Jona "Joni" Smith
Columbus,GA
Summary
Resilient Special Education Teacher familiar with challenges associated with teaching special needs children. Remains positive under times of stress or conflict. Works well with classroom teachers to develop accommodations and special techniques for mainstream classroom inclusion.
Equipped with positive attitude and patience vital to teaching children with special needs. Extensive experience creating innovative lesson plans and comfortable learning environments.
A focus on individual student needs across academia 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.
Overview
33
33
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Reading Intervention Teacher
Department of Defense Education-Americas Southeast
08.1993 - Current
- Developed interventions for students currently struggling or at risk of falling behind.
- Assessed and documented student progress with established goals.
- Taught phonological awareness, fluency, comprehension strategies to individual and small groups.
- Contributed to a positive school culture by fostering strong relationships with students, parents, and staff members.
- Boosted student comprehension and fluency through individualized instruction tailored to each student''s needs.
- Played an active role in school-wide literacy initiatives, collaborating with other educators to promote a campus culture of continuous improvement in reading proficiency.
- Promoted love of reading and literacy to all students.
- Assessed and reported on each student's reading progress in accordance with policies developed by school district.
Special Education Teacher
Department of Defense Education Activity-Americas
01.1992 - 08.2022
- 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 to include visual schedules, token economy, and positive behavior system.
- Taught students across multiple classifications and degrees of special needs.
- Maintained accurate and complete student records to prepare reports on children and activities.
- Modified general education curriculum for special-needs students using various instructional techniques and technologies for students being mainstreamed into the general education setting..
- Coordinated special education students and teacher assistant schedules with master schedule for grade levels K-5.
- Delivered effective and differentiated classroom instruction to range of neurodiverse students to include ABA discrete trial style instruction .
- Enhanced parent-teacher communication by conducting regular meetings and providing frequent progress updates.
- Managed classroom behavior effectively by establishing clear expectations and maintaining consistency in enforcing rules to include Functional Behavior Analysis, Behavior Improvement Plans, and Fidelity Checklists.
Education
Middle Grades Education
Columbus State University
Columbus, GASkills
- Individual education plans IEP's
- Data management
- De-escalation techniques
- Autism spectrum
- IEP and BIP implementation
- Classroom management
- Differentiated instruction
- Visual supports
- Instructional strategies
Accomplishments
Created and implemented moderate self-contained program for learners in grades 3-5.
Created and implemented a student run coffee cart for moderate self-contained students in grades 3-5. Students collected individual teacher orders, collected and counted money, fulfilled and delivered orders to teachers.
Created and implemented a weekly snack cart run by moderate-severe self-contained students in grades K-5. Students collected orders, collected and counted money, fulfilled and delivered orders using a wide variety of accommodations to include visual supports and communication tablet and board.
Created a school-wide initiative to promote independent reading at home by creating a monthly Bingo Board to be turned in for Brag Tags.
Certification
- Special Education Credential - Department of Defense Education Activity
Timeline
Reading Intervention Teacher
Department of Defense Education-Americas Southeast
08.1993 - Current
Special Education Teacher
Department of Defense Education Activity-Americas
01.1992 - 08.2022
Middle Grades Education
Columbus State University
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