Alison Lakoff
Manhattan Beach,CA
Summary
Resilient Special Education Teacher familiar with challenges associated with teaching special needs children. Remains positive under times of stress or conflict. Works well with classroom teachers to develop accommodations and special techniques for mainstream classroom inclusion.
Overview
25
25
years of professional experience
Work History
Learning Center Teacher
Redondo Beach Unified School District
Redondo Beach, CA
02.2023 - 06.2024
- Case manager and special education teacher for approximately thirty students at Birney Elementary with special needs
- Planned and taught challenging lesson plans aligned with the California State Standards for Education
- Tailored and modified lessons for each student, utilizing Orton Gillingham, Read Naturally and Touch Math curriculum
- Prepared, presented, evaluated, and monitored Individualized Education Plans (IEPs) on SEIS platform (Special Education Information System) for each student on caseload
- Used Woodcock Johnson, Brigance and KTEA, YCAT as primary assessment tools; used others as needed
- Networked and corresponded with psychologists, speech pathologists, parents, principals, counselors, program specialists, and teachers as part of the Student Study Team
- Chose appropriate curriculum for students based on various grade and ability levels
Program Specialist
California Pacific Charter Schools
Newport Beach, California
09.2012 - 07.2016
- Company Overview: Online Charter School serving 8 counties
- Provided all instructional staff with necessary support and professional development to assist the success of students
- Held and verified implementation of all Individualized Education Plans (IEPs) and/or 504 Plan documentations for students with special needs within all schools across eight counties
- Worked closely with Special Education Coordinator on IEPs, professional developments, instructing special education and general education teachers, and outside agencies and parents
- Suggested appropriate curriculum to meet student's needs in all grades and with all abilities; collected data on progress
- Answered questions, issues and concerns of parents and students related to services and/or curriculum
- Worked collaboratively with different school personnel departments to provide services; addressing issues and concerns
- Provided academic support and services to students as documented in IEPs and 504 plans
- Facilitated all special education student placements
- Online Charter School serving 8 counties
Resource Specialist Teacher
Huntington Beach City School District
Huntington Beach, CA
09.2006 - 09.2011
- Company Overview: Seacliff Elementary School (National Blue Ribbon)
- Case manager and only special education teacher for approximately thirty students at Seacliff with special needs
- Constructed and taught challenging lesson plans aligned with the California State Standards for Education
- Tailored and modified lessons for each student, utilizing an Interactive WhiteBoard as much as possible
- Prepared, presented, evaluated, and monitored Individualized Education Plans (IEPs) on an electronic Special Education Information System (SEIS) for each student on caseload
- Used Woodcock Johnson, Brigance and KTEA as primary assessment tools; used others as needed
- Networked and corresponded with psychologists, speech pathologists, parents, principal, counselors, program specialists, and teachers as part of the Student Study Team
- Chose appropriate curriculum for students based on various grade and ability levels
- Trained in and implemented: Read 180 and Read Naturally intensive reading intervention programs; Rebecca Sitton Spelling program; Nancy Fetzer, Thinking Maps, Touch Math and My Access! writing programs
- Teacher for Read 180 Reading Intervention Software after school program for students at risk of retention
- Seacliff Elementary School (National Blue Ribbon)
Supervisor
Inclusive Education and Community Partnership (IECP)
Los Angeles, CA
01.2004 - 01.2007
- Assessed, wrote and monitored goals for children with autism and other disabilities
- Oversaw children's interactions with typically developing peers and their adult play facilitators in the field
- Created programs to benefit children's development based on data
- Suggested behavior management strategies
- Attended regional center community meetings with parents and IECP staff
- Attended IECP staff meetings monthly
SDC and Itinerant Special Education Teacher
Los Angeles County Office of Education (LACOE)
Los Angeles, CA
09.2003 - 06.2006
