NICKOLAS DAWKINS PROFILE A leader and catalyst for change in the current DPS reform efforts, my fifteen years of experience in working for Denver Public Schools has given me a deep insight, inspiration, and commitment to the students we serve. As an educator and school leader I have tirelessly worked to close achievement gaps and increase access and equity to experiences that create significant impacts in the lives of our students from various cultures and regions throughout the city. As a Principal, I am committed to continuing the work of building positive relationships that connect and motivate great people, engage families and communities, and effectively manage resources to increase student achievement and provide the abundance of opportunities that a high quality education ensures. EXPERIENCE 2012 - Present Principal             Denver, CO Directed an 891 student middle school with an elite magnet program and diverse neighborhood program Effectively led a team of 78-90 employees Drove student growth and proficiency gains in ALL areas assessed: including state test scores that increased 43.5 mgp in 6th Math (overall 74 6th mgp; 23 increase overall Math mgp), 18.5 mgp increase in 6th Reading (all Reading scores show increases), increase in Writing average mgp 61, 9 of 9 areas with over 50 mgp Revamped ELA programming to implement ELA best practices and scheduling structures that drove English Language Acquisition student proficiency gains in all areas assessed. Achievement Gaps: significantly reduced in all areas assessed for students of color, SPED, ELA and FRL: including eliminating the gap between FRL and non-FRL in Reading and Writing; 68 mgp in Math for African American students; 63 mgp in Math for Hispanic students; SPED students who grew in the 85th97th percentile Strategically managed $4.1 million budget, taking the school from financial turmoil and deficit to a surplus. Used strategic budgeting and grants to revamp a school-wide arts program and introduced a SE Denver STEM pipeline that connects elementary through high school, K-12 STEM/STEAM programming. Introduced and implemented 1:1 Chromebook program with additional technology upgrades to every classroom. Implemented a data-driven, student centered instructional model that employed a one on one weekly coaching cycle Turned around a toxic and tumultuous school culture by reviving every system, which resulted in significant uplift in tone, climate and safety. Used culturally responsive education to address serious issues on inequity. Reduced suspensions by over 250 individual students, increased attendance, and surpassed all PSR student engagement targets (2013-14). Named Principal of the Year for the state of Colorado, EduCtr, 2014. School Performance Rating went from Yellow (Accredited on Watch) to current Green status (Meeting Expect) 5/10- 12/12 Principal in Residence  Hamilton Middle School Martin Luther King Jr. Early College Denver, CO Collaborated with Generation Schools to create innovative Master Schedule that significantly increased the time students received in Reading, Writing and Math instruction, while also decreasing teacher preps, class size, and increasing the availability of robust intervention and elective offerings  Attended leadership cohort at Literacy Design Collaborative hosted by the Aspen Institute in Tampa, Florida  Featured host for United Council of Education Administrators Wallace Foundation National Consortium visit  Worked to refine and increase specific leadership competencies on the new Denver Public Schools Leadership Framework Assistant Principal  Leading supervision over High School while achieving Blue (Distinuguished) Growth, 95% graduation rate and college acceptance for students  Collaborating to implemented a robust offering of targeted and differentiated professional development series that includes a focus of Cultural Proficiency and Teacher Effectiveness  Collaborating to develop targeted student programming for severely at-risk students (Young Men of Purpose, Youth Leadership Forum) that has yielded improvement in a variety of student achievement and engagement indicators  Major Areas of Responsibility include: 6th-12th Master Schedule, College Readiness Coordinator, LEAP Implementation, Discipline Systems, Data Processing and Analysis, Instructional Leadership, Community Engagement, Student Engagement and Departmental Management for Language Arts, Mathematics, Social Studies, Counseling and AVID  Leveraging district and state Innovation status to create proactive student intervention (RtI) systems that  Include “Academic Probation,” “Panther Watch “Ace the Test!,” Young Men of Purpose partnership, Youth Leadership Forum partnership, and Club Z Tutoring partnership  Awarded “Center of Excellence” designation by the Colorado