Geanetta Edwards
Wheaton,IL
Summary
Enthusiastic and cooperative individual with love for working with people, bringing generous amounts of patience, empathy, and persuasiveness to any team. Skilled in creating nurturing and engaging environment for children, ensuring their developmental needs are met through collaborative activities and personalized attention. Adept at communicating effectively with both children and parents, fostering sense of trust and community. Strong ability to adapt to various situations and needs, always prioritizing well-being and growth of those under care.
Overview
17
17
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Special Education Paraprofessional
Glen Ellyn School District 41
08.2025 - Current
- Supported individual education plans by collaborating with teachers and specialists to implement tailored strategies.
- Observed individuals or groups of students in variety of settings to maintain safe and positive learning environment.
- Helped feeding and daily living skills to support physical and emotional well-being.
- Supported faculty in implementing behavioral intervention plans to address challenging student behaviors.
- Partnered with speech therapists, occupational therapists, and other related service providers to ensure comprehensive support for each individual student''s growth and progress.
- Enhanced students'' learning experiences by implementing individualized educational plans and adapting teaching methods for special needs students.
- Offered student support through special accommodations, extra assistance, and assessments.
- Interacted physically and verbally with students throughout each day.
- Maintained positive attitude and affirmatively communicated with each student.
AFTER SCHOOL SPORTS COACH
WESTMONT YARD
05.2019 - Current
- Bus school age children from school to program
- Assist in homework
- Engaged in grade/age appropriate sport related activities on indoor field
- Help to create a safe and comfortable environment while children are in program
- Managed equipment inventory including purchasing new supplies as needed.
CHILD CARE ASSISTANT TEACHER
WESTMONT YARD
05.2019 - 07.2025
- Collaborated with colleagues on lesson plans, curriculum development, and special projects.
- Managed conflict resolution between students using effective problem solving strategies.
- Organized materials for various activities such as arts and crafts projects or dramatic play areas.
- Supervised outdoor play time activities while enforcing playground rules.
- Provided assistance with mealtime preparations including setting tables, serving food items, and cleaning up afterwards.
- Participated in professional development opportunities such as workshops and conferences to stay abreast of best practices in early childhood education.
Paraprofessional
ProCare Therapy
09.2024 - 06.2025
- Assisted educators in implementing individualized education plans for diverse learners.
- Oversaw students in classroom and common areas to monitor, enforce rules, and support lead teacher.
- Assisted students in developing deeper understanding of course concepts by providing one-on-one support.
- Enforced rules and instructions to maintain discipline.
Professional Foster Parent
SOS Children's Villages Illinois
07.2020 - 11.2021
- Provided nurturing care and support to foster children in diverse family settings.
- Coordinated educational and healthcare resources for children to ensure holistic development.
- Facilitated communication between biological families, social workers, and educational institutions.
- Maintained open communication with caseworkers and support teams to ensure that the needs of each child were being met effectively.
- Managed daily routines and schedules, fostering consistency and stability in the lives of foster children.
- Participated in ongoing training opportunities to stay current on best practices in foster care provision.
- Maintained accurate records of foster children''s progress, including medical appointments, medications, school achievements, and behavioral issues.
- Established clear boundaries within the home environment that promoted respect for themselves and others.
- Prepared and maintained individual beds and personal space for foster children.
- Collaborated with caseworkers and support teams to ensure proper care for each individual child in the foster system.
- Provided transportation to school, appointments, extracurricular activities, and family visits as needed.
- Helped reunify birth families through coordinated visitation strategies.
- Transported kids to mandated therapy, extracurricular activities and medical appointments.
- Fostered a sense of belonging among all household members by celebrating achievements, special occasions, and cultural traditions together.
- Improved children's health by preparing healthy meals and snacks.
CHILD CARE PROVIDER/AFTERCARE SITE LEAD/SUMMER CAMP COUNSELOR
YMCA OF METROPOLITAN CHICAGO/GREATER LAGRANGE
05.2015 - 08.2019
- Maintain a safe play environment
- Observe and monitor children's play activities
- Communicate with children's parents or guardians about daily activities, behaviors, and related issues
- Sanitize toys and play equipment
- Provided safe and nurturing environment for children of different ages.
PARA EDUCATOR
J.W. ROBINSON ELEMENTARY
08.2018 - 05.2019
- One on one classroom support for a student needing constant assistance
- Assist with academics
- Toileting and physical aid when needed
- Provided one-on-one assistance to struggling students when needed.
- Assisted lead teachers in developing and implementing daily lesson plans for students.
PARA EDUCATOR
PARK JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL
10.2017 - 06.2018
- One on one and classroom support for students with autism and behavior issues
- Worked alongside special education teacher to provide a learning environment tailored to individual needs
- Worked one-on-one with students to reinforce learning of materials.
- Supervised students during cooling-off time, monitoring behavior.
CHILD, FAMILY AND TEEN ADMIN/FAMILY COORDINATOR
WEST COOK YMCA
07.2014 - 02.2016
- Cultivated an environment where all families felt respected, valued, and supported.
- Demonstrated ability to effectively manage multiple tasks, prioritize and meet deadlines.
- Maintained accurate records pertaining to all family services activities.
- Developed strong communication skills in order to interact with families and staff members in a professional manner.
SUMMER CAMP BEFORE/AFTERCARE LEAD
WEST COOK YMCA
06.2008 - 08.2015
- Signed camp participants in and out of camp program daily
- Supervised a staff of 10 in making sure children's activities were enjoyable and safe
- Created and maintained positive relationships with parents, staff and campers through effective communication.
Education
Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) - Early Childhood Education (AECE)
National Louis University
Chicago, USSkills
- Clerical
- Administration and Management
- Microsoft Office
- Patience and empathy
- Music and movement
- Child development
- Customer service
- Active listener
- Child safety
- Social skills development
- Positive reinforcement
- Infant care
- Positive role model
- Training in food handling preparation
- Customer and Personal Service
- Respite Care
- Medical Terminology
- CPR certified
- Parent communication
- Early childhood education
- CPR and first aid
- Team collaboration
- Child care
- Emotionally supportive
- Adept at working with special needs children
- Safety monitoring
- First aid training
- Special-needs childcare
Certification
Paraprofessional license
Timeline
Special Education Paraprofessional
Glen Ellyn School District 41
08.2025 - Current
Paraprofessional
ProCare Therapy
09.2024 - 06.2025
Professional Foster Parent
SOS Children's Villages Illinois
07.2020 - 11.2021
AFTER SCHOOL SPORTS COACH
WESTMONT YARD
05.2019 - Current
CHILD CARE ASSISTANT TEACHER
WESTMONT YARD
05.2019 - 07.2025
PARA EDUCATOR
J.W. ROBINSON ELEMENTARY
08.2018 - 05.2019
PARA EDUCATOR
PARK JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL
10.2017 - 06.2018
CHILD CARE PROVIDER/AFTERCARE SITE LEAD/SUMMER CAMP COUNSELOR
YMCA OF METROPOLITAN CHICAGO/GREATER LAGRANGE
05.2015 - 08.2019
CHILD, FAMILY AND TEEN ADMIN/FAMILY COORDINATOR
WEST COOK YMCA
07.2014 - 02.2016
SUMMER CAMP BEFORE/AFTERCARE LEAD
WEST COOK YMCA
06.2008 - 08.2015
Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) - Early Childhood Education (AECE)
National Louis University