April Ellestad
Appleton,WI
Summary
Dedicated Teacher offering 10+ years of experience in education. Resourceful and passionate educator with adaptable and approachable style. Expertise includes communication, test preparation and ongoing evaluations.
Overview
14
14
years of professional experience
Work History
High School Special Education Teacher
Kimberly Area School District
Kimberly , WI
06.2018 - Current
- Collaborated on and implemented innovative pedagogical initiatives that focused on student-first, hands-on and experiential learning to foster instruction in English.
- Talked with students in need of extra attention and made plans to assist with concerns.
- Helped students develop important learning skills and good study habits useful in trade school or college education.
- Inspired academic success based on belief that all students can achieve excellence, regardless of background.
- Created engaging lesson plans, fostered culture of discovery and provided well-organized classroom structure to help students succeed in program.
- Developed IEP's, through communications and information for student and parent meetings.
Middle School Special Education Teacher
Appleton Area School District
Appleton, WI
06.2015 - 06.2018
- Delivered effective and differentiated classroom instruction to diverse range of developmentally challenged students.
- Organized instruction material, including constructing bulletin boards and setting up work areas in multiple classrooms.
- Coordinated special education students and teacher assistant schedules with master schedule.
- Created and managed IEPs to define student learning objectives and educational strategies, in addition to applying instructional knowledge and methods to support goals.
- Redirected students using Positive Behavior Support (PBS).
- Led activities that developed students' physical, emotional and social growth.
- Instructed students in 4 academic areas and 3 reading groups.
- Cultivated connections and strong student rapport to foster classroom engagement, in addition to recording student progress to inform parents and school administration.
Language and Cultural Immersion Teacher
Oshkosh Area School District
Oshkosh, WI
06.2011 - 08.2015
- Enhanced student learning by optimizing wide range of instructional approaches and innovative classroom activities.
- Boosted student grasp of materials with weekly tutoring sessions in the community.
- Fostered team collaboration between students through group projects through community involvement
- Supported student teachers by mentoring on classroom management, lesson planning and activity organization.
- Evaluated and revised lesson plans and course content to facilitate and moderate classroom discussions and student centered learning.
- Observed and evaluated family connections in the community, behavior, social development and physical health.
- Administered assessments to determine each family's specific educational and social needs.
- Planned, facilitated and assessed monthly staff meetings and staff development.
- Directed after school activities 3 days each week to provide families with interesting opportunities while maintaining student discipline.
- Worked cooperatively with other teachers, administrators and parents to help students reach learning objectives in English.
- Prepared lesson plans according to assessment of student needs and learning ability.
- Received recognition for contributions of innovative concepts to classroom instruction.
- Collaborated with parents of many students to increase comprehensive and long-term success.
Elementary Special Education Teacher
Appleton Area School District
Appleton, WI
06.2012 - 06.2015
- Led activities that developed students' physical, emotional and social growth in the Severe Emotional and Behavioral Disability (SEBD)environment.
- Communicated nonverbally with children to provide comfort, encouragement and positive reinforcement.
- Redirected students using Positive Behavior Support (PBS).
- Created and managed IEPs to define student learning objectives and educational strategies, in addition to applying instructional knowledge and methods to support goals.
- Created learning and content strategies to meet needs of mentally and physically disabled students.
- Cultivated connections and strong student rapport to foster classroom engagement, in addition to recording student progress to inform parents and school administration.
- Delivered effective and differentiated classroom instruction to diverse range of developmentally challenged students.
- Coordinated special education students and teacher assistant schedules with master schedule.
Education
Bachelor of Science - Education
UW Oshkosh
Oshkosh 06.2012
High School Diploma -
North High School
Oshkosh, WI06.1988
Skills
- Speaking
- Judgment and Decision Making
- Teaching
- Exercise Programs
- Special Education
- Program development
- Curriculum Development
- Differentiated instruction
- Technology integration
- SMART Boards
- K-12 Education
- Educational research
- Staff Development
- Positive reinforcement
- IEP design
- College preparation
- Recordkeeping
- Common core standards
- Inventory Management
- Team building
Timeline
High School Special Education Teacher
Kimberly Area School District
06.2018 - Current
Middle School Special Education Teacher
Appleton Area School District
06.2015 - 06.2018
Elementary Special Education Teacher
Appleton Area School District
06.2012 - 06.2015
Language and Cultural Immersion Teacher
Oshkosh Area School District
06.2011 - 08.2015
Bachelor of Science - Education
UW Oshkosh
High School Diploma -
North High School