Crystal Van Buren
Remington,VA
Summary
Dedicated educational leader with a track record in special education compliance and staff development. Committed to fostering collaborative environments that enhance student success through effective performance monitoring and intervention strategies.
Overview
15
15
years of professional experience
Work History
Assistant Principal
Greenville Elementary School
Nokesville, VA
07.2023 - Current
- Works collaboratively with school principal to oversee daily operations of the school including; filling daily staff vacancies, morning and afternoon arrival and departure of students, monitoring hallways and classrooms, and maintaining clear expectations to foster a safe, respectful school environment that encourages student engagement and achievement.
- Oversees all Individualized Education Program (IEP) and Section 504 students; ensures compliance of documents, monitors timelines, attends IEP and 504 meetings, Completes Prior Written Notices for all meetings and seeks guidance from the special education department as needed.
- Oversees all Child Study referrals, coordinates meetings, ensures all necessary parties are in attendance, and maintains all necessary documentation.
- Oversees the Response to Intervention (RTI) team process; collaborates with teachers, necessary staff, and parents to identify targeted areas in order to develop a student-centered intervention plan.
- Develops and implements tools to streamline staff communication and resources including a shared monthly online calendar and school resource hub.
- Provides support to new and experienced special education teachers through monthly special education department meetings highlighting achievements, discussing special education updates, sharing resources, providing opportunity for team input, and sharing opportunities for professional development.
- Monitors student discipline issues, intervening when necessary to prevent and/or immediately address disruption or conflict.
- Confers with parents and staff to discuss educational activities, policies, and student behavioral or learning problems.
- Collaborates with administrative partner to develop the school-wide Master Schedule and class lists.
- Partners with fellow administrator to build and maintain positive staff morale.
- Maintains consistent and timely communication with staff and parents.
- Serves as the School Testing Coordinator (STC); provides required documentation to division Supervisor of Assessment & Testing, collaborates with STC2 to create test sessions, communicates with teachers to ensure students' accommodations are provided, assists with preparing test materials for testing days, and monitors test sessions during testing.
- Ongoing collaboration with necessary stakeholders to develop program guide for Behavior Support Program to present to the district.
Special Education Teacher & Department Chair
Auburn Middle School
Warrenton, VA
07.2022 - 06.2023
- Maintained a caseload of students, ensuring delivery of all services and accommodations; collected and analyzed data for IEP goals, documenting progress through monitoring.
- Scheduled, coordinated, and attended all Child Study and Eligibility meetings for Auburn; created meeting invitations through Virginia IEP, ensured timely upload of necessary reports for parents/guardians, and documented meetings with thorough Prior Written Notice (PWN).
- Acted as the Local Education Agency (LEA) representative at all Individualized Education Program (IEP), Child Study, and Eligibility meetings.
- Ensured state and federal compliance of all special education timelines.
- Co-taught 6th and 7th grade Language Arts.
- Collaborated with students, parents and teachers to support student access to the general education curriculum.
- Coordinated bi-weekly grade-level Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) with general education staff focused on students with disabilities within each grade level, providing the opportunity to discuss student progress, accommodations, and any need for additional support
- Gathered insights through student observations to support evaluation processes.
- Supported special education teachers by providing training and ensuring compliance with regulations.
Special Education Teacher
J.G. Brumfield Elementary School
Warrenton, VA
07.2011 - 06.2022
- Collaborated with parents, teachers, administrators, testing specialists, and additional professionals to develop Individual Education Plans (IEP) for students with identified disabilities to include present levels, goals, and accommodations, to best support them in accessing the Least Restrictive Environment (LRE) within the school setting.
- Tracked and analyzed progress toward IEP goals through systematic data collection, ensuring targeted support for each student.
- Designed and executed tailored strategies to address individual student needs, enhancing engagement and learning outcomes.
- Created and delivered daily lesson plans aligned with Virginia Standards of Learning, fostering a structured learning environment.
- Established clear objectives for all lessons and units, and communicated those objectives to students.
- Fauquier County Public Schools
Education
Graduate Certificate - Education Leadership
George Mason University
Fairfax, VA11-2022
Master of Education - Special Education
University of Mary Washington
Fredericksburg, VA05-2012
Bachelor of Social Work - Social Work
Virginia Commonwealth University
Richmond, VA05-2006
Skills
- Program development
- Student support strategies
- Performance evaluation
- Communication skills
- Performance standards and analysis
- Staff development
- Behavior management techniques
- Task management skills
- Collaborative teamwork
- Effective communication skills
- Compassion and empathy
- Positive school climate
- Performance analysis
Training
- Youth Mental Health First Aid Certification, Mental Health Association of Fauquier, January 2026
- Handle with Care Behavioral Management Certification, Fauquier County Public Schools, valid through September 2026
- Ukeru Crisis Prevention & Safety Training, Fauquier County Public Schools, valid through August 2026
- Morphology Plus Training, Institute for Multisensory Education, Warrenton, VA, June 2023
- Comprehensive Orton-Gillingham Training, Institute for Multisensory Education, Charlotte, NC, June 2018
- Special Reading Instruction for Students with Specific Learning Disabilities (Cohort), George Mason University & FCPS1, Warrenton, VA, July 2017
- Aspiring Special Education Leaders Academy, Virginia Department of Education - Division of Special Education and Student Services, Richmond, VA, August 2016
Accomplishments
- Fauquier County Public Schools Washington Post Teacher of the Year Finalist, J.G. Brumfield Elementary School, 2016
References
References available upon request
Timeline
Assistant Principal
Greenville Elementary School
07.2023 - Current
Special Education Teacher & Department Chair
Auburn Middle School
07.2022 - 06.2023
Special Education Teacher
J.G. Brumfield Elementary School
07.2011 - 06.2022
Graduate Certificate - Education Leadership
George Mason University
Master of Education - Special Education
University of Mary Washington
Bachelor of Social Work - Social Work
Virginia Commonwealth University