Carolyn Stewart
Taylor,AZ
Summary
With a career spanning since 1987, my focus has been on educational reform, particularly in Arizona since 1995 when I pioneered curriculum development for the state's first charter school. Dedicated to improving learning methodologies, I co-founded a charter school emphasizing tailored education for at-risk students. After 29 years in teaching and administration, I briefly stepped away to prioritize family. Yet, my passion for innovative education persisted, leading me to a self-contained special education classroom. Currently, I'm pursuing an M. Ed Special Education at Grand Canyon University, set to graduate in May 2024.
Overview
29
29
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Special Education Teacher
Snowflake Unified School District
Taylor, AZ
08.2022 - Current
- Conducted assessments of students to determine individual needs.
- Fostered strong relationships with parents and guardians, maintaining open lines of communication to ensure student progress.
- Taught students across multiple classifications and degrees of special needs.
- Promoted memory, cognition and language development with hands-on activities and individualized instruction.
- Planned daily activities to keep students engaged and on track with learning goals.
- Coordinated with general education teachers to develop accommodations or modifications necessary for successful inclusion of students with special needs in mainstream classrooms.
- Developed IEPs tailored to individual student needs, ensuring their academic success and personal growth.
- Cultivated connections and strong student rapport to foster classroom engagement, in addition to recording student progress to inform parents and school administration.
- Supported students in developing social skills through structured activities and positive reinforcement techniques.
- Promoted a positive learning environment through the use of differentiated instruction and individualized support for diverse learners.
- Encouraged students to take ownership of learning by providing choices.
- Participated in ongoing professional development opportunities focused on evidence-based practices in special education teaching methodologies.
- Taught multiple subjects to students with intellectual or emotional disabilities.
- Streamlined classroom processes by integrating technology tools such as interactive whiteboards and assistive devices designed for students with disabilities.
Middle School Teacher
Jefferson Academy Of Advanced Learning
Show Low, AZ
06.2010 - 12.2016
- Implemented differentiated instruction to meet needs of diverse learners.
- Fostered an inclusive classroom culture by addressing diverse needs through differentiated instruction methods.
- Increased parent satisfaction through well-organized IEP meetings and family conferences focused on improving parent-child bonding skills.
- Implemented behavior modification strategies, resulting in improved self-regulation and classroom participation among students.
- Enhanced learning experiences by incorporating specialized tools and resources tailored to the needs of special education students.
- Increased student participation in extracurricular programs by promoting club involvement and creating after-school tutoring opportunities.
- Utilized multimedia strategies and technology to convey information in fresh and interesting ways.
- Worked with administrators on behavioral issues to support needs of students.
- Prepared instruction materials, constructed bulletin boards, and set up work areas.
- Utilized group and hands-on learning experiences for proficient teacher evaluation score.
- Assessed submitted class assignments, determined grades, and reviewed work with struggling students to boost success chance.
- Identified signs of emotional or developmental problems in students.
- Provided one-on-one attention to students, while maintaining overall focus on entire group.
- Planned and supervised class projects, field trips and visits by guest speakers.
- Assigned daily lesson plans designed to motivate students and allow for creativity.
- Implemented creative assessment tools to measure student understanding and growth throughout the academic year accurately.
- Provided one-on-one support for students with learning disabilities, enabling them to excel in their coursework.
- Enhanced classroom management and fostered a positive learning environment through consistent communication with students, parents, and colleagues.
- Supported students in developing social skills through structured activities and positive reinforcement techniques.
- Used tests, quizzes, and other assignments to gauge students' learning and determine understanding of course materials.
Principal
Jefferson Academy Of Advanced Learning
Show Low, AZ
05.2002 - 12.2016
- Studied assessment information covering students, teachers and school operations to formulate improvement plans.
- Streamlined school operations by evaluating processes and procedures, identifying inefficiencies, and recommending improvements.
- Cultivated positive relationships between community members, school students, and teachers.
- Communicated with parents to encourage active parental participation in education.
K-3 Teacher
Jefferson Academy Of Advanced Learning
Show Low, AZ
05.2002 - 06.2010
- Reduced classroom disruptions by implementing clear behavioral expectations and consistent consequences.
- Integrated technology and multimedia tools into lessons to enhance student learning.
- Provided targeted support for struggling learners through individualized instruction plans and additional resources.
- Established and enforced rules of behavior to drive social development and maintain positive interactions.
- Created station rotation classroom management system in an inclusive multi-age program.
Director of Show Low Campus
Life School College Prep
Show Low, AZ
05.1999 - 05.2003
- Drafted and distributed reports to assist board members with critical decisions.
- Recruited, hired, and trained teachers.
- Observed each teacher's individual strengths and initiated mentoring program to improve areas of weakness.
- Cultivated and strengthened lasting student relationships using strong issue resolution and dynamic communication skills.
Governing Board Vice President
Life School College Preparatory
Mesa, AZ
06.1997 - 05.2002
- Addressed district and student issues that impacted student learning.
- Introduced innovative teaching methods to enhance student learning
- Acted as liaison between the parents and the governing board
Middle School Teacher
Life School College Preparatory
Mesa, AZ
05.1996 - 05.2002
- Created individualized middle school program for college-bound students.
- Developed pedagogy to address an individualized multi-age program.
- Implemented differentiated instruction to meet the needs of diverse learners.
- Increased parent satisfaction through well-organized parent-teacher meetings and family conferences focused on improving parent-child bonding skills.
- Implemented behavior modification strategies, resulting in improved self-regulation and classroom participation among students.
K-3 Program Coordinator/Lead Teacher
Carmel Community Charter School
Gilbert, AZ
06.1995 - 05.1996
- Cultivated a collaborative work culture by encouraging open communication channels among team members which led to increased job satisfaction rates amongst employees.
- Kept program-related data accurate, up-to-date, and easily accessible for accessibility.
- Monitored performance metrics closely to evaluate areas requiring intervention or adjustment, making data-informed decisions that contributed positively toward overall results.
- Developed marketing materials to promote program offerings, increasing awareness and participation rates among target audiences.
Education
Master of Arts - Special Education
Grand Canyon University
Phoenix, AZ05.2024
Bachelor of Science - Elementary Education
Utah State University
Logan, UT05.1987
Skills
- Autism Spectrum Knowledge
- Student Counseling
- Student Records Management
- Conflict resolution techniques
- Parent-teacher collaboration
- Inclusion Strategies
- Group and individual instruction
- Social Skills Training
- Motivating students
- Small Group Instruction
- Faculty Collaboration
- Learning Style Assessment
- Material Selection
- Assistive Technology
- Behavior Modifications
Certification
AZ Alternate Special Education Certification K-12 (Pending M.Ed 2024)
AZ Elementary Education K-6
Timeline
Special Education Teacher
Snowflake Unified School District
08.2022 - Current
Middle School Teacher
Jefferson Academy Of Advanced Learning
06.2010 - 12.2016
Principal
Jefferson Academy Of Advanced Learning
05.2002 - 12.2016
K-3 Teacher
Jefferson Academy Of Advanced Learning
05.2002 - 06.2010
Director of Show Low Campus
Life School College Prep
05.1999 - 05.2003
Governing Board Vice President
Life School College Preparatory
06.1997 - 05.2002
Middle School Teacher
Life School College Preparatory
05.1996 - 05.2002
K-3 Program Coordinator/Lead Teacher
Carmel Community Charter School
06.1995 - 05.1996
Master of Arts - Special Education
Grand Canyon University
Bachelor of Science - Elementary Education
Utah State University