KELLIANN MCARTHUR
Evanston-Skokie School District 65; Joseph E. Hill Early Childhood Center
Evanston
1
Certification
13
Years of experience
Compassionate Family Support Specialist experienced in delivering effective assistance to families. Fostered team collaboration and achieved meaningful results through expertise in case management, conflict resolution, and counseling. Adapted reliably to changing needs, enhancing service delivery and family support.
Work History
Family Support Specialist
2 Years 1 Month- Support families in any way possible (for instance, helping families locate a daycare in the area, locate an affordable camp in the area, assist parents with obtaining state assistance (i.e. SNAP, Medicaid, TANF, etc.), help families register their children for Kindergarten when they are of age, help secure clothing for their children, help secure transportation for the children to get to school, secure holiday giveaways and diaper donations and set up pick-ups with the parents, assist with any other requests the parents may need)
- Assisted families by locating daycare options, affordable camps, and state assistance programs.
- Communicate with parents regarding any available support systems, days off school, ICE protections available via the district, any events being held at the school, late pick up/teacher concerns/parent-teacher conferences, early dismissal, etc.
- Communicated with parents about available support systems, school schedule changes, ICE protections, events, and addressed concerns regarding late pick-ups and parent-teacher conferences.
- Coordinate with district Wellness Coordinator to assist homeless families in meeting their needs
- Prepare all paperwork for intake meetings (make copies, add demographic information, organize packet, etc.)
- Monitored student safety during bus and door duty at school entrance. (3-4 times daily)
- Schedule/meet with parents for 2nd/3rd year signatures for current students
- Recorded detailed information for family contacts in the database.
- Continual data entry in government grant database, Head Start system Child Plus and school database to maintain geographical and personal data entry for every student in the district’s database
- Assist Administrative Assistant with tasks (paperwork, start of school year tasks, etc.)
- Researched and provided parents with information on camps, sports, and community assistance programs.
- Substitute teach in classrooms
- Substitute for Front Desk secretary
Early Intervention Coordinator
10 Months- Facilitated Early Intervention Transition Meetings among Child Family Connections provider (CFC#6), families, and School District 65 to ensure smooth transitions for students
- Supported Early Intervention families in registering students with District 65, addressing questions and alleviating concerns regarding the program and evaluation process
- Participate in all meetings and evaluations for students under evaluation for special education with District 65
- Developed and wrote Individualized Education Plans (IEP) for evaluated students, tailoring educational strategies to meet individual needs
- Conduct IEP meetings for students new to the preschool special education program
- Write Individualized Education Plans (IEP) for any students that were evaluated
- Maintain and plan the schedule for the evaluation team (consisting of 10 people)
McKinney-Vento Tutoring Program Coordinator
1 Year 2 Months- Coordinated tutoring program supporting homeless students in District 65, enhancing educational access
- Facilitated connections between families and tutors, arranging tutoring sessions at schools and local libraries during the summer
- Facilitated programs across Washington School and multiple partner schools
District Homebound Tutor
4 Years 8 Months- Provided long-term, individualized tutoring for students with medical conditions, focusing on their educational needs, in person or online.
- Tutored students across various schools
- Developed personalized lesson plans to meet individual student needs and learning styles.
- Facilitated engaging educational sessions to enhance student understanding and retention of material.
- Assessed student progress through regular evaluations, adapting instruction as necessary for improvement.
Substitute Teacher and Paraprofessional
9 Years 5 Months- Supported autistic, ADHD, and medically fragile students in various grade levels through one-on-one assistance, fostering individualized learning and growth
- Worked with other IEP’d, 504’d, and general education children to de-escalate volatile situations and remove students from areas during incidents.
- Collaborated with teachers and staff to address student needs and enhance classroom environments as required
- Implement teacher lesson plans
- Developed and delivered impromptu lessons in absence of provided plans, ensuring continuity of education and student engagement
- Led a before school ST Math Club 2 days a week in 2018-19 and 2019-20
- Supported students at Washington School
After-school program homework tutor
7 Months- Tutored students Monday-Thursday in after-school program
- Collaborated with first and second grade students on homework and reading activities
- Facilitated positive behavior management for students and homework completion for my 5-7 students
- Walker Elementary School
Sales Associate
6 Months- Assisted customers in selecting cards and gifts tailored to their preferences
- Daily cash management; including twice a week nightly closing and occasional opening
- Improved store layout by creating and rearranging displays for better customer engagement.
