Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Certification
Affiliations
References Available
Hobbies and Interests
Books
Timeline
Generic

GAIL TRIEGER

Glen Ellyn,IL

Summary

Dedicated student advocate with solid focus on the individual needs of students with suspected and identified learning and social differences. Educator whose goals for students include self-understanding of learning differences, raising academic performance, developing executive functions skills, building confidence, developing personal learning strategies, advocating for appropriate and beneficial accommodations and mentoring self-advocacy.

Overview

21
21
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification

Work History

Tutor and Advocate, Special Needs Students

Educational Services
01.2004 - 09.2016
  • Provided one-on-one tutoring and advocacy services to students with diagnosed learning disabilities including dyslexia, nonverbal learning disabilities, ADHD, ASD, and ND profiles.
  • Assisted students in developing study skills and strategies.
  • Developed strong relationships with students and their families, fostering open communication channels to address individual concerns and progress updates.
  • Served as ongoing resource for both students and parents, providing guidance related to academic planning, study habits, test-preparation strategies, and more.
  • Motivated students towards learning and studying to build self-confidence and reduce fear of failure.
  • Met with parents to discuss student progress and address concerns.
  • Collaborated with parents to develop appropriate tutoring lessons.
  • Designed engaging lesson plans that incorporated visual aids, hands-on activities, and real-world examples tailored specifically for diverse learners' abilities and interests.
  • Conducted ongoing assessments of student strengths and weaknesses, adjusting instructional approaches accordingly to maximize each individual's potential for success.
  • Served as an advocate for special needs students, ensuring their voices were heard by school administrators and staff when discussing academic accommodations or intervention efforts.
  • Enhanced learning experiences for special needs students by collaborating in the development of individualized education plans tailored to their unique requirements.
  • Collaborated with multidisciplinary teams to create comprehensive support strategies for students with disabilities.

Student Teacher

Harper Elementary School
09.2003 - 12.2003
  • Participated in mainstream and resource room intervention for first and fourth grade students with diagnosed learning disabilities, ADHD, ASD Level 1, behavior and emotional disorders.
  • Enhanced student comprehension by incorporating visual aids and interactive activities into lessons.
  • Increased students' critical thinking skills through implementation of group projects and problem-solving exercises.
  • Supported diverse learners with differentiated instruction strategies tailored to individual needs and abilities.

Graduate Clinician

Northwestern University, School of Communication Sciences and Disorders
01.2003 - 08.2003
  • Conducted comprehensive psycho-educational evaluations for adolescent and school-age children for identifying and diagnosing learning disabilities.
  • Provided expert guidance to parents and educators on appropriate accommodations and modifications for students with disabilities.
  • Developed strong relationships with students, fostering trust and open communication during evaluations and consultations.
  • Established rapport with students quickly during assessments by employing sensitive communication techniques.
  • Collaborated with multidisciplinary teams to develop comprehensive assessments for students with diverse needs.
  • Improved student success rates by identifying specific learning challenges and creating targeted intervention strategies.
  • Taught weekly remediation sessions for students with specific learning disabilities in reading, spelling, and writing.

Assistant Kindergarten Teacher

Little Fox Day School
06.2002 - 08.2002
  • Assisted in challenging class of twenty-three students during summer program prior to beginning graduate school program.
  • Assisted students with reading.
  • Led in-school group activities and supervised children during field trips.
  • Collaborated with fellow teachers to develop and implement cross-curricular projects, fostering comprehensive learning environments.
  • Established positive relationships with parents through regular communication, supporting their involvement in their child''s education.
  • Promoted social development and emotional well-being among students by incorporating cooperative learning activities into daily routines.
  • Supported students' language development through immersive storytelling sessions, engaging word games, and focused vocabulary building exercises.

Operations Manager

Jacobsen Publishing Company
09.2000 - 10.2001
  • Directed all daily operations for small, start-up Internet technologies and publishing company with 25 employees; managed general ledger and departmental budgets.
  • Improved operational efficiency by streamlining processes and implementing cost-saving measures.
  • Achieved higher employee retention rates by fostering positive work environment and providing opportunities for professional growth.
  • Managed budgets effectively, consistently delivering projects on-time and within financial constraints.
  • Empowered employees to take ownership of their responsibilities, leading to increased accountability and improved performance outcomes.
  • Oversaw facility maintenance, ensuring optimal functionality of equipment and infrastructure at all times.

Operations Manager

HannaHodge, Inc.
12.1999 - 09.2000
  • Established and managed office procedures.
  • Trained and managed administrative staff.
  • Organized and managed relocation and new office redesign and rehab.
  • Created and integrated full circle orientation process for new hires.
  • Managed data system expansion.
  • Assisted V.P. of Operations with bookkeeping and financial forecasting.
  • Budgeted and developed library for in-house knowledge management center.

Project Manager

Unext.com
06.1999 - 12.1999
  • Managed development of online university coursework.
  • Managed project team members, coordinated goals between university faculty and creative team members, and researched software solutions.
  • Coordinated content creation, multimedia development, and online course implementation.
  • Established effective communication among team members for enhanced collaboration and successful project completion.
  • Interfaced with senior management and content creators.

