Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Timeline
Generic

Donna Ferraiolo

Agawam,MA

Summary

I am an energetic and compassionate individual with a passion for fostering a positive learning environment. I possess a deep understanding of education and child development. I'm committed to inspiring students and fostering academic growth.

Overview

35
35
years of professional experience

Work History

Special EducationTeacher

Agawam Public Schools
11.2004 - 06.2010
  • Developed IEPs tailored to individual student needs, ensuring their academic success and personal growth.
  • Created and managed IEPs to define student learning objectives and educational strategies, in addition to applying instructional knowledge and methods to support goals.
  • Promoted a positive learning environment through the use of differentiated instruction and individualized support for diverse learners.
  • Fostered strong relationships with parents and guardians, maintaining open lines of communication to ensure student progress.
  • Improved student behavior management by implementing consistent routines, clear expectations, and positive reinforcement strategies.
  • Delivered effective and differentiated classroom instruction to range of neurodiverse students.
  • Coordinated special education students and teacher assistant schedules with master schedule.
  • Redirected students using Positive Behavior Support (PBS).
  • Encouraged students to take ownership of learning by providing choices.
  • Adapted teaching methods and materials to meet varied needs of students, enhancing educational accessibility.
  • Reduced feelings of isolation among students with special needs by implementing inclusive classroom practices.
  • Utilized data from student assessments to tailor instruction, resulting in more effective learning outcomes.
  • Improved reading comprehension among students with learning disabilities by designing and delivering targeted literacy activities.
  • Fostered positive learning environment, reducing classroom disruptions through effective behavior management strategies.
  • Designed individual education plans to encourage student growth according to different learning abilities and needs.
  • Developed Individual Education Plans for students with special needs.

Teacher

Agawam Public Schools
09.2010 - 06.2024
  • Developed strong relationships with students, parents, and colleagues by maintaining open lines of communication and fostering a supportive learning environment.
  • Managed classroom behavior effectively by establishing clear expectations, modeling appropriate conduct, and consistently enforcing established rules and consequences.
  • Enhanced classroom engagement through the use of interactive teaching methods, such as group projects and hands-on activities.
  • Maintained accurate records of student progress, attendance, and behavior to facilitate ongoing communication with parents about their child''s educational journey.
  • Differentiated instruction to accommodate diverse learning needs, ensuring each student had an equal opportunity for success.
  • Assessed student performance regularly using both formative and summative assessments to inform future lesson planning.
  • Collaborated with other teachers to plan interdisciplinary units that connected subjects and promoted deeper understanding among students.
  • Continuously pursued professional development opportunities such as workshops or conferences to stay current in educational trends.
  • Organized extracurricular activities such as clubs or field trips that enriched students' learning experiences outside traditional classroom settings.
  • Mentored new teachers, sharing best practices and providing guidance to help them adapt to their new roles successfully.
  • Designed curriculum materials for special education students, facilitating inclusive learning.
  • Utilized data-driven instruction to tailor lessons for improved academic performance.
  • Developed and executed formative and summative assessments to monitor student progress, adjusting teaching strategies accordingly.
  • Conducted ongoing professional development in educational technology, keeping teaching approach current and effective.
  • Enhanced literacy skills with targeted reading programs.
  • Designed and implemented differentiated instruction strategy to meet diverse learning needs, enhancing educational outcomes.
  • Completed student progress reports mid-term to notify students and parents of strengths and areas of improvement.
  • Designed detailed learning plans for struggling students based on test, homework and assignment records.
  • Evaluated students' understanding of course material through examinations and in-depth essay writing.
  • Adapted teaching methods and materials to meet students' varying needs.

Teacher - Adjudicated Youth

Springfield Public Schools, Massachusetts
09.1995 - 11.2004
  • Developed strong relationships with students, parents, and colleagues by maintaining open lines of communication and fostering a supportive learning environment.
  • Managed classroom behavior effectively by establishing clear expectations, modeling appropriate conduct, and consistently enforcing established rules and consequences.
  • Enhanced classroom engagement through the use of interactive teaching methods, such as group projects and hands-on activities.
  • Maintained accurate records of student progress, attendance, and behavior to facilitate ongoing communication with parents about their child''s educational journey.
  • Identified struggling students early on and provided additional support through tutoring sessions and modified lesson plans.
  • Continuously pursued professional development opportunities such as workshops or conferences to stay current in educational trends.
  • Implemented classroom management plan that reduced disruptions, creating more conducive learning environment.
  • Designed curriculum materials for special education students, facilitating inclusive learning.
  • Led professional development workshops for peers on effective classroom management techniques.
  • Spearheaded mentorship program for at-risk students, contributing to improved academic and behavioral outcomes.
  • Created and developed lesson plans to meet students' academic needs.
  • Developed and implemented classroom routines to address varying student needs.
  • Met with students, parents and administrators to address and resolve students' behavioral and academic issues.
  • Shifted between formal and informal methods of teaching to keep students engaged.
  • Fostered student curiosity and interest through creative hands-on activities.
  • Adapted teaching methods and materials to meet students' varying needs.

