Ester Weston
Plainfield,IL
Summary
Human needs come before student needs. A happy-kind hearted educator that meets the social emotional needs and "Whole Child" needs of students and their families. Skilled in inter-rater reliability for age-appropriate required evaluation tools and researched based trauma informed practices. Versatile and dedicated child advocate with a solid focus on the individual needs of learners through a culturally responsive classroom approach. Passionate bilingual educator always looking to make a difference within a diverse learning community
Overview
13
13
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Assessor & Training Specialist
National Louis Univesity
Lisle, IL
06.2023 - 07.2024
- Responsible for providing assessments for Illinois Department of Human Services programs that participate in Illinois ExceleRate, conduct inter-reliability assessments, and write accurate reports.
- Provides on-site or virtual evaluation and support for state early childhood programs using the Environment Rating Scales, Classroom Assessment Scoring System tools, and the Program/Business Administration Scales.
- Prepares and submits evaluation reports according to the required time frame and criteria
- When requested, conducts and provides ExceleRate trainings on specific assessment tools
Bilingual Early Childhood Teacher
Joliet Public Schools District 86
Joliet
08.2020 - 06.2023
- Implement equity-based, multi-tiered system of supports to address readiness of every learner
- Participated in inter-rater reliability for all required evaluation tools: ie
- ECERS, ECS, CC TS GOLD, PRE-IPT, DIAL, WIDA, IGDI, ECOS, PECS, IELDS, ASQ3, PLS-4 & 5, DAYC-2
- Created tracking systems that monitor instructional design, faculty and staff professional development : ie
- Virtual teaching, virtual social groups, tech issues
- Maintained well-controlled classroom by redesigning, simplifying them thru Social Emotional curriculum and strict classroom management strategies and reinforcing positive behaviors via Virtual setting
- Used 'Teaching Strategies: GOLD Creative Curriculum' to document growth every trimester in 20 students.; monitored students' academic, social and emotional progress and recorded in individual files
- Created in depth (4-6 week ) TS GOLD Units of Study lesson plans and centers to teach preschool children foundational learning skills, STEM, biliteracy, and social studies
- Analyzed building-wide data and implemented RTI: Response to Intervention strategies
- Consulted with parents to build and maintain positive support networks and support continuing education strategies
- Develop building-wide data analysis and decision-making protocol in Professional Learning Community (PLC) levels
- Created and managed IEPs; delivered effective and differentiated classroom instruction to a range of students; 1:1 groups
- Attended workshops/webinars/seminars to learn about engaging ELL learning activities and pedagogy
Autism Teacher K-2
Valley View School District
08.2018 - 06.2019
- Teach a self-contained Enhanced Autism ABA Program (K-2 Autism Spectrum Disorders) STLR: Structured Teaching & Learning Room Teacher
- Taught students across multiple classifications and degrees of special needs; led activities that developed students' physical, emotional and social growth
- Taught multiple subjects to students with intellectual or emotional disabilities
- Coordinated special education students and teacher assistant schedules with master schedule
- Completed intensive leadership training and provided training to colleagues on applied behavior analysis and data collection
- Modified general education curriculum for special-needs students using various instructional techniques and technologies
- Implemented Social Emotional Learning Standards and variety of Social emotional interventions
- Created and managed IEPs and BIPs to define student learning objectives and educational strategies
Registered Behavior Technician
Valley View School District
01.2018 - 06.2018
- Learned specialized behavior approaches to implement behavioral strategies
- Kept accurate records by documenting progress and adhering to prescribed behavior plans
- Principles of applied behavior analysis
- Promoted positive interactions of children with ADHD, Autism and oppositional defiant behavior by using visual supports, simplifying communication and utilizing stress scales to turn emotions into concrete concepts
- Exercised physical dexterity to safely implement crisis management interventions and therapeutic holds
- Observed, monitored and recorded problem behaviors through accurate behavior-consequence data collection, graphs and anecdotal notes and treatment plans
- Conducted functional behavior assessments, functional analysis, preference assessments and assessments of basic learning and language skills to identify target behaviors and purpose of behaviors
- Utilized: UNIQUE LEARNING SYSTEMS & SYMBOLSTIX for Visual aids and Augmentative Communication Devices
Bilingual Early Childhood Teacher
Valley View School District
08.2012 - 06.2017
- Implement 'Creative Curriculum' assessment, play-based centers; for progress monitoring measures; collecting data for academic, behavioral, communication, social skills, cognitive levels, and fine motor abilities
- Full day PFA program and half day program experience
- Monitored students' academic, social and emotional progress and recorded in individual files
- Bilingual phonics: 'Estrellita' Initial Sounds
- Biliteracy Curriculum and centers
- Social Emotional curriculum
- Frequent parent engagement best practices
Speech & Language Pathologist Itinerant
Valley View School District
09.2011 - 06.2012
- Serve a Range of Disorders : work with bilingual students exhibiting the full range of communication disorders, including those involving language, articulation, fluency
- Model and extend use of assistive communication mediums: P.E.C.S
- And AAC devices, GoTalk
- Speech and Language Screenings, evaluate students weekly progress through IEP data tracking forms intervention
Education
Master of Arts - Early Childhood Special Education & ESL
Lewis University
Romeoville, IL05.2021
Bachelor of Science - Speech-Language Pathology And Audiology
Northern Illinois University
Dekalb, IL07.2011
Skills
- Spanish
- Spanish Speech & Language Development
- Racial Equity
- Parent Education
- Data Collection
- Differentiated Instruction
- Inter-rater Reliability Assessments
Certification
- TYPE O4: EARLY CHILDHOOD Special Education & ESL
- ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE ENDORSEMENT
- LEARNING BEHAVIOR SPECIALIST I
- PEL
- TYPE 29- TRANSITIONAL BILINGUAL LICENSE
- GATEWAYS: ECE LEVEL 5
Languages
Spanish, Native or Bilingual
Languages
Spanish
Native/ Bilingual
Timeline
Assessor & Training Specialist
National Louis Univesity
06.2023 - 07.2024
Bilingual Early Childhood Teacher
Joliet Public Schools District 86
08.2020 - 06.2023
Autism Teacher K-2
Valley View School District
08.2018 - 06.2019
Registered Behavior Technician
Valley View School District
01.2018 - 06.2018
Bilingual Early Childhood Teacher
Valley View School District
08.2012 - 06.2017
Speech & Language Pathologist Itinerant
Valley View School District
09.2011 - 06.2012
- TYPE O4: EARLY CHILDHOOD Special Education & ESL
- ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE ENDORSEMENT
- LEARNING BEHAVIOR SPECIALIST I
- PEL
- TYPE 29- TRANSITIONAL BILINGUAL LICENSE
- GATEWAYS: ECE LEVEL 5
Master of Arts - Early Childhood Special Education & ESL
Lewis University
Bachelor of Science - Speech-Language Pathology And Audiology
Northern Illinois University
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