ADAM FORBES

1211 Fitzgerald Street, Philadelphia, PA 19148♦ Adamforbes25@gmail.com

EDUCATION
Master’s of Education, University of Pennsylvania: 05/2014-05/2015 GPA: 4.0 Honors
Earned Teaching Certifications in K-8: Science, Math, Social Studies and English.
• Awarded Glosserman Family Urban Education Scholarship for Outstanding Educator

Master's Level Program Specialist in ESL/ ESOL, PA Intermediate Unit I: 08/2017- 06/2018
Earned K-12 Certificate in ESOL

BA, Pitzer College: Environmental Studies 08/2005- 05/ 2008 GPA: 3.96 High Honors
• Leader of 5 College Environmental Education program.
• Recipient of Lyons Club Leadership Scholarship for "Unselfish and Dedicated Community Service"

WORK HISTORY
ESL Teacher, Mastery Charter Schools Thomas Campus 08/2019- Present
• Teach ESL for over 65 students in 7-12th grades in South Philadelphia
• Plan and write all curriculum. Develop new unit plans and support plans for ELL’s
• Lead PD’s for schools and facilitate partnerships and collaboration with core teachers

Teacher and Curriculum Consultant 08/2018 to 08/2018

Together for Better Days, UUABC, Door Service English, – Colombia, Greece, and Vietnam
• Designed curriculum and taught lessons in schools, refugee camps, and online platforms

Teacher, Education Director 02/2016 to 08/2018, Current Consultant

Grow Philly And Novick Brothers Corporation – Philadelphia, PA
• Wrote and implemented curriculum for Nutrition and Environmental Education in schools and outdoor field trips
• Led over 7,229 students from 39 schools on educational field trips and taught lessons in more than 45 schools
• Taught English and Work Ready skills to 15 refugee and immigrant youth and 9 adults.
• Taught weekly adult ESL course in basic reading, writing, and speaking
• Wrote Grants, project plans, and budget. Oversaw all budgets, grant reports, and fundraising efforts.
Student Support Specialist and Lead Educator 03/2010 to 12/2016
Pennsylvania Migrant Education Program – Philadelphia, PA
• Taught science, ESL, and literacy for In School classes, Saturday School and Summer School
• Taught over 200 ELL’s (refugees and immigrants) each year
• Created partnerships with school district staff, community organizations, local leaders, and city government.
• Led, oversaw and taught 3 after school programs for more than 120 migrant and ESL students
• Designed curriculum and lesson plans, and implemented new instructional strategies
• Implemented tutoring, mentorship program, intervention plans, parent meetings, and community outreach.

5th Grade Teacher 09/2015 to 06/2016

Folk Arts Cultural Treasures Charter School (FACTS) – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
• Taught 58 students in Math, Science and Social Studies. More than half of class was ELL’s
• Developed new social studies and science curriculum rooted in sustainability, cultural diversity and social justice.

5th and 8th Grade Student Teacher September 2014- June 2015
Kirkbride Elementary and Southwark Elementary, Philadelphia, PA
• Assumed full teaching responsibilities. Designed curriculum for Science, Math, and English including English
Language Learners. Led STEM week focused on manufacturing: cross-curricular, project-based unit

Community Integration Specialist and Garden Founder/ Educator 02/2011 to 02/2015

Nationalities Service Center, Growing Home – Philadelphia, PA
• Created four community gardens for 125 refugee families from Burma, Nepal and other countries.
• Taught ESL to over 300 youth and adults.
• Created cohesion between new refugee families and long-time Philadelphia residents using art, storytelling, food,
gardening, and celebrations. Organized and taught community meetings, health workshops, and adult ESL classes.

Environmental Education Manager and Teacher 02/2010- 02/2011

Weavers Way Community Programs – Philadelphia, PA
• Ran farm summer camp, community events and healthy cooking programs at homeless shelter with youth and adults.
• Led over 2000 visitors in hiking, ecology, nutrition and gardening programs on the farm and in classrooms.

International Researcher and Teacher 06/2008 to 07/2009

Thomas J. Watson Fellowship - India, Italy, Thailand, Ethiopia, Peru, and Greece.
• Researched Sustainable Agriculture: Crops and Cultures in 7 countries, as part of prestigious Fellowship.
• Partnered with government agencies, NGO's, and local leaders to assist local farmers and complete participatory
research. Facilitated collaboration among diverse groups. Presented at 17 conferences across the USA and Canada
Environmental Educator 02/05- 07/05
Turtle Mountain Environmental Learning Center, Bottineau, ND.
▪ Designed lesson plans for classes ranging from one hour to three days. Taught Kayaking, archery, geocaching, etc.
▪ Instructed over fifty groups in forestry, ecology, water science, insects, and more.

CIVIC AND COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP

• Volunteer Teacher and Trip Leader for South Philly youth (2010-Present)
• Board Member of Neighborhood Gardens Trust (2013-2015)
• 76ers “Tip of the Hat” Award for “Community/ Volunteer Leader” - 2018
• Presented at 3 conferences on successful ESL instruction for refugee students
• Received the prestigious annual Margaret Harris Award for “Exemplary leadership and Support of Philadelphia's
immigrants and refugees”.
• Sent as a PA representative to National Refugee Resettlement and Education Conference

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
• Attended 15 major conferences by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, USDA and others on education
policy, teaching English as a Second Language, and effective science instruction.