Julie Gardner
Abingdon,Maryland
Summary
- Unique ability to enlighten others to transform problem situations into positive learning opportunities; superior crisis management skills.
- Articulate, effective communicator with exceptional compassion and interpersonal skills.
- Excellent time-management, problem solving and organizational abilities; flourishes in a high-pressure environment.
- Solid knowledge in the design and implementation of individual educational program plans and educational strategies for students with disabilities
- First-ever teacher in Pinellas County, Florida to work with community preschools to fully include children with disabilities into a typical preschool setting.
Overview
31
31
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Educational Specialist
Kennedy Krieger Institute
01.2013 - Current
- Case Manager for students admitted to the Specialized Transition Program and the Traumatic Brain Injury Inpatient Rehabilitation Unit diagnosed with a Traumatic Brain Injury, Post Orthopedic Impairment and Chronic Pain Disabilities
- Acts as liaison between parents, school board, therapists and community organizations
- Maintains and presents reports to school districts, facilitates school reentry process, educates parents and students in Special Education Process
- Maintains records, updates progress files and conducts parent/teacher conferences
- Performs evaluations and makes recommendations based on assessments
- Supervises and evaluates inpatient staff
- Organizes/participates in multidisciplinary team meetings to facilitate student progress
- Develops and presents pre-service and in-service training to teachers and students about disabilities, including spina bifida, cerebral palsy and brain injury rehabilitation
- Provides leadership to team in the absence of administration
- Provides consultative services to multiple Clinics within the Institute, including Concussion, Post Covid and Chronic Pain.
Co-Founder
J & A Educational Consulting
01.2015 - Current
- Educational consultant for students with disabilities, specializing in Brain Injury, Specific Learning Disabilities, Chronic Illness, including pain disorders, Functional Neurological Symptom Disorder
- Consults with attorneys, families and schools
- Reviews psycho-educational testing and makes recommendations for special education eligibility and placement
- Evaluates students and provides comprehensive written reports
- Counsels parents regarding the special education process
- Provides ongoing consultation to schools regarding disability specific strategies
- Develops trainings for groups of parents regarding special education processes.
Building Coordinator/Special Education Teacher
Cecil County Public Schools
01.2010 - 01.2013
- Provided a leadership role in the Special Education Program by directing the referral process, arranging, and chairing IEP meetings, and by coordinating the documentation of special education services
- Acted as a liaison between county level administration and school-based teaching personnel
- Ensured compliance of all special education records in the school, oversaw the compliance and implementation of IEPs
- Provided feedback to teachers regarding goals, objectives and compliance and implementation of IEPs
- Case managed students with Individual Education Plans
- Designed, evaluated, and implemented lesson plans in accordance with the students’ IEPs in cooperation with the Office of Compliance and administrative staff, using effective strategies for academic and behavioral success
- Provided supervision (daily instruction), in cooperation with the administrative staff, to teachers and paraprofessionals assigned to classroom duty.
ACT Specialist
Edison Project Partnership/Gilmor Elementary School
- Assisted with supporting the school mission and goals with a student centered school culture and climate as designed by the administration
- Served as liaison with State and Local Education Agencies
- Assembled new student records and assisted in the coordination of student records
- Facilitated IEP Team Meetings
- Facilitated the processing of requests for student information by outside agencies and family members
- Facilitated the communication of new student data and changes in student status to the business office
- Designed, participated in and contributed to in-services
- Maintained communication with clinical department regarding all issues pertaining to students
- Monitored compliance with COMAR Regulations.
Diagnostic Prescriptive Specialist
The Arrow Project – Center for Education
01.2008 - 01.2010
- Coordinated Maryland State Department standardized testing
- Maintained testing security within building
- Oversaw the compliance and implementation of Individual Education Plans
- Provided consultation to teachers regarding goals, objective compliance and implementation
- Completed educational evaluations of students annually and as needed
- Provided training to departments as designed in the school site plan, e.g., demonstration lesson, peer coaching, classroom observations, follow-up strategies for implementation in the classroom
- Provided technical assistance in the development of the school site program plans
- Assisted staff members in developing and maintaining ongoing diagnostic/prescriptive programs
- Assisted staff members by suggesting appropriate materials based upon diagnostic/prescriptive evaluations
- Participated in the planning, operation and evaluation of summer and pre-service workshops/training for teachers, aides and administrators
- Prepared reports, keeps records, and performs other related duties
- Completed observation, evaluation and feedback to teaching staff in accordance with company standards
- Assisted administration and departments in carrying out the evaluation components of the site plan.
Center Director
Celebree Learning Centers
01.2006 - 01.2008
- Responsible for all aspects of the management of a 1.3 million dollar per year child care center
- Recruited, hired and staffed building (approximately 50 employees) ranging from full time teachers to part time assistants and aides
- Effectively dealt with parent, child and staff issues
- Provided coaching and development of all staff including Third Key and Assistant Director of Center
- Ensured compliance with the Office of Child Care and the Maryland State Department of Education for routine and unscheduled visits
- Maintained up to date records on employees and over 125 children
- Provided an excellent parent child experience by ensuring all company standards were maintained
- Maintained fiscal responsibility with company resources including petty cash and payroll.
