Camilla Ferebee
Virginia Beach
Summary
Highly qualified, motivated, problem solver, intentional, and passionate education professional offering extensive experience in the development, implementation, and oversight of academic programs and initiatives that promote student growth and achievement. Additional senior leadership experience serving large, diverse student cohorts that include at-risk youth, managing sizable budgets, and coordinating professional development opportunities for staff. Highly adept in the development, implementation, and evaluation of continuous improvement practices.
Overview
26
26
years of professional experience
Work History
Special Education Teacher
Portsmouth Public Schools
Portsmouth
08.2025 - Current
- Provide instruction to students with educational disabilities in an Inclusion and Self-contained setting.
- Developed Individual Education Plans for a caseload of 10 students, monitor students’ academic and behavior performance throughout the academic year, prepared specialized lessons and lesson plans to accommodate all special needs students in the areas of mathematics and reading.
- Measure progress against learning outcomes.
- Maintain a caseload of ten students and supervised seven special education teachers and 6 instructional assistants.
- Monitor students’ progress towards meeting Individual Education Plan (I.E.P.) goals by meeting with teachers, reviewing students’ work samples, monitoring grades, and revising I.E.P. when needed.
- On-site student database manager, review I.E.Ps.
- Conduct teacher observations and evaluations, review teacher lesson plans, served as a liaison between parents and teachers, assisted with the development of the special education component of the school improvement plan, and assisted with the discipline of special education students.
- Child Study Chair Person scheduled and attended I.E.P, manifestation determination reviews (MDR), and eligibility meetings.
Instructor
Virginia Commonwealth University
Richmond
05.2024 - Current
- The course represents a holistic approach to leadership that meets the needs of learners across the continuum, with a focus on students with disabilities, as well as gifted students and English language learners.
- Courses Taught: ADMS 625
Coordinator of Assessment
Portsmouth Public Schools
Portsmouth
07.2021 - 04.2025
- Hold full responsibility for the development, implementation, and monitoring of a process to use data to make instructional decisions.
- Analyze district and school-level data to develop professional development and tiered school support.
- Provide leadership coaching to principals.
- Develop and implement data decision-making protocols.
- Develop and implement the division’s School Improvement Site visit protocols.
- Decrease division dropout rate by a minimum of 5.06%.
- Assists schools with developing Comprehensive Needs Assessments.
- Use multiple data sources to assist with the development of School Improvement Plans.
- Create data charts and documents to assist principals with identifying strengths and areas of concern as it relate to instruction and student achievement.
- Collaborate with Principals to select appropriate evidence-based interventions (EBI).
- Collaborate with Principals to build instructional leadership capacity, resulting in over 60% of schools (elementary, middle, and high) receiving full implementation during the Academic Review (2022-23) on the School Leadership Evaluation tool.
- Monitor school improvement plans for implementation and impact on student achievement.
- Lead the division’s School Improvement Processes; academic reviews and performance monitoring using multiple data points to address opportunity gaps and create targeted continuous school improvement plans.
- Stay current on K12 assessment, accountability, and accreditation best practices by participating in ongoing professional learning and networking opportunities.
Principal (Elementary & Middle)
Portsmouth Public Schools
Portsmouth
07.2016 - 06.2021
- Held full responsibility for shaping a vision of academic success for all students, creating a climate hospitable to education, cultivating leadership in others, improving instruction, managing people, data, and processes.
- Provided the leadership and management necessary to administer and supervise all programs, policies and activities of the school to ensure high quality educational experiences and services for all students in a safe and enriching environment.
- Improved the overall climate of the school, through building positive relationships with students, teachers, parents, and community partners.
- Analyzed data, discipline, attendance, and academics to monitor student achievement, resulting in a decrease in failure rate in reading, full accreditation in mathematics, science and social studies (middle school), full accreditation in first year (elementary).
- Served 530 students in grades 7-8. Improved academic performance in all content areas reading from 65% to 68%, writing from 46% to 54%, mathematics 54% to 68%, Science 64% to 72%, History and Social Science 76% to 79%.
- A Title-1 school serving 425 students in grades K-6. Scores increased in Reading from 72.37% to 74%, Science 73.5% to 76%History and Social Science 82.02 to 86%. Math decreased from 81.08% to 78%; which still met the benchmark of 70%.
- Worked collaboratively with teachers to improve teaching practice through coaching, professional development, modeling, and collaborative planning.
- Effectively implemented and monitored outcomes of school improvement plan and student achievement data.
- Executed actions needed to prepare and receive a successful Academic Review.
- Managed Title 1 and School Improvement Grant (SIG).
- Reviewed and monitored alignment of resources to improve teaching and learning.
- Supervised and mentor all teachers and assistant principals.
- Worked collaboratively with instructional coordinators and specialists to develop and conduct division-wide professional development for instructional staff.
- Developed school policies and procedures aligned with the district strategic plan to effectively support student achievement.
- Developed and implemented high-priority goals that get immediate results.
- Provided staff development to teachers to include: Data driven decision making, developing lesson plans that are aligned to the curriculum, developing appropriate learning objectives, classroom management, depth of knowledge, importance of parental engagement, disrupting inequity, and alignment of the written, taught, and assessed curriculum.
