1. Curriculum Vitae
Nira C Taru, PhD
4 Hartley Circle, apt. 827
Owings Mills, Maryland 21117
Home (443) 334-5434
Cell (804) 245-2519
nctaru@gmailcom
EDUCATION____________________________________________________________
Ph. D, Curriculum and Teaching, Syracuse University School of Education, 2001
MS, Elementary Education Curriculum and Instruction, Cortland State University of New York
State University of New York College at Cortland, Cortland, New York, 1990
BS, Elementary Education, State University of New York Empire College, Syracuse, New York,
1987
AS, Child Development Program, Lincoln Land Community College, Springfield, Illinois
LICENSE AND CERTIFICATION___________________________________________
 University of the State of New York Education Department, Public School Teacher
Certificate, Certification area: Nursery, Kindergarten & Grades 1 – 6 (Permanent)
 Commonwealth of Virginia State Board of Education, POSTGRADUATE
PROFESSIONAL
 LICENSE, Certification area: Early Education, NK - 3
 New Jersey State Principal Certificate of Eligibility
 New Jersey State Principal Provisional Certificate
 School Leadership Licensure Assessment (SLLA) score of 174
 Maryland Certification; Early Childhood Education PreK-3; Elementary Education 1-6;
R12; S, Certificate Type: Advance Professional Certificate
CURRENT WORK EXPERIENCE_____________________________________________
Baltimore County Public School District Present
Elementary Teacher: Fifth Grade
 Teach a Blended classroom model that includes digital and textbook learning
 Instruct gifted and regular students using Common Core Mathematics and English
Language Arts Standards
 Administer formative and summative assessments in science, mathematics, reading and
writing
 Training in Formative Assessment Management Education, which daily monitors
student’s academic progress
 Coordinator of school-wide STEM Fair project-based learning and STEM Fair

2. Carrol County Public School District 2014-2016
Elementary Teacher: Second Grade
 Taught STEM Education (Science and Mathematics) to 2nd graders
 Planned lessons using Maryland State Common Core Mathematics Standards
 Administered County-wide Assessments for 2nd graders in Mathematics, Science,
Reading and Writing
 Analyzed student academic and social behavior through a progress entitled, Kid Talking
 Conducted Parent-Teacher Conferences
 Co-chairperson of Education for Teachers that is Multicultural
 Nominated 2014 and 2015 Teacher of the Year
Morgan State University 2012 - 2014
Associate Professor of Teacher Education and Professional Development
 Teach Foundations of Education, Curriculum and Instruction, and Diversity in the
Classroom
 Collaborate with National Transportation Center at Morgan State University
Transportation Engineering Department to design national curriculum pedagogy for
transportation safety inspectors
 Design a Transdisciplinary Approach to teaching STEM Education to Baltimore City
Public School elementary teachers
 Design a Transdisciplinary Approach to teaching STEM Education to Baltimore City
Public School middle school Mathematics and Science teachers
Curriculum Vitae
 Conduct research in the following areas: Pre-service Teachers Perspectives of School
Climate and Culture, Self-Study Researcher on a Transdisciplinary Approach to
Teaching
 Design and coordinate Masters in Science for Elementary and Middle School in Science
and Mathematics
 Design and coordinate Dual Undergraduate and Master Degree in STEM Endorsement
 Coordinate field experiences for undergraduate students in urban and suburban school
districts
 Collaborate with department faculty in advising more than one hundred undergraduate
elementary education majors
PREVIOUS WORK EXPERIENCES_____________________________________________

3. Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) 2011-2012
Race to the Top Elementary STEM Specialist
 Designed STEM Standards of Practice and STEM Standards of Practice Frameworks
 Collaborated with MSDE English Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, Technology
Education, Social Studies and Performing Arts Directors to develop STEM unit lessons
and lesson seeds
 Knowledgeable of trends, regulations, policies, standards, and issues affecting Maryland
State Curriculum and English Language Arts and Mathematics Common Core Standards
 Designed STEM content matrix showing the correlation between New Generation
Science Framework, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, and English Language Arts
content, skills, practices and/or processes
 Collaborated with Local Educational Agencies (LEAs) across the state to develop STEM
Standards of Practice, STEM Framework of Practices, and STEM curriculum
 Conducted statewide training for teachers and administrators on STEM Education in
Maryland
 Provided technical assistance to LEAs in developing and implementing STEM programs
in elementary schools
 Determined program needs and recommended plans for advancing STEM Education in
Maryland
 Monitored and evaluated STEM Education elementary programs for low performing
school districts
 Served as liaison between MSDE and colleges, universities, businesses, and government
agencies
 Represented MSDE and STEM Education Initiatives to public interest groups
Collaborated with Maryland Business Round Table and Maryland Public Television
 Interpreted and applied State and/or federal regulations governing STEM Education
HIGHER EDUCATION WORK HISTORY _____________________________________
Syracuse University 2009- 2011
Site Director, Say Yes to Education of Syracuse, New York
 Oversaw program operations, which includes classroom visitations, volunteer tutorial,
parent, teacher and student conferences, parent notices and meetings, district staff and
community artist attendance records, staff substitutes, and payroll
 Compiled and analyzed student enrollment data, attendance, academic and enrichment
performance behavior, and performance assessments
 Supervised and monitored student transportation for the after-school and academic and
enrichment summer camp programs, and planned transportation for field trips

4.  Hired, supervised and evaluated program coordinator, social worker, teachers,
paraprofessionals, community artists, college undergraduates, graduates, college
volunteers, and high school students
 Designed an academic and enrichment curriculum to include reading, mathematics,
science, health and wellness, performing arts-music, dance, drama, step drill, theater,
photography, culinary and consumer marketing (jewelry), home interior design, and
fashion design
 Provided K-5 teachers, paraprofessionals, and community artists with professional
development training in Teaching the Gifted and Talented Child, Project-based Learning,
Differentiated Instruction, Morning Circle Time, Inquiry-based Learning, and Students
Demonstrating Good Citizenship and Leadership
 Partnered with lawyers from Syracuse University Law School and local law firms to
provide legal services to students and their families for housing, education, domestic,
civic and misdemeanor offences
 Collaborated with Syracuse City School District School Nurses Administration
Department, local school nurses and clinical staff , Onondaga County Health Service
Department, and State University of New York Upstate Medical Hospital to provide
health and human services to students and their families
 Provided resources for families in need of emergency medical, clothing, housing and
shelter
 Collaborated with Catholic Charities of Syracuse New York, Child and Family Welfare,
Social Services, and other community centers and agencies to prove financial and/or
medical services to students and their families
 Planned and implemented city-wide events, which included: student backpack drive,
Syracuse University College Volunteer Day, Community Artists Festival, college
scholarship forums, health H1N1 information drive, Say Yes to Education Door to Door
Information Day, National African American Parent Involvement Day, Fathers for
Education Breakfast, and other community events
 Coordinated the United States Secretary of Education, Arne Duncan, visited Dr. Martin
Luther King Jr. Applied Science and Technology Elementary School
Virginia State University 2005 - 2007
Assistant Professor
 Coordinated the Elementary Education Program
 Taught courses in Reading in the Content areas, Foundations of Education, Curriculum
Design and Instruction, Elementary Social Studies Methods, and Current Issues in
Education
 Chaired NCATE Standard Four Diversity
 Organized of Action Research Committee Symposium
 Co-Chaired the School of Liberal Arts and Education (SLAE) Curriculum Committee
 Co-Chaired the Praxis I and II Test Preparation Programs

5.  Instructed undergraduate students in Foundations of Education and Curriculum and
Instruction in Elementary and Secondary School courses
 Instructed graduate students in Curriculum and Instruction in Elementary and Secondary
Schools
Virginia Commonwealth University 2004 - 2005 & 1995-1997
Adjunct Professor
 Instructed undergraduate level Educational Psychology and Reading and Readiness Skills
 Instructed graduate level Elementary Social Studies Methods and graduate level
Curriculum
 Planning and Development course
 Supervised graduate student teachers placed in urban school settings
University of Washington August – September 1992
Graduate Research Assistant
 Conducted research on Discourse in the Classroom
 Conducted research on Trends in Urban Education
 Conducted research on Inclusive Special Education Programs in Seattle Washington
Public Schools
 Taught Social Studies Methods course
 Taught Teaching Black Children in the Urban Schools course
 Assisted in teaching Multicultural Education course
Syracuse University School of Education 1998 - 2000
Graduate Assistant
 Conducted dissertation research on Middle Class African American Children Taught in
Predominately White Suburban Schools in Northern Virginia
 Taught Elementary Reading English Language Arts course
 Taught Drama in the Classroom course
Syracuse University School of Education 1999-2000
Field Supervisor
 Supervised undergraduate and graduate pre-service student teachers
 Advised student candidates

