Coral L. Wilkens
Rowlett
Summary
Dynamic educational leader with a proven track record at Royse City ISD, excelling in strategic planning and stakeholder engagement. Expert in policy writing and program evaluation, I successfully enhanced special education services, fostering community partnerships and driving transformative change to improve student outcomes. Committed to innovative solutions and effective resource allocation.
Overview
28
28
years of professional experience
Work History
Executive Director; Integrated Behavior Supports
Royse City ISD
Royse City
07.2021 - Current
- Directed educational programs and initiatives across the district.
- Developed strategic plans to meet district objectives and community needs.
- Managed budgets and allocated resources effectively for school operations.
- Collaborated with stakeholders to design and implement initiatives that enhanced student learning experiences.
- Engaged parents and community members to build partnerships that supported student success.
- Cultivated relationships with key stakeholders, including board members, donors, sponsors, partners, and community leaders.
- Oversaw staff recruitment, training, and performance evaluations within schools.
- Recruited, trained, mentored, evaluated, coached, and managed staff members to ensure success in achieving their goals.
- Reviewed current programs to pinpoint areas for improvement and inform the development of new initiatives.
- Implemented policies ensuring compliance with state and federal regulations.
- Provided oversight of all departments to ensure compliance with established policies and procedures.
- Stayed up-to-date on best practices and cutting-edge ideas to improve organizational effectiveness.
Managing Director; Special Education
Frisco Independent School District
5515 Ohio Drive
07.2019 - 06.2021
- Ensured compliance with all local, state, federal laws and regulations pertaining to Special Education Services.
- Monitored compliance with state and federal special education laws and policies.
- Managed budget allocations for special education services and programs, ensuring resources met student needs.
- Supervised and evaluated special education personnel.
- Conducted professional development activities for educators, equipping them with best practices for teaching diverse learners.
- Fostered partnerships with parents and community organizations, enhancing support for student learning initiatives.
- Collaborated with administrators, counselors, psychologists and other professionals to ensure appropriate services were provided to students with disabilities.
- Collaborated with various departments to support and establish programs, lessons and student activities.
- Presented resources and opportunities to teaching staff for further professional development and curriculum training courses.
MANAGER OF STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT/ESC LIAISON
Region 10 Education Service Center
Richardson
01.2017 - 06.2019
- Designed innovative solutions for schools and districts requiring special education support and programmatic change.
- Liaison between Region 10 Educational Service Center, 128 local school districts in the DFW area and the state of Texas Special Education division.
- Developed academic and behavior micro-credential series of online courses enhancing special educators’ knowledge and skills.
- Coached district design teams in creating innovative solutions to improve outcomes for students in special education.
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF SPECIAL PROGRAMS/SPECIAL EDUCATION, SECTION 504/DYSLEXIA
Rockwall ISD
Rockwall
01.2015 - 01.2017
- Redesigned special education services and supports for Rockwall ISD to enhance student outcomes and access.
- Developed Autism Specific programs and services for students and schools in Rockwall ISD, improving educational support for affected learners.
- Provided professional development and curricular support for all special education teachers, evaluators, and staff.
- Developed and managed the local and federal budgets for Special Education, Section 504, RtI, and Dyslexia.
- Managed compliance of all state and federal compliance measures.
- District representative for special education litigation and Office of Civil Rights complaints.
- Advocated for initiatives as Regional House of Delegates Representative to Texas Council of Administrators of Special Education, influencing policy changes in DFW area.
DIRECTOR OF SPECIAL PROGRAMS/SPECIAL EDUCATION
Quinlan ISD
Quinlan
01.2011 - 01.2015
- Supported the Special education department, Section 504, ESL/Bilingual, and Dyslexia programs through budget management, staffing support and analysis, and collaborative leadership.
- Conducted comprehensive program review and analysis, enhancing quality of programs and services.
- Improved scores in special education testing by increasing curriculum support, quality evaluation and identification, and program compliance.
- Onboarded special education IEP software system and Medicaid billing program, streamlining administrative processes.
- Developed and managed the local and federal budgets for Special Education, Section 504, RtI, ESL/Bilingual, and Dyslexia.
- Served as district representative for special education litigation and Office of Civil Rights complaints, ensuring compliance and advocacy.
DISTRICT COORDINATOR SPECIAL EDUCATION
Royse City ISD
Royse City
01.2010 - 01.2011
- Led Royse City ISD special education department curriculum and instruction.
- Coordinated the services for all self-contained classrooms for students with low-incidence and significant disabilities including life-skills, autism, and adaptive behavior classes.
- Coordinated academic, behavioral, and assistive technology services to enhance support for students with special needs.
- Trained district staff on IEP writing and development processes to enhance student support.
- Maintained compliance with state and federal regulations for transition programs, ensuring effective support for students aged 18-22.
- Facilitated development of procedure manuals and handbooks to standardize practices within the special education department.
DISTRICT COORDINATOR INTENSIVE SERVICES RESOURCES/ACCOUNTABILITY; SPECIAL EDUCATION
Tyler ISD
Tyler
01.2008 - 01.2010
- Coordinated services for self-contained classrooms serving students with low-incidence and significant disabilities, including life-skills, autism, and adaptive behavior classes, enhancing educational access.
- Managed federal budgets for ARRA and IDEA-B programs, ensuring compliance with regulations.
- Supervised occupational therapy, physical therapy, and assistive technology services to ensure quality support for students.
- Maintained state and federal compliance measures for transition programs for adult students 18-22 years of age.
- Led Tyler ISD psychologist and behavioral team.
- District trainer for IEP writing and development.
- Co-creator of the Special Education Handbook and procedural manual.
- Represented district in special education litigation and Office of Civil Rights complaints, advocating for student rights and compliance.
SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHER and EVALUATOR K-12
Tyler
01.1998 - 01.2005
- Evaluated students with disabilities by administering cognitive ability and academic achievement tests to inform individualized education plans.
- Report writer of students' full and individual evaluation.
- Developed IEPs for students with disabilities.
- Oversaw individual cases of students in special education, ensuring effective service delivery and compliance with IEP requirements.
- IEP facilitator and department lead.
- Acted as high school special education resource and co-teacher, partnering on math and science curriculum to accommodate diverse learning needs.
- Elementary teacher of the emotionally and behaviorally disturbed. Self-contained classroom.
- Special Education curriculum developer.
- General education teacher and reading specialist.
Education
Doctor of Education - Educational Leadership
Texas A & M University at Commerce
Commerce, TXMaster of Education - Special Education
Bethel University
St. Paul, MNSuperintendent Certification - Educational Administration
University of Texas at Tyler
Tyler, TXPrincipal Certification - Educational Leadership
University of Texas at Tyler
Tyler, TXBachelor of Arts - Elementary Education
Bethel University
St. Paul, MNSkills
- Program development
- Policy writing
- Program evaluation
- Project management
- Strategic planning
- Resource allocation
- Stakeholder engagement
- Stakeholder relations
- Community partnerships
- Budgeting and financial management
- Organizational leadership
- Team building
- Decision making
- Problem solving
- Public speaking
- Employee development
Affiliations
- Texas Council for Administrators of Special Education
- Texas Council of Women School Executives
- Association of Teachers and Professional Educators
- Dallas Running Club
- USA Triathalon
- Rowlett Road Warriors; Running Club
- Lakepointe Church Tri-Life Group
Training
- Impact Coaching
- Design Thinking for Educators
- State of Minnesota Association for Supervision and Curricular Development: Teachers As Learners and Leaders: 48 hours
- Early Intervention Reading Certification: UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA, Minneapolis, MN
- Urban Learner: 60 hours Diversity Training: Hamline University, St. Paul, MN
- Responsive Classroom I, II, BACTA (Social skills and behavioral expectations for diverse learners)
- The Leader In Me: Lighthouse Training
- Program Evaluation
- Administrator Appraisal Training- TTESS Certified
- Finance Training
- Site-Based Decision Making Training
- Comprehensive Analysis Process
- SBEC Online Training
- Reading Academy Training
- Gifted and Talented 30 hours
References
- Micheal French, Superintendent, Terrell ISD, 700 N. Catherine, Terrell, TX, 75160, (972) 563-7504
- Dr. Debra Buchanan, Executive Director Special Programs, P.O. Box 469026, Garland, TX, 75046-9026
- Dr. Juan Solis, Principal Terrell H.S., Terrell ISD, 701 Town North Drive, Terrell, TX, 75160, (214) 228-7419
- Sara Bonser, Superintendent, Plano ISD, 2700 W. 15th Street, Plano, TX, 75075, (214) 402-9615
- Christopher Taylor, Joshua ISD, SW Wilshire Boulevard, Joshua, TX, 76058, (903) 269-8076
- Kathleen Witte, Director of Curriculum, Quinlan ISD, 401 E. Richmond Street, Quinlan, TX, 75474, (903) 356-1200 ext 1225
Presentations And Publications
- Does Implementing and Emotional Intelligence Program Guarantee Student Achievement, NCPEA: Educational Leadership Review of Doctoral Research Volume 2 (1), 2015
- Emotional Intelligence: An Analysis Between Implementing the Leader In Me and Fifth Grade Achievement, TCPEA: School Leadership Review, Winter 2014
- Emotional Intelligence: An Analysis Between Implementing the Leader In Me and Fifth Grade Achievement, Texas Association of School Administrators: Midwinter Conference, 01/14
- RtI: Not Just a One Sided Triangle, Region 10 Leadership Conference, 11/12
- RtI Not Just a One Sided Triangle, Journal of Texas Women School Executives Volume 1, 01/12
- Sonja Nieto: Multicultural Education Advocate and Teacher, Texas Council of Professors of Education Conference; Graduate Research Exchange, 09/11
- Special Needs in the Schools; A Practitioners Guide, University of Texas at Tyler, 11/07/09
- Hurrying our Children; Are We Stressing them Out?, Bethel College, 05/02
Languages
Spanish
Limited
Accomplishments
- Special Ed Director of the Year: Region 10 Transition
Timeline
Executive Director; Integrated Behavior Supports
Royse City ISD
07.2021 - Current
Managing Director; Special Education
Frisco Independent School District
07.2019 - 06.2021
MANAGER OF STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT/ESC LIAISON
Region 10 Education Service Center
01.2017 - 06.2019
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF SPECIAL PROGRAMS/SPECIAL EDUCATION, SECTION 504/DYSLEXIA
Rockwall ISD
01.2015 - 01.2017
DIRECTOR OF SPECIAL PROGRAMS/SPECIAL EDUCATION
Quinlan ISD
01.2011 - 01.2015
DISTRICT COORDINATOR SPECIAL EDUCATION
Royse City ISD
01.2010 - 01.2011
DISTRICT COORDINATOR INTENSIVE SERVICES RESOURCES/ACCOUNTABILITY; SPECIAL EDUCATION
Tyler ISD
01.2008 - 01.2010
SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHER and EVALUATOR K-12
01.1998 - 01.2005
Doctor of Education - Educational Leadership
Texas A & M University at Commerce
Master of Education - Special Education
Bethel University
Superintendent Certification - Educational Administration
University of Texas at Tyler
Principal Certification - Educational Leadership
University of Texas at Tyler
Bachelor of Arts - Elementary Education
Bethel University