- Case manager for twenty-five charter high school and junior high students with varying abilities
- Developed IEPs on SEIS and ran IEP meetings; returned IEPs to legal working order
- Collaborated with general educators, principals, parents and specialists
- Presented at professional development meetings; taught staff special education policies, laws, compliance and curriculum
- Ran pilot inclusion program on regular education campus for students with Behavioral and Emotional Disturbances
- Collaborated with teachers from Prairie Vista to include LACOE students in their general education classes
- Taught students with Severe Behavioral and Emotional Disturbances in all subjects and wrote, presented, and monitored IEPs on SEIS in the SDC setting
- Utilized High Points for students who were English Language Learners
- Participated in the Beginning Teacher's Support and Assessment (BTSA) program
- Implemented Yoga123 program through P.S
- I Love You Foundation
- Trained in and implemented Boys and Girls Town (behavior management program) and Non-Violent Crisis Prevention Intervention (NCPI)
Long Term Special Education Substitute Teacher
Norwalk-La Mirada Unified School District
La Mirada, CA
02.2003 - 06.2003
- Special Education Teacher and case manager for students with Behavior and Learning Disabilities in grades 9-12
Behavior Specialist and Recreational Program Coordinator
Northern Suburban Special Recreation Association (NSSRA)
Northbrook, IL
06.1999 - 08.2002
- Behavior Specialist: Implemented behavior modification strategies into inclusion camp situations
- Recreational Program Coordinator: Coordinated recreation, occupation, vocation, and academics for students with disabilities
Education
Masters of Arts - Teaching: Specialization in Special Education
National University
Los Angeles, CA01.2006
Bachelor of Science - Special Education: Intervention Specialist Mild/Moderate, K-12
University of Dayton
Dayton, OH05.2002
High School Education -
Glenbrook South High School
Glenview, IL06.1998
Skills
- Special Education
- Individual Education Plans IEPs
- Team Collaboration
- Classroom Management
- Relationship Building
- Growth Mindset
- Collaborative Teaching and Teamwork
- Emotional Support
- Lesson Planning
- Crisis Prevention and Intervention
- Behavior Intervention Plans
- Data Collection
Credential
California Professional Clear Level II Education Specialist Instruction Credential
Highschooleducation
Glenbrook South High School, Glenview, IL, 08/94, 06/98, Child Development from 1994-1998: observed and taught lessons in nursery and elementary schools., Peer Mentoring in Special Education classrooms 1994-1998., Captain of the women's varsity swim team., Recipient of Principal's Award 1998.
Continuingeducation
- California State Polytechnic University Pomona, Autism Authorization, 2011
- University of San Diego, SMART Board, 2011
- University of San Diego, Cross-Cultural Language and Academic Development (CLAD) certification, 2008
- UCLA, Health Education for Teachers, 2005
Volunteer Experience
- Sandpipers South Bay of Los Angeles, 06/2022, present, Volunteer with other like-minded women for various philanthropic initiatives including fundraising and community service.
- Girl Scouts, Manhattan Beach, CA, 08/2021, present, Leader of my daughter's Girl Scouts troop. Inspiring twenty girls to give back to their community and the planet.
- South Bay Down Syndrome Association (SBDSA), Los Angeles, CA, 2010, 2012, Attend play dates as Special Education Professional liaison at various activity settings.
- Circle of Friends, Dayton, OH, 1998, 2002, President of a club that provides the opportunity for college students and adults with disabilities to interact in the community.
Timeline
Learning Center Teacher
Redondo Beach Unified School District
02.2023 - 06.2024
Program Specialist
California Pacific Charter Schools
09.2012 - 07.2016
Resource Specialist Teacher
Huntington Beach City School District
09.2006 - 09.2011
Supervisor
Inclusive Education and Community Partnership (IECP)
01.2004 - 01.2007
SDC and Itinerant Special Education Teacher
Los Angeles County Office of Education (LACOE)
09.2003 - 06.2006
Long Term Special Education Substitute Teacher
Norwalk-La Mirada Unified School District
02.2003 - 06.2003
Behavior Specialist and Recreational Program Coordinator
Northern Suburban Special Recreation Association (NSSRA)
06.1999 - 08.2002
Masters of Arts - Teaching: Specialization in Special Education
National University
Bachelor of Science - Special Education: Intervention Specialist Mild/Moderate, K-12
University of Dayton
High School Education -
Glenbrook South High School