MICHAEL ALLEN McKINLEY
Niterói, RJ, Brazil · michael.mckinley@outlook.com · +55 21 99702-2310 · U.S. Citizen
PROFESSIONAL PROFILE
International educator with ten years of experience teaching secondary students in multilingual classrooms in Brazil. Experienced in teaching US Curriculum: American Literature, U.S. Government, Public Speaking; Cambridge IGCSE: Global Perspectives, Drama, and Design & Technology, while supporting English language development for Portuguese-speaking learners. Skilled in curriculum design, project-based learning, and creating engaging, student-centered classrooms that foster language acquisition, critical thinking, creativity, and cross-cultural communication. Proven ability to adapt instruction to diverse learning needs and build positive, inclusive learning environments.
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
Teacher | Instituto Gaylussac | Niterói, Brazil | 2017 – 2026
Taught Cambridge IGCSE and U.S.-curriculum secondary courses in multilingual classrooms serving Brazilian ESL learners.
Courses taught:
• American Literature (Texas Tech K–12 / U.S. Curriculum)
• U.S. Government (Texas Tech K–12 / U.S. Curriculum)
• Public Speaking (Texas Tech K–12 / U.S. Curriculum)
• Cambridge IGCSE Global Perspectives (0457)
• Cambridge IGCSE Drama (0411)
• Cambridge IGCSE Design & Technology (0445)
• Information, Communication & Technology (Ensino Fundamental)
Key responsibilities and achievements:
• Developed full-year curriculum plans, assessments, rubrics, and instructional materials across all subject areas
• Supported English language learners through scaffolded instruction, academic vocabulary development, and differentiated language support
• Designed inquiry-based and project-based learning experiences aligned with Cambridge and U.S. secondary frameworks
• Guided students in public speaking, collaborative presentations, research writing, and cross-cultural communication
• Directed scripted and devised theatrical productions entirely in English
• Successfully condensed a two-year Cambridge IGCSE Drama curriculum into a single academic year
ENGLISH LANGUAGE SUPPORT
Throughout ten years of instruction in a Brazilian school context, English-medium teaching was central to all courses. Key ESL-oriented practices included:
• Delivering all subject instruction in English to native Portuguese-speaking learners at the secondary level
• Integrating academic vocabulary development into content-area lessons across humanities and design courses
• Adapting instruction, scaffolding materials, and assessment tasks for multilingual learners
• Building student confidence in spoken English through drama, presentations, and collaborative discussion
• Supporting reading comprehension and written communication in English across disciplines
EDUCATION
Bachelor of Fine Arts — Industrial Design
Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) · Providence, RI · 2001
Continuing Education — Art & Design
California College of the Arts · San Francisco, CA · 2003 – 2006
Coursework — Product Design
Southern Illinois University · Carbondale, IL · 1994 – 1997
Level 5 TEFL Certification — Occupational Qualification — Teaching & Lecturing
The International TEFL Academy · Chicago, IL / Online · Enrolled – Completion August 2026
CURRICULA & FRAMEWORKS
Cambridge IGCSE: Global Perspectives (0457) · Drama (0411) · Design & Technology (0445) · Texas Tech K–12 · U.S. Secondary Curriculum
SKILLS & LANGUAGES
Languages: English (native) · Portuguese (basic, developing)
Teaching: ESL-informed pedagogy · Curriculum design · Lesson planning · Assessment design · Differentiated instruction · Project-based learning
Communication: Theater direction · Devised performance · Public speaking coaching · Academic writing instruction
Creative: Visual art · Graphic design · Photography · Design & fabrication
Technology: Microsoft Office · Canva · Various LLMs · Digital assessment tools
U.S. citizen based in Brazil. Available for international school positions. References available upon request.
