top of page

Susan Appe​

Creativity. Equity. Leadership.

Slide deck

Education:

• San Francisco State University (SFSU), Master of Arts in Educational Leadership

• SFSU, Master of Arts in Music Education

• SFSU, Teaching Credential Program 

• SFSU, B.A. 

​​

Professional history:

  • Instructional Coach, Harvey Milk Elementary School (2024-present)

  • World Music Teacher TK-5, West Portal Elementary (2008-2024)

  • Choir Teacher 6-8, A.P. Giannini Middle School (2018-19)

  • Music Teacher K-5, Richmond District After School Collaborative (2005-15)

  • Chorus Teacher grade 7-8, Park Day School (1999-2005)

​

Leadership work:

Currently, at Harvey Milk Elementary:

  • Provide instructional leadership as an Instructional Coach including the implementation of the Into Reading/Writing curriculum.

  • Facilitate monthly district aligned professional development trainings.

  • Cultivate a culture of reflection, responsiveness to data, and collaboration among teachers and staff.

  • Design and implement yearly plans for weekly Professional Learning Community meetings for multiple grade level teams.

  • Conduct one to one coaching cycles with all teachers and hold a weekly observation schedule in every classroom. 

  • Co-facilitate the Instructional Leadership Team.

  • Multi-lingual Language Coordinator

​​

Previous work, at West Portal Elementary:

  • Co-facilitated the Coordinated Care Team at West Portal (2021-24) and served on the Behavior Team (2024) 

  • Led a Scheduling Committee of teachers and staff to develop and optimize both enrichment and master schedules (2018-24)

  • Served on the Instructional Leadership Team, School Site Council, School Safety Committee, and ELAC(2018-24)

  • Coached new teachers through the SFUSD Induction Program (2021-23)

  • Organized and recruited parent volunteers for site-based safety initiatives (2019-24)

  • Served on the SFUSD Arts Equity Committee (2020-22)

  • Spearheaded the Musical Playground Project collaborating with vendors, project managers, and landscape designers to install musical play equipment on our playground (2022-23)

  • Created/facilitated/organized an 8 person Social Emotional Learning Team during distance learning, fostering collaboration, innovation, and responsive solutions to support student and staff well-being (2020-21)

  • Developed and implemented streamlined systems to improve the efficiency and organization of our Kindergarten lunch period (2023-24)

  • Administered the ELPAC and CAASPP tests for 3rd-5th grade (2023)

  • Organized Pride Month and Black History Month events (2020-2024)

  • Served on Pride Club and Black Student Affinity Group support team (2021-24)

​

Professional Development:

  • SFUSD Instructional Coaching Institute and year long monthly Instructional Coaching professional development (2024-25)

  • Safety Care Training, QBS (2024)

  • Pride Club Liaison Training through SFUSD Student Health Services (2023-24)

  • SFCESS Equity and Facilitation Training (2018)

​

​

Extended Learning:

Classes completed through the College of Extended Learning at SF State (2018-2023):

  • Behavior Is Language

  • Inclusion: Special Needs in General Classrooms

  • Working with Students Impacted by Trauma

  • Mild/Mod SpEd

  • Violence Prevention

  • Dyslexia Strategies

  • Advanced Classroom Management

​

​

          Thank you for your time in getting to know me and my work. My cover letter and letters of recommendation are below, and my list of references are happily available upon request. Please let me answer any further questions you may have, and I look forward to working with you.

​

Susan Appe

415.216.5792

appes@sfusd.edu

​

​Dear Community,
          After twenty-five innovative, passionate, and creative years teaching our SFUSD students and coaching our teachers, I am honored to be applying for the job of elementary school administrator. As an energetic and reflective Instructional Coach, a resilient veteran teacher, and an aspiring administrator, I am focused on supporting teachers and students in collaborating to achieve instructional excellence for each and every student, building a school culture of belonging, managing our facility so students and teachers can focus on learning, and connecting all our learning to the world around us.

I build bridges. Given the rich cultural, linguistic, and inclusive knowledge that the San Francisco public school community holds, as a music teacher I was able to develop this asset into a collaborative round table decision-making system that is essential in disrupting the predictable outcomes our students are currently experiencing across social and cultural lines. When we put the kids first, the way forward is clear. As an instructional coach, I have demonstrated that when we use a collaborative approach that starts with students first, together with evidence-based strategies, creativity, and a growth mindset, we can provide all students with a highly rigorous curriculum that is at grade level and culturally responsive.

Local girl makes good. I am a proud Bay Area public school kid through and through, from kindergarten through two masters’ degrees and two credentials, the public school system has given legs to my highest aspirations. Now, I want to take all the resourcefulness and creativity that coaching and teaching has given me and broaden my effectiveness. As a school administrator, I will continue to build a culture of belonging, manage the systems that create a safe, beautiful, and functional facility, and innovatively challenge each of the professional educators in our community to learn and grow alongside the students and myself, as we support each and every student in achieving their highest aspirations. I look forward to meeting you in person to further discuss my qualifications.

Warmly,

Susan Appe

415.216.5792

appes@sfusd.edu

​

Letters of Recommendation:

bottom of page