Allison VanLier-Johnson, Ed.S.
Waukee
Summary
Instructional Designer with an Ed.S. in Education, specializing in assessment-driven design and continuous improvement. Expert in crafting learner-centered experiences that integrate formative data, chunking strategies, and multimodal delivery. Known for aligning instructional solutions with measurable outcomes and organizational goals.
Overview
30
30
years of professional experience
Work History
Caretaker
Private Family Home
Waukee
08.2024 - Current
- Coordinate daily care and support for a family member with progressive supranuclear palsy and spinal stenosis, managing medical appointments, mobility assistance, and emotional well-being.
- Apply empathy, organization, and problem-solving to navigate evolving health needs and maintain quality of life
- Develop and maintained care schedules, medication tracking systems, and communication protocols with healthcare providers
- Demonstrate resilience, adaptability, and stakeholder collaboration in a high-responsibility, time-sensitive environment
Teacher - Middle School English / Social Studies
Waukee Community School District
Waukee
08.2019 - 11.2024
- Facilitated Instructor Led Training (ILT) daily
- Designed targeted learning strategies that exceeded company goals of 80%, achieving 88% learner accuracy (in English conventions), over the course of nine months
- Leveraged formative assessment and iterative design to boost student performance (in English - citing textual evidence) by nearly 3x over nine months
- Applied backward design principles to structure nine month learning modules with clear scope and sequence, pacing and assessment alignment
- Integrated chunked, microlearning elements into blended formats to promote engagement and reinforce key concepts
- Applied data informed strategies to develop scaffolded, blended learning solutions, integrating synchronous and asynchronous formats to promote learner retention and autonomy
- Designed and implemented standard-specific diagnostic assessments to guide curriculum planning and learner support
- Designed, published, and assessed learning modules using Google Classroom and Canvas to support digital instruction
- Delivered Virtual Instructor Led Training (vILT) during Covid
- Transformed instructor led training (ILT) into virtual instructor led (vILT) and eLearning formats to support remote learners
Special Education Teacher - Waukee High School
Waukee Community School District
Waukee
08.2008 - 08.2019
- Led data informed discussions to design and develop targeted instructional interventions for learners with diverse needs
- Designed individualized learning objectives by conducting preassessments aligned with learner goals
- Partnered with subject matter experts to co-develop targeted instructional strategies and aligned content to those goals
- Strategized assessment techniques to monitor progress and adjust instructional design in real time
- Iterated learning goals and material over a year-long cycle to optimize learner outcomes
- Led continuous improvement efforts by revisiting goals, refining content, and aligning instruction with evolving learner needs over a nine month period
Special Education Teacher - Valley High School
West Des Moines Community Schools
West Des Moines
08.2003 - 08.2008
- Responsibilities aligned with previous teaching role, including curriculum design, blended learning implementation, data-informed instruction, and collaboration with SMEs
Special Education Teacher - East High School
Des Moines Public Schools
Des Moines
08.2000 - 08.2003
- Responsibilities aligned with previous teaching role, including curriculum design, blended learning implementation, data-informed instruction, and collaboration with SMEs
Saydel High School
Saydel Community School District
Des Moines
08.1999 - 08.2000
- Responsibilities aligned with previous teaching role including curriculum design, blended learning implementation, data informed instruction, and collaboration with SMEs
Residential Social Worker
Boys and Girls Home and Family Services
Graettinger
08.1995 - 04.1997
- Designed and facilitated therapeutic sessions (individual, group, family) focused on behavior modification and cognitive restructuring
- Developed individualized treatment plans and conducted intake assessments for adolescents, aligning therapeutic goals with behavioral and cognitive development strategies
- Collaborated with multidisciplinary stakeholders to provide consistent updates on adolescent development, behavioral goals and intervention effectiveness
- Navigated state systems to secure "CACT" funding, ensuring program continuity and access to services for adolescents