- Restocking products and unpacking shipments
- Skokie IL
Residential Coordinator
6 Months- First point of contact for students and host families once students are placed
- Monthly check-ins with students and host families and address any issues or concerns
- Conducted monthly check-ins with students and host families to address issues and concerns, ensuring a supportive experience
- Provided ongoing support to hosts and students by addressing inquiries and concerns promptly.
- Host recruitment and site visits to interview potential hosts
- Develop, plan, and implement quarterly service and local area activities to help students understand and experience American culture (a few are done by managers)
- Compiled monthly reports with photos for students’ families, providing updates on their child's progress in the USA
- Communicated with the company (Cambridge) via Residential Manager to ensure student success and safety
- Cultivated relationships with host families and students to foster collaboration and enhance the international program experience
Park Camp Director
1 Month- Camp for severe special needs students within Evanston School District 65 boundaries
- Managed camp activities, supervising head and junior counselors to ensure smooth operations
- Prepared and organized pre-camp materials (registration, bus routes, outside activities for campers such as ice skating, field trips)
- Facilitated parent inquiries to ensure smooth camp operations.
- Conducted daily meetings with staff
- Coordinated camp schedules for music, art, and PE time, aligning activities with camper needs
- Handled camp equipment logistics, facilitating transport to and from camp site
Education
Bachelor of Arts - Education
- Major: Elementary Education
- Minor: Psychology June 1992
Certificate of Advanced Study (CAS) - Administration and Supervision
Master of Education (MEd) - LD/BD
Skills
Client engagement
Family engagement strategies
Family counseling techniques
Advocacy for children's needs
Service planning
Community resource liaison
Conflict resolution techniques
Effective communication
Customized communication strategies
Effective interpersonal communication
Prioritization and scheduling
Strong organizational abilities
Analytical problem-solving
Proficient in Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace
Diversity and inclusion
Boundary management
Self-awareness
Certification
- Illinois Standard Certificate Type 75, Administration and Supervision
- Illinois Standard Certificate Type 10, Learning Disabilities/Behavior Disorders
- Illinois Standard Certification Type 03, Elementary Education
Timeline
Family Support Specialist
Evanston-Skokie School District 65; Joseph E. Hill Early Childhood Center
07.2024 - CurrentRead More
Early Intervention Coordinator
Evanston-Skokie School District 65; Joseph E. Hill Early Childhood Center
08.2023 - 06.2024Read More
McKinney-Vento Tutoring Program Coordinator
Evanston-Skokie School District 65
06.2022 - 08.2023Read More
District Homebound Tutor
Evanston-Skokie School District 65
10.2018 - 06.2023Read More
After-school program homework tutor
Y.O.U. Program
10.2017 - 05.2018Read More
Sales Associate
Jane’s Hallmark
04.2017 - 10.2017Read More
Residential Coordinator
Gphomestay; Remote position in Midwest-Chicago
06.2015 - 12.2015Read More
Park Camp Director
City of Evanston Special Recreation Department
06.2015 - 07.2015Read More
Substitute Teacher and Paraprofessional
Evanston-Skokie School District 65
01.2014 - 06.2023Read More
National Louis University
Certificate of Advanced Study (CAS) from Administration and Supervision
Read More
National Louis University
Bachelor of Arts from Education
Read More
National Louis University
Master of Education (MEd) from LD/BD
Read More
Related Experience
- Volunteer Tutor, Maryville Academy, 1997-01-01
- Private Tutor, 1996-01-01 to 2001-12-31
- Volunteer work, Park School, Evanston, Illinois, 1987-01-01 to 1988-12-31
- Managed elementary and middle school PTA parties, 2012-01-01 to 2018-12-31
- Assisted with local high school Booster fundraiser, 2019-01-01