Ashley Rakestraw
Moore,OK
Summary
Enthusiastic, motivated, and creatively educating elementary and high school students using inquiry-driven instruction. Special Education Coordinator and Teacher with extensive background in design, delivery and evaluation of complex educational programs. Successfully manages education program budgets, identifies areas of growth and coordinates events to promote special education services. Demonstrated experience in organizing departmental initiatives and collaborating with educational leaders to make data-driven decisions.
Overview
6
6
years of professional experience
Work History
Special Education Coordinator and Teacher K-12
Life Christian Academy
08.2024 - Current
- Developed lesson plans and instructional materials and provided pre-kindergarten through 12th grade regular education and special education students for regular education teachers and resource room pull outs
- Communicated with parents through multiple communication pathways to update parents on student progress, and additionally provide resources for families
- Evaluated students’ academic and personal growth through benchmarks and progress monitoring
- Wrote Modified Learning Plans based off of the public-school IEP’s for students
- Facilitated Modified Plan meetings and communicated with families regarding students’ needs and provisions
- Collected data-driven assessments of students to better prepare individual lessons and provide data-driven information for the IEP processes
- Worked with Choctaw Nicoma Park Special Education Staff to provide documentation for IEP evaluations and facilitated IEP meetings
- Provided pull outs for students behavioral needs
- Coached teachers on learning differences and disabilities
- Provided teachers with resources for students with low academic skill levels
- Coached teachers on how to differentiate classroom learning based on their individual classrooms and student needs.
Dyslexia/Reading Tutor
L.C. Reading Therapy
09.2022 - Current
- Conducted assessments to determine comprehensive understanding of materials.
- Taught reading comprehension and writing tactics to improve reading and writing skills.
- Tracked learning progress to optimize tutoring methods and help students achieve goals.
- Identified learning needs and implemented fun and engaging learning activities to help students advance.
- Taught students with reading differences and dyslexia utilizing a structured literacy approach.
Special Education Teacher PK-12
Epic Charter Schools
07.2023 - 07.2024
- Developed lesson plans and instructional materials and provided individualized and small group instruction for pre-kindergarten through 12th grade regular education and special education students
- Communicated with parents weekly through multiple communication pathways to update parents on student progress, and additionally provide resources for families
- Evaluated students’ academic and personal growth through benchmarks and progress monitoring
- Developed and utilized instructional material suitable for verbal and visual instruction of students with a wide range of learning differences and disabilities
- Wrote and conducted IEP meetings for students
- Collected data-driven assessments of students to better prepare individual lessons and provide data-driven information for the IEP processes
- Facilitated and administered state testing.
High School Teacher
Life Christian Academy
08.2022 - 05.2023
- Create lesson plans and projects, input grading, and conducted parent-teacher conferences for English 9th,10th, 11th, and 12th grade
- Create and implement an English and US History curriculum for 11th and 12th-grade students
- Facilitate dual-credit college classes for English Composition One and Two, along with US History.
Long-Term Substitute Teacher
Life Christian Academy
09.2021 - 12.2021
- Create lesson plans, input grading, conducted parent teacher conferences for Biblical Worldviews 12th grade and English 9th,10th, 11th, and 12th grade.
Child Welfare Specialist - Oklahoma Department of Human Services
01.2021 - 08.2021
- Observe case progress, provide reporting to superiors, and file petitions in order to make recommendations to courts
- Complete assessments to identify appropriate government agencies and access entitlement benefits for families in need
- Provide moral support to families and children during difficult situations and scenarios
- Assess child safety to ensure there is no current or future risk of neglect or abuse
- Managed positive outcome cases resulting in meeting personal family reunification goals.
Human Resource/Office Manager - Langston Pumping
11.2019 - 01.2020
- Conducted record-keeping management along with accounts payable and receivable
- Developed and implemented HR policies and procedures
- Recruited and hired new employees
- Maintained professional relationships with supporting companies and clients.
Center Manager - Fastsigns
05.2018 - 11.2019
- Trained and supervised sales staff for May franchise location
- Project Management including assisting clients with custom signage packages, scheduled, and attended off-site sales calls to determine the technical scope of projects
- Contacted vendors for estimates, created purchase orders and performed data entry
- Daily, monthly, and yearly reconciliation of financial records, preparation of reports for the accounting department, and accounts payable and receivable.
Education
Master of Science in Education – Literacy with Dyslexia Endorsement -
University of Central Arkansas
Conway, Arkansas05.2025
Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies - undefined
Liberty University
Lynchburg, Virginia08.2020
Associate of Science - undefined
San Juaquin Valley College
Rancho Cordova, California01.2011
Skills
- Learning disability awareness
- Collaborative Leadership
- Social Skills Development
- Data-driven decision-making
- Staff Development
- Program Analysis
- Administrative Staff Coordination
- Policies and Procedures Enforcement
- Relationship Building
- Disciplinary Actions
- Leadership training
- Program Planning
Activities
- Created, Organized, and teach after-school Structured Learning Basics tutoring, 2022
- Created and implemented 11th and 12th grade English curriculum, 2022, 2023
- Created and implemented essay writing curriculum for high school English classes on a 3-tier scale, 2021
References
- Angela Reich, Special Education Teacher- Epic, Angelia.reich@epiccharterschools.org, (918) 907-0699
- Danny Reich, Special Education Teacher, Dannyreich@outlook.com, (918)-907-0664
- Leslie Osenga, Resource Teacher, Leslieo1225@gmail.com, (405)-248-3266
- Janet Moran, Assistant Head of Schools, Life Christian Academy, j_moran@lifechristianacademy.com, (405)-227-1953
- Rodney Burchett, Head of Schools, Life Christian Academy, rodney@lifechristianacademy.com, (405)-401-0124
- Samantha Stephens, Child Welfare Specialist/Mentor - Oklahoma Department of Human Services, 405-802-7684
- Stori Bass, Child Welfare Specialist, Oklahoma Department of Human Services, 580-340-3188
- Heather Jack, Manager, Fastsigns, 405-628-9862
Training
- Attended Structured Learning Basics, 08/08/2022, 10/16/2022
- Completed several professional development courses on BJU Press Professional Development website, 2022
- Completed Epic Special Education Bootcamp
Timeline
Special Education Coordinator and Teacher K-12
Life Christian Academy
08.2024 - Current
Special Education Teacher PK-12
Epic Charter Schools
07.2023 - 07.2024
Dyslexia/Reading Tutor
L.C. Reading Therapy
09.2022 - Current
High School Teacher
Life Christian Academy
08.2022 - 05.2023
Long-Term Substitute Teacher
Life Christian Academy
09.2021 - 12.2021
Child Welfare Specialist - Oklahoma Department of Human Services
01.2021 - 08.2021
Human Resource/Office Manager - Langston Pumping
11.2019 - 01.2020
Center Manager - Fastsigns
05.2018 - 11.2019
Master of Science in Education – Literacy with Dyslexia Endorsement -
University of Central Arkansas
Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies - undefined
Liberty University
Associate of Science - undefined
San Juaquin Valley College
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