Jawana Shepard
19707 US Hwy 280E Apt.1606 Smiths Station,AL
Summary
Dedicated and versatile professional with focus on individual needs & being proficient in employing constant communication, patience and positive reinforcement. Organized, dependable, and successful at managing multiple priorities with a positive attitude. Willingness to take on added responsibilities to meet team & company goals.
Overview
1
1
Certification
14
14
years of professional experience
Work History
Special Education Teacher
Phenix City Schools
Phenix City, Alabama
08.2019 - Current
- Developed and implemented learning strategies tailored for students with learning disabilities, enhancing their academic engagement and success.
- Creates and manages IEPs to define student learning objectives and educational strategies, in addition to applying instructional knowledge and methods to support goals.
- Collaborates with school administrators, parents, and teachers in designing and implementing individualized education plans for students.
- Facilitated life skills training for students with moderate to severe autism, promoting independence and daily living capabilities.
- Assesses students’ abilities based on the results of state/district assessments and using data to track students’ academic progress.
- Coordinated schedules for special education students and teacher assistants, ensuring seamless integration with the master schedule to optimize classroom support.
- Cultivates connections and strong student rapport to foster classroom engagement, in addition to recording student progress to inform parents and school administration.
Lead Youth Tracker
Southwest Key Programs
Columbus, Georgia
02.2023 - 01.2026
- Backed up Program Director by supervising the program and sharing on-call responsibilities.
- Completed daily contact with youth and met conditions of their service plans for the caseload.
- Maintained a flexible work schedule that included evenings, weekends, and holidays.
- Conducted daily face-to-face contacts with assigned youth at various locations.
- Managed youth behaviors using programmatic and individualized structures.
- Developed and maintained supportive relationships that emphasized youth accountability.
- Completed documentation, including discharge information, for youth accurately and on time.
- Entered data promptly into the Juvenile Tracking System (JTS) and Efforts to Outcome (ETO) databases.
- Assisted in coordinating youth activities and group sessions.
- Relieved staff during shifts to ensure continuous program operation. as needed; subject to be on call and be available to provide staff assistance.
- Assisted in training new staff on the job.
Special Education Teacher (Self-Contained)
Chambers County Schools
Valley, Alabama
01.2021 - 06.2023
- Developed tailored learning strategies to address diverse needs of mentally and physically disabled students.
- Taught multiple subjects to students with intellectual or emotional disabilities.
- Instructed students with physical and cognitive disabilities.
- Communicated nonverbally with children to provide comfort, encouragement and positive reinforcement.
- Coordinated special education scheduling for teachers and assistants to optimize classroom support. students and teacher assistant schedules with master schedule.
- Designed and delivered life skills program, empowering students to independently manage tasks such as checkbook balancing and laundry.
- Created and monitored IEPs to establish clear student learning objectives and effective educational strategies.
- Worked with students with moderate to severe autism to increase life skills.
- Delivered effective and differentiated classroom instruction to range of neurodiverse students.
Collaborative Education Teacher
Macon County Schools
08.2016 - 08.2019
- Created and managed IEPs to define student learning objectives and apply instructional methods, enhancing individualized support for diverse learning needs.
- Created and managed IEPs to define student learning objectives and educational strategies, in addition to applying instructional knowledge and methods to support goals.
- Managed special education student and teacher assistant schedules alongside the master schedule.
- Assessed students’ abilities based on the results of state/district assessments and used data to track students’ academic progress.
- Cultivated connections and strong student rapport to foster classroom engagement, in addition to recording student progress to inform parents and school administration.
- Coordinated schedules for special education students and teacher assistants with the master schedule, ensuring optimal resource allocation and support.
- Cultivated strong student rapport to foster classroom engagement and recorded progress to keep parents and school administration informed.
Career Center Specialist
State of Alabama Dept. of Labor
04.2012 - 07.2016
- Assisted clients in finding employment and completing high school or college courses and short-term training programs.
- Provided comprehensive case management & career counseling services to all clients including: intake assessment, benefit assessment, goal setting, long-term goal plan development, and monthly progress monitoring to assist in creating and optimal career path.
