Andri Pilgrim
Carrollton
Summary
Professional literacy education specialist prepared to elevate literacy initiatives. Expertise in designing and implementing effective literacy programs that promote student engagement and achievement. Known for collaborative approach and adaptability to changing educational needs, while leveraging instructional design and assessment skills.
Overview
35
35
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Executive Committee Member
Georgia Council on Literacy
01.2023 - Current
- Approved the budget of the Council including grant funding and contract agreements. Served as the Executive Committee’s representative on the hiring committee for the Literacy Coach Coordinator. Visited all three Georgia Coaching programs to give support, review training, delivery, and methods for tracking student data. Created and contributed materials for statewide teacher, parent, and librarian use for Georgia Reads Day. Presented a library volunteer opportunities program at the Georgia House Majority Caucus retreat. Served as the Executive Committee representative on the selection committee for the universal reading screeners K-2 and advised about which screener would be chosen to be funded by the legislature for all schools in Georgia. Designed a teacher recognition program for K-2 teacher using growth shown in screener data. Presented this teacher recognition idea and gathered support from the Executive Committee, the K-3 subcommittee, the entire Council on Literacy, and the statewide RESA directors. Held a fundraiser for the program with members of the legislative members of the Executive Committee inside the Capitol and raised over $103,000 in private donations to support the program.
Early Intervention Lead Teacher/Title 1 Coordinator
Bremen City Schools
01.2000 - 01.2025
- Identified and monitored the data of students who needed intervention services in reading. Instructed students identified as below grade level in reading and consistently brought over 90% of those students to grade level or above by the end of the year, as measured by both words per minute reading scores and the STAR reading assessment. Used data to identify trends where instruction needed modification. Designed Title 1 Checklists to focus on developmentally appropriate literacy skills for different grade levels, K-2. Served as a staff development instructor in reading. Wrote and received grant funding from the Georgia Striving Literacy Grant for increasing summer school opportunities for students. Taught after-school and summer school opportunities to help struggling students improve their reading achievement. Implemented the R.E.S.C.U.E. project from Haskins Global Literacy Project with my students and worked as a teacher liaison with researchers from UCONN to help intervention students while they were quarantined at home to decrease the effects of COVID slide on reading achievement. Designed the Bremen City School’s virtual program to serve students who chose to study online in grades kindergarten and first. Researched and took training to make virtual classes interactive and fun for younger students and to keep communication open for online families to connect to the school.
Online ESOL Teacher
VIPKID
01.2018 - 01.2022
- Prepared online lessons and taught students ages 5-14, primarily from China, to speak English. Also, communicated with parents and Chinese lead teachers. Maintained the highest rating possible from parents.
- Developed engaging lesson plans tailored to individual student needs.
- Implemented interactive teaching strategies to enhance language acquisition.
Research Facilitator
University of Connecticut
01.2020 - 01.2021
- Recruited students for the APPRISE project, a dyslexia application created by researchers from the University of Connecticut and Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Organized the only testing site in Georgia and helped assess students in person and online.
Reading Endorsement Instructor
Northwest Georgia RESA
01.2004 - 01.2008
- Taught certified teachers the Foundational Reading in a Diverse Society, the Diagnosis and Correction of Reading Difficulties, and the Reading and Literacy Across the Curriculum courses of the reading endorsement for three separate groups of cohorts, with consistently excellent ratings from adult students.
Grant Writer
Bremen City Schools
01.2000 - 01.2002
- Successfully searched for grants, prepared proposals, and made presentations for the School System’s additional funding opportunities. Grants Funded: Federal Comprehensive School Reform Demonstration Grant, Arts Council, Georgia Partnership for Excellence in Education, Southwire, Carroll EMC and others.
Pre-K Lead Teacher
Bremen City Schools
01.1994 - 01.1998
- Started the Pre-K program for Bremen City Schools. The program was begun for disadvantaged students and worked with both students and families to help overcome these barriers to academic success. Designed the classroom, ordered all supplies, coordinated monthly parent events, conducted monthly home visits, organized monthly field trips and scheduled special classroom readers. The classroom was the featured classroom in Lakeshore catalog for initiative classroom design. I was earned National Board Certification, as an Early Childhood Generalist, in 1998.
Third Grade Teacher
Bremen City Schools
01.1991 - 01.1994
- General Education teacher who worked in a team approach with special education and Title 1 staff to increase reading and math achievement for special education and Title 1 students. I was named One of the Top 100 First Year Teachers in the United States by the Sallie Mae Foundation, 1992.
Education
Ed. S. - Guidance and Counseling
University of West Georgia
Carrollton, GA01.1992
M. Ed. - Guidance and Counseling
University of West Georgia
Carrollton, GA05-1991
B.A. - Psychology
Agnes Scott College
Decatur, GA01.1990
Skills
- Data-driven decision making
- Collaborative teaching
- Early childhood literacy
- Instructional coaching
- Instructional planning
- Reading strategies
- Teaching strategies
Certification
- School Counseling (P-12)
- Elementary Education (P-5)
- Gifted-In-Field
- Reading Endorsement
Awards and Recognition
Governor Brian Kemp’s Appointee to the Georgia Council on Literacy - Subcommittee Member (K-3 and Higher Education), UWG Literacy/Reading Advisory Board, Faculty Representative for the National Blue Ribbon School Award’s Presentation, Washington, D.C., 2022, Governor Roy Barnes’ Representative to Secretary of Education’s Reading Leadership Academy, Washington, D.C., 2001, Writer, Researcher, and Presenter on Teacher Quality for Governor Barnes’ Reform Commission, 2000-2001, National Board Certified Teacher, Early Childhood Generalist, 1998-2018, Sallie Mae Top 100 First Year Teachers, 1992
Training
- LETRS Training, 2024-2025
- S.P.I.R.E. Explicit Phonics Training, 2021
- Orton-Gillingham Online Training, 2018
- Orton-Gillingham Training, IMSE, 2014
- Reading Horizons Train the Trainer, 2012
- American Reading Pilot Facilitator, 2010
- Reading Endorsement, Georgia State University, 1999
Timeline
Executive Committee Member
Georgia Council on Literacy
01.2023 - Current
Research Facilitator
University of Connecticut
01.2020 - 01.2021
Online ESOL Teacher
VIPKID
01.2018 - 01.2022
Reading Endorsement Instructor
Northwest Georgia RESA
01.2004 - 01.2008
Early Intervention Lead Teacher/Title 1 Coordinator
Bremen City Schools
01.2000 - 01.2025
Grant Writer
Bremen City Schools
01.2000 - 01.2002
Pre-K Lead Teacher
Bremen City Schools
01.1994 - 01.1998
Third Grade Teacher
Bremen City Schools
01.1991 - 01.1994
Ed. S. - Guidance and Counseling
University of West Georgia
M. Ed. - Guidance and Counseling
University of West Georgia
B.A. - Psychology
Agnes Scott College