Candace Thurmon
Orland Hills ,IL
Summary
Dynamic instructional leader with over 19 years of teaching experience, dedicated to enhancing educational practices and improving student outcomes. Expertise in curriculum design, data analysis, and professional development ensures high standards in all initiatives. Committed to fostering team collaboration and achieving measurable results while adapting to evolving educational needs. Recognized for building trust, cultivating a positive learning environment, and driving success in diverse educational settings.
Overview
12
12
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
ELA/SS Team Leader
North Palos School District 117
Palos Hills, IL
08.2025 - Current
- Facilitate structured data cycles with 6 instructional teams, analyzing assessment results, identifying targeted students for re-teaching, designing intervention plans based on misconceptions, and evaluating impact through follow-up reviews
- Oversee school-wide literacy intervention programming (ASSETs), managing student identification, progress monitoring systems, and staff coordination to support targeted reading growth
- Provide instructional coaching through classroom observation cycles and in-class modeling, delivering actionable feedback to support instructional clarity, engagement, and rigor
- Design and deliver professional development and PLC collaboration on vocabulary development, unit revision, and student engagement strategies to build teacher capacity and instructional consistency
High School English Teacher
Naperville North High School
Naperville, IL
08.2024 - 06.2025
- Developed and implemented engaging English curriculum for four sophomore-level English courses, focusing on literature analysis, critical thinking, and writing skills
- Provided individualized instruction and feedback to support diverse sophomore students in meeting grade-level language arts standards
- Designed and taught an advanced rhetoric writing course for seniors, emphasizing persuasive techniques, research methods, and college-level composition skills
ELA Teacher
Prairie Knolls Middle School, Central Community Unit School District 301
Burlington, IL
08.2023 - 07.2024
- Co-taught social studies curriculum, implementing differentiated instruction for English learners and students with IEPs
- Instructed newcomer immigrant students in foundational English skills, including phonemic awareness, reading, writing, listening, and speaking in a small-group setting
- Managed annual ACCESS testing administration for 59 English learners across grades 6-7
AP English Language & Composition & English Teacher
AP English Language & Composition & English Teacher
Beijing, China
08.2022 - 07.2023
- Planned units and lessons using Readers' and Writers' Workshop model, twice weekly with colleagues
- Facilitated student-centered learning including Dr. Kagan's cooperative strategies and visible thinking for 9th, 11th, and 12th graders
AP Seminar and English Teacher
Nansha College Preparatory Academy
Guangzhou, China
01.2020 - 01.2022
- Created differentiated scaffolds aligned to ELA Common Core standards for ESL students in grades 9th and 11th grade
- Facilitated six monthly interactive professional development workshops to 8 colleagues on ways to increase students' academic conversations using the works of Zwiers & Crawford
- Utilized Harvard University's Datawise Project to analyze evidence-based data and make collaborative decisions for school improvement
ESL Teacher
Yinhu Experimental School
Hangzhou, China
09.2018 - 07.2020
- Taught ESL to students of Chinese citizenship using the four domains of language proficiency
- Increased the English language proficiency of students
- Trained incoming teachers in the planning process for ELDs (English Language Descriptors)
Language Arts Teacher
North Oaks Middle School, Birdville Independent School District
Haltom City, TX
08.2014 - 07.2018
- Taught ELAR to students in grades 6-7 including Pre-AP and special education
- Delivered district-wide ELA professional development on student-centered classrooms in the form of interactive workshops for 83 teachers
- Led PLC meetings for the English department weekly
- Co-coordinated ELA Winter Literacy Night
Education
MA in Educational Leadership -
North Central College
01-2016
BS in Elementary Education - undefined
Northern Illinois University
01-2005
Skills
- Curriculum Development (UbD)
- Department Leadership
- Data Analysis and Goal Setting
- Standards-Based Instruction & Assessment
- Adult Learning Design & Facilitation
- Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS/RtI)
- Teacher Coaching & Mentoring
- Teamwork and collaboration
Accomplishments
- Initiated the adoption of AP College Board's AP Capstone Program
- Increased AP Seminar exam scores by 13% in one year
- Taught writing fundamentals course where students' writing skills increased from 40% to 73% meeting state standards by the end of the year
Certification
- English Language Arts and Reading (Grades 4-8)
- English as a Second Language (Grades 4-8)
- Secondary Education, English
- Illinois State Board of Education, Professional Educator License, 2027
Timeline
ELA/SS Team Leader
North Palos School District 117
08.2025 - Current
High School English Teacher
Naperville North High School
08.2024 - 06.2025
ELA Teacher
Prairie Knolls Middle School, Central Community Unit School District 301
08.2023 - 07.2024
AP English Language & Composition & English Teacher
AP English Language & Composition & English Teacher
08.2022 - 07.2023
AP Seminar and English Teacher
Nansha College Preparatory Academy
01.2020 - 01.2022
ESL Teacher
Yinhu Experimental School
09.2018 - 07.2020
Language Arts Teacher
North Oaks Middle School, Birdville Independent School District
08.2014 - 07.2018
BS in Elementary Education - undefined
Northern Illinois University
MA in Educational Leadership -
North Central College