About Michael

Before leaving the classroom to become an education consultant, Michael Blankenburg taught high school English for over 18 years in the Austin, Houston, and New York City metro areas. In 2005 he was named the Austin-Area Gifted/Talented Teacher of the Year. Additionally, Michael served as a Reader for the AP Language & Composition Exam and taught writing courses at Austin Community College.

Summary

Communications developer with expertise in the written word. Skilled at creating content and its delivery to ensure efficacy in a wide range of contexts. Highly regarded for being collaborative, enthusiastic, and motivational when helping clients to achieve unparalleled results.

Education

Certifications

New York State

English Language Arts,
Secondary Level

State of Texas

Language Arts Composite & Reading,
Secondary Level

Professional Experience

Education Consultant

KIDS Consortium

  • Provided onsite training and technical assistance for both classroom implementation and systemic integration of the KIDS model for service-learning.
  • Collaborated, reflected, and problem-solved with other KIDS Consortium staff about ongoing work at partner school districts.
  • Developed and delivered resources and strategies that connect diverse school initiatives to the implementation of the KIDS model for service-learning.
  • Created materials appropriate for specific audiences and facilitated their delivery.
  • Contributing writer, KIDS As Planners: A Guide to Strengthening Students, Schools and Communities through Service-Learning, 3rd Edition.

Education Consultant

Service Learning Texas

  • Provided support, coaching, mentoring in service-learning to districts, Education Service Centers, and organizations; conducted site visits.
  • Managed grant programs and evaluated reports, budgets, and overall progress; reviewed proposals and facilitated negotiations with grantees.
  • Provided exemplary professional development to district program coordinators, teachers, and administrators.
  • Designed and presented on service-learning at city and state conferences.
  • Collaborated with other staff to create content, design layout, and evaluate usability for innovative new website.
  • Conceived the LEADERS Model (pdf), a process model for service-learning practice; led collaborative design process for fine-tuning and strengthening the model; integrated national service-learning quality standards into the model.

Teaching Experience

English, Creative Writing, Communications

Stephen F. Austin High School

  • Designed daily lesson plans to meet state and national standards; created cross-curricular projects, rubrics, and assessment tools.
  • Designed and implemented the first AP Language and Composition curriculum.
  • Served as AP Reader for the Language and Composition Exam.
  • Mentored new and apprentice teachers.
  • Served on scholarship, advisory, and campus improvement committees.
  • Advised students in the collection, evaluation, and publication of Austin High’s literary journal.
  • Sponsored students in the founding and meetings of Austin High’s first Gay-Straight Alliance.

Developmental Writing Instructor

Austin Community College

  • Designed and implemented fundamental grammar and writing skills curriculum for nontraditional and English language learners.
  • Responsible for development and evaluation of departmental exam essay rubrics.

Supervisory Experience

Student Teacher Supervisor

Columbia University Teachers College

  • Responsible for evaluating and coaching student teachers placed in high schools in the five boroughs of New York City.
  • Led feedback seminars for student teachers to discuss their field experiences.

Awards & Associations

  • Austin Area Gifted/Talented Teacher of the Year, 2005
  • Austin High PTSA Favorite Teacher, 2004, 2005, 2006
  • Education Austin Member, 1998-2007
  • NEH Scholarship: The Poetry of Walt Whitman and Emily Dickinson, Columbia University, 1995
  • Austin High English Teacher of the Year, 1994

References

photo of
Tracy Harkins
Program Manager, KIDS Consortium

Augusta, Maine

photo of
Anne Manning
Deputy Director for Education, Baltimore Museum of Art

Baltimore, Maryland

photo of
John Spence
Director, Service Learning Texas

Austin, Texas