Cheri Gholston
NORTH LAS VEGAS,NV
Summary
Versatile Education Specialist with nearly 20 years of experience. Skilled in building inclusive school culture where change is a process, not an event. Develops relationships while collaborating to focus on the key elements of inclusive design. Expert knowledge of frameworks that focus on access, participation, and support for students with disabilities to achieve true membership in the context of the general education environment. An experienced presenter/trainer who partners with teams to strive for a deeper level of understanding of why including students with unique and complex needs is vital as well as collaborating and coaching to implement the practices to build equitable and inclusive classrooms.
Overview
27
27
years of professional experience
Work History
Education Specialist
Fremont Unified School District
Fremont, CA - California
08.2004 - Current
- Planned, formulated and assessed goals, policies, and activities designed to implement educational objectives and performance standards from different positions within the school district.
Inclusion Specialist
Fremont Unified School District
Fremont, CA - California
08.2012 - Current
- System level development of inclusive programming district wide (Pre-Kinder - 12th grade) by presuming competence and utilizing effective frameworks to include students with diverse learning and behavior needs within their community school and with grade level peers.
- Cultivate positive working relationships building on respect and rapport.
- Provide professional development training to educate faculty and staff to proactively plan for SWDs' access to grade level content, determine how students can meaningfully participate, and support all stakeholder's involvement in the process
- Utilize the Principals of Universal Design for Learning as a design tool to help teachers identify barriers to learning and proactively plan inclusive classroom environments through collaboration, coaching and mentoring.
- Train staff to apply proven Social Emotional Learning strategies to improve students' ability to regulate mind/body states of alertness
- Coordinate regular Community of Practice meetings with teams of General/Special educators to share and analyze student performance data, implement academic/behavior interventions, develop IEP service and goal recommendations, discuss instructional models, plan for effective utilization of para educators
- Training, coaching, modeling for para-educators to work as partners in the success of students.
- Collaboration and training at school sites to implement and conduct social groups fostering peer interaction with our neurodiverse students.
Special Education Classroom Teacher
Fremont Unified School District
Fremont, CA
01.2004 - 01.2012
- Combo teacher of self-contained classroom 3rd - 5th students across multiple classifications and degrees of needs while promoting strong student rapport.
- Partnered with general education teachers to include students from my class into their learning environments by using a proactive approach that advocated for individual requirement, adapted curriculum, and utilize para educator support effectively when needed
- Coordinated special education students and para-educator schedules with master schedule.
- Developed and monitored Individual Education Plans for students with a broad range of unique needs using data collected from assessments and classroom observations to determine specialized academic instruction, supports, goals, and accommodations.
- Maintained accurate records of student progress and led productive IEP meetings.
- Redirected students using Positive Behavior Support (PBS) and developed and implemented behavior management plans to improve student behavior.
- Led activities utilizing Social Thinking and Emotional Regulation curriculum that developed students' physical, emotional, and social growth.
- Planned and delivered effective and differentiated classroom instruction to range of neurodiverse students and individual learning needs.
- Utilized technology to create meaningful lessons that engage students.
- Worked closely with parents/guardians and IEP team to address students' needs on multiple fronts.
Preschool Teacher - Lead teacher
Fremont Unified School District, Christian, Community Preschool
Fremont, CA
01.1999 - 01.2004
- Co-taught with teaching partner to plan learning activities and monitor students' pre-academic, social, and emotional progress.
- Designed engaging learning environment and afterschool activities where students could feel safe and loved.
- Educated students in foundational concepts such as shapes, numbers, and letters while promoting positive social opportunities.
- Applied play-based strategies to provide diverse approaches to learning.
- Administered assessments and kept anecdotal data for each child to monitor progress.
- Partnered with families to build a welcoming and safe environment.
Teacher
The King’s Academy
Newark, CA
01.1996 - 01.1999
- Taught Kinder/ 1st grade class at small private school
- Incorporated multiple types of teaching strategies into classroom.
- Worked cooperatively with other teachers, administrators, and parents to help students reach learning objectives.
- Kept students on-task with proactive behavior modification and positive reinforcement strategies.
- Increased educational expertise and knowledge by participating in instructor-oriented workshops.
- Developed and implemented classroom routines to address varying student needs.
- Fostered student curiosity and interest through creative hands-on activities.
Education
M.A. - Special Education
Credential -Education Specialist Level 1 & 2 Clear - Special Education
No Degree - Applied Behavior Analysis Coursework
Bachelor of Arts - Liberal Studies
- Concentration Coursework: Early Childhood
- Dean's List
Skills
- Inclusive Programmatic Development
- Expert knowledge of Universal Design for Learning and AT
- Skilled in Social Emotional Learning
- Strategic planning
- Special education
- Training and Development
- Consultation and Collaboration with Inclusion Teams
- Group and individual instruction
- Differentiated instruction
- Behavior management
- Team Leadership
- Curriculum adaptations
Additional Information
Specialized Trainings
- Annual UDL Symposium (2018) Harvard University: Cambridge, MA
- Social Thinking Clinical Training (2019) Center for Social Thinking: Santa Clara, CA
Publications
- Balasubramanian, L., Russell, K. L., & Gholston, C. (in preparation) Utilizing Universal Design
for Learning in Inclusive Settings. In K.D. Buron & P.J. Wolfberg, (Eds.). Learners on the
autism spectrum: Preparing highly qualified educators and related practitioners (third edition, Fall 2023)
Invited Presenter
- Balasubramanian, L., & Gholston, C., (2018). Utilizing Universal Design for Learning in Early
Childhood Settings. Early childhood Special education conference. Annual conference. San
Francisco, CA - Balasubramanian, L., & Gholston, C., (2018). Using UDL to build Inclusive practices, Mission
Valley Special Education Local Plan Area. Fremont, CA - Gholston, C., & Balasubramanian, L., (2019). Creating Inclusive Environments, Cal-Tash
Annual conference. San Diego, CA - Balasubramanian, L., & Gholston, C., (2019). All Means All, Mission Valley Special Education
Local Planning Area, Fremont, CA - Balasubramanian, L., & Gholston, C., (2021). Universal Design for Learning: Strategies for Educators Educators serving Grades 6-12, Stanford Neurodiversity Summit, Stanford Neurodiversity Project
University Teaching Experience
- Guest Lecture (2018). Social-Emotional Regulation in the Classroom:
SPED 794, San Francisco State University Department of
Special Education, San Francisco, CA - Guest Lecture (2021). Service Delivery of SPED Services, Stanford Graduate School of Education, Stanford, CA
Timeline
Inclusion Specialist - Fremont Unified School District
08.2012 - Current
Education Specialist - Fremont Unified School District
08.2004 - Current
Special Education Classroom Teacher - Fremont Unified School District
01.2004 - 01.2012
Preschool Teacher - Lead teacher - Fremont Unified School District, Christian, Community Preschool
01.1999 - 01.2004
Teacher - The King’s Academy
01.1996 - 01.1999
University of The Pacific - M.A., Special Education
Fortune School of Education - Project Pipeling - Credential -Education Specialist Level 1 & 2 Clear, Special Education
University of North Texas - No Degree, Applied Behavior Analysis Coursework
California State University - East Bay - Bachelor of Arts, Liberal Studies
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