Monterey, California

Ben Vevoda

Educator, writer, and operator with graduate degrees in English and Teaching, peer-reviewed publication, international keynote experience, and seven years of hands-on driving and warehouse work.

Contact benallenvevoda@gmail.com
831-594-7771
Monterey, CA
Teaching & Instruction
Academic Experience
English Teacher Full Time
Mount Madonna Continuation High School
  • Designed and delivered English curriculum for continuation high school population
  • AVID Lead Team, WASC Lead Team, and Leadership Team member 2022–2023
  • Positive School Culture Committee 2021–2023; Curriculum Planning Committee Summer 2021
  • Induction fast-tracked 2021, Gilroy Unified School District
  • Presented site-wide ClassDojo workshop; sponsored attendance at AVID Summer Institute, San Diego (2023)
2020 – 2024
Teaching Associate, ENGL 1A Instructor of Record
San Jose State University
  • Sole instructor for first-year composition; designed syllabus and all course materials
  • Applied Vygotsky's Zone of Proximal Development as the operative pedagogical framework
Fall 2019
Graduate Assistant, ENGL 50 & ENGL 106
San Jose State University
  • Supported instruction in composition and rhetoric courses during M.A. program
2018 – 2019
English Teacher, Grades 9–10 Full Time
Salinas Union High School District — Everett Alvarez High School
  • Highest STAR Test scores in 10th Grade English PLC for Lexile growth
  • Educational Technologies Committee 2017–2018
  • District-sponsored attendance: CUE Conference, Asilomar 66, PLC Conference (Orlando)
2016 – 2018
Substitute Teacher, Grades K–12
Chualar, Salinas, and Monterey School Districts
  • Covered assignments across grade levels and subject areas throughout Monterey County
2013 – 2015
Transportation & Warehouse
Driver Experience
Rideshare Driver Current
Uber / Lyft
  • Full-time passenger transport across Monterey County and surrounding areas
  • Top-rated driver status; consistent on-time performance and professional conduct
  • Independent scheduling, vehicle maintenance, and route optimization
  • Clean driving record; no incidents
2024 – Present
Driver / Warehouse Operator
TriCord Tradeshow Services
  • Operated forklift for materials handling, pallet staging, and advance freight storage at Monterey-area venues
  • Loaded and secured tradeshow freight for outbound shipments; coordinated inbound and outbound logistics with warehouse and event staff
  • Drove F-250 pickup with 20-foot cargo trailer on local and regional routes serving tradeshow and conference installations
  • Supported exhibit install and dismantle operations at the Monterey Conference Center and surrounding venues
  • Maintained vehicle logs, performed pre-trip inspections, and ensured compliance with load limits
2008 – 2015
Core Competencies
Skills
Driving
Commercial vehicle operation: F-250 + 20-ft cargo trailer; rideshare; clean record
Warehouse
Forklift operation, truck loading, pallet staging, freight securing, inventory coordination
Curriculum Design
AVID, WASC, PLC frameworks; course development K–12 through university
Writing & Research
Peer-reviewed publication; Burkean rhetorical analysis; MLA and APA; academic and professional registers
Instruction
Instructor of record (SJSU ENGL 1A); Vygotsky ZPD pedagogy; growth mindset frameworks
Public Speaking
International keynote speaker; 60–85-participant webinars; PLC and conference presentations
Certifications
CA Single Subject Credential (English, ELD); CBEST; CalTPAs 1–4; CSET 1–4
Leadership
AVID Lead, WASC Lead, Positive Culture Committee, Leadership Team, Educational Technologies Committee
Academic Background
Education
M.A. in English
San Jose State University
Thesis: Dramatistic analysis of Wallace Stegner's Angle of Repose; Burkean pentadic methodology
2018 – 2019
M.A. Teaching and Education Credential
Brandman University
Single Subject Teaching Credential (English) with ELD certification; CalTPAs 1–4 completed
2015 – 2018
Study Abroad Immersion Program
University of Kent, Canterbury
Spring 2014
B.A. English Literature
University of California, Santa Cruz
Minor concentration in Education; High Honors, Fall and Winter 2012
2010 – 2014
General Education Transfer; Great Books Program Founding Graduate
Monterey Peninsula College
Completed with Dean's Honors; MPC alumni
2007 – 2010
Scholarship & Presentations
Publications & Conferences
"An Annotated Bibliography of Global and Non-Western Sources for Comparative Rhetorical Studies"
Present Tense: A Journal of Rhetoric in Society, vol. 9, no. 1, 2021. Edited by Anne Melfi, Nicole Khoury, and Tarez Graban. Contributed 2,500 words on Indigenous rhetorics.
"A Dramatistic Analysis of Agent-Act in Wallace Stegner's Angle of Repose"
SJSU, ENGL 259, 2019. Burkean pentadic methodology; engagement with Burke, Booth, Vygotsky, Graulich, Jameson, and Cook-Lynn.
The Knowledge Community Pakistan — International Summits and Webinars
Reflective Lesson Planning: Becoming a Concise, Objective and Effective Educator
Workshop — Oct 16, 2020
80 participants
Novice Teachers: Challenges and Opportunities
Webinar — Feb 6, 2021
85 participants
Bloom's Taxonomy and Webb DOK: Theory and Practice
International Summit — June 14, 2021
70 participants
Bloom's Taxonomy and Webb DOK: Challenges and Implementation
International Summit — June 15, 2021
75 participants
Classroom Management and Public Speaking
International Summit — June 16, 2021
60 participants
Higher Education: Developing, Instructing, and Leading a "Critical Thinking" Course Module
International Summit — June 17, 2021
65 participants
Get in Touch
Contact
Email
benallenvevoda@gmail.com
Phone
831-594-7771
Location
Monterey, CA