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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
AZ Alternate Special Education Certification K-12 (Pending M.Ed 2024)
AZ Elementary Education K-6
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