I am a MSDE certified Special Education Teacher who has obtained broad experience in working with students with multiple disabilities, especially students with severe emotional disturbance. I have had the opportunity to work in multiple settings, including co-teaching, self-contained classrooms, inclusion classrooms, and regular education. My strengths include (but aren't limited to), crisis intervention, developing and implementing lessons based on student needs, assessment data, and diverse learning styles, maintaining a safe, structured, and positive learning environment, addressing student needs using their identified strengths, and encouraging parent participation throughout the learning process. I am currently seeking a position that will provide me with an opportunity to develop and transform learners' minds and attitudes towards learning. I enjoy collaborating with and learning from my colleagues and hope to continue to develop my practice in an environment in which academic vigor and social/emotional development is highly valued.
I believe my professional training and experience will make me a valuable and highly qualified addition to your school. I think you will find that I possess the experience, knowledge, patience, and dedication needed to work with this special population.
Thank you for the time spent reviewing my resume. I would welcome the opportunity to meet with you personally.
Sincerely,
Deborah A. Gaines As an dedicated and certified Special Education Teacher, I would like to utilize my broad experience with this population to educate students in an environment where student strengths can be developed and used to address academic, social, and emotional needs, based on Individual Education Plans, using comprehensive lessons and individualized behavioral supports.
Skills
Windows 2010, Microsoft Word, Power-Point, Excel, Data Entry, MD-online IEP, Print Shop, and Internet Navigation, Smart board
Experience
Special Education Teacher01/2012 to 06/2017Baltimore City Public Schools
Lead teacher in a self-contained middle school classroom that contained students with diverse diagnoses and needs.
Collaborated with Regular Education teacher to develop and implement lesson plans in a co-taught classroom.
Modified assignments and tests based on student's IEP.
Developed and Implemented individualized strategies and protocols for behaviorally and academically challenged students.
Case Manager for caseload of 25 special education students.
Developed and ensured implementation of student IEPs in all educational settings.
Maintained classroom management with a concrete behavioral intervention system, ensuring a safe and structured learning environment.
Provided students an opportunity develop critical thinking sills in every learning occasion, across multiple environments.
Communicated on an on-going basis with parents to convey student strengths and needs.
Chair IEP meetings.
6th Grade Team Leader01/2011 to Current
Special Education Teacher01/2007 to 01/2012Villa Maria School
Develops and implements state curriculum standard based lessons for students with severe emotional disturbance.
Lessons are adapted to meet students' individual needs by reviewing students' backgrounds learning needs through students' IEPs and informal assessments.
Utilizes Maryland Voluntary Curriculum to develop lesson plans.
Implements the Language! Program and Fundations Program, comprehensive literary programs that target the needs of non-readers and struggling readers by utilizing a sequential, cumulative, skill-based instructional format that addresses all learning styles.
Incorporates an "affective curriculum" by introducing activities to develop social awareness, appropriate social behaviors, and constructive expression of individual experiences into the instructional program.
Uses technology (Smartboard) in daily lessons.
Prepares and submits annual comprehensive progress reports, monthly progress notes, and report cards at the end of each term.
Establishes behavioral limits and maintains order within the classroom to ensure safety of all children and to promote an effective learning environment.
Enforces the Behavior Management System and monitoring children's behavior and maintaining Behavior Management documentation by completing goal sheets in prescribed time limits, calculating daily management levels, calculating monthly goal percentages, and completing behavior logs to ensure that children are treated fairly and the Behavior Management System is implemented consistently.
Utilizes PBIS to maintain a safe and positive learning environment.
Provides crisis intervention including recognizing and deescalating problem situations and restraints.
Participates with administrators, parents, and clinical team in developing Individual Education Plans, Functional Behavioral Assessments, and Behavior Intervention Plans for students to establish goals for educational development and behavior management.
Participates in Treatment Team and Admission Review meetings for assigned children to present educational information and provide input on treatment/ educational strategies.
Communicates with parents, residential counselors, and other teachers as necessary to convey problems and progress.
Supervises and collaborates daily with Educational Teacher Assistant to most effectively address students' individual educational, social, and emotional needs.
Member of PBIS Home Health and IEP Assistant01/2002 to 01/2007
Personal Touch.
Conducted DAILY/WEEKLY visits to clients' home and students' schools.
Implemented student IEPs in non-traditional environment.
Developed individualized lessons based on student strengths to address academic needs.
Assessed clients' functional life skills and provide training when needed.
Performed personal care and hygiene for clients who were unable.
Performed functional life skill tasks in the home for clients who were unable.
Assessed client needs and communicated concerns immediately to supervisor.
Documented client status daily.
Education and Training
Masters of Arts: Teaching Elementary and Secondary EducationDec 2012Goucher CollegeTeaching Elementary and Secondary Education
Bachelor of Science: Family and Consumer Science2002Morgan State UniversityFamily and Consumer Science
IEPs and State Standards -2012
Training in Language! Program -2011
CPR Licensure -2011
Certified Training in Fundations Reading Program2009
Activities and Honors
Professional Standard I (2011- 2016)
Generic Special Education 1-8
Therapeutic Crisis Intervention (TCI) 2007- Present
Skills
academic, Case Manager, CPR, Crisis Intervention, critical thinking, client, clients, Data Entry, documentation, Functional, Internet Navigation, lesson plans, notes, meetings, Excel, Power-Point, Windows, Microsoft Word, Monitors, Print Shop, progress, protocols, Reading, safety, structured, supervisor, Teacher
Masters of Arts : Teaching Elementary and Secondary Education Dec 2012 Bachelor of Science : Family and Consumer Science 2002 IEPs and State Standards - 2012 Training in Language! Program - 2011 CPR Licensure - 2011 Certified Training in Fundations Reading Program 2009
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