Department of Education in „11 and „12  School Performance Rating went from Red in MS (Not Meeting) when I started to Green (Meeting) when I departed 9/09- 5/10 Administrative Intern Thomas Jefferson High School Denver, CO  Major Areas of Responsibility included: Instructional Leadership, Data Collection and Analysis, Mentoring CSAP Goals and marketing, Grant Writing, Marketing, Making Data Public and Meaningful, Community Engagement, School Improvement Planning, School Culture and School Performance Framework Alignment  Wrote and received EPIC Tier Two schools designation  Collaborated to achieve improvements in instructional practice through Instructional Rounds book study and Rounds process  Cocreated and implemented University of Denver partnership: Inspired Leaders of the Future  Collaborated to develop systems of professional development accountability  Monitored and facilitated the Data Teams process  Worked closely with the Principal on issues of budgeting, personnel, and scheduling  Collaborated with teachers on standards-based lesson planning and backwards design  Worked successfully with district personnel in strategically aligning district expectations with the school‟s  School Performance Rating went from Yellow (Accredited on Watch) when I entered to Green (Meeting) when I departed 8/04- 8/09 English Literature Teacher            South High School Denver, CO Awarded Teacher of the Month, January, 2005-2006 Selected for the Mile High Teacher Award, 2005-2006 English Speaking Union University of Oxford Summer Scholarship recipient, 2006-2007 Elected to the School Leadership Team, 2007-2008 Awarded The Belfer Scholar‟s Scholarship, 2007-2008 Participated in College Board‟s Springboard Excelarator implementation Increased competency in reading instruction and cocurricular integration through Professional Development Units Participated in over 200 hours of professional development Participant in the International Book Sharing Project Participated in AVID National Certification and Demonstration School Process High expectations and results include: Multiple years of CSAP High Growth Students, Improved students achievement through AVID Curriculum and Scholarships, High Growth School designations, Moved students from remedial Studio Literacy and intervention blocks to X and AP courses. Courses taught include: World Literature X, Introduction to Literature X American Literature X, AVID, Studio Literacy, Class Sponsor, and various general English courses  8/18/03-12/5/03 Student Teaching South High School Denver, CO Taught three sections of American Literature, one section of British Literature, and one section of College Writing Gained experience in classroom management and planning Excelled and gained experience in diverse teaching atmosphere    6/03-08/31/03 Contract Liaison      Para-Professional    Recreation Instructor     East High School Denver, CO Supported students social and emotional growth Off campus supervisor for work studies programs Worked with Special Needs students in full inclusion settings Experience with mild-moderate to severely disabled youth 1999-2001  Denver, CO Responsible for supervising over 200 youth workers while in summer youth programs. Maintained supervisory contact with heads of non-profit agencies. Conducted formal interviews with over 70 worksite supervisors. Monitored and maintained city contract compliance. Worked with city computer databases. 1999-2003  The Mayor’s Office Of Workforce Development Denver Parks and Recreation Denver, CO Worked well with adolescent youth from diverse socioeconomic and ethnic backgrounds Worked in DPS elementary schools that include Columbine, Gilpin, Cole, and Whittier Assisted with the development of indoor and outdoor youth activities Red Cross trained and certified in various requirements including CPR Thrived in team environments COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP AND COLLABORATION________________________________________ 2014 Denver Plan 2020 Taskforce Committee Denver, CO Presenter: The Importance of a Diverse Teaching Faculty in impacting student achievement  Worked with senior leadership, parents, community stakeholders, school leaders and students to shape and create a five year-year strategic plan with the vision of Every Child Succeeds. 