resume

Boston, Massachusetts Master of Science for Teachers May 1998 to May 1999 || Boston, Massachusetts Bachelor of Arts September 1994 to May 1998 || Chelmsford, Massachusetts September 1990 to June 1994 || Special Education Teacher Methuen, Massachusetts || Sep 2001 - Present || - Taught a classroom of 4-12 learners with moderate to intensive special needs in a collaborative teaming setting in public middle and high schools. - Designed and implemented Individualized Education Programs, Community Based Instruction, Positive Behavior Support Programs and Transition Plans. - Acted as a mentor teacher. - Taught students to use and programmed a variety of alternative and augmentative communication devices. - Created opportunities for inclusive educational experiences in the school and in the community. - Designed and implemented a curriculum that had a dual focus of teaching life skills and academic concepts at grade and developmental level. - Created and submitted up to seven MCAS alternative portfolios per school year
 * **Kate Ahern**, M.S.Ed. ||
 * //**Education**// || ||
 * |||| **Simmons College**
 * |||| **Simmons College**
 * |||| **Simmons College**
 * Major:** Intensive Special Needs
 * GPA:** 4.000
 * |||| **Simmons College**
 * Major:** Special Education and Sociology
 * GPA:** 3.800
 * |||| **Chelmsford High School**
 * GPA:** 3.000
 * //**Experience**// || ||
 * || **Greater Lawrence Educational Collaborative**
 * || **Greater Lawrence Educational Collaborative**
 * || **Greater Lawrence Educational Collaborative**
 * |||| Special Education Teacher, Mentor Teacher, EPIC Program
 * |||| Special Education Teacher, Mentor Teacher, EPIC Program

Professional Development Instructor - Created and taught professional development courses and modules for teachers, speech/language therapists, paraprofessionals and others. - Courses included those in the area of Augmentative and Alternative Communication, Behavior Methodology for Paraprofessionals, Models of Co-Teaching, Differentiated Instruction, and Multiple Disabilities Overview, Introduction to Intensive Special Needs, Assistive Technology, High Incidence Disabilities, Working With Parents - Have also worked specifically with school districts to design and implement professional development trainings for professionals and para-professionals in their district.

SteppingStone Extended Year Program, Program Coordinator - Coordinated daily operations of a six week summer extended year program serving approximately 60-100 students with low incidence special needs. - Designed and organized daily and weekly camp wide scheduling including therapies, waterfront activities, special events and weekly educational thematic units. - Supervised up to 50 on site staff including CITs, counselors, instructional assistants, lifeguards, therapists and teachers ||  || Special Education Teacher Somerville, Massachusetts || Sep 1999 - Jun 2001 || - Participated in the pilot program of the MCAS Alternative Assessment Program. - Designed and implemented a reverse inclusion program. ||  || Special Education Teacher Brighton, Massachusetts || Apr 1998 - Aug 1999 || - Participated in AAC evaluations. - Taught professional development programs in assistive technology ||
 * || **Somerville Public Schools**
 * || **Somerville Public Schools**
 * - Taught classroom of 2-4 students with intensive special needs in an urban, multi-cultural elementary school.
 * - Taught classroom of 2-4 students with intensive special needs in an urban, multi-cultural elementary school.
 * || **Kennedy Day School**
 * || **Kennedy Day School**
 * |||| - Designed Individualized Education Plans, Lesson Plans and implemented instruction for a classroom of six to ten learners ages 12 to 22 with intensive multiple special needs including medical fragility.
 * //**Publications**// ||  ||  ||
 * |||| Author of Teaching Learners with Multiple Special Needs, the third ranked educational blog (2008 Weblog Awards) and the number one special education blog internationally for low incidence disabilities, with approximately 1000 visitors per day from 50 or more countries. Located at www.teachinglearnerswithmultipleneeds.blogspot.com.

Author of "School Preparedness is a Never Ending Process, Supporting AAC Users in Schools", Speak Up! Winter 2009. Published by the United States Society for Augmentative and Alternative Communication. ||
 * //**Certifications**// ||  ||  ||
 * |||| Crisis Prevention and Intervention Certified

First Aid Certified

Adult and Child CPR Certified

Massachusetts Teaching Certification in Intensive Special Needs, Standard Certification ||