Heather Rutherford
Aurora,CO
Summary
Versatile Special Education Teacher with focus on individual student needs across academia and emotional development. Empathetic and accommodating in design and implementation of hands-on lessons, catering to diverse learning abilities. Proficient in employing constant communication, patience and positive reinforcement in team efforts to deliver exceptional educational tools, fostering academic achievement.
Overview
12
12
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Special Education Teacher (ILC)
Coyote Hills Elementary - Cherry Creek Schools
09.2023 - Current
- Case manager for 4th and 5th grade ILC students
- Co-taught with another ILC teacher for all students in ILC
- Co-managed and trained para educators
- Collaborated with the Specials team for Unified Specials.
- Worked with students with moderate to severe autism to increase life skills.
- Encouraged students to take ownership of learning by providing choices.
Special Education Teacher (Middle School Resource Room)
Custer County School District
08.2022 - 08.2023
- Case manager for up to 50 students in grades K-12 with moderate to severe needs
- Managed the budget for middle school and high school special education life skills program
- Provided comprehensive educational evaluations in collaboration with the district BOCES
- Partnered with general education teachers from across academic departments.
- Developed IEPs tailored to individual student needs, ensuring their academic success and personal growth.
- Modified general education curriculum for special-needs students using various instructional techniques and technologies.
- 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.
Special Education Teacher (SSN & ILC)
Douglas County and Cherry Creek Schools
01.2015 - 05.2022
- Case manager for up to 20 students with intellectual disabilities, multiple disabilities, and/or Autism
- Managed, coached, and trained a staff of 10 para educators
- Experienced in de-escalation techniques for use in situations with parents, staff and students
- SPED Team Lead: collaborated with, and coached, all certified special education staff to include OT, PT, SLP, Mental Health and other special education teachers
- Member/SPED Representative on the teacher leadership team for the building
- Collaborated with the principal and teacher leadership team in creating a whole school schedule that served all students in the building
- Collaborated with the MTSS team to create systems and processes
- Implemented progress monitoring systems to facilitate consistent data collection for each student
- Utilized data from progress monitoring to modify instruction and programming to ensure that students made progress towards their IEP goals
- Facilitated students' access to their communities through structured community based outings
- Developed schedules, structures, and systems to provide strong classroom and support staff management
- Created a daily communication system to facilitate communication between school and home
- Collaborated with general education teachers and implemented a collaboration meeting schedule
- Completed assessments for reevaluations and interpreted data to write comprehensive IEPs.
Special Education Para and Before/After School Asst Director
Summit Elementary
08.2012 - 01.2015
- Provided direct instruction for students with severe needs in general education and special education settings
- Coached students to self-advocate and communicate their needs to adults
- Collaborated with community businesses to provide Community Based Instruction for the students in the severe needs program; allowing students to apply learned skills in real world situations
- Assisted the director of the Before and After school program in managing staff and program activities.
Student Teacher - Severe Needs/Cognitive (ILC)
Summit Elementary - Cherry Creek
08.2014 - 10.2014
- Collaborated with general education teachers and staff to provide students with severe needs meaningful and purposeful access to their general education classrooms
- Provided differentiated instruction within the general and special education settings to support students in making progress towards their IEP goals
- Designed and implemented work systems and visual schedules, based upon the TEACCH and PECS methods, for students with significant support needs
- Incorporated assistive technology to facilitate communication for students.
Education
Master of Education, Education Administration -
Lamar University
Lamar, TX01.2020
Bachelor of Arts, Special Education Generalist -
University of Northern Colorado
Greeley, CO01.2014
Skills
- Relationship Building
- Differentiated Instruction
- Small Group Instruction
- Co-teaching Experience
- Collaborative Teamwork
- Trained in CPI
Certification
Colorado Teaching License: Special Education Generalist K-21 and Elementary Education K-6
References
- Hillary Pohlmann, Principal, Coyote Hills Elementary, 24605 E. Davies Way, Aurora, CO, 80016, 720-886-3900
- Meghan Bergman, Special Education Teacher, Coyote Hills Elementary, 24605 E. Davies Way, Aurora, CO, 80016, 720-886-3900
- Keri Silvester, Special Education Teacher, Coyote Hills Elementary, 24605 E. Davies Way, Aurora, CO, 80016, 720-886-3900
Timeline
Special Education Teacher (ILC)
Coyote Hills Elementary - Cherry Creek Schools
09.2023 - Current
Special Education Teacher (Middle School Resource Room)
Custer County School District
08.2022 - 08.2023
Special Education Teacher (SSN & ILC)
Douglas County and Cherry Creek Schools
01.2015 - 05.2022
Student Teacher - Severe Needs/Cognitive (ILC)
Summit Elementary - Cherry Creek
08.2014 - 10.2014
Special Education Para and Before/After School Asst Director
Summit Elementary
08.2012 - 01.2015
Master of Education, Education Administration -
Lamar University
Bachelor of Arts, Special Education Generalist -
University of Northern Colorado
Colorado Teaching License: Special Education Generalist K-21 and Elementary Education K-6
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