Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Timeline
Hi, I’m

DeAnn Stish

Community Coordinator/Policy Analyst
Hudson,WI
DeAnn Stish

Summary

Over twenty-five years of federal, state, and local-level leadership in environmental and natural resource policy. Expertise in realms of climate change, energy, mining, forest management, natural resource economies, water quality, sustainability, and business strategy. Extensive community engagement and coalition building experience. To seek and maintain full-time position that offers professional challenges utilizing interpersonal skills, excellent time management and problem-solving skills. Organized and dependable candidate successful at managing multiple priorities with a positive attitude. Willingness to take on added responsibilities to meet team goals.

Overview

32
years of professional experience
4
years of post-secondary education

Work History

Hudson Middle School

Special Education Teacher
08.2021 - Current

Job overview

  • Responsible for providing instruction and support to students with a wide range of disabilities and needs, including but not limited to learning disabilities, developmental delays, emotional or behavioral disorders, and physical disabilities
  • Duties included developing and implementing individualized education plans (IEPs), modifying curriculum and materials to meet diverse learning needs, collaborating with other educators and specialists, assessing student progress, and providing behavior management and social skills instruction
  • Facilitate communication between students, parents, and other members of the educational team to ensure the best possible outcomes for students with special needs.
  • Developed IEPs tailored to individual student needs, ensuring their academic success and personal growth.
  • Taught multiple subjects to students with intellectual or emotional disabilities.
  • Helped students with special needs integrate into general classroom environments by advocating for individual requirements and helping teachers solve problems.
  • Supported students in developing social skills through structured activities and positive reinforcement techniques.
  • Cultivated connections and strong student rapport to foster classroom engagement, in addition to recording student progress to inform parents and school administration.
  • Collaborated with teachers and therapists to develop individualized educational plans for each student, ensuring optimal progress.
  • Delivered effective and differentiated classroom instruction to range of neurodiverse students.
  • Enhanced students'' communication skills by implementing group activities and collaborative projects.
  • Participated in ongoing professional development opportunities focused on evidence-based practices in special education teaching methodologies.
  • Planned daily activities to keep students engaged and on track with learning goals.
  • Redirected students using Positive Behavior Support (PBS).
  • Conducted assessments of students to determine individual needs.
  • Utilized technology to create meaningful lessons that engage students.
  • Fostered strong relationships with parents and guardians, maintaining open lines of communication to ensure student progress.
  • Evaluated student progress regularly using various assessment methods, ensuring accurate measurement of skill development and areas requiring additional support.

Minnesota Forest Resource Council

Executive Director
01.2018 - 01.2019

Job overview

  • Oversee the healthy management of the state’s 17 million acres of forest land
  • Manage 17-person, Governor-appointed Council that advises federal, state, and local policy makers on all aspects of forest-based impact chain, from industry competitiveness to ecological balance
  • Administer multi-million dollar applied natural resource-based research program, including the coordination of practical and applied research from federal, state, university, and private sector sources, to improve the economics and sustainable management of all the ownership categories of the state’s forestlands
  • Supervise all staff and programming that intersect with the MFRC -climate change, economic interests, taxation, water quality, biobased utilization - to ensure the competitive position of Minnesota’s forest industry infrastructure and the state’s economy.

Pickford Strategic Communications

Founder, Principal
01.2012 - 01.2018

Job overview

  • Lobbyist for and counsel to the Minnesota Forest Industries, an integrated trade association; responsible for all aspects of corporate business representation and support, including management of their supply chain and market competitiveness and ensuring positive movement on key issues including tax, climate change, clean water, emerging biobased technologies, energy, healthy biodiversity, and overall sustainability
  • Responsible for issue analysis, briefing material, community engagement and representation of corporate interests before all levels of government entities
  • Directed the tri-state Healthy Forests Healthy Communities NGO; coordinated with national affiliate to highlight the value of the forest products industry and the unique role a competitive industry plays in delivering sustainable management of the overall forest ecosystem
  • Executive Liaison and facilitator to the USFS Region IX Federal Timber Purchasers Committee, a public/private partnership created in the 1940s by the USDA to address contract, procurement, and supply chain issues.

Minnesota Utility Contractors Association

Executive Director
01.2007 - 01.2012

Job overview

  • Managed operations for 130-member, statewide construction trade organization, including strategic plan development, policy and project planning, budget oversight, state and federal lobbying, and community outreach
  • Nationally recognized as the top State program in capitalization of Federal/State clean water investment
  • Developed industry competitiveness program focused on regulatory compliance.

American Forest & Paper Association

Director of Congressional Affairs
01.1999 - 01.2007

Job overview

  • Developed and implemented lobbying and grassroots strategies in support of issues related to environment, forest policy, energy, taxation, product supply chain, green building certification, carbon life cycle, land stewardship/certification, biobased technology goals, recycling and regulation
  • Created and managed committees to address legislative and regulatory priorities, budget oversight, and implementation of organizational goals
  • Co-managed AF&PA Political Action Committee; served as primary liaison to DC offices of AF&PA member companies and to the Federal Affairs Committee.

Office of Congressman Jim Oberstar

Legislative Assistant
01.1992 - 01.1998

Job overview

  • Managed legislative policy development efforts regarding environment, energy, mining, economic development and agriculture; Primary community liaison to advocacy and interest groups, state, county and local officials, and constituents.

Education

University of Minnesota
Duluth, MN

B.A. Political Science, International Studies
01.1988 - 05.1992

University of St. Mary's
Winona, MN

Master of Arts from Special Education
05.2001

Skills

    Trained in CPI

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Timeline

Special Education Teacher

Hudson Middle School
08.2021 - Current

Executive Director

Minnesota Forest Resource Council
01.2018 - 01.2019

Founder, Principal

Pickford Strategic Communications
01.2012 - 01.2018

Executive Director

Minnesota Utility Contractors Association
01.2007 - 01.2012

University of St. Mary's

Master of Arts from Special Education
05.2001

Director of Congressional Affairs

American Forest & Paper Association
01.1999 - 01.2007

Legislative Assistant

Office of Congressman Jim Oberstar
01.1992 - 01.1998

University of Minnesota

B.A. Political Science, International Studies
01.1988 - 05.1992
DeAnn StishCommunity Coordinator/Policy Analyst