10/2014 Teach For America Black and Latino Summit Denver, CO Presenter: The Importance of a Diverse Teaching Faculty in Impacting Student Achievement  Highlighted best practices and policies for TFA cohorts, candidates, and out of state leaders 8/2014 Denver Summit Schools Network, DPS Denver, CO Presenter: Enhancing Student Achievement through Culturally Proficient School Leadership  Presented to entire Denver Summit School Network of school leaders and instructional superintendents  Presentation on aligning school systems to student and family cultures for greater impact  Identifying critical levers and systems to address while embarking on culturally competency continuum 5/2013 Lead Presenter  National Council on Educating Black Children Chicago, IL Presented with Oakland Superintendent, Antwan Wilson, and DPS Culturally Responsive School Improvement Partner, Darlene Sampson, on Building and Implementing a DisproportionalityBusting Model Anchored In The Resilience of African-American Boys Presently partnering to work on White House Initiative on Excellence in Educating Black Boys  7/2013 The College of Williams and Mary: The School University Research Network (SURN) Williamsburg, Virginia Lead Presenter  Keynote speaker, “100% The Turnaround Story of Martin Luther King Jr. Early College” 8/2008 Congressional Black Caucus Institute Head of CBCI Denver Volunteer Committee Denver, CO  Worked directly with CBCI chief staffers, members of the U.S. House of Representatives, U.S. Senators, high profile celebrities, and political activist.  Recruited and coordinated local volunteer efforts  As a Project Manager I planned, coordinated, and participated in various political events 1999–2001 Baseball Coach    Denver Parks and Recreation Denver, CO Honored as Coach of the Year in 2000. Organized and scheduled events and activities with co-workers. Interacted with parents and various parent groups EDUCATION_______________________________________________________________________ 7/2014 Harvard School of Business and Education, PELP Boston, Massachusetts  Selected to participate in elite Public Education and Leadership Project with top leaders from around USA  Focused on systemic school improvement processes and executing high impact strategies at scale  Developed problem-of-practice aimed at strengthening whole-child education in the 2020 Denver Plan 2010-12 Denver Public Schools, Learn to Lead Denver, CO  Served as Principal in Residence leadership capacity  Focus on Organizational and Community Leadership  Part of inaugural L2L cohort; first principal selected from cohort 2011 Denver Public Schools, Leadership Development Denver, CO  Preparing for the Principalship Series  Studied and observed best practice in K-12 Education  Examined the impact of transformational leadership  Focused on system building, high functioning team traits, and values based leadership 2009-2011 University of Denver ▪ The Ritchie Program for School Leaders ▪ Completed Master‟s Degree in Educational Leadership ▪ Principal Licensure endorsement Denver, CO 2007 University of Oxford Oxfordshire, England ▪ Summer Program in English Literature held at Exeter College ▪ Department of Continuing Education and International Programs ▪ Awarded prestigious scholarship through a highly selective process 2007 University of Colorado at Denver Denver, CO ▪ Studied coursework in English Language Acquisition with Denver Public Schools ▪ Received credit for Advanced Placement high school course, 1996 2003 Metropolitan State College of Denver ▪ Outstanding Alumni Student Achievement Award 2005-2006 ▪ MSCD Mile High Teacher Recognition Award 2005-2006 ▪ Bachelor of Arts ▪ Major in English w/ Secondary School Teaching Emphasis, Minor in Secondary Education ▪ 4.0 GPA in Education courses, 3.3 GPA in Major courses. 1993-1997 East High School ▪ Published in Serendipity Magazine. ▪ Awarded 1st place in state wide Student Congress competitions ▪ Participated on the Speech Team, varsity football, and baseball team Denver, CO Denver, CO English Speaking Union Board member, Former Secretary of DCTA Black Caucus, Colorado Language Arts Society member, Pres. of Intellect Invest Group AWARDS AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS_____ ____________________________________  Hamilton Middle School nominated for Foundation for Great Schools Awards, Winter 2014  $125,000.00 SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT AWARD RECEIVED, FY-13-14    Principal of the Year, 2014 University of Denver Master Scholar of the Year, 2013 2013 Man of Distinction, Young Men of Purpose, 2013  Awarded “Center of Excellence” designation by the Colorado Department of Education, 2011,2012  Awarded The Belfer Scholar‟s Scholarship, 2007-2008  English Speaking Union University of Oxford Summer Scholarship recipient, 2006-2007  Outstanding Alumni Student Achievement Award 2005-2006  MSCD Mile High Teacher Recognition Award 2005-2006  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NbtW3j4cAtk&index=4&list=PLhYAHh2PUu DRbiqOcELAnUtwAGjaqSzqK  Watch a Fox31 News clip  Watch a DPS Features video report  http://kdvr.com/2014/05/27/middle-school-kids-get-professional-dance-lessons-thanksto-special-arts-funding/ REFERENCES________________________________________ _____________________