Professional Address: Home Address:
University of Miami, School of Education 4702 SW 160th Avenue # 333
Coral Gables, FL 33124-2040 Miramar, FL 33027
Work: (305) 284-5827 Ext. 3260 Cell: (786) 541-6020
EDUCATION Ph.D. Candidate University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL
Language and Literacy Learning in Multilingual Settings Graduation Expected December 2011, Current GPA: 3.89 M.S. Ed. Florida International University, Miami, FL
Foreign Language Education: TESOL December 2008, GPA: 3.87
B.A. University of Tampa, Tampa, FL Major: International and Cultural Studies Minor: French
Certificate: TESOL endorsed May 2007, GPA 3.89
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCES
June 2008 - English Language Institute: ESOL Academic Writing Teacher Dec 2008 Florida International University, Miami, FL.
Taught academic writing styles and conventions to adult learners August 2007 – Global Institute of Languages & Culture: Business English Teacher
Dec 2007 Plantation, FL.
Taught advanced Business English to adult professionals January 2007- University Area Community Center: Beginner English Teacher
May 2007 Tampa, FL
Taught beginner English literacy and language skills to adult immigrants August 2006 – University of Tampa: English Language Arts Tutor
Dec 2006 University of Tampa, Tampa, FL
Tutored and middle school children in Language Arts January 2005 – University of Tampa: Writing Center Tutor
May 2007 University of Tampa, Tampa, FL
August 2004 – University of Tampa: Beginner Italian Tutor May 2005 University of Tampa, Tampa, FL
Tutored undergraduate and graduate students in Beginner Italian RESEARCH EXPRIENCES
January 2010 - Graduate Research Assistant
present Word Reading Processes of Fluent Spanish-English Bilinguals Mentor: Maria Carlo, Ph.D.
University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL
School of Education, Department of Teaching and Learning January 2010 – Graduate Research Assistant
present The Street Ways Project: Countering Stereotypes about the Homeless Mentor: Eugene Provenzo, Ph.D.
University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL
School of Education, Department of Teaching and Learning August 2009 – Graduate Research Assistant
present K-Support
Mentor: Valentina I. Kloosterman, Ph.D.
University of Miami Education Evaluation Team University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL
School of Education, Department of Teaching and Learning August 2009 – Graduate Research Assistant
present Smaller Learning Communities Mentor: Cathleen L. Armstead, Ph.D.
University of Miami Education Evaluation Team University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL
School of Education, Department of Teaching and Learning August 2009 – Graduate Research Assistant
present SUPPORT Novice Teacher Network Mentor: Ann G. Bessell, Ph.D.
University of Miami Education Evaluation Team University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL
School of Education, Department of Teaching and Learning
January 2009 - Observer, Data Collector, Supervisor’s Aide to Undergraduate Internship May 2009 Experience
University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL
Dec 2008 Long-Term Effects of Preschool Assessment & Intervention in Grades 3 through 5.
Mentor: Louis Manfra, Ph.D.
Florida International University, Miami, FL
School of Education, Department of Curriculum and Instruction Sep 2007 – Graduate Research Assistant
July 2008 The Development of Young Children’s Math Knowledge: Implications for Early Mathematics Curriculum.
Mentor: Louis Manfra, Ph.D.
Florida International University, Miami, FL.
School of Education, Department of Curriculum and Instruction August 2005 – Undergraduate Research Assistant
May 2007 University of Tampa, Tampa, FL.
College of Arts and Sciences, Department of English UNIVERSITY TEACHING EXPRIENCES
May 2009 - University of Miami: Co-Instructor of Undergraduate Teacher Preparation present Course in Language Development instruction, TAL 308: Language
Development for Linguistically and Culturally Diverse Students Coral Gables, FL.
Taught components of Language Development instruction such as Linguistics, Dialectal Variation, Language Acquisition, and Literacy Development.
PUBLICATIONS Manuscripts (in preparation)
Sembiante, S., Bessell, A. G., Armstead, C. L. (in preparation). Increasing the volume of student voice: Perceptions of personalization in high poverty/minority schools.
Sembiante, S., Manfra, L, & Dinehart, L. H. B. (in preparation). The development of English proficiency and relations with academic performance in non-native English speakers. To be submitted to Child Development.
Manuscripts In Review
Manfra, L., Dinehart, L. H. B., & Sembiante, S. (in review). Effects of low-income
preschooler’s ability to recite numbers and count objects on first grade math performance. Child Development.
POSTER PRESENTATIONS
Sembiante, S., Bessell, A. G., Armstead, C. L. (in submission). Increasing the volume of student voice: Perceptions of personalization in high poverty/minority schools. Poster to be
presented at the annual meeting of the American Evaluation Association, San Antonio, TX. Kloosterman, V. I., Bessell, A. G., Sembiante, S. (in submission). A Program Evaluation of a
Kindergarten Support Program for At-Risk Students. Poster to be presented at the annual meeting of the American Evaluation Association, San Antonio, TX.