- Provided career counseling to individuals on unemployment insurance as well as individuals looking to make a career change and those re-entering the workforce.
- Counseled individuals on unemployment insurance, career changes, and re-entry into the workforce, aiding in their transition and job search.
- Wrote and processed contract awards, administered directives, monitored contract progress, and maintained accurate communication and documentation for financial invoices and modifications.
- Delivered comprehensive case management and career counseling services, including intake and benefit assessments, goal setting, long-term plan development, and monthly progress monitoring to facilitate optimal career paths.
- Connected with industry professionals to explore collaboration opportunities. in community and built relationships to establish resources and future job opportunities for clients.
- Managed high-volume inbound calls to assist customers with unemployment insurance inquiries. per shift signing up new customers, retrieving customer data, presenting relevant product information and cancelling services for unemployment insurance.
Education
Masters in Education - Special Education
Auburn University At Montgomery
Montgomery, ALMasters of Public Administration - Health Services Administration
Columbus State University
Columbus, GABachelors of Science - Exercise Science
Auburn University
Auburn, ALSkills
- Instructional Techniques
- Classroom Management
- Autism and Spectrum Disorders
- Multidisciplinary Collaboration
- Management skills
- Leadership
- Problem-solving
- Active listening
- Written/Verbal Communication
- Interpersonal skills
- Conflict Resolution Techniques
- MS Office
Certification
- Certified Special Education Teacher
- Certified Guest Services Professional, American Hotel & Lodging Institute
Volunteer Experience
Volunteer Experience *Over 500 volunteer hours with the CAVHCS – East Campus
Patricia Randall, Tuskegee, AL Business office volunteer – CAVHCS
•Filed billing statements according to payment and non-payment.
•Answered phones, copy, faxed, and scanned information.
•Verified demographic information with patients. • Assisted in gathering information for legal documents.
•Assisted Administrative Officer in preparing billing statements and credit payments.
•Prepared excel worksheets for bookkeeping.
Pharmacy Volunteer – CAVHCS
Richard Carlisle, Tuskegee, AL
•Assisted Pharmacy Technicians in scanning prescriptions into computer system.
•Assisted Pharmacist in filling, packaging, mailing, and handing out prescriptions.
•Assisted Clinical Pharmacist in given providing health education to patients.
•Assisted Procurement Technicians in ordering medications.
•Discussed plans of care, medication administration and coordination of care with veterans & their families.
Rehabilitation Medicine Volunteer – CAVHCS Charlene Uhuru, Tuskegee, AL
•Verified/Updated patient demographic information.
•Answered phones, copy, faxed, scanned information.
•Filed forms & documents.
•Assisted supervisor in managing administrative aspects of Rehabilitation Medicine Services for the divisions of Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, and Kinesiology including checking patients into & out of clinical rehab appointments.
•Assisted rehabilitation nurses and therapists with rehabilitation treatment and patient care according to hospital, state, professional and federal regulations and guidelines.
Cardiac Rehabilitation - EAMC, Opelika, AL
Practicum Experience
Exercise Science 70-hour practicum
•Conducted initial assessment of patient.
•Established an exercise program for the patient.
•Performed blood & glucose monitoring.
•Evaluated patient prior to each exercise session for contraindication.
•Developed care plan for the patient, including nutrition & medication.
•Connected EKG monitors to patient before start of exercise program.
•Monitored any EKG rhythm abnormalities.
•Assisted patient in performing exercises during rehab.
References
References available upon request.
Timeline
Lead Youth Tracker
Southwest Key Programs
02.2023 - 01.2026
Special Education Teacher (Self-Contained)
Chambers County Schools
01.2021 - 06.2023
Special Education Teacher
Phenix City Schools
08.2019 - Current
Collaborative Education Teacher
Macon County Schools
08.2016 - 08.2019
Career Center Specialist
State of Alabama Dept. of Labor
04.2012 - 07.2016
Masters in Education - Special Education
Auburn University At Montgomery
Masters of Public Administration - Health Services Administration
Columbus State University
Bachelors of Science - Exercise Science
Auburn University