Ruth Chambers-Turner
Stafford,VA
Summary
Dynamic educational leader with over 13 years of experience in both traditional and non-traditional educational settings, demonstrating a strong commitment to fostering academic excellence. Proven track record as a Founding Director/Principal and Expansion Director/Principal, complemented by roles as High School Assistant Principal and Middle School Director of Operations. Expertise in team management and enhancing student outcomes across diverse educational levels, alongside a demonstrated ability to lead and innovate within complex, multi-faceted environments. Passionate about driving positive change and creating impactful learning experiences for all students.
Overview
20
20
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Special Education Teacher
Stafford County Public Schools
08.2025 - Current
- Create and manage IEPs to define student learning objectives and educational strategies, in addition to applying instructional knowledge and methods to support goals.
- Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to provide comprehensive support for students with special needs.
- Evaluate student progress regularly using various assessment methods, ensuring accurate measurement of skill development and areas requiring additional support.
- Cultivate connections and strong student rapport to foster classroom engagement, in addition to recording student progress to inform parents and school administration.
- Improve student behavior management by implementing consistent routines, clear expectations, and positive reinforcement strategies.
- Foster strong relationships with parents and guardians, maintaining open lines of communication to ensure student progress.
Director of Operations
Meeting Street Schools
02.2025 - 07.2025
- Streamlined middle school operational processes (registration, attendance, safety, facilities) to enhance efficiency across multiple departments.
- Worked collaboratively with elementary and middle school principals to implement new procedures and corrective actions to improve processes.
- Developed and implemented capitol improvement projects that improved functionality and student/staff experience in the middle school .
- Established strong partnerships with vendors, suppliers, and key stakeholders to improve collaboration and ensure alignment with business requirements.
- Fostered a culture of continuous improvement through training and mentoring staff members.
- Addressed disgruntled parents to assist front-office staff and maintain excellent student-family customer service.
Founding Director
Palmetto Excel Adult Charter High School (9-12)
03.2023 - 10.2024
- Developed and implemented a strategic plan resulting in the successful launch of Palmetto Excel (PE), a novel school model in the State of South Carolina.
- Interviewed and hired a founding senior leadership team unified under the school's mission and vision.
- Coordinated the analysis, assessment, and development of school improvement strategies based on term-by-term and annual schoolwide data, resulting in PE exceeding Excel network averages for enrollment, retention, and credit attainment.
- Wrote Palmetto Excel Student Handbook, Safety Handbook, and Palmetto Excel Team Member Benefits, Compensation, and Code of Conduct Addendum to Palmetto Goodwill Staff Handbook, clarifying student and staff expectations.
- Collaborated with Palmetto Goodwill VP of Missions and Marketing and PCSD on state-wide expansion planning, marketing, and the development of two PCSD-approved charter applications.
- Presented Palmetto Excel model through multiple media outlets, including live news broadcasts, print, radio, webcast, and conferences, resulting in positive branding and increased enrollment.
- Facilitated community outreach, resulting in recruitment, fundraising events, and numerous community partnerships.
- Facilitated development and implementation of a schoolwide multi-tiered Proficiency-based Education (PBE) Plan resulting in alignment of PE instructional framework with the PE charter and SC guidelines.
Teacher, Biology
Prince William County Schools
08.2022 - 03.2023
- Led the Advanced Biology Collaborative Learning Team (CLT) in the development of learning targets and content in alignment with VA Biology Standards of Learning (SOLs).
- Led the implementation of common summative assessments in an authentic assessment format in biology in alignment with the new VA SOLs.
- Developed a student algorithm that was used as a course-wide scaffolding technique for solving authentic assessment SOL-style questions resulting in increased student performance on departmental common assessments.
- Developed course-wide ongoing processes to integrate parental involvement and increase awareness of new Biology SOL rigor and requirements.
- Member of the Equal Opportunity Schools Team, which is working on providing greater access to AP and dual enrollment courses for all students.
Director (Expansion)
Goodwill Excel Center Public Charter High School
07.2021 - 07.2022
- Collaborated with the district leadership team to plan and implement the expansion of Goodwill Excel Center Adult High School to multiple sites.
- Conducted schoolwide needs assessments and collaborated with the District Leadership Team to strategically plan objectives and develop policies resulting in alignment with the GEC mission across multiple sites.
- Recruited, interviewed, and supervised the onboarding of new hires, resulting in high-performing team members.
- Facilitated the multi-team interdependent processes of student recruitment, enrollment, master scheduling, instruction, and retention that resulted in the expansion of the GEC student enrollment during pandemic conditions.
- Implemented professional development (in-service) in district policies, improving practices and planning future programs, resulting in growth in team professional practices.
- Built school culture through communication and public relations within the school community, resulting in support from all community stakeholders.
