John Megats
Lower Burrell,PA
Summary
- Dedicated, enthusiastic Special Education Teacher with primary focus on individual student needs across academic, social, 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.
- Skilled, and flexible in working under pressure and adapting to new situations and challenges to best enhance the organizational brand.
- Organized and dependable candidate successful at managing multiple priorities with a positive attitude.
- Willingness to take on added responsibilities to meet team goals. Remains positive under times of stress or conflict.
- Works well with classroom teachers to develop accommodations and special techniques for individualized self-contained and/or mainstream classroom inclusion.
- Special Education Teacher equipped with positive attitude and patience vital to teaching children with special needs.
- Extensive experience creating innovative lesson plans and comfortable learning environments.
- Successful at providing classroom and emotional structure for special needs children required to flourish in academic setting.
Overview
28
28
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Emotional Support Teacher
New Kensington-Arnold School District
08.2021 - 02.2023
- Created and managed IEPs to define student learning objectives and educational strategies, in addition to applying instructional knowledge and methods to support goals.
- Cultivated connections and strong student rapport to foster classroom engagement, in addition to recording student progress to inform parents and school administration.
- Modified general education curriculum for special-needs students using various instructional techniques and technologies.
- Assisted struggling students to maintain progress levels by designing individualized lesson plans focused on areas for improvement.
- Led activities that developed students' physical, emotional and social growth.
- Redirected students using Positive Behavior Support (PBS).
- Delivered effective and differentiated classroom instruction to range of neurodiverse students.
- Communicated nonverbally with children to provide comfort, encouragement and positive reinforcement.
- Organized instruction material, constructed bulletin boards and set up work areas.
Autistic Support Teacher
Allegheny Intermediate Unit
08.2020 - 06.2021
- Assisted struggling students to maintain progress levels by designing individualized lesson plans focused on areas for improvement.
- Led activities that developed students' physical, emotional and social growth.
- Redirected students using Positive Behavior Support (PBS).
- Delivered effective and differentiated classroom instruction to range of neurodiverse students.
- Communicated nonverbally with children to provide comfort, encouragement and positive reinforcement.
- Organized instruction material, constructed bulletin boards and set up work areas.
- Provided life skills programming for students with moderate to severe autism.
Autistic Support Teacher
Pittsburgh Public Schools
08.2009 - 06.2019
- Created and managed IEPs to define student learning objectives and educational strategies, in addition to applying instructional knowledge and methods to support goals.
- Cultivated connections and strong student rapport to foster classroom engagement, in addition to recording student progress to inform parents and school administration.
- Assisted struggling students to maintain progress levels by designing individualized lesson plans focused on areas for improvement.
- Led activities that developed students' physical, emotional and social growth.
- Redirected students using Positive Behavior Support (PBS).
- Delivered effective and differentiated classroom instruction to range of neurodiverse students.
- Worked with students with moderate to severe autism to increase life skills.
- Communicated nonverbally with children to provide comfort, encouragement and positive reinforcement.
- Organized instruction material, constructed bulletin boards and set up work areas.
- Provided life skills programming for students with moderate to severe autism.
- Implemented and taught life skills program, enabling students to master such tasks as checkbook balancing and laundry.
Varying Exceptionalities Teacher
Palm Beach County School District
08.1997 - 06.2009
- Assessed learning needs and developed IEPs, FBAs and PBIPs for students with physical, cognitive and emotional disabilities.
- Maintained records and progress reports for each student.
- Developed curriculum according to individual intellectual, physical, emotional and psychological needs.
- Implemented and designed multi-sensory lessons and activities to develop educational progress, along with gross and fine motor skill development.
- Organized learning resources and classroom environment to facilitate positive learning experience.
- Utilized positive reinforcement to promote student behavior conducive to learning.
- Maintained records and progress reports for each student in Type program.
- Balanced individual and group instruction to accommodate different academic levels and learning styles.
- Utilized pre-made and self-made assessments to determine student weaknesses and strengths.
- Communicated with parents and faculty to develop strong sense of collaboration between teachers, students and parents.
- Evaluated student progress and compared to IEP goals.
- Prepared lesson plans and executed different modalities to accelerate individual success.
- Identified children's collective and individual learning needs to plan, prepare and deliver instruction designed to maximize individual learning and capture interest.
- Assessed students' individual needs to prepare and implement individualized lesson plans to achieve school district's objectives.
- Developed differentiated lesson plans to address varying learning needs.
Special Education Teacher N-21
Maxim/Amergis Staffing
02.2023 - Current
- Developed IEPs tailored to individual student needs, ensuring their academic success and personal growth.
- Created and managed IEPs to define student learning objectives and educational strategies, in addition to applying instructional knowledge and methods to support goals.
- Promoted a positive learning environment through the use of differentiated instruction and individualized support for diverse learners.
- 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.
- Participated in ongoing professional development opportunities focused on evidence-based practices in special education teaching methodologies.
- Evaluated student progress regularly using various assessment methods, ensuring accurate measurement of skill development and areas requiring additional support.
- Provided targeted instructional support to struggling learners, identifying specific areas for improvement and designing effective intervention plans.
- Taught students across multiple classifications and degrees of special needs.
- Collaborated with multidisciplinary teams to provide comprehensive support for students with special needs.
- Coordinated with general education teachers to develop accommodations or modifications necessary for successful inclusion of students with special needs in mainstream classrooms.
- Delivered effective and differentiated classroom instruction to range of neurodiverse students.
- Cultivated connections and strong student rapport to foster classroom engagement, in addition to recording student progress to inform parents and school administration.
- Taught multiple subjects to students with intellectual or emotional disabilities.
- Coordinated special education students and teacher assistant schedules with master schedule.
- Led activities that developed students' physical, emotional, and social growth.
- Redirected students using Positive Behavior Support (PBS).
- Enhanced students'' communication skills by implementing group activities and collaborative projects.
- Streamlined classroom processes by integrating technology tools such as interactive whiteboards and assistive devices designed for students with disabilities.
- Created culturally responsive classroom environment, acknowledging and celebrating diversity among students.
- Encouraged parent and guardian involvement in educational process, enhancing home-school connection and supporting student achievement.
- Helped students with special needs integrate into general classroom environments by advocating for individual requirements and helping teachers solve problems.
- Designed individual education plans to encourage student growth according to different learning abilities and needs.
- Developed and implemented behavior management plans to improve student behavior.
Education
Bachelor Of Applied Arts And Science - Special Education
Clarion University of Pennsylvania
Clarion, PA05.1997
Skills
- Emotional Support Techniques
- Learning Style Assessment
- Positive Reinforcement Strategies
- Group and Individual Instruction
- IEP Design
- Motivating Students
- Positive Role Model
- Positive Learning Environment
- Behavior Modification Techniques
- Development of Social Skills
- Recreational Activities
- Classroom Management
- Student Engagement
- Differentiated Instruction
- Paraprofessional Oversight
Certification
- Pennsylvania Certified: Special Education N-21-Level II
Timeline
Special Education Teacher N-21
Maxim/Amergis Staffing
02.2023 - Current
Emotional Support Teacher
New Kensington-Arnold School District
08.2021 - 02.2023
Autistic Support Teacher
Allegheny Intermediate Unit
08.2020 - 06.2021
Autistic Support Teacher
Pittsburgh Public Schools
08.2009 - 06.2019
Varying Exceptionalities Teacher
Palm Beach County School District
08.1997 - 06.2009
Bachelor Of Applied Arts And Science - Special Education
Clarion University of Pennsylvania
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