Experience

Therapy Source, Inc.

• United States
• Staffing and Recruiting
• 100 - 200 Employee

• Special Education Teacher

  • Oct 2019 - Present

  • Orchestrated and sustained skill-targeted lesson plans, resulting in a notable boost in student confidence. • Designed and tailored curricula and individual student lessons, directly addressing learning deficiencies and fostering academic growth. • Introduced behavior contracts, effectively managing challenging behaviors while promoting a positive learning environment through reinforcement and incentives. • Facilitated meaningful collaboration with IEP team members, related service providers, and families; meticulously documented anecdotal records and procured additional resources, playing a pivotal role in student success. • Enabled credit recovery initiatives, propelling students to meet crucial graduation benchmarks. • Administered targeted literacy interventions, resulting in students advancing their reading proficiency by an average of two grade levels. • Drove a marked increase in student class participation and work completion, achieving an uplift of at least 80%. • Provided expert guidance on policy development, ensuring alignment with best practices in special education. • Conducted regular training sessions for educators and support staff, enhancing the overall effectiveness of special education initiatives. Show less



Self-Employed

• Student and Family Advocate

  • Jan 2018 - Present

  • Educate parents and families of students with special needs of laws, regulations, and changes in special education • Attend and support families during IEP meetings to ensure parent's clear and full understanding of goals, teacher suggestions, students needs, etc. • Inform parents of resources, therapies, and services that can be requested for their child to fully access his/her education. • Provide referrals to outside agencies that provide extra-curricular and/or social and emotional activities for students with special needs. • Encourage and promote diversity, equity, and inclusion for all students and families. Show less



Pressley Ridge

• United States
• Individual and Family Services
• 400 - 500 Employee

• ESY Special Education Teacher

  • Jun 2017 - Aug 2019

  • Implemented and refined Individual Crisis Management Plans, leading to a significant decrease in aggressive and undesirable behaviors. • Partnered with administrators, faculty, therapeutic support staff, and families to pinpoint student needs and establish appropriate support levels. • Orchestrated and supervised student field trips, enriching educational programs through experiential learning. • Enabled student proficiency in the use of augmented communication devices, promoting inclusive learning opportunities. • Utilized trauma-informed methodologies such as Mindfulness, Therapeutic Crisis Intervention (TCI), and Ukeru training, creating a safer and more responsive learning environment. • Guided and communicated effectively with classroom assistants and one-on-one paraprofessionals on daily tasks, student needs, and schedule modifications. • Fostered productive collaborations with external agencies offering services to students and their families, ensuring comprehensive support for learners. Show less



Pittsburgh Public Schools

• United States
• Education Management
• 700 & Above Employee

• Emotional Support Special Education Montessori Teacher

  • Sep 2015 - Jun 2019

  • Instructed core academic subjects in a therapeutic classroom setting, leveraging programs such as ILit90, Reading Horizons, and ReadyGen, leading to an average improvement of 30% in student academic performance. • Partnered with teachers, therapeutic support staff, and families to identify the needs of students and determine suitable support levels, resulting in improvement in targeted students' learning experiences. • Implemented and exemplified appropriate social, emotional, and behavioral skills through strategies like TCI training, School Wide Behavior Support Plans, Restorative Circles, and Restorative Justice Practices. • Evaluated student performance, behavior, and social development, formulating improvement strategies for struggling children, which resulted in a 40% improvement in identified students' social interactions and behavior. • Conducted Montessori lessons aimed at fostering coordination, concentration, independence, and order, cultivating a safe and positive learning environment. Show less