Michelle Kennedy
Bay City
Summary
Creative, out-going leader with strong relationship building skills, experienced in leading staff and building unique programming opportunities. Able to work under pressure, effective at multitasking, and able to accomplish overall organizational objectives.
Overview
33
33
years of professional experience
Work History
Special Education Teacher Consultant & 504 Coordinator
Michigan Online Schools
03.2021 - Current
- Write, schedule, implement and monitor compliant and meaningful student IEPs, Behavior Plans
- Participate in the MTSS process of Michigan Online Schools
- Write and implement successful lesson plans for students with disabilities according to their IEPs
- Administer and monitor transition services and assessments
- Co-teach alongside of the general education teacher offering support for general education staff and all students
- Coordinate student accommodations for students with 504’s.
Special Education Manager
Lighthouse Connections Academy
05.2020 - 03.2021
- Manage the entire Special Education & 504 programs
- Supervise 10 teachers; 250 special needs students and 80 504 students
- Manage the finances of the entire Special Education program
- Provide guidance, advice, and professional development for staff
- Hire, evaluate and professionally support the special education staff
- Assist with sensitive IEP’s & 504’s
- Ensure the entire program is in compliance with all special education laws of the State and Federal government.
Nature Educator
Chippewa Nature Center
02.2020 - 04.2020
- Taught classes of students that were brought out to the Nature Center lessons about the environment and caring for our natural world
- Taught classes of students about maple syruping
- Laid off due to covid.
Assistant Principal Western High School
Bay City Public Schools
08.2019 - 01.2020
- Assist the Principal in the day-to-day operations of a Class A High School
- Assist with discipline
- Assist with Attendance
- Assist with Special Education
- Assist with after school sport events
- Assist with School Improvement
- Assist with Teacher Evaluation.
Principal Kolb Elementary
Bay City Public Schools
08.2012 - 07.2019
- Direct and manage the academic system at Kolb Elementary for 605 students
- Direct and manage the social/emotional system at Kolb for 605 students
- Direct and manage over $300,000 Title I grant funding
- Direct and manage the school budget allocation
- Direct and manage parental involvement activities for a very diverse population (ranging from Gifted and Talented-Special Education programs)
- Grant writing, planning, and implementing received grants such as $70,000 quarter-mile track, $20,000 Butterfly Garden, $8,000 Imagination Playground
- Planning, Organizing and Managing all-school events in conjunction with the community such as the clean-up of Kolb Trails, Reading & Math Nights, STEAM EXPO, Concerts, Kolb Family Clean-up, and our Lego Block Party
- Coordinate the MTSS process and system within Kolb Elementary
- Lead & Manage 42.5 general education teachers, special education teachers, educational assistants, special area teachers, intervention teacher, school service workers, secretaries and custodians daily.
Special Education Director
Bay City Public Schools
07.2008 - 07.2012
- Directed and managed Special Education programming for 1500 special education students K-12
- Managed and directed an $8 million dollar budget to best serve the 1500 special needs students of Bay City Public Schools
- Conducted PD for staff in order to achieve State mandated compliance rates
- Lead & managed 75 special education teachers and 30 educational assistants in meeting the individual needs of 1500 students
- Lead the Content Coaches in organizing the MTSS process for our entire district K-12
- Worked with parents in difficult compliance meetings to reach resolutions that benefited students and the district.
Principal Linsday Elementary
Bay City Public Schools
07.2006 - 06.2008
- Directed and managed the academic system at Linsday Elementary School for 400+ students
- Directed and managed the social/emotional system at Linsday Elementary for 400+ students
- Lead and Coordinated the MTSS process at Linsday Elementary School
- Lead & Managed 26 general education teachers, special education teachers, educational assistants, special area teachers, intervention teacher, content coach, school service worker, secretary and custodians.
Assistant Principal- Western Middle School
Bay City Public Schools
07.2005 - 07.2006
- Managed the attendance system for 900+ students
- Managed the discipline system for 900+ students
- Worked directly with students and parents on discipline issues
- Worked directly with students and parents regarding special education issues
- Served on the Administrators negotiating team for 3 years helping to negotiate and solve union issues between Central Office and Administrators in the field.
Special & General Education teacher
Bay City Public Schools
10.1991 - 07.2005
- Taught for 3 years at McAlear-Sawden Elementary School, Kindergarten both half day and full day in all curricular areas
- Taught for 1 year at Riegel Elementary, 1st grade students in all curricular areas
- Taught for 11 years at Washington Elementary School, K-5 Special Education Students with a variety of disabilities in all curricular areas in all settings (general education-self-contained)
- Served on the Teacher negotiating team for 7 years, helping to settle contracts and union issues between management and teachers.
