Catherine Costello
Summary
Versatile Special Education Teacher with focus on individual student needs across academia and social emotional development. Empathetic and accommodating in design and implementation of hands-on lessons, catering to diverse learning abilities. Proficient in employing constant communication, patience and positive reinforcement in team efforts to deliver exceptional educational tools, fostering academic achievement and personal growth.
Overview
32
32
years of professional experience
Work History
Special Educator
Mountain Views Supervisory Union
08.2016 - Current
- Case Manager for Programs for Alternative Learning Styles, PALS.
- Design individual education plans to encourage student growth according to different learning abilities and needs
- Develop and implement behavior management plans to improve student behavior, as well as their social and academic performance
- Supervise and train staff to work with challenging behaviors and to collect data
- Provide a multisensory approach to life skills programming for students with moderate to severe autism
- Deliver effective and differentiated classroom instruction to range of neurodiverse students
- Collaborate with general educators, related service providers and unified arts teachers to develop instructional strategies
- Facilitate small group instruction to address individual learning needs
- Coordinate regular meetings to share and analyze student performance data and success plans with colleagues and parents
- CPI Certified
Special Educator
Killington Elementary School
12.2015 - 06.2016
- Director of Instructional Studies asked me to develop a program for student with Intensive Needs
- Designed Individualized Program for student
- Trained Support Staff
- Created a designated work space for student
- Implemented a behavior modification plan
Pre-School Teacher
Woodstock Nursery School
08.2015 - 11.2015
- President of the Board for The Woodstock Nursery School
- Covered Head Teacher's Maternity Leave
- Developed age-appropriate activities
- Themed Based Projects
- Transitioned The Woodstock Nursery School to The Woodstock Elementary School
- Daily Communication with Caregivers
Substitute Teacher
Woodstock Elementary School
01.2015 - 06.2015
- Upheld classroom routines to support student environments and maintain consistent schedules
- Kept students on-task with proactive behavior modification and positive reinforcement strategies
- Maintained day-to-day classroom management and discipline to promote learning initiatives
- Developed and implemented engaging lesson plans to accommodate varied student learning styles
Special Educator
Pomfret Elementary School
02.2014 - 05.2014
- Filled in for a Maternity Leave
- Continued PALS Program already in place
- Met with Interdisciplinary Team once a week
- Worked with Behaviorist and followed through on behavior plans
- Team building with paraprofessionals
Special Educator
Woodstock Elementary School
01.2013 - 01.2014
- Developed program for a student with Intensive Special Needs in Kindergarten
- Implemented the program that had been developed
- Designed a behavior program for the student's personal needs
- Created individualized curriculum to meet the educational goals
- Coordinated program with general education teachers and staff
- Trained Paraprofessional to follow through on the program
- CPI Certified
Stay at Home Mother
Motherhood
01.2011 - 01.2013
- Remained at home to be with my children
Special Education Teacher
Reeves Elementary School
01.2004 - 01.2011
- Functional Life Skills Program for grades 3, 4 and 5
- Modified and made accommodations across the curriculum for each student
- Managed three paraprofessionals in general education classrooms
- Responsible for one medically challenged student and nurse's aid
- Supervised K-2 Functional Skills Program
- Assisted with 5th Grade Musical
- Restraint Training Certified
- Received Appreciation Award from the Special Education Parent Advisory
Special Education Teacher
Cortez High School
01.2002 - 01.2004
- Supervised and implemented functional skills curriculum for ages 15-21
- Managed therapeutic classroom for students with learning disabilities
- Followed strict and unified behavior modification plans
- Assisted with organization of Special Olympics
- Coach's assistant to Varsity and JV Swim Team
Special Education Teacher
