ISABEL MORALES, ED.D.

Fulbright Distinguished Teacher, 2020
Los Angeles Unified School District Teacher of the Year, 2014
Los Angeles County Office of Education Teacher of the Year, 2014
2014 Finalist - CA State Teacher of the Year
 
EDUCATION
 
UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
​Doctorate of Educational Leadership with a concentration in Teacher Education.                             
 
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, LOS ANGELES                                                                                                      
M.Ed. Educational Administration
M.Ed. Secondary Social Science Teaching
BA, Sociology & Chicana/o Studies, Magna Cum Laude, Phi Beta Kappa                
 
EXPERIENCE

HOLLENBECK STEMM MAGNET MIDDLE SCHOOL (Los Angeles, CA)
Social Studies Teacher                                                                                                           
  • Social Studies Team Lead Teacher and Instructional Leadership Team member
  • Developed digital notebook template and remote learning lessons, which were shared by educators distributed around the world
  • Worked with the LAUSD History and Social Science Instructional Department to instructional materials for the district’s secondary social science teachers during remote learning.
 
FULBRIGHT FOUNDATION (Utrecht, Netherlands)        
Fulbright Distinguished Teacher Fellow, University of Humanistic Studies                         
  • Researched civic education of marginalized populations in vocational secondary education, while on professional leave of absence from LAUSD
  • Interviewed youth leaders from the national student union and the United Nations Youth Delegate program to further understand the political participation of youth
  • Collaborated with members of the national curriculum organization to develop recommendations for strengthening the civic education of youth of color  

​FELICITAS & GONZALO MENDEZ HIGH SCHOOL (Los Angeles, CA)
Social Studies Teacher                                                                                                  
  • Designed and delivered project-based instruction in AP US History, AP US Government, Honors US History, US History, Latin American Studies, Psychology, and SAT Preparation
  • Coordinated a school-wide History Day program, and judged the county level competition
  • Served as departmental co-chair, planning and leading professional development on instruction, literacy, and assessment.
  • Increased AP Government enrollment from 5 to 75 students.
  • Partnered with local writing project, 826LA, providing students with access to writing tutors
  • Promoted school-wide literacy by developing summer reading program, establishing a Little Free Library on campus, and scheduling author visits.
 
UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA (Los Angeles, CA)           
Adjunct Assistant Professor, USC Rossier School of Education                                                      
  • Provided graduate-level instruction to masters and doctoral students, in-person and online, in courses such as New Media Literacies, Intro to Graduate-level Writing, and Action Research
  • Supervised masters and doctoral theses and research projects in a virtual setting
  • Facilitated synchronous online discussions and provided feedback in asynchronous discussion boards and written assignments
  • Integrated multimedia presentations, small group collaboration, interactive live discussions, and student-led presentations in all courses
 
PUC CALS CHARTER MIDDLE SCHOOL & EARLY COLLEGE HIGH SCHOOL (Los Angeles, CA)
Assistant Principal of Instruction                                                                            
  • Observed classroom instruction, reviewed lesson plans and provided regular feedback to 6-8th grade teachers in all content areas
  • Coordinated college field trips, honor roll assemblies, after school intervention, Saturday School, and benchmark testing
  • Planned and facilitated weekly professional development sessions for teachers
  • Coordinated anti-bullying efforts through peer-led solutions teams
 
PATHWAYS COMMUNITY SCHOOL (Los Angeles, CA)
Assistant Principal                                                                                            
  • Planned and facilitated professional development sessions for teachers around restorative justice, antiracist and trauma-informed education
  • Conducted teacher observations and provided feedback to improve instruction
  • Created an Instructional Leadership Team to develop professional collaboration and shared decision-making structures
  • Facilitated regular department meetings to develop vertical alignment of content areas
  • Led the College Readiness Team, which planned and facilitated student and parent workshops, field trips, Naviance training, and school-wide college knowledge events
  • Facilitated restorative circles to promote healthy communication among students
 
LOS ANGELES HIGH SCHOOL OF THE ARTS (Los Angeles, CA)
Founding Teacher                                                                                                            
  • Collaboratively made decisions about curriculum, staffing, and budget as a member of Instructional Leadership Team, Hiring Committee, and Governing Board
  • Developed and delivered interdisciplinary Linked Learning curriculum for AP Psychology, Sociology, AP Government, Government, & Economics
  • Supervised fundraisers and logistics for Prom, Grad Nite, Graduation, Student Body Elections, school dances, and holiday events as Leadership adviser
  • Taught photography, graphic design, marketing, and fundraising as Yearbook adviser
  • Presented work at local, state, and national conferences, including the Digital Media and Learning, ASCD, and the American Educational Research Association conferences
  • Spearheaded the school’s principal hiring process, co-created interview protocols, and ensured that the hiring process incorporated teachers, students, and parents
 
AWARDS & FELLOWSHIPS
UCLA Writing Project, 2020
Fulbright Distinguished Award in Teaching, 2019-20
National History Day WWI Centennial "Memorializing the Fallen" Teacher Fellow, 2018-19
Korean War Legacy Foundation Teacher's Peace Camp Delegate to Korea, 2018
ASCD Emerging Leader, 2016
Los Angeles Unified School District Teacher of the Year, 2014-15
Los Angeles County Office of Education Teacher of the Year, 2014-15
Finalist, California State Teacher of the Year, 2014
College Board Professional Fellow, 2014
Phi Delta Kappa Innovation and Impact Grant, 2014
America Achieves Teacher Fellow, 2014
National Geographic Grosvenor Teacher Fellow, 2014
Phi Delta Kappa Emerging Leader, 2013-14
Education Pioneers Fellow, 2013
Teach Plus Teaching Policy Fellow 2012-13
Toyota International Teaching Program 2007
Earthwatch Teaching Fellow 2007
 
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS & SERVICE
National Council for the Social Studies
National Council for History Education
National Council for the Teaching of English
California Council for the Social Studies
Southern California Social Studies Association
CCSS Conference Committee
#sschatreads Moderator