Natalie Manzanares
About Natalie Manzanares
Natalie Manzanares is an Instructional Designer currently working at the U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants. She has extensive experience in education, having served as a Spanish teacher and department chair at various schools, and holds degrees in Spanish and Instructional Design.
Work at U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants
Natalie Manzanares has been employed at the U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants (USCRI) as an Instructional Designer since 2023. In this role, she focuses on developing educational programs and resources to support the organization's mission. Her work is conducted remotely, allowing her to contribute to USCRI's initiatives from various locations.
Previous Experience in Education
Prior to her current position, Natalie Manzanares held various roles in education. She worked at Hathaway Brown School as a Spanish Teacher from 2009 to 2015 and later served as the Department Chair of World Languages - Middle School from 2013 to 2015. At Hawken School, she was a Spanish Teacher from 2015 to 2023 and also served as the Department Chair of Modern & Classical Languages from 2019 to 2022. Her extensive experience in teaching and leadership roles has contributed to her expertise in instructional design.
Educational Background
Natalie Manzanares holds a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish from Saint Mary's College, where she studied from 2003 to 2007. She furthered her education at Western Michigan University, earning a Master's degree in Spanish Language and Literature from 2007 to 2009. Additionally, she is pursuing a Certificate in Instructional Design from IDOL Academy, which she began in 2022.
Achievements in Instructional Design
Natalie Manzanares has made significant contributions in her field of instructional design. She played a leading role in the setup and launch of a new Learning Management System that serves over 600 learners. She also consulted with a training team to redesign new hire onboarding processes. Her work includes creating custom data visualizations for a grant proposal that secured three years of funding for her organization and developing a Salesforce user manual with video demonstrations for staff.
Innovative Projects and Contributions
Throughout her career, Natalie Manzanares has engaged in innovative projects that enhance learning experiences. She developed animated videos that brought case scenarios to life, which were showcased at a national conference in Washington D.C. These contributions reflect her commitment to improving educational practices and resources.