- Testified in legal proceedings to communicate learner development, milestones, and intervention effectiveness
Education
Applied Instructional Design Certification - Instructional Design - Earning
Applied Instructional Design Academy
Austin, TX09-2025
5-12 English / Language Arts Endorsement - English / Language Arts
Drake University
Des Moines, IA07-2022
Education Specialist - Educational Leadership
Drake University
Des Moines, IA08-2008
Middle School Generalist Endorsement - 5-8 Social Studies, ELA, Science, Math
Viterbo University
West Des Moines, IA12-2000
Master of Arts - Teaching - Special Ed., Sociology, Psychology
Drake University
Des Moines, IA03-1999
Bachelor of Arts - Human Services
Grand View University
Des Moines, IA07-1995
Associate of Science - Human Services
Des Moines Area Community College
Ankeny, IA12-1994
Associate of Arts - Liberal Arts
Des Moines Area Community College
Ankeny, IA12-1994
Skills
- Backward Design
- Needs Analysis
- Formative Assessment
- Curriculum Mapping
- Microlearning
- UDL Principles
- Scaffolding
- Blended Learning
- Virtual Instructor Led Training (vILT) and ILT
- Articulate Rise and Storyline
- Canvas
- Google Suite
- Microsoft Teams
- Stakeholder Engagement
- Project Management
Affiliations
Facilitated stakeholder training on evidence-based differentiation strategies following a professional summit on instructional best practices
Delivered professional development on instructional and behavioral strategies for learners with autism spectrum disorder, grounded in evidence-based practices from a national summit
Co-facilitated Instructor Led Training (Real Colors) for 160 adult stakeholders
Co-led design and implementation of a new advisory curriculum by conducting site visits, attending a week-long summit at Brown University, and collaborating on curriculum development, then facilitated learner training and onboarding
Conducted a needs analysis to enhance student voice, then led a nine month initiative to restructure student leadership (collaborating with stakeholders) to transform Student Council into a scalable governance system, resulting in a 5x increase in student representation
Spearheaded end-to-end coordination of ten large-scale events, generating $10K+ in revenue per dance through strategic planning and execution
Directed multi-day event coordination involving logistics, stakeholder engagement, and fundraising strategy
Delivered professional development on instructional and behavioral strategies for learners with autism spectrum disorder, grounded in evidence-based practices from a national summit
Co-facilitated Instructor Led Training (Real Colors) for 160 adult stakeholders
Co-led design and implementation of a new advisory curriculum by conducting site visits, attending a week-long summit at Brown University, and collaborating on curriculum development, then facilitated learner training and onboarding
Conducted a needs analysis to enhance student voice, then led a nine month initiative to restructure student leadership (collaborating with stakeholders) to transform Student Council into a scalable governance system, resulting in a 5x increase in student representation
Spearheaded end-to-end coordination of ten large-scale events, generating $10K+ in revenue per dance through strategic planning and execution
Directed multi-day event coordination involving logistics, stakeholder engagement, and fundraising strategy
Timeline
Caretaker
Private Family Home
08.2024 - Current
Teacher - Middle School English / Social Studies
Waukee Community School District
08.2019 - 11.2024
Special Education Teacher - Waukee High School
Waukee Community School District
08.2008 - 08.2019
Special Education Teacher - Valley High School
West Des Moines Community Schools
08.2003 - 08.2008
Special Education Teacher - East High School
Des Moines Public Schools
08.2000 - 08.2003
Saydel High School
Saydel Community School District
08.1999 - 08.2000
Residential Social Worker
Boys and Girls Home and Family Services
08.1995 - 04.1997
Applied Instructional Design Certification - Instructional Design - Earning
Applied Instructional Design Academy
5-12 English / Language Arts Endorsement - English / Language Arts
Drake University
Education Specialist - Educational Leadership
Drake University
Middle School Generalist Endorsement - 5-8 Social Studies, ELA, Science, Math
Viterbo University
Master of Arts - Teaching - Special Ed., Sociology, Psychology
Drake University
Bachelor of Arts - Human Services
Grand View University
Associate of Science - Human Services
Des Moines Area Community College
Associate of Arts - Liberal Arts
Des Moines Area Community College