Armstead, C. L., Bessell, A. G., Sembiante, S. (in submission). The challenge of secondary school reform: When Evaluation Improves Practice. Poster to be presented at the annual meeting of the American Evaluation Association, San Antonio, TX.
Sembiante, S., Manfra, L., Hartman, S. C., & Mitchell, E. (2009, May). Does the percent of Spanish-speaking classmates impact Hispanic ELL students’ longitudinal academic performance? Poster presented at the 21st Annual Convention of the Association for Psychological Science, San Francisco.
Mitchell, E., Manfra, L., Hartman, S. C., & Sembiante, S. (2009, May). The effects of protective, relative, and foster-care on highly at-risk children’s LAP-D performances. Poster submitted at the 21st Annual Convention of the Association for Psychological Science.
De Feyter, J. J., Tran, H., & Winsler, A., Manfra, L., Dinehart, L. H. B., Bleiker, C., & Sembiante, S. (2009, April). Early academic outcomes for children in family daycare, center-based care, and public school pre-k. Poster presented at the biennial meeting of the Society for Research in Child Development, Denver, CO.
Sembiante, S., Manfra, L., Dinehart, L.H.B., & Jin, D. (2008, August). The development of English proficiency and relations with academic performance. Poster presented at the annual meeting of the American Psychological Association, Boston, MA.
languages and subsequent mathematic performance. Poster presented at the annual meeting of the American Psychological Association, Boston, MA.
Manfra, L., Dinehart, L.H.B., & Sembiante, S. (2008, April). The effects of word matching and recognition in preschool on literacy skills and achievement in early elementary school. Poster presented at the 20th Biennial Conference on Human Development, Indianapolis, IN. Manfra, L., Dinehart, L.H.B., Sembiante, S., & Jin, D. (2008, April). The effects of early
counting skills on later academic achievement. Poster presented at the 20th Biennial Conference on Human Development, Indianapolis, IN.
AWARDS 2010 Graduate Association Fund ($350) 2010 Eveleen Lorton Traval Fund ($400)
2009 Katy Dean Travel Support Award, University of Miami ($750)
2007
Magna Cum Laude Graduate, 3.89 GPA, University of Tampa
2004 – 2007
Dean’s List, University of Tampa
2004 – 2007
Florida Medallion Scholarship, University of Tampa ($15,000)
2004 – 2007
University of Tampa Dean’s Scholarship, University of Tampa
($21,000)
2004 – 2005
Italian Heritage Scholarship, University of Tampa ($1000)
PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES & SERVICE
Academic Experience
Fall 2009 – Graduate Assistant
Spring 2010 Under Dr. Ann Bessell, funded by the University of Miami Education Evaluation Team.
Spring 2009 Graduate Assistant
2007 – 2008 Research Assistant.
• Gregg, G. (PI), & Manfra, L. (Co-PI). Screening Assessment and Analysis (SAA) Project. Child Development Services, Miami-Dade County ($140,000, funded).
2007 – 2008 Grant Coordinator.
• Manfra, L. (PI), & Dinehart, L. (Co-PI). The Development of Young Children’s Math Knowledge: Implications for Early Mathematics Curriculum. FIU Foundation Research Award ($17,000, funded). 2007 – 2008 Grant Coordinator.
• Manfra, L. (PI), Bleiker, C. (Co-PI), & Dinehart, L. (Co-Investigator). Long-Term Effects of Preschool Assessment & Intervention in Grades 3 through 5. The Children’s Trust ($192,000, funded).
Professional Organizations (membership)
Since 2009 Association for Psychological Science Since 2008 American Psychological Association Since 2008 Golden Key International Honour Society Since 2007 Alpha Chi National College Honors Society
Since 2006
TESOL
Languages
English Native Language
Italian Fluent in spoken and written communication French Conversational spoken and written abilities Arabic Low Intermediate speaking abilities
Spanish Basic conversational abilities REFERENCES
Miliedis Gort, Ed.D.
Assistant ProfessorSchool of Education, PH 205E University of Miami
Ann Bessell, Ph.D.
Research Assistant Professor
School of Education, Orovitz 237D
University of Miami Miami, FL 33146 (305) 284-5826
[email protected]
Valentina Kloosterman, Ph.D.
Assistant Scientist
School of Education, Orovitz 237A
University of Miami Miami, FL 33146
(305) 284-3260
[email protected]
Cathleen Armstead, Ph.D.
Assistant Scientist
School of Education, Orovitz 237C University of Miami
Miami, FL 33146
