CV Riza Ulker (PhD.) RIZA ULKER Permanent resident eligible to live and work in US 15 Iron Horse Dr., Bedford, E-301, NH 03110 (802) 747-8522 rxu109@gmail.com EDUCATION Institution: Date [Date from Date to] Degree(s) or diploma(s) obtained Penn State University, USA [2001-2006] PhD in Curriculum & Instruction A Study of Turkish Kindergarten Teachers Attitudes toward two Instructional Models: Direct Instruction, and Child Initiated Instruction Dissertation Advisor: Prof. Dr. Thomas D. Yawkey Penn State University, USA [2001-2006] Minor in Educational Psychology Penn State University, USA [1999-2001] Master of Education, Curriculum & Instruction Gazi University, Turkey [1994-1997] Psychological Guidance, and Counseling, Secondary Education Teaching Certificate EXPERIENCE July 2015-Present Founding Director, Ivy Test Prep, Manchester Branch, New Hampshire USA Manages and directs activities and staff. Develops and implements a program of academic services and support to assist students in becoming independent learners. Plans, organizes, and directs all activities. Selects, supervises, trains and evaluates assigned staff. Recommends goals and objectives, assists in the implementation of policies and procedures. Coordinates the daily activities to ensure a smooth flow of operations; develops and Ensures compliance with federal and state laws and regulations. Assesses, monitors and evaluates the needs of the students; develops appropriate initiatives to meet students needs. Participates in budget preparation and administration; reviews and approves expenditures. Performs other duties as assigned. 1
March 2011-June 2015 Associate Dean, Assistant Professor, Zirve University, Turkey. Associate Dean, Associate Professor, Zirve University, Turkey. Overview of Responsibilities included: Was responsible to the Dean for promoting and coordinating research and knowledge transfer activity within the Faculty. Headed the Organizing Committee for International Conference on Early Childhood Education and Children s rights at Zirve University (www.icecer.org) Started USA undergraduate dual degree diploma programs for Turkish students (2+2, 3+1, Cross Border) Ensured that appropriate strategies and polices are in place to enable the Faculty to recruit and retain excellent researchers. Served as a committee member in developing assessment tools for Academic Faculty Performance Evaluation Developed and implementing assessment tools for assessing student academic performance Pursued an active agenda for scholarly activities on teaching, academic research and community service Provided extended services to the university, community, and professional organizations Made an active contribution to the University's strategic aims in research Played a full part in institutional activities. Represented and promoting the interests of the University. Developed an active research culture that fosters the highest achievements, encouraging originality and innovation and enriching the student learning experience. Contributed to the Annual Planning Cycle and the production of the Faculty Plan. PreK-12 PUBLIC SCHOOL EXPERIENCE Designing new/alternative international school models and educational programs 2005-2011 Co-Founder/Board Member Young Scholars of Central Pennsylvania (Elementary-Middle School), State College, Pennsylvania 2005-2007 Co-Founder Daisies Child Development Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 2004-2007 Co-Founder, Principal/CEO Snowdrop Elementary School (Private), Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 2007-2011 Co-Founder, Principal/CEO Truebright Science Academy (High School), Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 2