6.  ‘ Facilitated Professional Development School meetings between Syracuse University
staff and Syracuse City School District staff
 Evaluated undergraduate and graduate students' field placement performance
PUBLIC EDUCATION WORK HISTORY _____________________________________
Trenton Public School District 2007- 2009
District Director of Elementary Curriculum
 Provided curriculum and instructional programs, materials and textbooks in all content
areas and classroom support for approximately 9,500 students, grades K-8
 Provided professional development for the implementation and monitoring of teacher’s
usage of curriculum guides and lesson plan templates to 18 building principals, 8 vice
principals, 800 teachers and staff in K-8 schools
 Directed District-wide committees in the design and implementation of report cards,
scheduling, lesson plan templates, K-8 language arts, mathematics, science and social
studies curriculum guides, maps and pacing guides in textbook adoption, benchmark
assessments, and differentiated instruction
 Directed District-wide curriculum articulation and writing teams
 Designed, implemented and monitored District-wide classroom best-practices through an
instrument entitled, “Looking for Learning Walks”
 Developed and gave guidance, in accordance with New Jersey Core Curriculum Content
Standards, surrounding district-wide curriculum content (to include the curriculum pacing
benchmarks, textbooks and professional enhancements)
 Directed, supervised, and evaluated 12 literacy and 12 mathematics instructional support
coaches
 Formulated policies related to curriculum, instruction, and assessment services for
presentation to the Board of Education
 Collaborated with the Director for Student and Support Services to provide professional
development
 Served, upon request, as a resource person to all instructional leaders (e. g. principals,
assistant principals and school leadership teams)
 Planned, implemented, monitored, and evaluated New Jersey State Education
Department’s recommendations from the New Jersey Quality Single Accountability
Continuum (NJ QSAC), Collaborative Assessment for Planning and achievement
(CAPA), Two Year Instructional Priority Plan, and Collaborative Learning Plan for
Abbott Districts

7. Central New York Charter School for Math and Science 2003-2004
Assistant Principal
 Supervised all local, state, and national student standardized testing, and designed school-
wide student and teacher policy handbook
 Planned yearly curriculum, supervised special education committee meetings, and
preformed all duties of the principal in his absence
 Supervised and evaluated all teachers, teacher assistants, support teaching staff, specialty
teachers, custodian, secretary, and business manager
 Supervised school-wide special events, and actively participated in board meetings
 Managed all student behavior problems and concerns K-6 and conducted parent
conferences accordingly
 Administered student arrival and departure, oversaw busing, and directed before-school
and after-school activities
Syracuse City School District Summer 2001-2003 Summer
School Administrator
 Hired and trained incoming employees to include a staff of 36 teachers, 24
paraprofessionals, 4 nursing staff, and 4 social workers for a Summer School
Enhancement program, and coordinated staff orientation
 Designed summer school program K-8 and facilitated summer initiatives targeting 1200
high risk students Pre-K thru 6th,
 Supervised teachers and paraprofessionals and evaluated staff planning and instruction
 Administered teacher evaluations, monitored payroll and scheduled substitutes for staff
 Monitored student behavior and conducted parent conferences accordingly
Solace Elementary, Blue Ribbon School September 2000-2003
Central Office Reading Specialist
 Implemented New York State English Language Arts Standards
Planned staff development training and orchestrated committees for parent and
community involvement
 Designed curriculum and administered criterion and standardized assessments
 Coordinated Reading Specialist Task Force for parent and child literacy
 Co-designed School Improvement Plan, and wrote district-wide school improvement
plans

8. Prince William County School District September 1997-1998
3rd Grade Teacher
 Implemented "Democracy in Action" curriculum in the classroom
 Designed and implemented lesson plans and evaluated student performance
 Administered county, state and national standardized assessments
 Chaired third grade level team and wrote school policy and site-based planning
 Implemented dimensions of learning curriculum and coordinated reading and language
arts program
Richmond City Public Schools September 1996-1997
3rd Grade Teacher
 Planned and implemented lesson plans and evaluated student performance
 Administered county, state and national standardized assessments
 Authored "Democracy in Action" curriculum, and wrote a third grade safe schools plan
Syracuse City School District September - June 1994, 1999, 2000
Elementary and Secondary Homebound Instructor
 Planned and implemented all elementary grade level curriculums and executed
instruction for social studies, algebra, geometry, earth science, general science/biology,
Spanish I, French I and English
 Evaluated student performance and reported student’s progress to school teachers and
administrators
 Administered district and statewide standardized tests in Math, Science, Social Studies
and English Language Arts for grades 1-12
Syracuse City School District September 1990-1993
Language Arts Coordinator
 Instructed students in 27 classrooms in English Language Arts and developed programs
designed to enhance reading comprehension, writing, drama and speech
 Supervised students in the Junior News Report Group (writers of the school newspaper)
and facilitated student performance in the daily school television news broadcasting show

