Tess Simon-Tvrdy
Savannah
Summary
Experienced with motivational techniques, interpersonal communication, and strategic planning. Utilizes tailored approach to foster individual and team growth. Track record of achieving enhanced performance outcomes through effective coaching methods.
Overview
15
15
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Instructional Technology Coach
Savannah Chatham School System- Office of College and Career Readiness
07.2023 - Current
- Instructional Technology Coach with the MSAP STEM team for Hubert Middle School
- Worked in conjunction with Hubert administration in an effort to attain STEM certification according to GADOE’s STEM continuum.
- Assisted and trained staff on the use of technology and software. Assisted teachers with standard based lesson presentations in Nearpod, Canva, Google Suite, Microsoft and Brightspace.
- Led weekly Monday grade level interdisciplinary planning meetings.
- Delivered professional development on instructional technology practices and project-based learning.
- Worked with the counseling team to create and deliver school wide social emotional learning lessons.
- Created and delivered Friday STEM lessons for the whole school. All lessons were differentiated by grade levels and themes according to the previous Monday planning sessions.
- Worked weekly on Tuesdays with grade level science instructors to plan out their weekly/monthly calendars and collaborate on their standard based lessons.
- Initiated and organized the 2024 Hubert STEM Night that included community members, vendors, students and faculty.
- Created a schoolwide PBL incorporating Massie Heritage and the W.W. Law Exhibition
- Created hands on materials for GMAS “Boot Camp” for each grade level in the spring semester. Weekly differentiated materials were alternated between ELA and Math for five weeks.
- Planned and collaborated with the Hubert CTAE department for the inaugural Hubert STEAM Camp starting June 2nd, 2025.
- W/ OCCR- Co-organized the “Egg Drop Competition” and prepared the judging for the PSAs submitted for the 2024 and 2025 SCCPSS Student Success Expo.
- Worked numerous events including, SCCPSS Back to School Expo, Eighth Grade Choice Field Trips, Wellness Day, Ready to Work Job Fair and Books and Blankets.
- Participant of the 2023/24 Savannah Economic Development Authority Educators program.
- Attended the 2024 Georgia CTAE Conference
- Attended the 2024 SCAD Educator Forum
- Volunteered as a STEM Instructor for the 2024 JROTC STEM Leadership Camp
- Co-Presenter for the 2024 SCCPSS Teaching & Learning Conference
GaTutor- After School Virtual Science Tutor
Georgia Department of Education
08.2023 - 09.2024
- Serving public school secondary students in selected counties from the state of Georgia by providing aid in Biology, Chemistry and Physical Science.
- Virtual Zoom tutoring sessions were provided after 5:00pm and on weekends for public school students as a free option in participating school districts.
Science Instructor
Savannah Chatham School System- Savannah E-Learning Academy
08.2020 - 07.2023
- Science Instructor- (6th-8th ) Earth Science, Life Science and Physical Science
- Worked exclusively online and gained experience with several applications- Its Learning, Nearpod, Edgenuity, Google Suite
- Grade level lead and trained as GMAS co-testing coordinator 2022/23 school year.
- Served on the SCELA School Leadership Team 2022/23 school year.
- Served as the Adult Leadership committee in 2021/22 school year.
- Created the SCELA Student Council in 2020
Science Department Chair
St. Vincent’s Academy
01.2013 - 07.2020
- Collaborated with administration and contractors to renovate two standard classrooms to new lab and lecture space.
- Continually oversaw Department Curriculum to align more cohesively with Georgia state standards. Oversaw the Department budget and monthly spending.
- Attended the 2016 NSTA Conference to collaborate with other science teachers on a national level.
- Assisted in the implementation of four AP electives to the department- AP Environmental Science, AP Biology, AP Chemistry and AP Physics.
- Awarded the American Chemical Society High School Grant – “STEM the Girl Gap in Chemistry” after writing the grant proposal.
- Grant writer contributor for the unrewarded J. Bulow Campbell Foundation Grant for “Building Renovations of St. Vincent’s Academic Building”.
- Planned with the Admin team and Savannah Historic Society for the renovation of two standard classroom spaces converted into lab and lecture spaces and improvements to the two remaining lab classrooms.
- Coordinated and presented the lab activities for SVA’s 8th grade visitation for student recruitment.
- AdvancedED accreditation team member for the “Standard 3: Teaching and Assessing for Learning”.
