D'Ette Griffin
San Antonio,TX
Summary
Enthusiastic Special Education Teacher with 10 years experience as an educator instructing students with wide range of learning and physical disabilities. Currently an ARD Facilitator committed to creating positive and collaborative ARD/IEPs that encourage understanding, respect and inclusion as it relates to student academic success and professional growth. Strategic in blending organizational skills, patience and respect in order to facilitate comprehensiveness, clear communication and leadership. Works well with children, parents, colleagues and supervisors. Compassionate Special Education professional offering excellent skills in devising student strategies and monitoring classroom activities. Pursuing a similar position where a well-qualified individual with an understanding of special needs students is highly sought.
Overview
21
21
years of professional experience
Work History
ARD Facilitator
National Recruiting Consultants
City, STATE
08.2021 - Current
- Strategized to effectively facilitate ARD meetings collaborating with Educational Diagnosticians, teaching staff, ancillary staff and administrators.
- Collaborated with colleagues to share ideas and resources to enhance student experience and success for transition plans.
- Strategized long-term educational needs and garnered feedback for process from superiors.
- Monitored compliance timelines and maximized positive team relations.
- Properly and compassionately interact with parents, staff and professionals in all situations.
- Offered guidance to support students and staff
- Monitored student progress and provided individualized instruction to meet student needs, goals and objectives.
- Worked with fellow teachers to devise and implement support plans to help students excel.
- Worked closely with students and parents to increase positive feedback from parents and boost overall student success.
- Encouraged parents, staff and professionals to express ideas, thoughts
- Facilitated ARD/IEP meetings, staffings for student with special needs.
- Offered insight on available programs and services that prove helpful to students.
- Coordinated student and parent support groups to provide support.
- Cultivated pleasant and safe atmosphere for parents and staff to help students achieve goals.
Special Education Teacher
IDEA Public Schools
San Antonio, TX
07.2021 - 12.2021
- Worked with students with specialized needs to accomplish tasks and build practical skills in self contained Kindergarten and 6th grade inclusion teacher.
- Collaborated with general education instructors across multiple departments to optimize student learning and reach IEP goals and objectives.
- Fostered positive and trusting relationships with students to increase engagement.
- Conducted small group and individual classroom activities with students based on differentiated learning needs.
- Created and managed ARD meetings and developed IEPs to define student learning objectives and educational strategies, in addition to applying instructional knowledge and methods to support goals.
- Developed interesting interactive learning methods tailored to help students with individual needs.
- Promoted language development skills through reading and storytelling.
- Developed IEP goals and objectives to leverage developmental practices and educational theories to achieve educational objectives.
- Supervised students during testing and one on one activities.
- Offered students personalized educational, behavioral and emotional support. Maintained inclusive, focused and supportive learning environments.
- Provided individualized assistance with ELA, Math, and Science to improve abilities and reach academic goals.
- Created and distributed instructional materials for group and one-on-one activities.
- Prepared visual aids, equipment and classroom displays and hands on activities to foster learning.
- Liaised with school staff to implement comprehensive educational action plans for special needs and at-risk students.
- Selected interventions most appropriate to individual with special needs and implemented and revised plan as necessary.
- Met with parents about student needs to garner additional support.
- Determined capabilities and function of students through personal communication, parents, student paperwork and assessments.
Regional Scorer
Pearson VUE
San Antonio, TX
04.2018 - 02.2020
- Audited ELA essays for the New York Teachers Association.
- Scored English language learners elementary reading tests.
- Scored ASPIRE Math for high school, middle school and elementary students.
- Evaluated field science test questions for upcoming assessments, judged questions on appropriateness and grade level.
- Completed surveys on the science topics, questions, and feedback about the overall test quality and measurements.
- Responsible for scoring all grade levels and all subject matter.
- Scored essay questions for high school and middle school.
Substitute Teacher, K-12
JAJ Academics LLC.
San Antonio , TX
03.2015 - 02.2020
- Supported students with personalized accommodations, extra assistance and educational assessments.
- Kept accurate and current attendance records and assignment sheets to maintain file compliance.
- Provided instruction for students in core subject areas.
- Followed classroom plans left by class teacher to continue student education and reinforce core concepts.
- Upheld classroom routines to support student environments and maintain consistent schedules.
- Repeatedly requested as substitute teacher by teachers based on excellent past referrals and trusted performance.
- Adapted lesson plans and student activities to meet needs of students with special learning needs.
- Maintained day-to-day classroom management and discipline to promote learning initiatives.
- Responsible for several long term substitute positions in Special Education and participated in ARD meetings.
- Worked with students in resources room as well as in an inclusion setting.
- Supervised lunchroom and recess activities.
- Monitored student behavior and enforced discipline policies.
- Cultivated positive relationships between community members, school students, and teachers.
Case Manager
R & K Specialized Homes
San Antonio, TX
04.2019 - 11.2019
- Identified care needs of individual patients and coordinated responses based on physician advice, insurance limitations, and procedural costs.
- Partnered with physicians, social workers, activity therapists, nutritionists, and case managers to develop and implement individualized care plans and documented patient interactions and interventions in electronic charting systems.
- Monitored clients' progress and tracked client services to provide service plans and meet goals.
- Developed and implemented safety plans for clients at risk of harm to provide protection.
- Developed and implemented comprehensive case management plans to address client needs and goals.
- Worked with care givers to maintain a peaceful home environment. Provided leadership, guidance and support to all staff members.
- Developed and implemented training programs for staff.
- Established and maintained relationships with key stakeholders.
- Coordinated services with other agencies, community-based organizations, and healthcare professionals to provide useful benefits to clients.