Assistant Principal/Instructional Lead
Goodwill Excel Center Public Charter High School
05.2018 - 07.2021
- Supervised STEM Instructional Team through observation/ feedback evaluation cycles, resulting in clear expectations and a high-performing team.
- Managed all on-site standardized testing and utilized data to assess, report, and problem-solve curriculum and instructional gaps, resulting in course corrections, improvements in student productivity, and credit attainment.
- Monitored, evaluated, and then aligned core Math classes to Common Core and ACT and Science curriculum to NGSS and ACT standards, resulting in increases in junior and senior ACT scores.
- Conducted disciplinary action resulting in either growth in team members or dismissal per HR policies.
- Collaborated with Sr. Leadership Team managers on enrollment, pre-testing and master scheduling processes to ensure smooth entry and scheduling of students.
- Collaborated with Leadership Team managers on interdependent processes such as retention, credit attainment, and graduation, resulting in the unified achievement of charter goals.
Teacher, STEM (Founding Team)
Goodwill Excel Center Public Charter High School
07.2016 - 05.2018
- Developed curriculum for all core Science classes, ACT prep, and Math Lab courses to population diversified by age, competency, and learning style, which contributed to GEC reaching credit attainment and graduation charter goals.
- Utilized creative and instructional pedagogy and attendance interventions to achieve high pass rates in chemistry and physics classes for over-aged and under-credited population of students.
- Developed and initiated the pilot phase of the GEC tutoring program, a 3-platform program designed to assist in the one-to-one tutoring of low-level learners and to engage and empower high-level learners.
- Developed a new instructor wiki page and mentored new instructors on lesson planning and class management, as well as policy, procedure, and school culture, resulting in effective onboarding processes.
Director, Math and Science Academic Center
Northern Virginia Community College, Annandale, Virginia
09.2014 - 08.2015
- Supervised a staff of 20 tutors with administrative duties, including hiring, training, scheduling, evaluating, and budget management.
- Strategically developed, implemented, and assessed novel programs, resulting in a 51% increase in center usage to diversified learning populations.
- Promoted a collaborative team environment and encouraged staff professional development by facilitating team projects to expand and improve services.
- Tracked, analyzed, and reported center resources, usage data, goals, and achievements in quarterly and annual reports.
- Prepared grant proposals for funding of new center programs and resources.
- Wrote and implemented a training manual on the theory and application of educational methodologies, resulting in improved delivery of tutoring services.
Faculty, Biology, Lead
Hondros College of Nursing, Fairborn, Ohio
06.2011 - 08.2014
- Oversaw the curriculum development and integration of anatomy & physiology I/II, microbiology, and nutrition courses into the LPN and RN degree programs, resulting in the alignment of curriculum between 3 statewide Nursing colleges.
- Managed microbiology laboratory budget and trained, supervised, and mentored assistants, resulting in a fully functional and staffed microbiology lab designed for Nursing students.
- Member of the general education and campus curriculum committees responsible for statewide curriculum mapping and alignment with accreditation standards for the PN and RN nursing programs.
- Member of the retention committee, which was responsible for developing standardized as well as individualized plans for students flagged as retention risks.
Adjunct Faculty, Biology
Columbus State Community College, Columbus, Ohio
09.2010 - 12.2011
- Instructed microbiology lectures and laboratory courses to biology and allied health majors.
- Developed course syllabi and PowerPoint presentations that effectively communicated course concepts and engaged students, as evidenced by high teacher evaluations.
- Developed assignments that promoted communication and higher-order thinking skills through theory-based teaching methodologies.
- Used novel instructional technology such as YouTube videos and online assignments through text publisher software to maximize the student learning experience.
- Utilized the Blackboard platform to offer in-class computerized exams to increase the efficiency of grading, course assessment, and reporting.
Adjunct Faculty, Biology
Wright State University, Dayton, OH
04.2007 - 12.2008
- Instructed general and nursing microbiology laboratory courses
- Designed laboratory experiments and demonstrations to emphasize learning objectives.
- Developed exam material that coincided with the learning objectives of the lecture course.
- Provided demonstrations of appropriate results and maintained stocks of reagents and media.
- Completed inventories and ordered stock materials, supplies, and equipment.
Adjunct Faculty, Biology
National College of Business and Technology, Kettering, Ohio
12.2005 - 04.2007
- Taught microbiology, anatomy and physiology, college algebra, developmental math, and developmental English courses to allied health degree majors.
- Effectively communicated abstract concepts to students with limited exposure to biology.
- Provided tutoring services to algebra and developmental math students.
- Participated in the annual review and revision of course outlines, textbooks, and other media.