Woburn High School
01.2000 - 01.2002
- Developed and implemented vocational program with community based work sites
- Used a multi-sensory functional approach to teaching
- Supervised four staff members in classroom
- Initiated job coaching program for staff
- Trained students to travel to and from work using public transportation
- Instructed students to prepare nutritious meals with weekly trips to grocery store
- Focused on Life Skills preparing students and their parents for life after graduation
- Worked with state services (DMR)
- Set up guardianship plans
- Prepared Alternative Portfolio Assessments for MCAS
- Nominated, by general education student and received Who's Who Among Americas Teacher's 2002
Special Education Teacher
The Shamrock School
02.1999 - 01.2000
- Managed a K-l P.D.D. classroom with 7 students
- Integrated students to general education when appropriate
- Behavior Modification Plans
- Daily Communication with parents
Special Education Teacher
Newton South High School
01.1998 - 01.1999
- Focused on Life Skills and Vocational Skills
- Worked in Community with Job Developer
- Planned meals weekly and Catered lunch to staff
- Exploratory work sites,worked with job developer
- Restraint Training Certified
- JV Tennis Coach
Special Education Teacher
Kennedy Middle School
01.1996 - 01.1998
- Started the Life Skills Program in the, Integrated students into specials and into classes/had an open door policy
- Educated general staff about students with Intensive Needs
- Worked with Interdisciplinary Team
- Developed functional curriculum with a multi-sensory approach
- Wrote a curriculum guide for teachers working in Woburn based on the Syracuse
- Curriculum Guide
- Received Recognition Award from the Special Education Parent Advisory Committee
Special Education Teacher
The Kennedy Day School-Franciscan's Children's
01.1993 - 01.1996
- Developed and implemented individual plans for students ages 8-13, challenged physically, cognitively and behaviorally
- Used a multi-sensory functional approach, through modeling, music, art and hand over hand assistance
- Developed curriculum guide for teachers working in this environment
- CPR Certified
Teacher's Aide
The O'Hearn Elementary School
01.1992 - 01.1993
- Student taught in an integrated third grade classroom
- Developed functional curriculum for student with Tourette's Syndrome
- Assisted a non-verbal, non-ambulatory student with daily living skills, stimulating interests with verbal and physical activity
- Assisted with physical activities: Kickball Coach
Education
Master of Science - Special Education, Intensive Needs All Ages
Simmons College
Boston, MA1993
Bachelor of Arts - Child Psychology
Pine Manor College
Chestnut Hill, MA1991
Skills
- Develop Individualized Curriculum for Complex Educational Profiles
- Create and Implement Behavior Intervention Plans
- Supervise Train and Support Team Members to work with Challenging Behaviors
- Diffuse Stressful Events
- Use of Reflective Practices
- Interdisciplinary Team Approach
- Multisensory Approach to Learning focusing on Functional Life Skills
- Community Integration
- Strong Communication Skills with Team Members, Parents & Outside Agencies
Timeline
Special Educator
Mountain Views Supervisory Union
08.2016 - Current
Special Educator
Killington Elementary School
12.2015 - 06.2016
Pre-School Teacher
Woodstock Nursery School
08.2015 - 11.2015
Substitute Teacher
Woodstock Elementary School
01.2015 - 06.2015
Special Educator
Pomfret Elementary School
02.2014 - 05.2014
Special Educator
Woodstock Elementary School
01.2013 - 01.2014
Stay at Home Mother
Motherhood
01.2011 - 01.2013
Special Education Teacher
Reeves Elementary School
01.2004 - 01.2011
Special Education Teacher
Cortez High School
01.2002 - 01.2004
Special Education Teacher
Woburn High School
01.2000 - 01.2002
Special Education Teacher
The Shamrock School
02.1999 - 01.2000
Special Education Teacher
Newton South High School
01.1998 - 01.1999
Special Education Teacher
Kennedy Middle School
01.1996 - 01.1998
Special Education Teacher
The Kennedy Day School-Franciscan's Children's
01.1993 - 01.1996
Teacher's Aide
The O'Hearn Elementary School
01.1992 - 01.1993
Master of Science - Special Education, Intensive Needs All Ages
Simmons College
Bachelor of Arts - Child Psychology
Pine Manor College
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