Simmons College
Boston, Massachusetts
Master of Science for Teachers Major: Intensive Special Needs GPA: 4.000
May 1998 to May 1999
Simmons College
Boston, Massachusetts
Bachelor of Arts Major: Special Education and Sociology GPA: 3.800
September 1994 to May 1998
Chelmsford High School
Chelmsford, Massachusetts GPA: 3.000
September 1990 to June 1994
Experience
Greater Lawrence Educational Collaborative
Special Education Teacher
Methuen, Massachusetts
Sep 2001 - Present
Special Education Teacher, Mentor Teacher, EPIC Program
- 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
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
Somerville Public Schools
Special Education Teacher
Somerville, Massachusetts
Sep 1999 - Jun 2001
- Taught classroom of 2-4 students with intensive special needs in an urban, multi-cultural elementary school.
- Participated in the pilot program of the MCAS Alternative Assessment Program.
- Designed and implemented a reverse inclusion program.
Kennedy Day School
Special Education Teacher
Brighton, Massachusetts
Apr 1998 - Aug 1999
- 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.
- Participated in AAC evaluations.
- Taught professional development programs in assistive technology
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
Boston, Massachusetts
Master of Science for Teachers
Major: Intensive Special Needs
GPA: 4.000
May 1998 to May 1999
Boston, Massachusetts
Bachelor of Arts
Major: Special Education and Sociology
GPA: 3.800
September 1994 to May 1998
Chelmsford, Massachusetts
GPA: 3.000
September 1990 to June 1994
Special Education Teacher
Methuen, Massachusetts
- 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
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
- Participated in the pilot program of the MCAS Alternative Assessment Program.
- Designed and implemented a reverse inclusion program.
Special Education Teacher
Brighton, Massachusetts
- Participated in AAC evaluations.
- Taught professional development programs in assistive technology
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.
First Aid Certified
Adult and Child CPR Certified
Massachusetts Teaching Certification in Intensive Special Needs, Standard Certification