Jennifer Bales

Self-motivated school administrator with assertive and outcome-driven nature. Independent worker remains extremely calm in most pressure situations. Skilled educator with over 5 years of experience leading school staff members and education programs. Hands-on experience in Special Education and talent for navigating challenges. Brings strong problem-solving skills and proactive approach to new tasks. Known for adaptability, creativity, and results-oriented mindset.

• Principal, Ste. Marie Elementary, 10/01/21, Present, Oversee Kindergarten and Prek Program for the district., Manage fifteen staff members in the building., Coordinate building MTSS meetings with staff and parents., Oversee KIDS Assessment., Coordinate and plan yearly Kindergarten screenings for the district.
• Special Needs Administrator, Jasper County Community Unit 1, 07/01/19, Present, Coordinate and Facilitate all IEP meetings for the district., Manage twelve special needs staff members including special needs teachers and Speech Language Pathologist., Manages all special education programs and services for the district., Manages Special Needs staff and Paraprofessional staff members., Served as the district Homeless Liaison., SSD Coordinator for the PSAT and SAT., Coordinate and plan yearly Preschool screenings for the district.
• Special Needs Teacher, Jasper County Community Unit 1, 08/01/08, 06/01/19, Newton, IL, Primary Cross Categorical teacher for 3 years working with students with Autism, Specific Learning Disability, Cognitive Impairment, Emotional Disability, and Developmental Delay., Trained on the TEACCH method for working with students with Autism and implemented this approach in the classroom and throughout the school building., Resource teacher at both Newton Elementary and Sainte Marie Elementary working primarily with students with Specific Learning Disability., Implemented a Behavior RtI team at Ste. Marie., Head teacher at Sainte Marie Elementary for 2 years which involved daily communication with the principal, supporting teachers with discipline, and problem solving situations that arose throughout the day., ASSIST JR/SR High in Willow Hill Resource teacher for 4 years., Active member on both academic and behavior RtI teams., Attended conferences on different strategies for students with aggressive behaviors, ADHD, Social Thinking, The Zones of Regulation, and social emotional disabilities., Collected data for Functional Behavior Analysis and Behavior Intervention Plan and monitored those plans on a daily/weekly basis., Experienced writing and implementing IEPs.
• Resource Teacher, Cowden-Herrick High School, 08/01/07, 05/01/08, Cowden, IL, Resource and Instructional Teacher for high school students., Taught two levels of English/Language Arts and a level of Math., Provided intervention to resource students in a study hall format.