- Responsibilities included tracking evidence for school accreditation purposes and writing conclusions for standard findings.
- Data indicates that both the Explore and Pre ACT science test scores were greatly increased in the last ten years for the SVA student body after the changes to the curriculum and updates to the science department were completed in 2019.
Science Instructor
St. Vincent’s Academy
08.2010 - 07.2020
- Epidemiology- created the new science elective offering, based on the epidemiological studies of human diseases. The course integrates anatomy and physiology, statistics, and current events.
- College prep and honor’s chemistry where we focused on STEM related studies and women in science.
- Enhanced lab-based learning to accommodate differentiated classes.
- AP Biology Instructor 2015-2018 average score for SVA’s AP Biology was a 3.00.
- Wrote and submitted the approved College Board AP Biology Syllabus held at St. Vincent’s Academy
- Selected curriculum, books and lab activities for several courses after attending AP workshop.
- College Prep and Honor’s Biology -Created a “Pre-AP Biology” course for the Honor’s level Biology.
- Integrated formal lab report writing.
- Science Club Moderator
- Spent time exploring forensics, food and other science avenues not covered in traditional science classes.
Head Soccer Coach
St. Vincent’s Academy
01.2012 - 01.2020
- Coordinate practice and games for the Varsity and JV soccer teams
- Schedule games pre-season for the Varsity and JV teams
- Second place finish for GHSA State AA finals 2016
- First place finish for GHSA State AA finals 2017
- First place finish for GHSA State AA finals 2018
- First place finish for GHSA State AA finals 2019
- Best of Preps “Girls Soccer Coach of the Year” 2013,2016, 2017 and 2019
- 2AA Region Girls Coach of the Year- 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019
- JV Soccer Coach- St Vincent’s Academy- 2010-2012
Education
APEL Tier-1 Certification -
Middle Georgia RESA
07.2025
Coaching Endorsement - undefined
Metro RESA
05.2024
Online Teaching Endorsement - undefined
Middle Georgia RESA
09.2022
Master of Arts in Teaching - Secondary Science Education
Western Governors University
Salt Lake City, Utah05.2020
Bachelor of Science - Biology
Armstrong Atlantic State University
Savannah, GA05.2006
Skills
- Effective communication
- Building relationships
- Group leadership
- Personable and friendly
- Task organization and timely completion
Certification
- Online Teaching Endorsement Middle Georgia RESA
September 2022
- Coaching Endorsement
Metro RESA
May 2024
- APEL Tier-1 Certification
Middle Georgia RESA
July 2025
Awards
Professional Association of Georgia Educators Star Teacher 2017 and 2018, WTOC Top Teacher 2017, Positive Athlete 2019-2020 Southeast Georgia Region Positive High School Coach, Savannah Now’s Best of Preps “Girls Soccer Coach of the Year”- 2013, 2016, 2017 and 2019, GHSA 2AA Region Girls Coach of the Year- 2013, 2014 and 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019
EDUCATIONAL PHILOSOPHY
“Teach by teaching, not by correcting.” — Maria Montessori
PAROCHIAL LEADERSHIP
- Saint Vincent College Benedictine Leadership Studies- 2019
- Academic courses with BLS students in leadership, ethics, politics, and Benedictine spirituality
- Attended Seminars on leadership presented by Saint Vincent College faculty members
- Invited to the capstone course trip to Rome, Italy. Experiential activities to enhance leadership skills and work collaboratively with peers
- Spiritual formation under the guidance of Benedictine monk.
Timeline
GaTutor- After School Virtual Science Tutor
Georgia Department of Education
08.2023 - 09.2024
Instructional Technology Coach
Savannah Chatham School System- Office of College and Career Readiness
07.2023 - Current
Science Instructor
Savannah Chatham School System- Savannah E-Learning Academy
08.2020 - 07.2023
Science Department Chair
St. Vincent’s Academy
01.2013 - 07.2020
Head Soccer Coach
St. Vincent’s Academy
01.2012 - 01.2020
Science Instructor
St. Vincent’s Academy
08.2010 - 07.2020
Coaching Endorsement - undefined
Metro RESA
Online Teaching Endorsement - undefined
Middle Georgia RESA
Bachelor of Science - Biology
Armstrong Atlantic State University
APEL Tier-1 Certification -
Middle Georgia RESA
Master of Arts in Teaching - Secondary Science Education
Western Governors University