Horseback Riding Instructor
Wild Sunday Farm
San Antonio, TX
12.2010 - 07.2018
- Taught proper communication and riding commands for optimal control and safety around horses for students of all ages.
- Supported riders' pursuit of advanced equestrian sports such as Hunt seat equitation and jumping. .
- Cleaned and maintained facility with lesson horses and adhered to veterinary visit schedule, feeding routines and cleaning practices.
- Educated students on proper hoof care, grooming, saddling and bridling and proper conditions for maintenance of horses tack.
- Diffused potentially dangerous situations between horses and students with practices instilled through safety, experience and repetition.
- Monitored student progress and provided individualized instruction to meet student needs and goals.
- Conducted classes, schooling shows, and summer camps for students on special topics of interest.
- Supported students in identifying, setting and achieving personal goals. Create an atmosphere of trust, self-confidence, and independence through horsemanship skills with patience and leadership.
- Maintained general bookkeeping, billing, and office administration for riding school.
Case Manager
AAA Homecare
Taos, NM
02.2008 - 06.2010
- Identified care needs of individual patients and coordinated responses based on physician advice, insurance limitations, and procedural costs.
- Partnered with physicians, social workers, therapists, nutritionists, and care givers to develop and implement individualized service plans.
- Prepared all state and federal documentation for clients on the Disabled and Elderly waiver. Applied for extra services, environmental modifications and approval of caregivers.
- Monitored clients' progress and tracked client services to provide crisis interventions.
- Coordinated services with other agencies, community-based organizations, and healthcare professionals to provide useful benefits to clients.
- Provided education on health and nutrition to caregivers so they can help clients maintain healthy eating habits, and wellbeing.
- Developed and implemented training programs for staff. Scheduled service hours for care givers and maintained positive interaction with all staff, family members and key stakeholders.
Special Education Teacher
New Mexico Public Schools
Española, San Juan And Taos , NM
08.2002 - 06.2009
- Cultivated connections and strong student rapport to foster classroom engagement, in addition to recording student progress to inform parents and school administration.
- Assisted struggling students to maintain progress levels by designing individualized lesson plans focused on areas for improvement.
- Modified general education curriculum for special-needs students using various instructional techniques and technologies.
- Led activities that developed students' physical, emotional, and social growth.
- Created and managed IEPs to define student learning objectives and educational strategies, in addition to applying instructional knowledge and methods to support goals in all teaching positions.
- Provided life skills programming for students with severe intellectual, physical and cognitive disabilities at Taos High School. .
- Taught multiple subjects to students with intellectual or emotional disabilities.
- Partnered with standard education teachers from across academic departments.
- Taught students across multiple classifications and degrees of special needs.
- Coordinated special education students and teacher assistants to help facilitate lesson plans and help engage all students for learning activities.
- Utilized technology to create meaningful lessons that engage students.
- Conducted assessments of students to determine individual needs.
- Facilitated small group instruction to address individual learning needs.
- Worked closely with ancillary staff, general ed. and special ed staff as well as parents and guardians to address students' issues on multiple fronts and to collaborate on the ARD/IEP.
- Helped students with special needs integrate into general classroom environments by advocating for individual requirements and helping teachers solve problems, and help them meet their IEP goals and objectives.
- Planned daily activities to keep students engaged and on track with learning goals.
- Designed individual education plans to encourage student growth according to different learning abilities and needs.
- Facilitated ARD/IEP meetings for my caseload, and several years I was responsible for coordinating IEPs for entire 8th grade caseload for Espanola Public Schools.
- Responsible for facilitated state mandate testing and implementing modifications. Assisting general ed. staff with accomodations and lesson planning. Maintain progress reports for goals and objectives.
- Developed and implemented behavior management plans to improve student behavior. Assisted school psychologists and school counselors with functional behavior plans.
- Implemented behavior modification techniques to improve student social and academic performance.
- Promoted memory, cognition and language development with hands-on activities and individualized instruction.
Education
Alternative Licensure Program - Special Education - Special Education EC- 12th
Northern New Mexico College
Espanola, NM12.2004
Master of Science - Behavioral Science - Psychology
University of Houston - Clear Lake
Houston, TX08.1997
Bachelor of Arts - Applied Design
University of Houston - Clear Lake
Houston, TX08.1991
Skills
- Schedule Management
- MS Office Proficiency
- Verbal and Written Communication
- Meeting Facilitation
- Professional Relationships
- Interpersonal and Written Communication
- Understanding of Special Education requirements
- Time Management and Compliance
- Documentation and Reporting
- Texas Teaching Certification
- Creative and Resourceful
- Interpersonal and Social Skills
- Social Development
- Team Teaching and Collaboration
- Diversity and Inclusion
- Problem-Solving
- Positive Learning Environment
Timeline
ARD Facilitator
National Recruiting Consultants
08.2021 - Current
Special Education Teacher
IDEA Public Schools
07.2021 - 12.2021
Case Manager
R & K Specialized Homes
04.2019 - 11.2019
Regional Scorer
Pearson VUE
04.2018 - 02.2020
Substitute Teacher, K-12
JAJ Academics LLC.
03.2015 - 02.2020
Horseback Riding Instructor
Wild Sunday Farm
12.2010 - 07.2018
Case Manager
AAA Homecare
02.2008 - 06.2010
Special Education Teacher
New Mexico Public Schools
08.2002 - 06.2009
Alternative Licensure Program - Special Education - Special Education EC- 12th
Northern New Mexico College
Master of Science - Behavioral Science - Psychology
University of Houston - Clear Lake
Bachelor of Arts - Applied Design
University of Houston - Clear Lake