CV Riza Ulker (PhD.) School Co-Founder, Principal/CEO Overview of Responsibilities Include: Demonstrated successful leadership in education and administrative positions Established strong academic goals and shared the vision of School s mission and educational philosophy (part of strategic planning) Demonstrated success in parental engagement Provided instructional leadership and excellent student achievement results through a focus on the four basic elements of curriculum; instruction, performance, and evaluation Shared responsibility for the development and implementation of the school s strategic plan Communicated Board Actions to staff, students, and parents Developed policy recommendations for the Board s consideration and action File required reports with local, state and federal education agencies, Board of Trustees Maintained administrative records according to the Public School Code Implemented the school budget, analyzed and controlled expenditures with an understanding of the relationship between instructional program and budget process, and relied on cost benefit analyses for budgetary decisions Prepared schedules, assigned staff, set job performance standards, and evaluated staff Generated public support for the school s program and education in general as the public information officer of the school and supervisor of the overall public relations program Developed a Code of Student Conduct, which defines responsibilities of administrators, teachers, parents, and students and which creates a safe, secure school for learning Developed and implemented assessment tools for assessing teacher performance FUNDED SCHOOL PROJECTS & GRANTS 2005-2011 Developing new alternative educational models in the US. ($1.2 Million for 2005-06;1.4 Million for 2006-07);1.6Million (2007-08); 3.2 Million (2008-09), 4.7 Million (2009-10), 5.9 Million (2010-11)(Project Director) 2005 School Implementation Grant- ($197,340) (Project Director) 2006 School Implementation Grant- ($100,000) (Project Director) 2007 School Implementation Grant- ($297,340) (Project Director) 2008 School Implementation Grant- ($150,000) (Project Director) 3
EDUCATIONAL HONORS & AWARDS 2002-2003 Burdett E. Larson Graduate Fellowship in Education Awarded by the College of Education at Pennsylvania State University, University Park for Scholastic honors at the graduate level 2005-2006 Alumni Society Distinguished Graduate Scholarship Awarded by the College of Education at Pennsylvania State University Jan 1998-March 2003 Full Scholarship Awarded by the Ministry of National Education to pursue graduate degrees in the United States in Early Childhood Education 4
SCHOLARSHIP Books, Book Chapter(s) & Text Book Translations and Editing Books: Ulker, R. (2009). Direct Instruction and Child-Initiated Instruction; Through the Lenses of Classroom Social Behavior and Teacher Demographics. Book published by VDM Verlag Dr. Muller. ISSN-13: 978-3639120165 Ulker, R. (2010). Human Gaze and Autism; Is it in the Eye? Is Early Diagnosis Possible? Book published by VDM Verlag Dr. Muller. ISSN-13: 978-3639263398 Ulker, R. (2013). Otizm Spektrumu Hastalıkları ve Göz. Ankara, Anı Yayıncılık. ISSN: 978-605-5213-30-5 Book Chapters: Ulker, R., Toprak, M. (2013). İşbirlikçi Araştırma-Aksiyon Sürecinin İşleyişi. Editors: Töremen, F., Ersözlü, A. Araştırma ve Aksiyon ile Liderlik, Öğretme ve Öğrenmeyi Geliştiren Bir Okul Müdürü Olmak, (47-103pp), Ankara, Pegem Akademi. ISSN: 978-605-364-476-7 Textbook Translation and Editing: Ulker, R., & Ersozlu, Z. Nur. (Eds.) (2014). Cognitive Psychology and Instruction (Roger H. Bruning, Gregory J., Schraw, & Monica M. Norby). Translated from the 5 th. Edition. Ankara. Pearson. ISSN: 978-605-133-790-6 Articles in Refereed and Social Science Citation Indexed (SSCI) Journals Ulker, R. (2012). Turkish Children's Drawing of Nature in a Certain Way: Range of Mountains in the Back, the Sun, Couple of Clouds, a River Rising from the Mountains. Kuram ve Uygulamada Eğitim Bilimleri. 12(4):3173-3180. Cicek, V. Ulker, R. Tarman, B. (2012). Comparison of character education in US and Turkish educational systems: Globalizing American education system. Energy Education Science and Technology Part B: Social and Educational Studies. 4(3):1311-1322. Aliyev, R., Erguner-Tekinalp, B., Ulker, R., Shine-Edizer, F. (2012). The Perceptions of School Counselors and Principals Towards New Psychological Counseling and Guidance Services in Early Childhood Education in Turkey. Kuram ve Uygulamada Eğitim Bilimleri. 12(4):3083-3098. Cicek, V., Ulker, R., Karakus, M. (2012). Classroom Management Procedures in US and Turkish Kindergarten thru 12th Grade Public School System; Globalizing American Education System. Energy Education Science and Technology Part B Social and Educational Studies. 4(4):2345-2356. 5
