Elaine Martin

932 Schoenherr Road, Custer, Michigan

Email: elaine@elainemartinfamily.com
Phone: 231-794-9693
EDUCATION

Masters in Communication and

Digital Media
Saginaw Valley State University
Sept. 2010 May 2014
GPA: 3.98
Capstone Project: Created a website to promote connecting people here with people in
other countries with the purpose of providing physical, emotional, and spiritual support

Bachelors in Elementary Education

Central Michigan University
Jan. 1989 Aug. 1992
GPA: 3.34 (Typically closer to 4.0: I was driving from Custer, raising several children,
and working)
Experience
Student taught: 2nd grade and 8th grade science
Taught seven years in the 4th grade
EXPERIENCE

COVE, self-employed, contractual

October 2014 to present
Currently teach parenting series in Oceana and Mason County
Some classroom abuse prevention in 3 schools so far including MCE Elementary

Best Drug Rehabilitation, self-employed, contractual

November 2012 to present
Currently teach parenting and GED there
In the past two years, I have also worked doing the following:
Conducted group instruction to teach life skills to help people overcome their
addiction
Taught six-week Passion for Parenting series
Group setting of 5 to 30
Developed six-week curriculum for the classes
o Relapse prevention, Understanding Addiction, Parenting, Relationships
Promoted healthy and critical thinking skills
Stimulated self-awareness
Utilized technology to enhance the content of the lessons
Encouraged open dialogue

Time off raising children

Required skills of patience, organization, good discipline techniques, perseverance

and an amazing love for helping youth
o Four biological
o Seven adopted
o Yearly exchange students

Many additional years experience with youth as a foster parent since 1986
Acquired skills of effective ways to handle children who have struggles with
behavior/learning

Catholic Charities

September 2001 to March 2007

Taught six-week Love and Logic Parenting series in four counties continuously
throughout the years there
Set up class locations and taught the classes I developed in four counties.
Made personal contacts with some clients in their homes to give them specific direction.

Hart Public Schools

December 1992 to January 2000
Fourth grade classroom December 1992 to January 2000
o Contained classroom general curriculum
Introduced technology and new media into activities and lessons
Stimulated learning by initiating class discussions, literature circles, and group
EXPERTISE

Teacher
It is my gift to teach and my experiences in both my professional and personal life
signify this
Parent educator expert due to years of experience in foster/adoptive care and
teaching parents for 14 years
Experienced fourth grade elementary school in a regular education contained
classroom, 7 years
Volunteer teacher: Junior church/Sunday school teacher/leader, 20 years

Student Activities Leader

o
o
o

o
o

o
o

Administrative aptitude and experience as an advisor of student groups at MCE,

STS, church youth groups, support group leader, 34 years
Planned, organized, coordinated, implemented, and supervised student activities
and programs at MCE schools for 12 years as an advisor for the Class of 2005 and
Class of 2013
o Encouraged teamwork and personal satisfaction
Organized and managed homecoming decorating
Led all fundraising activities
Planned, budgeted, and supervised five-day senior trip with 30 students and 6
volunteers
o Effectively helped students set and achieve personal future goals
Supervised students as an area coordinator for exchange students, 19 years
Conducted interviews, held orientations and reentry meetings, monitored
students exchange program, and resolved problematic issues
Documented all supervision of high school exchange students in my program
Traveled as the youth chaperone within the state and across the country starting in
1982 when I took several youth in a van to southern Ohio to a youth camp
Helped lead the West Michigan Youth Fellowship, youth rallies for 2 years
Planned youth events which included securing youth speakers, food, and the
facility
Directed the quiz team and trivia event
Coached middle school track for 5 years at MCE

Public speaker

Effective public speaker and presenter in various venues, 10 years beginning with
training employees at West Michigan Community Health

Effective communicator

Excellent communication skills, including the ability to listen for comprehension,

summarize thoughts and ideas
Ability to understand the purpose of a conversation or discussion
Can clearly express thoughts
Aptitude to motivate and inspire others
Successfully collaborate with other leaders maintaining a win-win attitude
Goal oriented and determined to succeed

Fundraiser

Raised over $18,000 for the class of 2005, also did fundraising with the class of
2013, 11 years
Concession stand manager for five track seasons, one West Michigan Fair, and
three Harvest Festival seasons

Designer of educational programs

Creative ability to design and develop education programs, researching the best
ways to advance knowledge while utilizing social media and technology
Understanding the process of ADDIE
Social media and design experience, 4 years

Quick thinker

COMMITTEES

Evaluate and assess situations swiftly, accurately, and focused in order to

determine an effective and practical solution, giving me the skills to successfully
coach and direct a debate team
Proficient at multitasking
Able to learn things quickly

Oceana Young Authors Program

Spring of 1995, 1996, 1997
Secretary for Young Authors Program
Judge of young authors stories

