Heather Sims
Summary
Passionate Teacher with experience developing and implementing diverse curriculums covering a wide range of subjects. Highly skilled at motivating students through positive encouragement and reinforcement of concepts via interactive classroom instruction and observation. Successful in helping students develop strong literacy, numeracy, social and learning skills.
Motivational team member excelling in team-building, culture-improving and performance-increasing initiatives. Demonstrating versatility in leadership approaches to acquire active participation in collaborative activities.
Overview
16
16
years of professional experience
Work History
Special Education Teacher
Rivercrest School District
08.2022 - Current
- Created and managed IEPs to define student learning objectives and educational strategies, in addition to applying instructional knowledge and methods to support goals.
- Modified general education curriculum for special-needs students using various instructional techniques and technologies.
- Delivered compelling and differentiated classroom instruction to a range of neurodiverse students.
- Taught multiple subjects to students with intellectual or emotional disabilities.
Special Education Teacher
Osceola School District
08.2016 - 05.2022
- Created learning and content strategies to meet needs of mentally and physically disabled students
- Created and managed IEPs to define student learning objectives and educational strategies, in addition to applying instructional knowledge and methods to support goals
- Delivered effective and differentiated classroom instruction to diverse range of developmentally challenged students
- Worked in self-contained and resource environments to teach students variety of skills
- Partnered with standard education teachers from Kindergarten, First, Second and 3rd-grade departments
- Worked with students with moderate to severe autism to increase life skills
- Taught students in variety of settings, including self-contained and resource environments
- Gave one-on-one attention to students, while maintaining overall focus on entire group
- Modified general education curriculum for special-needs students using various instructional techniques and technologies
- Designed and implemented point system to encourage positive behavior
Special Education Teacher
Dyersburg City School System
06.2008 - 07.2016
- Participated in week-long intensive leadership training and provided training to colleagues on applied behavior analysis
- Conducted small group and individual classroom activities with students based on differentiated learning needs
- Worked with students of varying degrees of specialized need to accomplish tasks and build practical skills
- Developed interesting and interactive learning methods tailored to help students with individual needs
- Developed individual educational plans (IEP) designed to promote educational, physical and social development
- Developed Individual Education Programs (IEP) to establish student outcome goals and define educational strategies; leveraged developmental practices and educational theories to achieve educational objectives
- Worked with average of 17 students per class
- Supervised and trained 3 teaching assistants
Education
Ed.D - Educational Leadership
Regent University
Virginia Beach, VA12.2023
Specialist - K-12 Education Leadership
Regent University
Virginia Beach, VA2020
Master of Science - Special Education
Bethel University
Mckenzie, TN2007
Bachelor of Science - Psychology
Austin Peay State University
Clarksville TN1996
Skills
- Social skills development
- In-depth knowledge of autism
- Behavioral/cognitive skills development
- Excellent classroom management
- Scheduling proficiency
- Leadership and mentoring abilities
- Conflict resolution techniques
- Student records management
- Differentiated Instruction
- Program Development and Management
Timeline
Special Education Teacher
Rivercrest School District
08.2022 - Current
Special Education Teacher
Osceola School District
08.2016 - 05.2022
Special Education Teacher
Dyersburg City School System
06.2008 - 07.2016
Ed.D - Educational Leadership
Regent University
Specialist - K-12 Education Leadership
Regent University
Master of Science - Special Education
Bethel University
Bachelor of Science - Psychology
Austin Peay State University
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