Crystal Keilers
Certified Teacher
EC-6
ESL
M.Ed Candidate
& Mama Bear
both inside and outside the classroom
Nice to meet you
Hi there! Welcome.
I'm Crystal Keilers, a Texan with roots in California.
I'm the extrovert that talks to you in the elevator or an airplane. I talk a. lot. (Way too much.)
I landed on teaching in Kabul, Afghanistan.
In 2003, SMU (Southern Methodist University) sponsored my trip to Kabul in hopes of serving the Afghan people,
right after the collapse of the Talib Regime. It was decided the best way I could serve the people was to teach ESL Writing and Grammar. Little did I know, I would come to life the first time I took hold of a classroom.
After I taught ESL for four months at Kabul University (& fell in love with the Afghan people!),
I went on to teach ESL Writing and Grammar at Richland College in Richardson, Texas.
I also led a small group of young adults into the Northern Caucasus Mountains
to host Learning Camps for refugee children, who were on furlough from the Russian/Chechen war.
Needless to say, I love other cultures, I love teaching, and I've traveled the Middle East quite a bit.
In 2005, I finished my BA in Anthropology from Southern Methodist University.
I worked for six years as a personal assistant (and traveled some more).
Stayed home for five years (to soak in the baby years with my boys).
Started an online pillow shop.
And now currently, I am loving teaching Second Grade
& finishing my Masters in Early Childhood Education.
Teaching has surprised me. I have been caught off guard by the fact it doesn't feel like a job.
Don't get me wrong, I've found teaching to be a lot a lot (alot alot alot) of hours and hard work,
but the teaching itself, translating what's in a textbook (or a TEK) into activities that engage their pliable brains
(and activates the stuff they've already learned) is energizing to me!
Teaching is so much about being a learner yourself.
I have two boys of my own and I think that has made me a much better teacher.
I look at my students and realize they are someone's child.
And the same dignity and tenderness with which I treat my own boys is how I treat my students.
And I am so grateful to that I get to wake up and teach for a living everyday!
“You will come to a place where the streets are not marked.
Some windows are lighted. but mostly they're darked.
But mostly they're darked.
A place you could sprain both your elbow and chin!
Do you dare to stay out? Do you dare to go in?
How much can you lose? How much can you win?”
― Dr. Seuss, Oh, The Places You'll Go!
Work Experience
2017- Current: Second Grade Teacher at Armstrong Elementary, Sachse TX
Currently, I work collaboratively with a team of five other second grade teachers in developing inquiry-based lesson plans, which includes both guided & independent practice activities, self-assessment exercises, differentiation within content areas, and small group instruction. It is important to me to generate an interactive classroom atmosphere. A personal focus of mine is effectively instituting positive reinforcement classroom management strategies that address and resolve challenging behaviors.
2016: Student Teacher at Armstrong Elementary, Sachse TX
Worked collaboratively with colleagues and administration to create and execute lesson plans using appropriate core curriculum content standards. Conference with students, administer reading fluency assessments, developed inquiry-based lesson plans, observed and helped plan differentiated instruction for students at varying abilities levels in Reading and Math. T
ook initiative to help spearhead “Around the World” cultural learning event.
2006 - 2007: ESOL Instructor, Richland College, Richardson TX
Created an effective multicultural and multilingual learning environment. Developed interactive lessons for college students acquiring English as their second language. Collaborated with other Instructors and Instructional Associates to monitor and adjust curriculum and assessments.
2004 -2010: Director of Administration
Managed financial & stock accounts for Grayhawk Advisors LTD, as well as personal financial accounts and payables for Managing Director, Facilitated interpersonal communications among investors and clients. Oversaw all house employees; Served as mentor and tutor to children. Maintained an organized filing system of all company documents; Managed all outgoing and incoming bank account wires; Coordinated calendar for Managing Director and his children
2002 - 2003: Lead ABA (Applied Behavioral Analysis) Therapist
One on one sessions as a behavioral therapist to children with autism; Trained new therapists in ABA; Worked with a team of specialists to improve the patients’ behavioral progress and therapy program.
2003: ESOL Instructor, Kabul University
Demonstrated adaptability in the context of a cross-cultural collaborative teaching team, created a classroom environment in which three different English levels were engaged in cooperative learning groups that were linguistically heterogeneous with three to five students working together on a meaningful task.
Substitute taught for the main conversational English professor at Kabul University. Made life-long friends!
Education
Texas A & M
Commerce, TX
Masters Canidate in Early Childhood Education
Current GPA: 4.0
Places I've been...
Turkey + Afghanistan + Russia + Egypt + South Africa + United Arab Emriates
United Kingdom + Germany + Canada + Mexico
2005
Southern Methodist University
Dallas, TX
Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology
2002
Richland Community College
Richardson, TX
Undergraduate Courses
