MARGARET L. GILSENBERG

Current Projects:    

     Publicity Chairperson/Past Chair                          September 2000-Present
            Citywide Parent Council, Executive Board          Lowell, Massachusetts
In seventh (and final) year of writing a high-quality monthly newsletter for parents in this 15,000-student school district; also help plan and run monthly meetings with topics such as literacy, bilingual education and raising academic standards in an urban school system. Arrange for newspaper and radio publicity and write a weekly web-log (blog) on education for the Citywide Parent Council website. Not your average PTO, we strive to understand the difficult questions that face the public schools and to make a difference by improving communication between parents and school administrators.

            Non-Profit Alliance of Greater Lowell                    January 2004-Present

Represent the Citywide Parent Council and write the minutes for monthly meetings; serve on the Legislative and Policy subcommittee; help in planning and was a speaker at the annual legislative breakfast where the local delegation is invited to hear concerns of the Non-Profit community.      
International Institute of Lowell                               August 2005-March 2006
            As a part-time volunteer assisted with the front desk, helped lawyer and paralegal prepare case files for new immigrants, assisted with ESL classes and one-on-one tutoring with new immigrants and refugees.
Board of Directors, MA/COM Federal Credit Union     April 2006-Present
Board member for this small credit union that has opened its membership to all Lowell residents.  Currently chairing the Loan Policy sub-committee and serving on the Board Nomination sub-committee.
Campaign Manager                                                             July 2003-Present
Ran two successful campaigns for a current member of the Lowell School Committee.
Committee Work                                                                              Ongoing
In addition to the above, am currently serving on the Obesity Working Group, a sub-committee of the Greater Lowell Health Alliance, which is targeting childhood obesity and poor nutrition; the Wellness Committee of the Lowell Public Schools; the Taste of Culture planning committee and the Mary Bacigalupo Educational Endowment Steering Committee.
 

Work Experience:
            ESL Tutor                                                               November 2000-June 2002
            Lowell Public Schools                                             Lowell, Massachusetts
Provided extra support for bilingual and other elementary students, working with five different teachers and three grade levels,   especially during literacy blocks. Worked with small groups to facilitate understanding of the text, created enrichment exercises that would utilize learning strategies, also provided targeted support to struggling students in math, science and social studies.

            Permissions Manager                                 January 1994 –September 1995
            Copley Custom Publishing Group                                         Acton, Massachusetts
This was a part-time position with full responsibility for researching and requesting permission to use copyrighted material.  Involved tracking permissions for each book; verbal and written communication with publishers, agents and authors; estimation and negotiation of fees; and occasional proofreading of manuscripts.