Education
Ph.D. - Education
Walden University
Minneapolis, Minnesota12.2017
Master of Science - Microbiology & Immunology
Wright State University
Dayton, Ohio03.2010
Bachelor of Science - Chemistry
Central State University
Wilberforce, Ohio07.2003
Skills
- Strategic Planning
- Project Management
- Student Data Analysis
- Professional Development
- Conflict Resolution
- Online/Hybrid Instruction
- Public Speaking
- Student Advising
- MS Office 365 Suite
- Google Apps
- Power School
- Synergy
Accomplishments
- Utilized strategic thinking skills to plan and implement the successful launch of Palmetto Excel Adult Charter High School, 2023-24
- Utilized novel recruitment strategies, resulting in 2500+ applicants for 150 rolling enrollment spots during the Palmetto Excel 2023-24 founding year
- Utilized communication skills to develop donor or affiliate relationships with Trident United Way, Coastal Community Organization, SC Works, and SC Human Resource Management Organization, resulting in funding opportunities and employment opportunities for students 2023-24
- Utilized staff development skills to promote student-centered classrooms, Tier 1 interventions, and attendance tracking and follow-up, resulting in Palmetto Excel exceeding Excel Center national averages in credit attainment rates by 23% 2023-24
- Used analytical skills to align the Math remediation series of curriculum to standards, resulting in meeting or exceeding Math mastery and participation charter goals from 2018 to 2022
- Used emotional intelligence to lead, inspire, and coach instructional team through continuous feedback cycles, resulting in GEC earning 100% proficiency ratings on the 2019-20 PCSB Quality School Reporting (QSR)
Certification
District of Columbia June 2022 – June 2026
- Standard Administrative Service Credential - preK-12 Standard Administrator
Virginia July 2022 – June 2032
- Virginia Teacher's License with Postgraduate Professional License, Endorsements: Administration and Supervision preK-12, Biology, Chemistry
South Carolina January 2024 - June 2028
- Leadership-Professional: School Principal Elementary and Secondary, Tier 1
LANGUAGE SKILLS
CEFR High A1 Level
Spanish Proficiency
Professional Presentations
Lessons Learned from a Year 1 Founding Director
Excel Center National Conference, 2024
Assessment beyond multiple choice: project-based learning in the virtual world and beyond…
Excel Center National Conference, 2021
Technology-Driven Formative Assessment Tools in a Distance Learning World
Excel Center National Conference, 2020
Building School Culture Through Continuous Feedback and Buy-in
Excel Center National Conference, 2019
Supplemental Instruction and The Promotion of The Construction of Knowledge and Critical Thinking
Walden University Residency, 2016
Tutoring at Hondros College Nursing Programs: Why and How?
Hondros College of Nursing Faculty Development Day, 2013
The Use of Classroom Dialogue as an Effective Active Learning Technique
Hondros College of Nursing Faculty Development Day, 2013
PUBLICATIONS
- Chambers-Turner, R. C., Nguyen, T., Arif, A., Nguyen T., Tran, N., Nguyen, K., & Rivero, C. (2015). The book of everything: A training manual and workbook for tutors and tutoring center assistants. Northern Virginia Community College. (Available upon request)
- Fernando, T. M., Ochs, S. D., Liu, J., Chambers-Turner, R. C., & Sulentic, C. E. (2012). 2, 3, 7, 8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin induces transcriptional activity of the human polymorphic hs1, 2 enhancer of the 3 prime; Igh regulatory region. The Journal of Immunology, 188(7), 3294-3306
Timeline
Special Education Teacher
Stafford County Public Schools
08.2025 - Current
Director of Operations
Meeting Street Schools
02.2025 - 07.2025
Founding Director
Palmetto Excel Adult Charter High School (9-12)
03.2023 - 10.2024
Teacher, Biology
Prince William County Schools
08.2022 - 03.2023
Director (Expansion)
Goodwill Excel Center Public Charter High School
07.2021 - 07.2022
Assistant Principal/Instructional Lead
Goodwill Excel Center Public Charter High School
05.2018 - 07.2021
Teacher, STEM (Founding Team)
Goodwill Excel Center Public Charter High School
07.2016 - 05.2018
Director, Math and Science Academic Center
Northern Virginia Community College, Annandale, Virginia
09.2014 - 08.2015
Faculty, Biology, Lead
Hondros College of Nursing, Fairborn, Ohio
06.2011 - 08.2014
Adjunct Faculty, Biology
Columbus State Community College, Columbus, Ohio
09.2010 - 12.2011
Adjunct Faculty, Biology
Wright State University, Dayton, OH
04.2007 - 12.2008
Adjunct Faculty, Biology
National College of Business and Technology, Kettering, Ohio
12.2005 - 04.2007
Ph.D. - Education
Walden University
Master of Science - Microbiology & Immunology
Wright State University
Bachelor of Science - Chemistry
Central State University