Payton Hayes | Honor Society®

About

Hi, I'm Payton. :) I’m a coffee-drinking, book-reading, manuscript-editing, kind of gal —and a freelance book editor living in Oklahoma with my partner and plant babies. Even before my elementary school years, I knew I wanted to work in the book world. While earning both a bachelor’s degree in English Literature and Fine Arts with a focus in creative writing and illustration, this passion has only grown stronger. Before launching my blog and freelance editing business in 2016, I worked as a staff writer, content editor, and social media coordinator, for a local newspaper. Recently, I've been focused on earning my editing certificate and building my business. In the meantime, I've been helping other writers bring their stories to life. It brings me great joy to help clients hone their crafts, polish their work, and grow as storytellers, while remaining true to their unique voices and creative visions. “Words are, in my not-so-humble opinion, our most inexhaustible source of magic.” —Albus Dumbledore. Check out the blog here: www.paytonhayes.com

Education

University of Central Oklahoma

English

2022 – 2024
Rose State College

Associate's in English and Fine Arts (Double Major)

2016 – 2020
Midwest City High School (MCHS)

high school diploma

2012 – 2016

Honors and awards

University of Central Oklahoma Dean's Honor Roll - 2022

The Dean's Honor Roll, is a list of those who achieved a 3.5 GPA or better for the semester and no grade lower than a B, and a distinction given to those who achieve the highest academic standards.
Rose State College Honors Program, Cum Laude - 2020

The Rose State College Honors Program is designed to stimulate and challenge academically talented students. The Rose State College Honors Program is a member of the National Collegiate Honors Council and the Great Plains Honors Council.
SONIC Foundation Limeades for Learning Scholarship - 2020

Powered by the SONIC Foundation, Limeades for Learning is SONIC’s national initiative to support local public schools across the communities they serve. Since 2009, SONIC has donated more than $26 million to public schools.
James Axley Creative Writing Award Finalist - 2020

Established in 1994 to honor the memory of Dr. James Axley, a beloved colleague who served as the faculty editor for the Rose State College literary publication, Pegasus, for more than a decade and who also taught creative writing.
The 15th Street News Top Contributor Award — 2017

The Oklahoma Press Association and OCMA award-winning newspaper provides campus, local, and national news and entertainment, all from a local perspective. This award is in recognition of exceptional contribution to RSC's student publication.
National Honor Society 2012-2016

The National Honor Society (NHS) membership has been the true mark of student achievement for over 100 years, empowering, championing, and recognizing well-rounded students.
National Junior Honor Society 2010-2012

The NJHS elevates a school’s commitment to the values of scholarship, service, leadership, character, and citizenship and helps middle-level students develop the knowledge and skills to become well-rounded leaders in their school, community, and beyond.

Goals and interests

Career goal: After I complete my Bachelor's degree, I hope to obtain my Editing Certificate from the Chicago Graham School in pursuit of a career in manuscript editing. However, working as a substitute teacher in 2022-23 was immensely rewarding and as a result, I may chose to pursue a career in public education.
Graduate school interests: While a Bachelor's is my current goal I do hope to return to school to study English on the Master's level sometime in the future.
Outside the classroom: In my spare time, you can find me gushing over books on my blog or leaving reviews on Goodreads! I’m also a writer, painter, mixed-media artist, audiophile, fantasy enthusiast, and gamer.

Experience

Cox Communications — Customer Retention Agent

Job Description -Respond to call center customer retention calls for all Cox residential services and product lines -Identify and resolves customer issues -Exercise creative negotiation skills to motivate customers to continue using Cox services -Offer additional or upgraded services, while providing a quality customer experience -Live the Cox Values, by demonstrating an approach towards people and work that is consistent with the overall values of the company

Oct 2022 – Jul 2023
Kelly Education — K-12 and SPED Substitute Teacher for Mid-Del and OKC Schools

Job Description: -Assume duties of the regular District/School classroom teacher promptly and in accordance with school rules. -Implement existing lesson plans in a manner that ensures the integrity of academic time, and motivates students to learn and participate. -Instruct students regarding a variety of classroom topics/courses of instruction, as determined by the School -District’s lesson plan and in accordance with Kelly Services policy. -Assign reasonable tasks and homework to students in accordance with the School District’s lesson plans. -Create a classroom environment that is conducive to learning and appropriate to the maturity and interests of the students. -Address the various learning styles of students accordingly. Certificates Earned: -Early Childhood Education Training -Cultural Competence and Racial Bias Training -Coronavirus 101 Training -Substitute Educator Training -Classroom Safety -Bloodborne Pathogen Exposure Prevention -Special Education & Paraprofessional Substitute Training