Special Education Teacher

The White Oak School
09.1992 - 06.1995
  • Developed IEPs tailored to individual student needs, ensuring their academic success and personal growth.
  • Created and managed IEPs to define student learning objectives and educational strategies, in addition to applying instructional knowledge and methods to support goals.
  • Promoted a positive learning environment through the use of differentiated instruction and individualized support for diverse learners.
  • 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.
  • Provided targeted instructional support to struggling learners, identifying specific areas for improvement and designing effective intervention plans.
  • Cultivated connections and strong student rapport to foster classroom engagement, in addition to recording student progress to inform parents and school administration.
  • Implemented individualized education plans for students with diverse learning needs, ensuring personalized support.
  • Encouraged parent and guardian involvement in educational process, enhancing home-school connection and supporting student achievement.
  • Adapted teaching methods and materials to meet varied needs of students, enhancing educational accessibility.
  • Advocated for rights and needs of students with special education requirements, ensuring access to appropriate resources and accommodations.
  • Collaborated with parents and other educators to develop comprehensive support plans, promoting student success.
  • Improved reading comprehension among students with learning disabilities by designing and delivering targeted literacy activities.
  • Monitored student performance to evaluate effectiveness of instructional strategies.
  • Conducted assessments of students to determine individual needs.
  • Planned daily activities to keep students engaged and on track with learning goals.
  • Maintained accurate records of student progress and attendance.
  • Designed individual education plans to encourage student growth according to different learning abilities and needs.
  • Worked closely with parents and guardians to address students' issues on multiple fronts.
  • Coordinated regular meetings to share and analyze student performance data and success plans with colleagues and parents.
  • Helped students with special needs integrate into general classroom environments by advocating for individual requirements and helping teachers solve problems.
  • Developed Individual Education Plans for students with special needs.
  • Improved behavior by modeling positive choices and teaching socially-acceptable options.
  • Provided emotional support to students and families.
  • Promoted memory, cognition and language development with hands-on activities and individualized instruction.

Teacher - Adjudicated Youth

COMPASS School
09.1989 - 06.1991
  • Developed strong relationships with students, parents, and colleagues by maintaining open lines of communication and fostering a supportive learning environment.
  • Managed classroom behavior effectively by establishing clear expectations, modeling appropriate conduct, and consistently enforcing established rules and consequences.
  • Enhanced classroom engagement through the use of interactive teaching methods, such as group projects and hands-on activities.
  • Maintained accurate records of student progress, attendance, and behavior to facilitate ongoing communication with parents about their child''s educational journey.
  • Differentiated instruction to accommodate diverse learning needs, ensuring each student had an equal opportunity for success.
  • Identified struggling students early on and provided additional support through tutoring sessions and modified lesson plans.
  • Integrated cultural awareness into lessons by incorporating diverse perspectives and materials into the curriculum.
  • Implemented classroom management plan that reduced disruptions, creating more conducive learning environment.
  • Spearheaded mentorship program for at-risk students, contributing to improved academic and behavioral outcomes.
  • Created and developed lesson plans to meet students' academic needs.
  • Helped students explore concepts with engaging, learning-focused activities.
  • Developed and implemented classroom routines to address varying student needs.
  • Worked with staff members and teachers to design comprehensive and individualized plans to optimize student education.
  • Met with students, parents and administrators to address and resolve students' behavioral and academic issues.
  • Shifted between formal and informal methods of teaching to keep students engaged.
  • Fostered student curiosity and interest through creative hands-on activities.
  • Participated in department meetings to provide input to colleagues about student achievement and improvement.
  • Prepared quizzes, tests and examinations to gauge how well students were learning.
  • Scheduled conferences with parents to discuss students' progress and classroom behavior.
  • Adapted teaching methods and materials to meet students' varying needs.

Education

Master of Science - Education

University of Massachusetts, Amherst
Amherst, MA
06.1999

Bachelor of Science - Education/Special Education

Westfield State University
Westfield, MA
06.1989

Associate of Science - Early Childhood Education

Holyoke Community College
Holyoke, MA
06.1985

Skills

  • Classroom management
  • Relationship building
  • Critical thinking
  • Lesson planning
  • Student engagement
  • Parent-teacher communication
  • Differentiated instruction
  • Small group instruction
  • Student rapport
  • Elementary education
  • Faculty collaboration
  • Special needs students
  • Empathy and patience
  • Flexible and adaptive
  • Cultural sensitivity
  • Student evaluations
  • Assessment strategies
  • Student records management
  • Subject matter expertise

Timeline

Teacher

Agawam Public Schools
09.2010 - 06.2024

Special EducationTeacher

Agawam Public Schools
11.2004 - 06.2010

Teacher - Adjudicated Youth

Springfield Public Schools, Massachusetts
09.1995 - 11.2004

Special Education Teacher

The White Oak School
09.1992 - 06.1995

Teacher - Adjudicated Youth

COMPASS School
09.1989 - 06.1991

Master of Science - Education

University of Massachusetts, Amherst

Bachelor of Science - Education/Special Education

Westfield State University

Associate of Science - Early Childhood Education

Holyoke Community College

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Donna Ferraiolo