Kathy Johnson Willis

• 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.
• Taught multiple subjects to students with intellectual or emotional disabilities.
• Promoted self-advocacy and independence in students with disabilities by teaching self-management and decision-making skills.
• Encouraged parent and guardian involvement in educational process, enhancing home-school connection and supporting student achievement.
• Developed and executed behavioral intervention plans, leading to decrease in disruptive behaviors and increase in classroom participation.

• Gathered, organized, and analyzed data on student needs and progress.
• Developed strong relationships with students, fostering trust and promoting a positive learning environment.
• Collaborated with teachers to assess needs, set objectives, and discuss strategies.
• Conducted small group instruction focusing on specific skill areas, allowing for targeted remediation efforts within the classroom setting.
• Monitored student progress through ongoing assessments, adjusting interventions as needed to maximize success.
• Developed interventions for students currently struggling or at risk of falling behind.
• Maintained accurate records of student performance data, ensuring timely reporting of progress reports to relevant stakeholders.
• Created an inclusive learning atmosphere by adapting instruction to accommodate various learning styles and abilities.
• Implemented tracking tools to evaluate successes and areas in need of improvement.
• Improved student engagement by implementing targeted intervention strategies and personalized learning plans.

• Coordinated services with related service providers such as speech therapists, occupational therapists, and counselors to support students'' holistic development.
• Implemented behavior management techniques, promoting positive classroom culture and reducing disruptions in the learning process.
• Reviewed state standards to ensure alignment with IEP goals, maintaining compliance with federal regulations such as IDEA and FAPE requirements.
• Enhanced student learning by implementing differentiated instruction and individualized support for diverse learners.
• Conducted regular progress monitoring to identify areas of improvement and adjust instructional strategies accordingly.
• Maintained open lines of communication with parents and other stakeholders, providing regular updates on student progress and achievements.
• Advocated for appropriate accommodations and modifications during standardized testing, enabling accurate assessment of special education students'' abilities.
• Provided ongoing feedback and guidance to general education teachers on accommodating diverse learners in their classrooms, ensuring inclusive practices.

In addition to serving as Special Education Teacher Interventionist, I was chosen and honored to serve in the following capacity:

-Department Chairperson for Special Education Department 2008-2020

-ELA General Education District/School Liaison 2015-2018

-In-School Suspension Teacher-2004-2005

-Substitute Teacher-February 2003-August 2004

-Represented the special education department on the school leadership team.

• Allocated resources effectively, prioritizing specialized materials and tools for students'' unique needs.
• Reduced paperwork burden by efficiently managing documentation related to IEPs, assessments, and evaluations.
• -Coordinates special education department and insures that the school is in compliance with districtwide special education directives.
• -Coordinates Autism Core Team meetings, monthly data teams, transition meetings, file delivery, and storage of special education files at the school level.
• -Work closely with district consulting departments such as Pupil Services, School Psychologists, Autism, Speech, Language, Deaf/Vision Ed, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, etc regarding services for our students.
• Promoted inclusion by collaborating with general education teachers to adapt lesson plans for students with disabilities.
• Led professional learning communities focused on sharing expertise in special education teaching strategies among staff members.
• Championed an inclusive school culture by advocating for the needs of special education students during administrative discussions.
• Increased parent involvement through effective communication and collaboration on student progress.

• Managed daily operations to ensure smooth functioning of the store, maintaining a clean, safe environment for customers and employees.
• Managed inventory control, cash control, and store opening and closing procedures.
• Addressed customer complaints promptly and professionally, resolving issues to maintain positive relationships with clientele.
• Managed store employees successfully in fast-paced environment through proactive communication and positive feedback.
• Assisted with hiring, training and mentoring new staff members.
• Improved customer satisfaction through staff training in customer service and product knowledge.
• Maintained proper product levels and inventory controls for merchandise and organized backroom to facilitate effective ordering and stock rotation.
• Completed point of sale opening and closing procedures.
• Mentored new hires during their onboarding process, ensuring they were well-equipped to excel in their roles from day one.
• Rotated merchandise and displays to feature new products and promotions.
• Maximized sales by creating innovative visual merchandising displays and store layouts.
• Conducted regular performance reviews for staff members, providing constructive feedback and opportunities for growth.

• Maintained a visually appealing department layout that effectively showcased products and enticed customers to make purchases.
• Increased customer satisfaction by providing exceptional service and addressing customer concerns promptly.
• Led meetings with store management to discuss goals, challenges faced within the department as well as successful tactics to be implemented across the organization.
• Ensured compliance with company policies, procedures, and safety standards throughout all aspects of department operation.
• Collaborated with other department managers to develop cross-functional promotions that drove store-wide sales growth.
• Implemented loss prevention measures that significantly reduced instances of theft or damage within the department.
• Maximized profitability by optimizing pricing strategies, promotional activities, and product placements within the department.
• Resolved escalated customer complaints professionally and diplomatically, ultimately turning dissatisfied shoppers into loyal patrons.
• Built strong relationships with vendors to negotiate favorable terms for product purchases, ensuring quality merchandise at competitive prices.
• Recruited, interviewed and hired employees and implemented mentoring program to promote positive feedback and engagement.
• Set aggressive targets for employees to drive company success and strengthen motivation.
• Improved staffing during busy periods by creating employee schedules and monitoring call-outs.
• Reduced waste and pursued revenue development strategies to keep department aligned with sales and profit targets.
• Trained personnel in equipment maintenance and enforced participation in exercises focused on developing key skills.
• Controlled resources and assets for department activities to comply with industry standards and government regulations.
• Defined clear targets and objectives and communicated to other team members.
• Opened and closed location and monitored shift changes to uphold successful operations strategies and maximize business success.

• Built long-term supplier relationships with vendors to establish quality and competitive pricing.
• Collaborated with internal departments to better understand needs and determine purchasing requirements.
• Reduced procurement costs through strategic sourcing, competitive bidding, and effective negotiations.
• Developed strong relationships with suppliers to secure favorable pricing terms and conditions for the company''s benefit.
• Maintained key item stock levels and wrote or expedited purchase orders.
• Maintained complete documentation and records of all purchasing activities.
• Forecasted purchasing trends and improved merchandising strategies.
• Ensured timely delivery of products by closely monitoring vendor performance and addressing any issues promptly.
• Coordinated with logistics teams to resolve any shipping delays or discrepancies while minimizing impact on operations.
• Developed cost-effective purchasing strategies to maintain inventory levels and improve operational procedures.
• Analyzed current vendors and products to stay abreast of market trends and evaluate new suppliers.
• Streamlined purchasing processes by implementing efficient systems and procedures for order management.
• Increased supplier efficiency by negotiating contracts and maintaining strong relationships with vendors.
• Developed and improved account relationships.
• Reduced costs significantly by identifying and eliminating inefficiencies within purchasing department.
• Managed portfolio of suppliers to diversify sourcing options and mitigate risks associated with supply chain disruptions.
• Enhanced team productivity by leading training sessions on negotiation techniques and supply chain management best practices.
• Played key role in contract negotiations, achieving favorable terms that supported company's budgetary objectives.
• Conducted thorough market research to identify emerging trends, influencing strategic direction of product sourcing.
• Facilitated introduction of sustainable sourcing practices, contributing to company's corporate social responsibility goals.