Mason Lake ISD

Two school years
PAC, Parent Advisory Committee Representative

Mason County Eastern High School

Two school years
Committee for school improvement
COMMUNITY

DHS, Child and Family Services, Catholic Charities

December 1986 June 2009
Foster and Adoptive Parent
Helped raised over 21 foster children, adopting many of them
Mentored other foster parents

Mason County Eastern High School

August 1999 October 2011
Coach
Advisor to middle school student council and high school class groups
Fundraiser coordinator and supervisor, including many sales and concession stand

Ludington Art Fair

Three summers, 2008-2010
Clean-up crew coordinator, organizer, and leader, 2008, 2009, 2010

FiveCAP Inc., Child and Family Development Services

August 1998 June 1999
Volunteer in pre-school classroom, over 80 hours

Washington Avenue Baptist Church

September 1998 May 2000
Junior Church Leader/Teacher

Church work in Michigan, Massachusetts, and Maine

August 1979 May 1997
Sunday School Teacher
Youth Group Leader

Camps and Other Youth Outreach Programs

Since 1977
Counselor
Kitchen staff
Assistant wherever needed

Spanish Study

LANGUAGE

TRAINING

High school, 1 year

Community college, 1 semester

American Sign Language Study

Personal studies due to caring for a foster son who is deaf

MITS/REMC Blended Learning Conference

June 18-20, 2012
Universal Design

Challenge of Children
May 2012, 2011
Holland Conference

Challenge of Children
May 13, 2010
Media Effects on Children, Grieving Children, Grieving Teens, Understand the
Abandoned and Adopted Heart

Challenge of Children
May 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004, 2003
Holland Conference

Ottawa Area Adoption Consortium

September 13, 2007
Managing Challenging Behaviors in Foster Care and Adoption Training

Ottawa Area Adoptions Consortium and DHS

September 22, 2006
John Seita, How Kids Outwit Adults Training

Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality and

Michigan Department of Community Health
August 18 19, 2004

Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders: Best Practice in Prevention and Intervention

Michigan Foster & Adoptive Parents Association

November 21-22, 2003
Parents, Anticipating Turmoil as an Opportunity for Growth, Touch points in
Development, Helping Children Cope With Stressful Life Events, Braseltons Touch
points Model: A Framework for Personal Practice, Adoption Calling Out, Caught
Between, Adoptive Kids Speak Out

Prevention Network
November 3, 2003
Parenting Awareness Month Kickoff Conference

Michigan Foster Adoptive Parent Association

January 9-12, 2002
Pride Trainer Training

PACE, Program for Athletic Coaches Education

October 22, 2001
Twelve-hour PACE Program

Hart Middle School Training

November 17, 1999

Writing Across the Curriculum

Michigan Foster & Adoptive Parents Association

February 14-16, 1997
Depression and the child in placement, Positive relations with difficult children,
Time management and the large family

Michigan Foster & Adoptive Parents Association

1996, 1995, 1994, 1993
Three day conference

Discover Writing Company

May 6, 1996
Barry Lane, New Strategies for Teaching Revision

Oceana ISD Professional Development Consortium

February 8, 22 and Mach 8, 1995

Jackie Melins Integrated Thematic Instruction Workshop,

Michigan Model for Comprehensive School Health

Education
August 24, 1994
Revised 4th Grade Health Education

Outcomes Training Project

April 14, 1994
Professional Growth and Development in Parent Awareness

Muskegon ISD Training

Spring 1993
Groundwater Lesson Plan Training

Central Michigan University Training

April 27, 1992

Instructional Theory into Practice

Michigan Foster & Adoptive Parents Association

February 21-23, 1992
Building Self-Esteem in Special Needs Children, Words, words They Can Help
Motivate, Encourage, or Destroy a Childs Self-Esteem, Discipline, Arent We All A
Little Nuts? Communication in the Family

Michigan Foster & Adoptive Parents Association

March 22-24, 1991
Managing Angry Behavior, Fostering Values, Testimony in Termination of Parental
Rights, Would You Rather Be Happy or Unhappy? Communication in the Family,

Youth in Transition, Fostering the Older Teen

September 9-11, 1990
Teaching Independent Living Skills to Youth, Teen Mental Health,

Michigan Foster & Adoptive Parents Association

March 30 April 1, 1990
Humor and Self-Esteem, Structuring the home to avoid problems, Positive
Discipline, Biological Children Grieve Too

Michigan Foster & Adoptive Parents Association

1988, 1989
Three day conference each year

Child and Family Services

Fall 1987
Foster Parent Six-Hour Workshop

Child and Family Services of Michigan, Inc.

December 16, 1986
Foundations of Foster Parenting
References

Shirley Hunter Shirley works for the ESD, 231-690-6734 (Shirleys cell)
Trudie Brandt Trudie was my supervisor at Catholic Charities, 231-690-2522
I would be happy to give you as many references as you like upon request.