Consultant, Marketing Associate

The Revere Group
02.1996 - 06.1999
  • Designed and executed training and communication plans for software system implementations; developed training materials and courses for new systems, communicated with employees affected by system changes, and trained employees on new systems.
  • Created and planned marketing campaigns
  • Authored and maintained corporate web site. Identified and fulfilled outsourcing needs.
  • Produced internal communications.
  • Authored and copyedited marketing and sales materials.
  • Coordinated trade shows and seminars.
  • Managed business partner relationships.

Education

M.A. - COMMUNICATION SCIENCES AND DISORDERS / LEARNING DISABILITIES

NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY
EVANSTON, IL
12.2003

Bachelor of Science - BUSINESS

NORTHERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY
DEKALB, IL
12.1991

Skills

  • Special Needs Support
  • Student Advocacy
  • Orton-Gillingham based Multisensory Learning
  • Student Confidence Building and Motivation
  • Literacy Development
  • Individualized Instruction
  • Growth Mindset
  • Patience and Empathy
  • Executive Function Skills Teaching
  • Proficient in Microsoft Office, Apple Pages, Google Workspace tools
  • Understanding of natural approaches to ADHD management
  • Expertise in learning differences, neurodiversity, PDA profile, ADHD, SPD and ASD

Certification

  • Illinois Certified Learning Behavior Specialist 1, Elementary Teaching Initial (03) #2163126
  • Secondary Teaching Initial (09) #2163127
  • Wilson Reading System Introductory Course Completion 2024
  • Rush Neurobehavioral Center Executive Function Online Workshop 2024
  • Certificate in Herbal Medicine
  • Herbalism for Women, Dr. Aviva Romm - currently enrolled
  • Interactive Media and Online Publishing Certificate - University of Chicago
  • Mast Cell 360 - currently enrolled

Affiliations

  • COPAA - Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates
  • Team Zen's Differently Wired Microcommunity
  • Mom's Demand Action
  • Chicago Lindy Hoppers

References Available

Upon Request

Hobbies and Interests

I'm an avid reader, researcher follower and attendee of all things parenting, psychology, neurodiversity, teen mental health and chronic health conditions. I am the parent of twins, one of whom suffers from a chronic health disorder and the other who identifies as neurodiverse, specifically ADHD, SPD, HSP (highly sensitive person), and gifted. I've spent the last several years focusing on my role as parent to children with special needs. My personal passions include social couples dancing, yoga and Pilates, and ballet fitness. I also love interior design, gardening and follow politics closely. My favorite reading genres are historical fiction and psychology.

Books

  • The Conscious Parent: Transforming Ourselves, Empowering Our Children, Shefali Tsabary
  • The Out-of-Sync Child Grows Up: Coping with Sensory Processing Disorder in the Adolescent and Adult Years, Carol Stock Kranowitz
  • Differently Wired: Raising an Exceptional Child in a Conventional World, Deborah Reber
  • Finding the Gray, Timothy J. Wahlberg
  • Enough As She Is: How to Help Girls Move Beyond Impossible Standards of Success to Live Healthy, Happy, and Fulfilling Lives, Rachel Simmons
  • Zen Parenting: Caring for Ourselves and Our Children in an Unpredictable World, Cathy Cassani Adams
  • Parenting the New Teen in the Age of Anxiety: A Complete Guide to your Child's Stressed, Depressed, Expanded, Amazing Adolescence, John Duffy
  • Parenting from the Inside Out: How a Deeper Self-Understanding Can Help You Raise Children Who Thrive, Daniel J. Siegel
  • Mindset: The New Psychology of Success, Carol S. Dweck
  • The Explosive Child, Ross W. Greene, Ph.D.
  • Childhood Interrupted, BethAlison Maloney
  • The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma, Bessel van der Kolk
  • Untamed, Glennon Doyle
  • Screenwise, Devorah Heitner
  • Untangled: Guiding Teenage Girls Through the Seven Transitions into Adulthood, Lisa Damour
  • The Dirt Cure: Healthy Food, Healthy Gut, Happy Child, Maya Shetreat-Klein

Timeline

Tutor and Advocate, Special Needs Students

Educational Services
01.2004 - 09.2016

Student Teacher

Harper Elementary School
09.2003 - 12.2003

Graduate Clinician

Northwestern University, School of Communication Sciences and Disorders
01.2003 - 08.2003

Assistant Kindergarten Teacher

Little Fox Day School
06.2002 - 08.2002

Operations Manager

Jacobsen Publishing Company
09.2000 - 10.2001

Operations Manager

HannaHodge, Inc.
12.1999 - 09.2000

Project Manager

Unext.com
06.1999 - 12.1999

Consultant, Marketing Associate

The Revere Group
02.1996 - 06.1999

M.A. - COMMUNICATION SCIENCES AND DISORDERS / LEARNING DISABILITIES

NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY

Bachelor of Science - BUSINESS

NORTHERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY

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