9.  Collaborated in the selection of Multicultural Curriculum components in English
Language Arts and provided in-service training to teachers for New York State English
Language Arts Standardized tests
 Supervised teachers inclusion of art, music, PE, and library curriculum into classrooms
and provided assistance to teachers throughout the school year to ensure student-learning
objectives were met
 Chaired the Expressive Academic Committee, directed numerous special school wide
programs and planned and trained grade level team coordinators on language arts
 Facilitated teacher lesson plan enhancement and supervised teachers in implementing
district curriculum into classroom instruction
 Lead the Building and Planning Committee, wrote the school building policies and
supervised the quality of the building maintenance team
SCHOLARSHIP, CONSULTANT, PRESENTER, AND COMMUNITY SERVICE
Areas of ResearchInterests
 Multicultural education in elementary schools
 Multicultural school environments
 Multicultural education in college and universities pre-service and student teacher
programs
 Democratic classroom in suburban elementary schools in Northern Virginia
 Classroom discourse in Seattle, Washington urban middle school urban teacher
preparation programs
 Parent involvement in low-achieving urban elementary schools
 Middle-class African American students who attend predominately White elementary
schools
 Middle-class African American families’ educational experiences
White teachers teaching high risk students
 Reading strategies that work for African American students in urban school settings
 The effectiveness of reading first programs
 STEM Education for elementary school students, pre-k through fifth grade
 The state of STEM Education in high risk urban schools
 African American teachers’ life stories
Published Research
 Chapter Publication: Kevin A. Peters and Nira C. Taru (2013). DHS Minority Serving
Institution (MSI) Programs: Research Linked to DHS Centers of Excellence (COE). New
York City College of Technology, City University of New York, USA.
 Taru, N. C. (2001). Mountaintop: Middle class African American families’ public
school experiences, Syracuse University Press Inc. , Syracuse, New York
 Taru, N. C. (1987). Afro-locs and the three bears presently held in copyright

10.  Taru, N. C. (1997). The development of a democracy in action curriculum: Theory,
practice, and research apprenticeship, Richmond City Public Schools, Richmond Virginia
Un-Published Research
 Taru, N. C. Born to teach: Memoires of a teacher, book in manuscript
 Maxwell, D. L. & Taru, N. C. A Field Experience Context: Pre-service Teacher
Perceptions of Leadership, Culturally Response School and Propensity to Teach at the
School, Research in progress
 Taru, N. C. Exploring school environment: Implications for educating diverse student
populations
 Taru, N. C. School culture: Changing from crisis to performance
 Taru, N. C. Democracy in action curriculum guide for elementary educators
 Taru, N. C. In a moment in time: Urban city student use democratic values that promote
good citizenship
Consultant Experiences
 Taru, Nira C. (2010). City-wide Male to Male Youth Mentorship. I designed mentorship
guidelines and curriculum for the Male Urban Educators program, which was funded by
the Syracuse University Say Yes to Education program Syracuse, New York
 Taru, Nira C. (2010). School-base Mother Support Group for Inner-city Single Parent
Moms. I designed a mother empowerment curriculum for the Syracuse University Say
Yes to Education and Parent Network Program of Syracuse City School District,
Syracuse, New York
 Taru, Nira C. (2008-2009). Education Testing Service (ETS). I served as a test scoring
consultant at the Educational Testing Service Center 2008-2009, Princeton, New Jersey
 Taru, Nira C. (2002). Curriculum Planning for Teachers, I designed New Teacher
Handbook for Multicultural Classroom, which was funded by Syracuse City School
District Syracuse, New York
 Taru, Nira C. (1998). Elementary Curriculum Activities in African American Folktales. I
designed multicultural elementary curriculum activities for African American Images
Publishing Company, which was funded by Afro-centric Textbooks Inc. Chicago,
Illinois
Presentations
 STEM Education for all Students. Carroll County Public School Regional STEM
conference, 2015
 Teaching, Learning and Student Advisement “Having a Successful First Semester”.
Morgan State University New Faculty Orientation, 2013
 STEM Education in Elementary Classrooms. I conducted training for State Department
of Education Educator Effectives Academies (EEA) 2012, Maryland

