Debra Burns
Rockford,IL
Summary
Accomplished special education teacher with over 30 years of service in various positions. Have demonstrated strengths in collaboration and communication with team members as well as leading teams. Possesses strong organizational skills and ability to multi-task. Mentored new staff in teaching and behavior management as well as legally defensible IEP writing. Demonstrated proven track record of increasing student achievement and also improving staff performance.
Overview
30
30
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Itinerant Special Education Procedural Coach
Rockford Public School RPS 205
Rockford, IL
08.2020 - Current
- Scheduled and facilitated all Special Education Meetings in each of the buildings I serviced (over 500 meetings per year)
- Ensured that all students received the services as dictated in their Individual Education Plans. (over 200 students per year)
- Reviewed all Special Education documents to ensure they adhered to the district guidelines for legal defensibility.
- Mentored and coached all staff on how to improve their writing of legally defensible documents (as many as 12 staff)
- Completed all reports as required for the position as well as making requests for changes in services and arranging transportation.
- Oversaw the running of the Special Education staff in my assigned buildings.
Special Education Teacher
West Middle School, RPS 205
Rockford IL
08.2017 - 07.2020
- Developed individualized education plans (IEPs) tailored to diverse student needs. (Case managed 16-18 students per year)
- Implemented behavior management strategies to enhance classroom environments.
- Collaborated with multidisciplinary teams to assess student progress and implement interventions.
- Served as an Instructional level teacher as well as a Co-teacher. 67% of my Instructional level students met or exceeded District growth targets as evidenced by their MAP testing.
- Created schedules for Special Education testing groups.
Special Education Teacher
Parkland Preparatory Academy
Streamwood, IL
01.2017 - 08.2017
- Self-contained high school teacher in a therapeutic day school setting.
- Developed individualized education plans tailored to diverse student needs. Case managed 10 students with severe social/emotional or behavioral disabilities.
- Collaborated with multidisciplinary teams to enhance student learning outcomes.
- Implemented behavior management strategies to foster positive classroom environments.
- Created lesson plans for the following subjects for my students: Algebra I; Geometry; Algebra II; US History; World History; Biology; Physical Science; English 1; English II; English III; Child Development; and Independent Living Skills.
Special Education Teacher
Jefferson High School - RPS 205
Rockford, IL
08.2010 - 01.2017
- Self-contained ED Teacher: Career Awareness; World Geography; US History; American Government; Economics; Social Skills.
- Instructional Level Teacher: Geometry, Algebra II; Math Topics.
- Co-Teacher: Algebra I; Geometry; Algebra II; Math Topics.
- Collaborator
- Academy Lead Teacher for HPS (Human and Public Service) Academy. Ran a Career Fair for the Academy with 40+ community participants
- Century 21 Tutor; Before School Tutor for failing General Education Algebra I students.
- Step-up Summer School Teacher (Math: Pre-Algebra/Algebra).
- Case manager of 12-14 students.
Special Education High School Teacher
Hononegah Community High School
Rockton, IL
08.2008 - 06.2010
- Instructional Level: Basic Math (Saxon Curriculum).
- Co-teacher Algebra I AB (4 different teachers); Life Science; Earth Science; Horticulture.
- Case manager 16 students.
Special Education Teacher & Curriculum Corrdinator
Psychiatric Solutions Inc( River Edge Academy & Northwest Academy
Forest Park, IL & Streamwood, IL
08.2004 - 07.2008
- Self-Contained high school teacher in therapeutic day school setting.
- Set up new educational program for residential high school males, including acquiring and purchasing curriculum materials.
- Served as testing supervisor and testing accommodations coordinator for the administration of PSAE.
- Developed point system used by all departmental high school classrooms.
- Taught all subjects.
- Case managed 10 students.
Special Education Teacher
The Larkin Center
Elgin, IL
09.1996 - 07.2004
- Self-contained high school teacher in therapeutic day school setting.
- Taught all subjects.
- Developed point system adopted by peer teachers and "Gotcha" reward system utilized school-wide.
- Served as mentor teacher.
- Served on various school and agency improvement committees.
- Case managed 8 students.
Education
Bachelor of Science - Special Education LD/BD -
Illinois State University
Normal, IL05-1984
Skills
- Effective communication
- Group leadership
- Building relationships
- Team development
- Personable and friendly
Certification
Standard Secondary and Elementary Teaching - Learning Behavior Specialist 1 Limited.
Endorsements: Learning Disabilities Social/emotional Disorders, Middle school Language Arts and Social Studies
Previous Held:
Crisis Prevention Institute (CPI)
Life Spaces Crisis Intervention (LSCI)
Aggression Replacement Training (ART)
Timeline
Itinerant Special Education Procedural Coach
Rockford Public School RPS 205
08.2020 - Current
Special Education Teacher
West Middle School, RPS 205
08.2017 - 07.2020
Special Education Teacher
Parkland Preparatory Academy
01.2017 - 08.2017
Special Education Teacher
Jefferson High School - RPS 205
08.2010 - 01.2017
Special Education High School Teacher
Hononegah Community High School
08.2008 - 06.2010
Special Education Teacher & Curriculum Corrdinator
Psychiatric Solutions Inc( River Edge Academy & Northwest Academy
08.2004 - 07.2008
Special Education Teacher
The Larkin Center
09.1996 - 07.2004
Bachelor of Science - Special Education LD/BD -
Illinois State University