to manage competing priorities with ease.
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Argosy University, Los Angeles, CA- Doctorate in Educational Leadership, (Dec 16) Passed Defense, degree pending edits/revisions 

   Loyola Marymount University, Los Angeles, CA- Clear Administrative Services Credential (May 09), Certificate in Special Education Leadership (May 09), Bachelor of Arts in African-American Studies (Aug 01), Bachelor of Arts in Biology (May 98)

Pepperdine University, Los Angeles, CA- Clear Single Subject CLAD Credential, Biological Sciences, Supplemental Authorization: Psychology (Jul 08), Masters of Arts in Education (Dec 06) 

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Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified School District, San Juan Capistrano, CA  2016-Present
Assistant Principal, Miraleste Intermediate School
Summary of Major Accomplishments:  

• Assists in planning, development, organization, coordination, and supervision of instructional programs and activities, which includes curriculum development, program and activity development, and design and delivery processes, and in the development of implementation strategies.
• Organized School Attendance Resource Team where the committee reviewed, inspected and audited student attendance processes and procedures.
• Planned, organized and coordinated the campus supervision.
• Served as a liaison to safety and youth service agencies in resolving student management and control problems, and student attendance and welfare problems.
• Reviewed, audited and evaluated instructional and non-instructional personnel performance and provide technical performance evaluation input. 
• Facilitation and coordination of school wide mandated CAASPP assessments: SBAC, CELDT, CST-Science, Grade Level Benchmarks, and Physical Fitness.
• Develop master teaching schedule and assign classrooms for instruction.

 Inglewood Unified School District, Inglewood, CA     2015
Summer School Administrator/TOSA-In-Charge, Centinela and Warren Lane Elementary Schools
Administrative designee for small learning communities of approximately ninety students in grades K-6. Served as co-lead to effectively plan, organize the management requirements and activities for these schools.

• Developed Common Core Standards based curriculum assessments and implemented a new intervention program (iReady) for lessons in Math and English Language Arts to increase academic skill levels for students.
• Registered students and analyzed student data to prepare the 2015-16 intervention lists.

Inglewood Unified School District, Inglewood, CA     2013- 2015
Saturday School Administrator/TOSA-In-Charge, Monroe Magnet Middle School
Administrative designee for Saturday School Attendance Recovery Program. Organized and lead a team of four teachers to meet the needs of all students in grades 6-8. 

• Provided leadership and supervision in the areas of instructional leadership and discipline.
• Reviewed and submitted student attendance and lunch counts to the district weekly.
• Provided instructional support using the PBIS model to manage student behaviors.

Inglewood Unified School District, Inglewood, CA     2013-2016
Program and Instructional Facilitator, Monroe Magnet Middle School
Summary of Major Accomplishments:  

• Worked as part of the leadership team with the principal to build capacity of teachers and educational support professionals to support academic achievement. Conducted demonstration lessons in core subject areas and oversee the curriculum and pacing planning for 6-8 grade levels and supervised classroom instruction and monitoring of curriculum, content and pedagogy.
• Identified, planned, organized and conducted professional development relevant to school needs. Provided formal and informal professional and staff development settings related to research and data driven instruction and differentiates professional development opportunities to ensure growth for all staff.
• Worked closely with site leadership team to gather data and information for the WASC report and evaluation. Coordinated meetings with stakeholders to disseminate information and review data for WASC criteria. 
• Monitored and reclassified English Language Learners (ELL). Made placement recommendations and reclassification decisions for ELL Students. Worked closely with department chairs and teachers to share concerns fro ELL Students. 
• Collaborated with PLC groups, grade and content level chairpersons, and the leadership team to monitor, implement, and ensure that the Single Plan for Student Achievement (SPSA), intervention services and academic policies are aligned with Common Core State Standards.
• Coordination and managed an operating budget of $4 million. Responsible for program resources and fiscal compliance for all state and federal budgets and funds, including ASB, SIG, Title I and Concentration.
• Facilitation and coordination of school wide mandated CAASPP assessments: SBAC, CELDT, CST-Science, Grade Level Benchmarks, and Physical Fitness.
• Promoted the general health, safety and welfare of the student body, guiding, supervising and/or coordinating all student activities to include school related activities outside of regular school hours, e.g. career exploration, field trips, service learning, etc.
• Organized and Supported SSC, ELAC and CWP to assure that their responsibilities are successfully met and are aligned with district LEA Plan, and SPSA and that Categorical funds are properly allocated to support student achievement. 
• Conducted monthly parent meetings to ensure parents are familiar with Common Core State Standards, technology supports and best practices that increase the academic achievement of their students.