May 2022 – May 2023
Rose State College | Federal Work Study | RSC@OKC Innovation Station — Front Desk Receptionist

Job Description: -Perform clerical duties such as answering and transferring phone calls and scheduling bookings for the workspace -Maintain a clean, inviting workspace for students, faculty, staff, and clients -Assist clients with tasks such as repositioning elements of the workspace to create an environment conducive to focus and learning, preparing audio and video for slideshows and troubleshooting displays as necessary -Elevate marketing strategy by designing flyers and slideshows that advertise the co-working space to passersby both curbside and inside the building

Sep 2018 – Jan 2019
Rose State College | Federal Work Study | 15th Street News — Journalist/ Staff Writer

Job Description: -Write content for various external and internal clients such as press releases, online blogs, social media posts -Research, develop, write and produce timely and relevant news stories and engaging feature articles -Pitch story topics and event ideas to the editor in chief and staff during newsroom meetings -Edit digital and print articles to ensure accuracy, clarity, and brevity as well as adherence to AP style standards -Participate and assist in team-building activities with the newsroom staff such as lock-ins and festive holiday parties

Mar 2017 – May 2020
Payton Hayes Writing & Editing Services| Freelance Book Editing and Content Creation — Self-employed Freelance Proofreader and Copyeditor

-Design and develop my own website via Squarespace, showcasing my services, artwork, and editorial blog -Establish a modest clientele by offering sample edits and exercising my interpersonal and editing skills -Successfully increase site traffic by 228% and passive revenue by 12% between 2018 and 2019 by consistently producing engaging, actionable content for a niche audience all while I was working and attending school full-time

Dec 2016 – Jul 2023

Volunteering

While attending high school, I volunteered with Whiz Kids at my local church every Monday afternoon. While I don't subscribe to organized religion anymore, I was very involved with the church as a teenager and volunteered every summer with vacation bible school. For me, it wasn't about the faith or the religious practice; it was about the children. I always had so much fun helping with VBS and Whiz Kids. During my volunteer time at Whiz Kids, I helped children in grades 2nd-5th grade practice reading, comprehension, and communication skills by listening to students read aloud and coaching them on reading, pronunciation, spelling, and definition. When we were done with our reading practice, we'd practice social skills with fun, interactive games, complete homework, or study subjects that needed extra tutoring. Whiz Kids is working to reduce the opportunity gap for students through one-on-one mentorship and literacy support. We help students learn to read, so they can read to learn. For over 25 years, our program has focused on serving the whole child: academically, emotionally, spiritually and physically. Whiz Kids is a faith-based, one-on-one volunteer tutoring and mentoring program that cares for students in first through fourth grade, by providing a space for them to be known, loved and nurtured, just as they are. Whiz Kids is caring for students who are reading below grade level, navigating inequitable systems and circumstances, and could benefit most from a mentor relationship with a compassionate adult. During the 2021-2022 school year, we saw Whiz Kids increase their reading scores by an average of 82%.

Whiz Kids

Jun 2012 – Aug 2020

Languages

English (US) Advanced
Spanish Beginner

Additional information

Organizations

About

Education

University of Central Oklahoma

Rose State College

Midwest City High School (MCHS)

Honors and awards

University of Central Oklahoma Dean's Honor Roll - 2022

Rose State College Honors Program, Cum Laude - 2020

SONIC Foundation Limeades for Learning Scholarship - 2020

James Axley Creative Writing Award Finalist - 2020

The 15th Street News Top Contributor Award — 2017

National Honor Society 2012-2016

National Junior Honor Society 2010-2012

Goals and interests

Experience

Cox Communications — Customer Retention Agent

Kelly Education — K-12 and SPED Substitute Teacher for Mid-Del and OKC Schools

Rose State College | Federal Work Study | RSC@OKC Innovation Station — Front Desk Receptionist

Rose State College | Federal Work Study | 15th Street News — Journalist/ Staff Writer

Payton Hayes Writing & Editing Services| Freelance Book Editing and Content Creation — Self-employed Freelance Proofreader and Copyeditor

Volunteering

Languages

Additional information