Karina Costas
Thornton
Summary
Innovative educator with expertise in curriculum design, staff development, and strategic systems thinking. Reduced staff turnover through effective partnership building and commitment to educational equity. Leveraged data-informed instruction to enhance student success and operational efficiency.
Overview
25
25
years of professional experience
2
2
Certifications
Work History
Teaching & Learning Specialist
Westminster Public Schools
Westminster
06.2025 - Current
- Led the development and audit of CTE pathways in collaboration with post-secondary partners such as Front Range Community College, auditing curriculum to eliminate barriers to dual-credit enrollment and ensure that authentic learning opportunities are accessible to historically underrepresented student populations.
- Designed and deployed a comprehensive training framework for industry professionals transitioning into Career & Technical Education, focusing on culturally responsive pedagogy to enhance teacher retention and stabilize programs.
- Facilitated coaching cycles and professional development workshops for educators, providing 1:1 mentorship on instructional techniques, differentiated instruction, and classroom management to enhance engagement and address diverse learner needs.
- Partnered with formal evaluators to support teacher goal development and effectiveness ratings, aligning staff performance with a culture of high expectations and equitable instructional practices.
- Analyzed disaggregated student performance data and standardized assessment results to identify achievement gaps, informing systemic instructional shifts and guiding teachers in developing equitable assessment tools to measure student progress.
- Directed development of new courses and project-based budgets from $10k–$100k, negotiating with vendors and industry partners to secure curriculum and materials that meet state standards and broaden career access.
- Acted as the on-site building administrator, managing daily operations, emergency safety protocols, and student discipline through a restorative lens to create a secure and inclusive learning environment.
PK-8 Building Administrator (Principal & AP Roles)
Westminster Public Schools
Westminster
06.2019 - 06.2025
- Supported teachers and students through my role as an instructional leader to return CMAS mean scale scores to pre-pandemic levels within two years, contributing to the highest total point achievement in school history through a relentless focus on the instructional core and data-driven shifts.
- Achieved recognition as a 2023 CAESP Outstanding Assistant Principal of the Year Finalist for establishing high-functioning Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) that utilized teacher-led data cycles to track student-centric interventions.
- Supported the comprehensive training and coaching of all K–3 staff in LETRS (Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling), ensuring research-based, foundational literacy practices were embedded across the primary grades.
- Engineered strategic master schedule with stakeholder input, maximizing instructional minutes through flooded model for interventions and stacked content blocks to ensure tailored core instruction for every student.
- Reduced staff turnover by 20% in first year by prioritizing culture of hands-on support, removing administrative obstacles for teachers, and fostering collaborative environment for staff, students, and families.
- Designed and launched asynchronous, competency-based Project-Based Learning (PBL) training program within district’s LMS, enhancing professional development for educators in modern pedagogical practices.
- Collaborated with counselors to develop individualized learning plans addressing holistic needs of each child, promoting comprehensive support for academic and emotional growth.
STEM Instructional Coach & CTE Math Interventionist
Westminster Public Schools
Westminster
06.2017 - 06.2019
- Served as one of only two District PBL Trainers and Coaches, holding the unique distinction of being the sole staff member to serve in both capacities simultaneously.
- Designed and facilitated district-wide professional development while providing embedded coaching to a staff of 105+ educators to ensure high-fidelity implementation of competency-based, real-world learning.
- Directed targeted mathematics intervention programs as a CTE Math Interventionist, collaborating with teachers to develop industry-context lesson plans that integrated algebraic and geometric concepts into authentic, career-based learning environments.
- Engineered school-wide short-cycle monitoring tools and PLC structures to enhance collaborative teacher practices and data-driven instruction.
- Provided enrollment-based instructional coaching, utilizing 1:1 mentorship, model lessons, and classroom observations to provide constructive feedback on pedagogical approaches and classroom management.
- Leveraged standardized assessments (STAR and Scantron) and disaggregated classroom data to guide teachers in instructional improvement cycles, identifying achievement gaps and co-creating targeted action plans for increased student proficiency.
- Facilitated comprehensive professional development and mentorship for new and struggling teachers, focusing on evidence-based differentiation and the application of best practices within diverse cultural contexts to ensure student inclusion and success.
- Designed and delivered personalized math instruction plans for at-risk learners, advocating for student success in general education environments through tiered interventions, scaffolded test-taking strategies, and student self-advocacy coaching.
- Partnered with school leadership to conduct curriculum audits and develop performance rubrics, aligning instructional materials and lesson plans with diverse student needs for improved engagement and learning outcomes.
Math Teacher
Westminster Public Schools
Westminster
07.2012 - 06.2017
- Developed and delivered intervention and advanced mathematics curricula, including AP Calculus and the International Baccalaureate (IB) program; successfully prepared students for AP and SAT assessments while maintaining a consistent 80%+ passing and attendance rate across all levels.