Middle School Teacher
Kennedy Krieger Institute
01.1998 - 01.2006
- Designed, evaluated and implemented lesson plans in accordance with the students’ IEPs in cooperation with the Office of Compliance and administrative staff, using effective strategies for academic and behavioral success
- Provided supervision (daily instruction), in cooperation with the administrative staff, to all paraprofessionals assigned to classroom duty
- Evaluated, modified and implemented IEPs in cooperation with the Office of Compliance as prescribed at students’ annual team meetings
- Designed and implemented individualized instruction and adaptations to the general education curriculum to meet the needs of a variety of learning styles
- Designed and implemented behavioral protocols/assignments for all students during instructional and non-instructional times
- Participated and contributed to staff trainings in a professional and collegial manner
- Participated in state and district wide assessment programs
- Implemented technology in instructional design and delivery
- Implemented the use of technology in operational and administrative functions in accordance with the National technology Standards and Performance Indicators for staff
- Maintained communication with clinical departments regarding all issues pertaining to those students on assigned case/instructional load.
Cognitive Therapist/Program Coordinator
Kennedy Krieger Institute
- Case Manager for students admitted to the Specialized Transition Program diagnosed with a Traumatic Brain Injury
- Acted as liaison between parents, school board, therapists and community organizations
- Maintained and presented reports to school districts, facilitated school reentry process, educated parents and students in Special Education Process
- Maintained records, updated progress files and conducted parent/teacher conferences
- Performed evaluations and made recommendations based on assessments
- Supervised and evaluated assistant teachers, therapists, short-term aides and volunteers
- Organized/participated in multidisciplinary team meetings to facilitate student progress
- Developed and presented pre-service and in-service training to teachers and students about disabilities, including spina bifida, cerebral palsy and brain injury rehabilitation
- Provided leadership to team in the absence of administration
- Orientated new staff to program
- Acted as liaison between satellite site staff, KKI staff and administration.
Pre-Kindergarten Varying Exceptionalities/Inclusion Teacher
Pinellas County School Board
01.1994 - 01.1998
- Case Manager for students enrolled in the Inclusion/Varying Exceptionalities Program which included children diagnosed with disabilities ranging from Mild Intellectual Disability to Autism
- Acted as liaison between parents, school board, therapists and community organizations
- Maintained records, updated progress files and conducted parent/teacher conferences
- Performed evaluations and made recommendations based on assessments
- Supervised and evaluated assistant teachers, short term aides and volunteers.
Early Intervention Teacher
Upper Pinellas Association for Retarded Citizens (UPARC)
01.1993 - 01.1994
- Case Manager for children ages 3 months to 36 months in a Satellite Program
- Designed and maintained individual educational programs for children with mild to severe disabilities, monitoring progress and updating and revising goals as necessary
- Interfaced with Occupational, Physical and Speech Therapists to coordinate schedules
- Conducted parent/teacher conferences
- Made recommendations for placement into the Public School Program.
Education
Doctor of Education – Special Education -
Slippery Rock University
Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania01.2025
Master of Arts - Varying Exceptionalities -
University of South Florida
Tampa, FloridaBachelor of Arts –Elementary Education and Specific Learning Disabilities Education -
Flagler College
St. Augustine, FloridaSkills
- Stakeholder Collaboration
- Policies and procedures implementation
- Federal, State and Local Regulations Adherence
- Instructional Leadership
- Coaching and Mentoring
- Collaboration
Certification
Maryland Department of Education Advanced Professional Certificate Elementary Education 1-6 & Middle School Generic Special Education 1-8
Presentations
- International Hemispherectomy Conference, Orlando Florida 2017
- Brain Injury Association of Maryland, 1999, 2000
- Multiple Presentations within KKI 1998-present
Publications
Zabel, T.A., Gray, R.M., Gardner, J., & Ackerman, J. (2005). Use of School-Based One-to-One Aides for Children Following Traumatic Brain Injury: A Proposed Practice Model. Physical Disabilities: Education and Related Services, 24 (1).
References
Available Upon Request
Timeline
Co-Founder
J & A Educational Consulting
01.2015 - Current
Educational Specialist
Kennedy Krieger Institute
01.2013 - Current
Building Coordinator/Special Education Teacher
Cecil County Public Schools
01.2010 - 01.2013
Diagnostic Prescriptive Specialist
The Arrow Project – Center for Education
01.2008 - 01.2010
Center Director
Celebree Learning Centers
01.2006 - 01.2008
Middle School Teacher
Kennedy Krieger Institute
01.1998 - 01.2006
Pre-Kindergarten Varying Exceptionalities/Inclusion Teacher
Pinellas County School Board
01.1994 - 01.1998
Early Intervention Teacher
Upper Pinellas Association for Retarded Citizens (UPARC)
01.1993 - 01.1994
ACT Specialist
Edison Project Partnership/Gilmor Elementary School
Cognitive Therapist/Program Coordinator
Kennedy Krieger Institute
Doctor of Education – Special Education -
Slippery Rock University
Master of Arts - Varying Exceptionalities -
University of South Florida
Bachelor of Arts –Elementary Education and Specific Learning Disabilities Education -
Flagler College