11.  College and Career Readiness. I conducted a seminar for parents in urban school
districts at the Syracuse City School District-wide African American Parent Conference
2010, Syracuse, New York
 Diversity in American Inner-city Classrooms. I lead a Round Table discussion on
Diversity in American Inner-city Schools at Oxford Round Table 2008, March Oxford,
England
 Virginia State University Praxis Test Preparation Program. I conducted training at the
Virginia State University Faculty Training Seminar 2006, Petersburg, Virginia
 Multicultural Education in Inner-city and Suburban School Settings. I conducted
training at Central New York Charter School Annual Teacher Seminar 2003 & 2004,
Syracuse, New York
 Collaboration with School Administration in New Zealand and Australia. I lead a
discussion on American Public Urban Schools at the United States People to People
Ambassador to New Zealand and Australia conference 2003, Auckland, New Zealand &
Sidney, Australia
 The Disenfranchisement of the New Minority. I presented to high school students at
Cicero-North Syracuse High School Student Government Association 2002, North
Syracuse, New York
 Democracy and Equity in the Classroom. I conducted a workshop for educators at the
National Association for Multicultural Education (NAME) conference 2002, Washington
DC
 Out of the Box: Students who Repeatedly Disrupt Classroom Learning. I conducted a
workshop for educators at the National Association for Multicultural Education (NAME)
conference 2002, Washington DC
 Umoja: Unity Amongst Students of Color on College Campuses, State University of New
York Environmental Science and Forestry 2002, Syracuse, New York
 Implementation of Multicultural Curriculum, New York State Child Care Council State
Conference 1994, Rochester, New York
 Diversity/Multicultural Education, Syracuse City School District Administrators Retreat,
1994, Syracuse, New York
 Multicultural Education for Urban Teachers. I conducted a seminar at Hughes
Elementary Magnet School 1994, Syracuse City School District, Syracuse, New York
 Early Childhood Professions. I conducted training at North Syracuse Jr. High School
Students Early Childhood Program 1994, North Syracuse, New York
 Multicultural Education for Parent Advocates. I conducted a workshop at Cortland and
Onondaga County BOCES Conference 1993, Cortland, New York
 Integrated Multicultural Inclusive Technology Training. I conducted a workshop, at
Hughes Elementary Syracuse City School District Grade Level Staff Development 1994-
1995, Syracuse City School District Syracuse, New York
 Integrating a Multicultural Inclusive Training Program. I conducted a workshop, at
Hughes Elementary Syracuse City School District Grade Level Staff Development 1994-
1995, Syracuse City School District Syracuse, New York

12.  Diversity/Multicultural Education. I conducted a seminar at Syracuse City School
District Administrators Retreat 1994, Syracuse, New York
 The Implementation of a Multicultural Curriculum. I conducted a workshop at Child
Care Council State Conference 1994, Rochester, New York
 Beyond the Anti-Bias Curriculum. I conducted a workshop at Syracuse Association for
the Education of Young Children Conference (SAEYC) 1993, Syracuse, New York
 Multicultural Education. I conducted a workshop at the New York State Child Care
Council Conference 1993, Albany, New York
Civic Organizations
 Kappa Delta Phi Honors Awards, 2013
 Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Coalition of Educators and
Businesses, 2011
 International Reading Association (IRA), renewed 2011
 Literacy Research Association, renewed 2011
 Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD), 2009
 Virginia Association for Teacher Educators (VA-ATE), 2005-Present
 Virginia Principal and Educational Leaders (VPEL), 2006-present
 Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD), 2005-Present
 People to People Ambassador Program, 2003 - Present
 National Council for Social Science (NCSS), 2003 - Present
 National Association of Multicultural Education, 2001 - Present
 High School Mentoring Program for Students of Color, 2001- Present
 New York State Association of Teacher Education, 1998 - Present
 Prince William Alliance for Black School Educators, 1997 - 1998
 Professional Development School, Syracuse University Charter, 1998
New York State Association for the Education of Young Children (NYSAEYC), 1994-
Present
 NYSAEYC Chairperson for College Student Membership, 1994-Present