NDNatalie Dalton

Curriculum • Assessment • Professional Learning

I turn standards and evidence into learning that works.

I’m Natalie Dalton, a curriculum and assessment specialist, instructional coach, and learning designer with 23 years of K–8 experience and district leadership in science, mathematics, literacy, and professional learning.

Explore my work Download portfolio PDF
23years in K–8 learning
3district leadership pathways
6portfolio case studies
M.S.curriculum design and instruction

Selected work

Evidence of how I think, design, and improve.

Real experience is labeled as such. Representative samples were created for this portfolio so no proprietary assessment content or student information is disclosed.

01
Interactive learning prototype

DataWise: From Student Data to Instructional Action

A responsive, scenario-based software training experience that helps teachers and instructional coaches locate student information, interpret benchmarks and growth trends, and choose evidence-based next steps.

E-learningSoftware simulationGuided practicePerformance assessment
View project case study
Performance challenge

Educators need to move efficiently from assessment results to a defensible instructional response without treating one score as a complete conclusion.

Learning design

A narrated orientation leads into four guided dashboard tasks, corrective feedback, an independent nine-task challenge, and a transfer-focused action plan.

Product features

Responsive navigation, fictional student records, BOY/MOY/EOY views, benchmark color coding, growth charts with aim lines, accessible chart descriptions, mastery reporting, and a printable job aid.

Design decisions

The course separates guided practice from independent assessment, records first-attempt accuracy, requires 100% final mastery, and uses realistic decisions rather than simple recall questions.

Launch interactive course
02
Real project

Growing the Scientist in All of Us

Helped plan, present, and facilitate Alpine School District’s 2026 districtwide summer science training for elementary educators during the major K–6 rollout of ASD OpenSciEd.

Districtwide rolloutASD OpenSciEdHands-on trainingImplementation
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Curriculum launch

Supported educators as they transitioned to a coherent, Utah SEEd-aligned program built around real-world phenomena and student sensemaking.

Workshop design

Teachers experienced investigations, engineering routines, evidence gathering, and explanation tasks from the learner’s perspective.

Literacy integration

Connected science with oral language, vocabulary, comprehension, discussion, and evidence-based writing.

My role

Contributed to planning, presenting, and facilitating the training for Alpine School District elementary educators.

03
Real conference presentation

Reading, Writing & Thinking Like Scientists

Invited presenter at the September 2026 Utah Science Teaching Association mini conference. Designed an interactive science-and-literacy experience using fourth-grade Earth processes content.

Conference presentationScience + literacyAdult learningResource curation
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Learning experience

Participants explored a phenomenon through maps, noticing and wondering, vocabulary routines, scientific models, investigation, partner reading, and model revision.

Facilitation

Modeled the discussion structures, peer feedback, evidence use, and sensemaking moves teachers could transfer directly to classrooms.

Follow-through

Created a presenter landing page with the slides, Earth Processes teacher materials, discussion prompts, and supporting documents.

View presentationDownload resource page
04
Real district leadership

ESL, WIDA & Systems Implementation

Beaver County School District leadership spanning ESL program coordination, WIDA testing and data communication, board-level reporting, MTSS implementation, and district improvement work.

Program leadershipWIDAData communicationMTSS
View leadership evidence
ESL Specialist

Coordinated services, language-proficiency tracking, WIDA processes, and consistent instructional response for multilingual learners from 2013–2019.

District Leadership Team

Supported common benchmarks, strong Tier 1 instruction, and data-informed Tier 2 and Tier 3 interventions from 2015–2019.

Public presentation

Delivered the district’s formal ESL Specialist report at the March 8, 2016 Board of Education meeting.

National Blue Ribbon contribution

Contributed as a Belknap Elementary educator to the collaborative, data-informed culture behind the school’s 2018 National Blue Ribbon recognition. Selected to represent the school at a national education conference in Kansas City.

05
Real experience + sample

Assessment & Mathematics Advisory Leadership

Alpine Mathematics Teacher Advisory Leadership Team work spanning curriculum maps, i-Ready implementation feedback, classroom piloting, assessment review, and school-to-district communication.

