Heather Tucker
Deerfield Beach
Summary
Passionate educator for almost 15 years with a strong desire to help students recognize the connection between learning and experience. Strong communicator who can clearly and confidently lecture students in a classroom or auditorium setting. Outgoing, energetic and motivating personality to encourage students to participate in in-class discussions and to help them learn the value of group work. Team player who is committed to contributing to departmental objectives to create an optimal experience for both students and faculty.
Overview
11
11
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
ESE Teacher
Santaluces Community High School
08.2024 - Current
- Create a curriculum to advance student learning and attain learning objectives based on individual capabilities and state or school standards.
- Provide adequate support to help students maximize their academic potential and achieve learning goals. Support students as they transition from a secondary school to post-secondary settings, such as college, apprenticeships, vocational training, or the workplace.
- Provide coaching, guidance, and mentorship as students embark on individualized study, research, skill-building, and hands-on projects designed to increase subject mastery and individual potential.
- Assign group work and lead classroom discussions that deepen subject understanding and mastery while fostering teambuilding skills, interpersonal relationships, and respect between students and faculty.
- Select readings and assign coursework that sparks curiosity, deepens understanding of key disciplinary concepts, and builds critical thinking skills.
ESE Coordinator/ESE Teacher
Melaleuca Elementary School
08.2021 - 08.2024
- Plan and implement programs for children with learning, behavioral, physical, and mental disabilities.
- Responsible for maximizing growth potential in students, collaborating with teachers, planning exceptional student education services for students, and training staff in the development and implementation of effective IEPs and evidence-based interventions in accordance with district guidelines.
- Maintaining student records and overseeing the Child Study Team process including the referral, evaluation, and eligibility process by monitoring federal and state compliance guidelines.
Site Coordinator
21st Century Community Learning Centers
08.2015 - 07.2021
- Plan, implement, hire, supervise, and evaluate all staff, programs and activities during non-school hours to help students strive to improve in academics, attendance, behavior, promotion rates, and graduation rates.
- Establish programs that include providing tutorial services to help students meet the challenging state academic standards as well as offering students a broad array of additional services and programs such as youth development activities, nutrition and health education, drug and violence prevention programs, technology education programs, and physical fitness and wellness programs that are designed to complement the regular academic program.
ESE Teacher
Seminole Trails Elementary School
02.2014 - 07.2021
- Teacher of students with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Varying Exceptionalities in a self-contained classroom setting.
- Proficient in the area of IEP development and implementation, in addition to Functional Behavior Assessments.
- Skilled in delivering effective educational programs for students with serious emotional, mental, and learning disabilities.
- Adept at creating lesson plans that capture the diverse learning styles, interests, imagination, and abilities of all students while helping them to reach their optimum potential through differentiated instruction, assistive technologies, and behavior management.
- Collaborate with therapists, school psychologist, and general education teachers to develop and implement student’s IEP.
- Successful at ensuring positive and supportive teacher/parent relationships.
Education
Masters of Education - Educational Leadership K-12
Florida Atlantic University
Boca Raton, FL12.2023
Bachelor of Science - Hospitality Management
Lynn University
Boca Raton, FL05.2007
Skills
- Clear communicator and confident presenter to effectively instruct students in a way that is concise and understandable
- Strong organizational skills to ensure class information including syllabi, assignments and other documentation is accessible and easy to understand
- Committed team player to work successfully with other faculty to establish course guidelines, modify curriculum and set departmental goals
- Skilled at using technology to facilitate and enhance learning and able to quickly learn the operation of new software systems
- Patient, reassuring and enthusiastic when meeting with students to discuss personal progress, answer questions and assign extra-credit work
- Skilled understanding of technology and willing to learn about new software interfaces to enhance the learning experience of students
Core Qualifications
- Curriculum development
- Student assessment
- Classroom management
- Lesson planning
- Discussion facilitation
- MS Office and MS Teams Active listening
- Attention to detail
Accomplishments
- Special Education Department Team Leader for four years.
- Trained fellow teachers on the procedures for completing Individual Education Plans.
- Curriculum Design - Designed, developed and implemented daily lessons for 90 students.
- Interactive Learning - Introduced and encouraged debate-style classroom setting to increase student active participation and critical thinking.
- Dynamic Teaching Techniques - Instructed students in academic subjects using variety of techniques such as phonetics, multisensory learning and repetition to reinforce learning.
- Curriculum Implementation - Taught reading, language arts, social studies, mathematics, science, art and physical education to pupils utilizing course of study adopted by the Board of Education and the state of Florida.
- Dwyer Award Nominee
- Designed and conducted a well-received Professional Learning Community for 12 teachers of students with Autism.
- Curriculum Development - Tailored educational curriculum to students with range of learning styles, disabilities, strengths and weaknesses.
Certification
- Educational Leadership: School Leaders (K-12), (Dec. 2024)
- Exceptional Student Education (K-12)
- Elementary Education (K-6)
- Prekindergarten/Primary Education, (Age 3 – Grade 3)
- Autism Spectrum Disorder Endorsement
- Clinical Educator
Timeline
ESE Teacher
Santaluces Community High School
08.2024 - Current
ESE Coordinator/ESE Teacher
Melaleuca Elementary School
08.2021 - 08.2024
Site Coordinator
21st Century Community Learning Centers
08.2015 - 07.2021
ESE Teacher
Seminole Trails Elementary School
02.2014 - 07.2021
Masters of Education - Educational Leadership K-12
Florida Atlantic University
Bachelor of Science - Hospitality Management
Lynn University
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