Anda Polakoff
San Tan Valley,AZ
Summary
Seeking the opportunity to instruct special education students. Seeking a position where I can apply my years of experience working with special needs children, applying patience and emotional sensitivity working in Special Education.
Overview
7
7
years of professional experience
Work History
Registered Behavior Technician
Arion Care Solutions
Chandler, Arizona
10.2025 - Current
- Facilitated skill development for three young children ages three to five, enhancing responsiveness and communication.
- Supported therapist-defined goals through regular updates and constructive feedback.
- Refocused a child from anger to action in a session by preparing the child for cleanup duties using timers, acknowledging the anger, allowing the child a minute to calm down and process what needs to be done, and then engaging the child in the task.
Paraeducator
Desert Vista Elementary School
Apache Junction, Arizona
07.2024 - 05.2025
- Assisted the teacher in a self-contained classroom of nine kindergarten-aged students, mostly through one-on-one support.
- Guided students in alignment with the teacher’s lessons to facilitate task completion.
- Conducted engaging games and activities in small groups during rotation to reinforce learning objectives.
- Worked one-on-one with a student to engage with the playground. I guided the student up the stairs, assisted the student to a short slide, and encouraged the student to slide down. By the end of school, the student would scoot toward the slide by himself and slide when he was ready.
Teacher
AnubanTak Primary School
Mueang Tak, Thailand
05.2023 - 03.2024
- Led English and subject instruction, including art and computers, as the lead teacher in class sizes ranging from fifteen to thirty-three students.
- Collaborated with co-teacher to enhance classroom learning and develop engaging lesson plans according to the curriulum, and prepared the necessary materials for instruction.
- Promoted Thai culture through traditional greetings and appropriate etiquette practices.
- Instructed Thai students in English grammar and vocabulary, aligned with curriculum standards.
- Worked with a classroom of third graders that struggled to listen to any teacher. I implemented classroom management strategies suggested by my co-teacher. Through the last few weeks of the school year, I was one of the few teachers whom the class would listen to.
Behavioral Health Technician
San Tan Behavioral Health Services
04.2021 - 04.2023
- Taught children in groups ranging from 1 to 7 by myself life skills such as manners, how to get along with others, respect for self and others, listening, following instructions, etc.
- Counseled children about their specific behaviors, and how to change them to help them succeed in life.
- Worked in tandem with other staff to help support children and staff during the program to ensure that children were getting the best care while at the program, especially in groups of 8 or more children.
- Managed situations when a child's temper flared by sitting, talking, and standing with children to find out what was wrong. Helped children use coping skills, or if unable to calm the child, ensured the child was safe and being safe.
- Helped clients according to their behavioral health plan, and updated it periodically by providing feedback on how well they have been achieving their goals, or if they need a new one according to their behavior.
- Took clients to a therapeutic recreational program, ensured that the program ran smoothly by helping clients when issues arose, and assisted them in refocusing their energy to more positive applications of it.
Direct Support Professional
Easter Seals Blake Foundation
Safford, Arizona
04.2019 - 04.2021
- Supported three to five elderly members in their home with daily tasks, including feeding, dressing, and household maintenance.
- Taught members new skills and behaviors to enhance daily living.
- Organized engaging activities, such as baking, holiday decorating, and arts and crafts.
Education
Bachelor of Science - Science for Family and Marriage Studies
Brigham Young University-Idaho
Rexburg, ID12.2020
Bachelor of Arts - Special Education
Maricopa Community Colleges, Rio Salado Community College
Tempe, AZSkills
- Working with children with special needs
- Teaching reading
- Teaching math
- Teaching social skills
- Helping children develop recognition of emotions
- Building skills and behaviors
- Listening
- Observing
- Assessing and applying appropriate methods
- Activity facilitation
- Adaptability in teaching
- Creative problem solving
- Cultural sensitivity
- Team collaboration
- Classroom management
- Lesson planning
- Child behavior management
Websites
Timeline
Registered Behavior Technician
Arion Care Solutions
10.2025 - Current
Paraeducator
Desert Vista Elementary School
07.2024 - 05.2025
Teacher
AnubanTak Primary School
05.2023 - 03.2024
Behavioral Health Technician
San Tan Behavioral Health Services
04.2021 - 04.2023
Direct Support Professional
Easter Seals Blake Foundation
04.2019 - 04.2021
Bachelor of Science - Science for Family and Marriage Studies
Brigham Young University-Idaho
Bachelor of Arts - Special Education
Maricopa Community Colleges, Rio Salado Community College