Curriculum mappingi-ReadyClassroom pilotsAssessment
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Curriculum coherence

Contributed classroom-level feedback to elementary mathematics curriculum maps, common expectations, and purposeful pacing across schools.

Implementation analysis

Reviewed i-Ready Classroom Mathematics through teacher experience and student evidence, identifying friction in lesson flow, digital tracking, and materials.

Two-way leadership

Brought school curriculum concerns to district leaders, then translated refined practices, resources, and expectations for colleagues at the home school.

  • Piloted lessons, instructional routines, and emerging assessment frameworks before broader use.
  • Created and reviewed district and state-aligned assessment items.
  • Led site-based professional learning around team-developed mathematics practices.
06
Representative sample

Curriculum Design for Varied Learners

A Grade 6 integrated science-and-literacy sequence demonstrating backward design, formative assessment, multilingual support, and meaningful extension.

Backward designScaffoldingUDLFormative assessment
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Launch with a phenomenon → investigate → read for causes and evidence → discuss reasoning → write a claim-evidence-reasoning explanation → revise for accuracy and clarity.

07
Representative concept

The Feedback Advantage

A 15-minute scenario-based microlearning concept for team leads, mentors, and new coaches who need a repeatable feedback method.

Adult learningScenariosCoachingJob aid
View experience map

Pre-check → model the Observe–Connect–Next Step loop → practice in three scenarios → apply to the learner’s context → assess transfer → download a job aid.

08
Representative framework

AI-Assisted Content Quality

A human-in-the-loop review framework that uses AI for speed while keeping professional judgment in control.

AI evaluationQuality assurancePrompt refinementEditorial judgment
View ALIGN framework
AAccuracyLLearning alignmentIInclusion and accessGGuidanceNNatural voice

How I work

Clear outcomes. Useful evidence. Thoughtful iteration.

  1. 01
    Clarify performance

    Define what learners should do and what evidence would show success.

  2. 02
    Design the path

    Connect modeling, practice, feedback, assessment, and application.

  3. 03
    Review for access

    Check language load, scaffolds, bias, usability, and learner context.

  4. 04
    Improve with evidence

    Use learner work, data, and stakeholder feedback to revise.

Professional background

From classroom practice to systems-level contribution.

My classroom experience keeps design grounded in how people actually learn. District and school leadership have expanded that lens to assessment quality, adult learning, implementation, and continuous improvement.

Riverview Elementary

Grades 5, 5/6, and 6 • Alpine District Science Team: SEEd-aligned curriculum, ASD OpenSciEd resources, assessment review, implementation feedback, and professional learning • Team Lead • PBIS • Guiding Coalition

Pony Express Elementary

Grade 5 • Team Lead • Mathematics Teacher Advisory Leadership Team • Curriculum mapping • i-Ready implementation feedback • Classroom pilots • District-to-school professional learning

Beaver County School District

Grades 2 and 3 • ESL Specialist, 2013–2019 • District Leadership Team, 2015–2019 • WIDA coordination • MTSS and intervention systems • Belknap National Blue Ribbon contributor

Professional recognition

2025 district honorAlpine School District Foundation Accent on Excellence Award

Selected following Riverview Elementary’s nomination in recognition of exceptional service and impact.

Nomination strengthsInclusive, relationship-centered teaching

Recognized for creating a nurturing environment where diverse learners feel safe, valued, capable, and known.

Instructional impactCreative and engaging pedagogy

Recognized for using technology, hands-on learning, and critical-thinking routines to make learning meaningful.

Education & credentials

Graduate degreeM.S. Curriculum Design and Instruction

Western Governors University

Undergraduate degreeB.S. Elementary Education

Southern Utah University • Early Childhood minor

EndorsementsInstructional Coach • Reading • ESL

Plus LETRS Science of Reading certificate

Let’s connect

Interested in practical learning design backed by classroom and district experience?

I’m exploring remote curriculum, assessment, instructional design, professional learning, coaching, and AI-enabled content-quality opportunities.

Email NatalieDownload résumé

Saratoga Springs, Utah • 435-310-0851 • daltonrichardsfamily@gmail.com