Inglewood Unified School District, Inglewood, CA     2007-2009
Assistant Principal, Bennett-Kew Elementary School
Summary of Major Accomplishments:

• Conducted support staff, long-term substitutes, and teacher performance appraisals that included instructional performance observations and post-observation feedback conferences.
• Assisted in development and implementation of staff motivational strategies. 
• Counseled students, recommend and implement student disciplinary actions in accordance with the Education Code, District policy and procedures, and the school’s proactive discipline plan.
• Actively involved in SST and IEP’s consisting of a team of administrators, counselors, district special education supervisors, and social workers who met to discuss “at risk” students; upheld the highest of confidentiality while devising an action plan, i.e., referrals for special education, testing, or outside placement.
• Assisted in planning, development, organization, coordination and supervision of instructional programs and activities.
• Assisted in planning, organization and conduct of student government activity programs.
• Assisted in the site budget planning and expenditure control process.
• Assisted in planning, development and organization of District and site advisory committees, and work closely with community groups, social service and public agencies.
• Performed a variety of community activities, and serve on parent and District advisory committees.

Inglewood Unified School District, Inglewood, CA     2003-2013
Secondary Educator, Seventh Grade Life Science, La Tijera K-8 School & Monroe Magnet Middle School
Educator for eight years with experience in teaching across the curriculum. Received ratings of “excellent to “outstanding” on both informal and formal evaluations.

• Collaborated weekly with content and grade level team members to plan and organize units for differentiated instructional delivery to students.
• Review of student teacher’s directed lessons

• Facilitation Skills for Chaotic TimesSheltered Instruction Observation Protocol (SIOP)
• Response to Intervention (RTI)
• Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID)
• Explicit Direct Instruction (EDI)
• Failure is Not An OptionRead & Math 180
• Adolescent Solutions Training
• PDI Framework 
• Intentional and Target Teaching
• Having Hard Conversations
• Positive Behavior Interventions & Support (PBIS)
• ELEVATELeadership 3.0 Symposium - CUE
• Courageous Leaders Common Core: Rigor and Relevance
• Common Core Standards Total Instructional Alignment
• Clay Roberts
• Unconscious Bias Training The Will to Lead- The Skill to Teach 
• Student Centered Learning
• Google DOCS 
• Pedro Noguero and Closing the Achievement Gap
• STEM
• Project Lead the Way (PLTW)
• Aeries Student Information System
  
  

CAREER DEVELOPMENT

Curriculum & Instructional Leaders Academy (80 hours)
Principals Academy (70 hours)
Leadership 3.0 SymposiumCo-Administrator’s InstituteACSA/AASA
Women in School Leadership Forum
Lead to Inspire Leadership Summit

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Science Department Chair
ASB Advisor
Yearbook Advisor
WASC Site Chair Committee
School Site Council Vice President- CCUSD
PTSA Hospitality Chair- CCUSD

• Association of California School Administrators
• California Association of African-American Superintendents and Administrators 
• National Alliance of Black School Educators

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COMMUNITY RELATIONS

• Member, Loyola Marymount University African American Alumni Association, 18 years 
• Associate Member, Event Coordinator/Correspondence Secretary, Jack & Jill of America, Inglewood Chapter, 7 years 
• Member, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Orange County Alumnae Chapter, 7 years 
• Member, National Association of University Women, Inglewood Branch, 2 years
• Member, Tabahani Book Circle, 2 years
• Member, National Council of Negro Women, 1 year
• Member, National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, 1 year
• Member, National Sorority of Phi Delta Kappa, Inc., 1 year

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