Education
Ed Specialist with focus on SE Directorship -
Saginaw Valley State University
06.2025
Masters in Ed Leadership -
Saginaw Valley State University
01.2005
BS in Education -
Central Michigan University
01.1991
Skills
- Differentiated Instruction
- Classroom Management
- Individual Education Plans IEPs
- Small Group Instruction
- Relationship Building
- Co-teaching Experience
- Collaborative Teamwork
- Inclusion Strategies
- Motivating students
- Parent Communication
- Autism Spectrum Knowledge
- Parent-teacher collaboration
- Instructional Strategies
- Special Education
- Trained in CPI
- Progress Evaluations
- Life Skills Instruction
- Multidisciplinary Collaboration
Professional References
- Carolyn Wierda, Special Assistant to the President for STEM Initiatives, Saginaw Valley State University, ccwierda@svsu.edu, 989.980.3117
- Stephen Sevener, Principal of Kolb Elementary School, Bay City Public Schools, 305 W Crump, Bay City, MI, 48611, seveners@bcschools.net, 989.893.9518
- Dr. Samara Stewart, Assistant Special Education Manager (formerly), Lighthouse Connections Academy, 3150 Livernois, Troy, MI, 48083, samaralycain@gmail.com
- Rhonda Spalding, Special Education Teacher, Lighthouse Connections Academy, 3150 Livernois, Troy, MI, 48083, rspalding@lca.connectionsacademy.org
- Matthew Novak, 5th grade gifted and talented teacher, Kolb Elementary School, Bay City Public Schools, 305 W. Crump St, Bay City, MI, 48708, novakm@bcschools.net
- Traci Crawford, Teacher, Kolb Elementary School, Bay City Public Schools, 305 W. Crump St., Bay City, MI, 48708, crawfordt@bcschools.net, 989.893.9518
References
- Christopher Arrington, Former Superintendent, Marion Public Schools, 510 W. Main St, Marion, MI, 49665, 231.743.2486
- Amy Hurst, District Literacy Coach, Bay City Public Schools, 2300 Midland Rd., Bay City, MI, 48706, 989.684.7702
- MaryJo Callaghan, Administrative Assistant, Bay City Public Schools, 910 N. Walnut St, Bay City, MI, 48706, 989.686.9700 ex.8180
Training
- Mindfulness Certified (2024)
- Nominated to work with Michigan Department of Education committee in order to develop a “General” Special Education degree/license for students seeking a college degree
- Selected to be a FAME (Formative Assessment for Michigan Educators) Coach by the State of MI 21-22 school year
- Leading a Special Education Department virtually
- Leading staff in book studies such as “Engaging Students with Poverty in Mind,” (2016) “Mindset,” (2017), and “Leader in Me” (2018)
- Implementing “Mindfulness” for all teachers and students 2018 at Kolb Elementary
- Became a Board Member for Brian’s House April 2019
- Became a Board Member for Big Brothers/Big Sisters of the Great Lakes Bay Region August 2018
- Capturing Kids Hearts Training Spring 2018
- Traveled to Washington DC with Gerstacker 2017
- FAME (Formative Assessment for Michigan Educators) grant training and teamwork
- Leading SIP (School Improvement Plan) training, work, and yearly implementation
- Building and developing Kolb Trails, the Butterfly Garden & The Kinder-garden 2016-17
- Great Expectations Training August 2013
- Cognitive Coaching Training
- Adaptive Schools Training
- Trauma in Children Training July 2012
- Managed $8 million Special Education budget
- Managed $2 million ARRA grant and purchased, implementing & monitored the first district-wide RtI tool for 900 struggling students
- President & Board Trustee of the ARC of Bay Co.
- STAR training (staff selection and interviewing training)
- Traveled to Denver Colorado with Gerstacker 2013
- Negotiator for BCASA (Bay City Association of School Administrators)
- Staff Evaluation Training (2011, 2013, 2015, 2017)
- Traveled to China with Gerstacker June 2011
- Negotiator for BCEA (Bay City Educators Association)
Timeline
Special Education Teacher Consultant & 504 Coordinator
Michigan Online Schools
03.2021 - Current
Special Education Manager
Lighthouse Connections Academy
05.2020 - 03.2021
Nature Educator
Chippewa Nature Center
02.2020 - 04.2020
Assistant Principal Western High School
Bay City Public Schools
08.2019 - 01.2020
Principal Kolb Elementary
Bay City Public Schools
08.2012 - 07.2019
Special Education Director
Bay City Public Schools
07.2008 - 07.2012
Principal Linsday Elementary
Bay City Public Schools
07.2006 - 06.2008
Assistant Principal- Western Middle School
Bay City Public Schools
07.2005 - 07.2006
Special & General Education teacher
Bay City Public Schools
10.1991 - 07.2005
Ed Specialist with focus on SE Directorship -
Saginaw Valley State University
Masters in Ed Leadership -
Saginaw Valley State University
BS in Education -
Central Michigan University
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