Curriculum Vitae for Heather J. Mirous

Curriculum Vitae for

Heather Joella Mirous

Department of Psychology

Northwestern University Home:

Cresap Hall 104 1930 Ridge Avenue

2029 Sheridan Road Apartment B411

Evanston, IL 60208-2710 Evanston, IL 60201

Phone: 847-491-2189 330-715-7197

CURRENT RESEARCH

Using behavioral and fMRI research methods to investigate the cognitive components and neural correlates of inference processing during text comprehension, with focus on the influence of affect and working memory.

Advisor: Dr. Mark Jung-Beeman

Other Research Interests: lateralization of language processing, especially right hemisphere contributions to text comprehension; developmental differences in inference processing and working memory capacity; teacher influence on student affect and subsequent cognitive processing; potential training for increasing working memory capacity

EDUCATION & CERTIFICATION

PH.D. Student, Cognitive Psychology, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL (Expected 2010)

GPA: 3.956 (Winter 2008)

Ohio Elementary Provisional Teaching Certificate, Grades 1-8 (1998 to present)

Ohio Special Education Temporary Teaching Certificate (2000-2001)

Bachelor of Science, Elementary Education, Minor: Psychology, Concentration: History (1998)

HONORS & SCHOLORSHIPS

· Nominated for Teaching Assistant Fellows Program, Northwestern University, 2008

· Multidisciplinary Program in Education Sciences fellow, Northwestern University, 2006-2009

· University Fellowship, Northwestern University, 2005-2010

· First Teacher of the Month, Lake Elementary Student Council, 2004

· Goals 2000 Teaching Intern, 1996-1998

· The University of Akron Honors Program, Presidential Honors Scholarship 1994-1998

· Recognized by Women of Higher Education as outstanding woman scholar/athlete

· Valedictorian of Manchester High School, Class of 1994

INVITED TALK

Sitton Spelling Simplified! September, 2004; Invited by Principal of Marlington Elementary School to present the Sitton Spelling program to faculty; Marlington, OH

PRESENTATIONS

The Influence of Affect on Inference Processing During Story Comprehension, upcoming poster presentation, Institute of Education Sciences, 6/2008, Washington, D.C.

Individual Differences in Inference Processing During Story Comprehension, poster presentation, Cognitive Neuroscience Society, 4/15/08, San Francisco, CA

Individual Differences in Inference Generation, poster presentation, Institute of Education Sciences, 6/8/07, Washington, D.C.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Lake Elementary School; Lake Local Schools, Hartville, OH

2001-2005 Classroom Teacher - Fourth Grade

2000-2001 Intervention Specialist – Fourth Grade

2000-2001 Title I Reading Teacher – Second and Third Grade

East Linden Elementary School; Columbus Public Schools, Columbus, OH

1998-2000 Classroom Teacher - Fourth Grade

Turkeyfoot Elementary School; Coventry Local Schools, Akron, OH – Second Grade

Johnson Elementary School; Barberton Public Schools, Barberton, OH – Third/Fourth Grade

1997-1998 Student Teacher and Intern Teacher (Multiage Classroom)

· Prepared and taught lessons according to Ohio’s Learning Standards

· Used several types of diagnostic assessments to identify student interest, personality, learning style, and readiness to learning standards

· Analyzed these assessment results to build differentiated instruction that engaged individual learners through a variety of methods including: multi-sensory centers, peer-teaching, interactive technology, student choice, experiments, songs, motions, art, group as well as individual projects, tiered assignments, and more

· Regularly tracked individual and class progress toward state standards and personal goals

· Used continual assessments to guide re-teaching of specific standards to identified students in personally meaningful ways until mastery of outcomes was achieved

· Implemented standards-based grading, with continual re-assessment throughout each marking period

· Adapted instruction for students with disabilities, according to their Individual Education Plans (IEP’s)

· Collaborated regularly with students, intervention faculty, administrators, and parents to design appropriate goals, and methods of achieving those goals, for students with special needs

· Facilitated student-led conferences

· Collaborated with grade level team to create common monthly assessments aligned to Ohio’s Standards

RELATED TEACHING EXPERIENCES

1/08-present Undergraduate Independent Study Mentor, Jung-Beeman Lab, Psychology Department, Northwestern University

6/07-7/07 Teaching Assistant, Statistical Methods in Psychology, Northwestern University

3/06-6/06 Teaching Assistant, Research Methods, Northwestern University

1/06-3/06 Teaching Assistant, Psychology of Gender, Northwestern University

2000-2005 Academic Assistance After-School Program - Reading and Math Teacher for Fourth Grade, Lake Elementary School, Hartville, OH

2000-2005 Academic Summer School Program - Reading and Math Teacher for Fourth and Fifth Grade, Uniontown Elementary School, Uniontown, OH

2004-2005 Cheerleading Coach – Seventh Grade, Lake Middle School, Uniontown, OH

2003-2004 Adult Bible Study Leader, The Chapel, Akron, OH

2000-2001 Danceline Coach, Lake High School, Uniontown, OH

1997-1998 Sunday School Teacher – Seventh and Eighth Grade, The Chapel, Akron, OH

1995 Summer Camp Counselor – High School, Ohio Family Foundations, Akron, OH

1994 Assistant Teacher – Four-Year Old Class, Childtime Childcare, Akron, OH

1994 Assistant Teacher – Intermediate Grades, Wee-Care Day Camp, Akron, OH

1993-1996 Cheerleading Instructor, Manchester Youth Cheerleading, Akron, OH

1994-2005 Tutor

· East Linden Elementary; Columbus Public Schools – Tutored 4th grade students in all proficiency areas.