- Facilitated secondary math instruction and collaborated with stakeholders to develop individualized education plans, enhancing support for diverse learners and easing transitions for students.
- Adapted teaching methods for a wide spectrum of learners, including those with learning difficulties and from diverse cultural backgrounds, ensuring equitable access to high-level math concepts.
- Led a model classroom for Competency-Based Education (CBE) and Project-Based Learning (PBL), serving as a district-wide example for shifting from traditional seat-time to mastery-based student outcomes.
- Represented the secondary mathematics team in the high-stakes design of the district’s first and second editions of Math Proficiency Scales, ensuring clear benchmarks for student growth and standards-aligned instruction.
- Coordinated ICAP for 9th and 10th grades, guiding students in academic and vocational pathways to ensure alignment of coursework with long-term career goals.
- Mentored new educators in classroom management and evidence-based instructional strategies, supporting school-wide curriculum initiatives and fostering data-driven feedback loops.
Assistant Director
Setting Higher Expectations
San Juan
07.2007 - 07.2012
- Oversaw comprehensive curriculum review processes to ensure alignment with educational best practices; collaborated with staff to design targeted assessments that accurately measured learning outcomes in a non-traditional setting.
- Developed and managed individualized curriculum frameworks aligned with student and family goals, ensuring seamless credit transfer and transition to receiving schools for non-traditional learners.
- Analyzed longitudinal student performance data to inform curriculum adjustments and ensure instructional strategies addressed unique academic and social-emotional needs of student body.
- Served as primary liaison among teachers, administrators, and families on curriculum issues, progress monitoring, and behavioral goals.
- Directed daily school operations and implemented process improvements that streamlined workflows and enhanced resource allocation for strategic initiatives.
- Managed full lifecycle of human resources, including recruitment, interviewing, and onboarding of new personnel, fostering a culture of recognition that enhanced staff morale.
- Facilitated regular strategic team meetings and professional development sessions focused on high-impact instructional strategies, ensuring a consistent and unified message regarding departmental objectives.
- Maintained external partnerships and negotiated vendor contracts, aligning resources with school-wide goals.
Alternative Education Teacher (Math & Science)
Setting Higher Expectations
San Juan
07.2001 - 07.2012
- Developed and delivered tailored math and science curricula for a highly diverse student population, performing deep background reviews of learning deficiencies to create bespoke, competency-based lesson plans that boosted student comprehension and engagement.
- Partnered with school administrators to evaluate and adapt curriculum materials for accuracy and relevance, enhancing accessibility and engagement of math and science content for diverse student age levels and ability profiles.
- Managed academic and social-emotional benchmarks, employing formal testing and informal observation to adjust instructional strategies in real-time, responding to individual student growth.
- Cultivated a high-support, high-expectation learning environment for non-traditional students by implementing restorative practices and creative conflict-resolution strategies to foster social-emotional growth and academic persistence.
- Mentored students and new teachers, coordinating with counselors, parents, and external agencies to develop success strategies addressing academic goals and personal barriers.
- Provided guidance on college and career readiness, including vocational pathing and SAT prep courses, ensuring equitable access to future opportunities for students in non-traditional settings.
Education
EdD - Leadership for Educational Equity in Math Ed.
University of Colorado Denver
Denver07-2026
Master of Arts - Teaching Mathematics (minor in Pure Math)
InterAmerican University of Puerto Rico
Río Piedras, PR07-2010
Bachelor of Science - Business Administration
University of Phoenix
Guaynabo, PR07-2008
Skills
- Curriculum design and development
- Data-informed instruction
- Innovations in learning
- Strategic systems thinking
- Operational excellence and safety
- Partnership building and stakeholder engagement
- Restorative justice and trauma-informed practices
- Educational equity advocacy
Languages
Spanish
Native/ Bilingual
Italian
Limited
Certification
K-12 Principal
Accomplishments
CAESP 2023 Outstanding Assistant Principal of the Year - Finalist
Timeline
Teaching & Learning Specialist
Westminster Public Schools
06.2025 - Current
PK-8 Building Administrator (Principal & AP Roles)
Westminster Public Schools
06.2019 - 06.2025
STEM Instructional Coach & CTE Math Interventionist
Westminster Public Schools
06.2017 - 06.2019
Math Teacher
Westminster Public Schools
07.2012 - 06.2017
Assistant Director
Setting Higher Expectations
07.2007 - 07.2012
Alternative Education Teacher (Math & Science)
Setting Higher Expectations
07.2001 - 07.2012
EdD - Leadership for Educational Equity in Math Ed.
University of Colorado Denver
Master of Arts - Teaching Mathematics (minor in Pure Math)
InterAmerican University of Puerto Rico
Bachelor of Science - Business Administration
University of Phoenix