top of page

RESUME

CREATIVE WRITER, ILLUSTRATOR, AND EDUCATION PROFESSIONAL 

 

Joanna is recognized for integrity-driven creativity and real applications of psychologically-sensible concepts.

Strengths include focused, efficient quality with balanced and democratic approaches to people and tasks.

SELF-EMPLOYED, Cleveland, OH​

​2008 - present

Writer, Illustrator, and Education Professional

Skills

• Educational Content Development

• Children's Stories

• Curriculum Development

 Character Development

• Common Core Standards

• Project Management
• Mental Health Counseling  

• Writing & Editing 

• Product & Concept Development

• Qualitative Research
• Brainstorming
• Application of Theory to Curriculum

• Illustration 

Computer Proficiency

WORK EXPERIENCE

 

• Wrote 50+ children’s stories (early readers) for grades K-2 with a combination of

   fiction and non-fiction, poetry, jokes, riddles, dialogue, and factual information.

• Wrote fiction and non-fiction early learning story content for Red

  Apple Reading program.

• Illustrated, designed, and completed interior book layouts for children's book on     

  behalf of Erie Island Media.

• Wrote one 4th grade chapter book and one 5th grade chapter book

   (approx. 20,000 words each).

• Wrote and illustrated phonics workbook content and beginning readers for

   Dar El Ilm, an English as a second language program for children.


• Completed 15-20 educational blogs and philosophical blog posts.


• Wrote science and math curriculum content for grades K-8, educational

   ideas for parents, creative arts content, educational workbook content,  

   educational website content, various other website content, advertising

   copywriting, taglines, and creative copywriting.

• Edited qualitative and quantitative dissertations for doctoral students in

   various disciplines.


Companies include:

 

Tighe Publishing Services, Red Line Editorial, Norwood House Press,  Intuary - Farfaria, Red Apple Reading, Istation, IMSafe - Child Safety Solutions, Thinking Tree Enterprises, Erie Island Media, Proximity Marketing,  Dar El Ilm, Woodsphere Publishing,  Inquiry Studios, Sheepdog Group, Turtle Diary, Pearson Publishing, Cypherkids, Gingersport, Kennedy Center for the Arts, Encyclopædia Britannica, Chatterfun, Evergreen Creations, Jigasa, Konsortium, Positive Promotions, Mac Sports, Demand Studios, and various other small companies and individuals.

Microsoft Word

Excel

Powerpoint

Adobe Illustrator

Adobe Indesign

​AMERICAN GREETINGS CORPORATION, Cleveland, OH               2010 to 2011                                         Senior Writer

• Wrote greeting card sentiments for various consumer categories, including Teens and Tweens, Generation Y, Generation X, and the Boomer      

   Generation; Masculine, Feminine and Modern Family recipients and senders. 

• Wrote sentiments for various holidays and occasions (Easter, Halloween, Christmas, Sympathy, Birthday, and Everyday captions.

• Served as Co-leader of Brainstormers, offering idea solutions corporate-wide.
• Participated in the following teams and projects: Editorial Strategic Focus 
Team, Generation X Strategic Project Team, Lead on  

   Editorial Innovation project, Editorial Lead on Teen/Tween project, and served as a member of Editorial Social Outreach Committee.

LEARNING HORIZONS, Cleveland, OH                                            2005 to 2009                                 Editorial Manager

• Identified curricular concepts and created new educational products for Learning Horizons, Sesame Street, Nick Jr., LeapFrog, and Encyclopedia

   Britannica SmartMath.
• Implemented consistent editorial direction guided by current learning 
trends, educational standards, a multi-dimensional learning approach,

   and a constructivist philosophy of education.
• Managed freelance writers on various and multiple projects.
• Wrote educational content for multiple books, flashcards, and other 
educational product.

• Managed all editorial content, as well as marketing, sales, catalog, and promotional copy.

• Established a professional Educational Review Board.  Managed reviewers and product reviews, analyzed findings; completed revisions of

   three book series based on outcomes.
• Managed product lines through all stages of development from sourcing 
to product delivery.

• Collaborated with team, including illustrators, designers, sales team, vendors, and printers.

CLEVELAND STATE UNIVERSITY, Cleveland, OH  

2000 to 2007

University Instructor - Teacher Education/Curriculum and Foundations Department
 

• Lectured for the Department of Education on various topics, including Social & Psychological Foundations of Education, Social Issues in Education, and Career Counseling.





BELLEFAIRE JEWISH CHILDREN’S BUREAU, Shaker Heights, OH 

2002 to 2006
School-Based Counselor; Psychology Assistant


• Worked as school-based mental health counselor providing individual counseling, art therapy, small group counseling, family intervention, and    

   school-based prevention.



 

WSEM CHILD DEVELOPMENT CENTERS, Cleveland, OH

1995 to 2000
Art Therapist, Home Visitor, Classroom Aide


• Conducted individual & group art therapy sessions; provided in-home educational activities, social services, and family counseling; assisted    

   educators with day-to-day classroom activities.

Doctorate of Philosophy, Urban Education

Cleveland State University, Cleveland, OH

2004
Counseling Specialization
Dissertation: “I’m Pathetic”: A transformation of children’s shame experiences.

EDUCATION

 

Masters of Art, Art Therapy

Ursuline College, Cleveland, OH

1999
Thesis: Cultural Similarities in Children’s Human Figure Drawings

Bachelor of Science, Psychology

John Carroll University, Cleveland, OH

​1994

bottom of page