- Improved student achievement and turn-around school performance.
- Improved student attendance and parental engagement by 15%.
- Successfully mentored five individuals’ specialist and assistant principals, 100% have been promoted to principals or assistant principals.
Assistant Principal (Middle & High)
Portsmouth Public Schools
Portsmouth
07.2006 - 06.2016
- Responsible for assisting in planning, development, organization, coordination, and supervision of instructional program and activities, interprets and implemented the District approved curriculum program.
- Supervised Special Education, English, Science, Social Studies, and Mathematics teachers.
- Managed disciplinary.
- Reviewed and provided feedback on lesson plans.
- Reviewed Individual Education Plans and Behavior Intervention Plans to ensure compliance.
- Conducted classroom observations and provided quality-aligned feedback.
- Conferenced with teachers and parents with regard to academics and behavior issues.
- Worked collaboratively with parents, students and teachers to accommodate individuals and their service needs.
- Prepared and reviewed data from standardized tests.
- Developed the master schedule.
- Coordinated and monitored the attendance appeals process.
- Chaired parental involvement committee and coordinated events to improve parent and community relations.
- Provided training for parents in behavior intervention and prevention methods.
- Provided training for special education teachers on special education regulations, district policies, federal and state policies and procedures.
- Assisted with interviewing teachers for vacant positions and coordinating staff development for teachers.
Special Education Department Chair
Portsmouth Public Schools
Portsmouth
08.2000 - 06.2005
- Maintained a caseload of fifteen students and supervised thirteen special education teachers and fourteen paraprofessionals.
- Monitored student’s progress towards meeting Individual Education Plan (I.E.P.) goals by meeting with teachers, reviewing student’s work samples, monitoring grades, and revised I.E.P. when needed.
- On-site student database manager, reviewed I.E.Ps.
- Conducted teacher observations and evaluations, reviewed teacher lesson plans, served as a liaison between parents and teachers, assisted with development of the special education component of the school improvement plan, and assisted with discipline of special education students.
- Child Study Chair Person scheduled and attended I.E.P, manifestation determination reviews (MDR), and eligibility meetings.
Special Education Teacher
Portsmouth Public Schools
Portsmouth
01.2000 - 06.2005
- Provided instruction to students with educational disabilities in an Inclusion and Self-contained setting.
- Developed Individual Education Plans for a caseload of fifteen students, monitored students’ academic and behavior performance throughout the academic year, prepared specialized lessons and lesson plans to accommodate all special needs students in the areas of Biology, Earth Science, and Algebra I.
- Taught grade 9 students in all aspects of a well-planned curriculum.
- Measured progress against learning outcomes.
General Education Teacher
Portsmouth Public Schools
Portsmouth
01.2000 - 06.2005
- Provided instruction to students in the academy Math 8, Algebra 1, and Earth Science.
- Developed lesson plans were aligned to the curriculum.
- Worked collaboratively with the middle school to ensure that students were provided the necessary content to bridge the gap between Math 8 and Algebra 1.
- Taught grade 9 at-risk students in all aspects of a well-planned curriculum.
- Measured progress against learning outcomes. 70% of students graduated.
Education
Doctorate - Education Leadership
The University of Phoenix
Phoenix, AZM.A. - Administration Supervision & Urban Education
Norfolk State University
Norfolk, VAB.S. - Biology
Norfolk State University
Norfolk, VASkills
- Effective communication
- Curriculum development
- Problem solving
- Strategic thinking
- Professional development
- Data-driven instruction
- Instructional coaching
- Leadership development
Affiliations
- WELV - Women Education Leaders of Virginia - Member
- AASA The School Superintendent Academy - Urban Superintendent Academy - Completer
- AASA The School Superintendent Association- Member
- VDOE Network Improvement Community (NIC) – Member
- Certified Executive Coach
- William & Mary School-University Resource Network (SURN) Leadership Coaching Academy
- William & Mary School-University Resource Network (SURN) Principal Academy September 2016 – June 2018
- Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated - Member
Presentations
- Women Education Leaders in Virginia (WELV), 03/01/25, Leveraging Data and the Science of Reading
- Women Education Leaders in Virginia (WELV), 03/01/20, All I Do is Win
- Virginia Association for the Teaching of English (VATE), 11/01/21, Bias in Literature
- National ESEA, 02/01/21, Equity for Students in a Virtual Learning Environment
Timeline
Special Education Teacher
Portsmouth Public Schools
08.2025 - Current
Instructor
Virginia Commonwealth University
05.2024 - Current
Coordinator of Assessment
Portsmouth Public Schools
07.2021 - 04.2025
Principal (Elementary & Middle)
Portsmouth Public Schools
07.2016 - 06.2021
Assistant Principal (Middle & High)
Portsmouth Public Schools
07.2006 - 06.2016
Special Education Department Chair
Portsmouth Public Schools
08.2000 - 06.2005
Special Education Teacher
Portsmouth Public Schools
01.2000 - 06.2005
General Education Teacher
Portsmouth Public Schools
01.2000 - 06.2005
Doctorate - Education Leadership
The University of Phoenix
M.A. - Administration Supervision & Urban Education
Norfolk State University
B.S. - Biology
Norfolk State University