· Reidinger Middle School; Akron Public Schools - Tutored 7th and 8th grade students in math for the Ohio Proficiency Test.

· Open-M Tutor, Akron, OH - Tutored 2nd grade students in all subject areas in an urban school.

· Akron Urban League - Tutored students in grades 2-5 in all subjects using computers

· University Tutoring; The University of Akron - Tutored college students in psychology, US history, and study skills; certified Level II Tutor through University Training Program.

· Services for Students with Disabilities; University of Akron - Tutor and note taker for college students with various disabilities.

· Private Tutor, Akron, OH - Individually tutored 6th and 7th grade students in math and language arts.

LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCE

1999-2000 Fourth Grade Chairperson

East Linden Elementary; Columbus Public Schools, Columbus, OH

· Responsible for planning grade-level meetings, field trips, and distributing relevant grade-level information, especially concerning the Ohio Proficiency Test.

1999-2000 Science Advocate

· Substituted for a colleague on maternity leave; responsibilities included: attending and presenting in-services on proficiency testing and levels of questioning in math and science, organizing school-wide science field trips or activities, and organizing/ordering science materials for the school.

1996-1997 College Resident Assistant

The University of Akron

· Responsible for the supervision of thirty-five co-ed college students; planned and facilitated informational and recreational programs based on assessed needs and interests of students; served as an administrator, a moderator, and a confidant.

1996-1997 President

Akron Council of Education Students; The University of Akron

· Lead the organization in the planning and facilitating of professional development workshops, social activities, and fundraising events for students in the College of Education at The University of Akron; attended professional development conferences through The Ohio Education Association; maintained communication between the organization and the student body through monthly meetings and newsletters.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Conference on Mixed Methods in Educational Research, 4/17/08-4/18/08, School of Education and Social Policy, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL

Cognitive Neuroscience Society Annual Meeting, 4/12/08-4/15/08, San Francisco, CA

Cognitive Neuroscience Society Annual Meeting, 5/5/07-5/8/07, New York, NY

Institute of Education Sciences Annual Meeting, 6/15/06-6/16/06, Washington, D.C.

Cognitive Neuroscience Society Annual Meeting, 4/9/06-4/11/06, San Francisco, CA

District Grading Committee Member - met regularly to discuss implementation of standards-based grading, 2002-2004, Lake Local Schools, Uniontown, OH

Strengthen Your Students’ Learning by Using the Latest Brain Research, 3/26/04, Columbus, OH

Practical Strategies for Differentiating Your Classroom Instruction, 1/12/04, Cleveland, OH

Differentiated Instruction Support, 2003-2004, Uniontown, OH

Roger Taylor’s Differentiated Instruction, 11/17/03, Uniontown, OH

Comprehensive Literacy 4-5, 9/11/03-11/6/03, Malone College, North Canton, OH

Using Guided Reading, Literature Circles, and Word Study Strategies, 11/05/03, Cleveland, OH

Differentiated Instruction Summer Workshop, 6/03, Uniontown, OH

Caroline Chapman, “Differentiated Instructional Strategies: One Size Doesn’t Fit All”

Grading Policies and Practices that Work, 4/9/03, Kent OH

Co-Teaching that Works: Working Together in Today’s Inclusive Classrooms, 12/13/02, Independence, OH

Classroom Assessment Matters – What Does It Mean To “Leave No Child Behind?”

4/22/02-4/23/02, Cuyahoga Falls, OH

Assessment Literacy, 10/16/01-5/14/02, Uniontown, OH

LINKS Strategies Across the Curriculum (4-12), 10/12/01, Hartville, OH

Teacher and Student Partnerships – Implementing Baldrige in the Classroom,

6/18/01 – 6/19/01, Akron, OH

Using Guided Reading to Help Your Students Become Better Readers, 3/30/01, Independence, OH

Academy of Reading Training, 2/1/01, Uniontown, OH

Accelerating the Learning of Your Title I Students, 10/12/00, North Canton, OH

Teaching Math and Science, Spring Quarter 1999, Ohio State University and Columbus Public Schools, Columbus OH

American Schools and American Society, Fall Quarter 1999, Ohio State University,

Columbus, OH

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS

Cognitive Neuroscience Society 2006 - present

Association for Psychological Science 2006 – present

Midwestern Psychological Association 2007-present

National Education Association 1998-2005

Ohio Education Association 1998-2005

Lake Education Association 2001-2005

Columbus Education Association 1998-2000

REFERENCES

Mark Jung-Beeman, Graduate Advisor
Dept. of Psychology
104 Cresap
Northwestern University
2029 Sheridan Rd
Evanston IL 60208-2710
847-491-4617

Donna Bruner, Principal, Lake Elementary School

Lake Elementary School

225 Lincoln Street

Hartville, OH 44632-9399

330-877-4276

John McAllister, Assistant Principal, Lake High School

Lake High School

1025 Lake Center Street

Uniontown, OH 44685-9462

330-877-4282

Theresa Prince, Fourth Grade Intervention Specialist, Lake Elementary School

Lake Elementary School

225 Lincoln Street

Hartville, OH 44632-9399

330-877-4276

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