Ozden, M., Usak M., Ulker, R., Šorgo, A. (2013). Effects of lesson preparation methods on prospective primary teachers pedagogical content knowledge. Journal of environmental protection and ecology. 14(3A):1432-1442. Ulker, R., Yilmaz, Z., Solak, A., Erguder, L. (2013). Classroom Environment: What Does Students Drawings Tell?. Anthropologist. 16(1-2):209-215. Usak, M., Ulker, R., Oztas, F., Terzi, I. (2013). Effects of Professors Pedagogical Content Knowledge on Elementary Teacher Candidates Attitude and Achievement Regarding Biology. Anthropologist. 16(1-2):251-261. Karakus, M., Ulker, R., Cicek, V., Toremen, F. (2013). Comparison of Safety and Emergency Preparedness Procedures and Policies in US and Turkish K-12 Schools. Anthropologist. 16(1-2):373-393. Reviewed Article Presentations: Ulker, R., Gu, W. (2004, February). Traditional Play; Chinese and Turkish Examples, The Association for the Study of Play (TASP) Conference. Atlanta, Georgia/USA. Tarman, B., Ulker, R., (2004, January). The Nature of Teaching Through Pre-service Teachers Eyes. Hawaii International Conference on Education. Honolulu, Hawaii/USA. Ulker, R., Perez, R. R., Stuchul, D., Gu, W. (2005, January). Understanding ESL Preservice Teachers Perceptions of Needs: Building Responsive Teacher Education Programs. The College Teaching & Learning (TLC) Conference. Orlando, Florida/USA. Ulker, R. (2010, May). Educational Research Association (AERA) Annual Conference Proceedings Book, Denver, Colorado/USA. Ulker, R. (2011, November). Birth of Brick and Click Schools; Journey from brick and mortar to online schools, and now to Brick and Click Schools. A U.S. Case. Global Conference on Education Conference. "Global Conference on Education" Proceedings Books., pp. 289-298., Riverside, California/USA. Ulker, R. (2011, May). Early Diagnosis of Autism, International Journal of Arts and Sciences (IJAS) Annual Multidisciplinary Conference in Boston. Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts/USA. Ulker, R. (2012, May). Turkish primary school students drawing of nature pictures in a certain way: A comparative study. International Journal of Arts and Sciences (IJAS) Annual Multidisciplinary Conference in Boston Proceedings Book., Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts/USA. Ulker, R. (2012, November). Comparison of Safety and Emergency Preparadness Procedures and Policies in US and Turkish K-12 Schools. Globalizing American Education System. Suffolk University, The Seventh Knowledge Globalization Conference on Education Proceedings Book, Suffolk University, Boston, Massachusetts/USA. 6
Ulker, R., Ozturk, M., Aslantas, T. (2013, November). The Current Status and Future of K- 12 Online Education. US Case. The International Association of Science and Technology for Development (IASTED) Proceedings Book. Marina del Ray, Los Angeles/USA. Seminars/Workshops Ulker, R., (Since October, 2011). Pedagogical formation for teachers. Seminars on Lifelong Learning for 200 adults. Ulker, R., (2011, June). Early Childhood Education around the World. Past, Present & Future. Seminar on Lifelong Learning for 650 adults for three days. Ulker, R., (2006, December). Cultural Perspectives in Elementary Education. Panelist On Cultural Awareness Day at California University of Pennsylvania, California, Pennsylvania Courses taught since 2011: Undergraduate: Educational Psychology, Introduction to Educational Sciences, Introduction to Psychology, Classroom Management, Introduction to Early Childhood Education, Stages of Life and Adaptation Problems, Early Childhood Education, Psychology, Creativity and its Development in Young Children Graduate: Curriculum & Instruction, Comparative Elementary Education Program Analysis, Learning and Teaching Theory and Approaches, Behavioral Sciences, Elementary Education- Seminar, Developmental Psychology, Learning and Teaching Theory and Approaches, Elementary Education- Thesis, Special Teaching Methods, Classroom Management, Theory and Practice in Classroom Management, Educational Leadership-Project, 7