Bachelor of Arts - Liberal Arts And General Studies
California State University - Chico
Chico, CA12.2002
Kelly C Forward
Special Education Teacher
Redwood City,CA
Summary
I am actively seeking a full-time role as a Special Education Teacher. My extensive experience in teaching children with special needs has honed my skills and instilled in me an unwavering confidence. I approach every situation with a resolute positivity, thriving even in the face of challenges. My ability to collaborate seamlessly with classroom teachers allows me to devise tailored accommodations and implement specialized techniques, ensuring the successful inclusion of students in mainstream classrooms.
I have extensive experience working with individuals diagnosed with a wide range of disabilities. My specialization lies in supporting students with mild to moderate needs, as well as those with moderate to severe needs. One of my goals is to support and empower students with disabilities to reach their full potential. I am committed to creating an inclusive and supportive environment that fosters academic, social, and emotional growth.
I possess a high level of empathy and adaptability in crafting and executing interactive instructional sessions. My proficiency in collaborating with educators, parents, and experts enables me to effectively address the unique educational requirements of students. I have extensive teaching experience, equipping me with the skills and knowledge necessary to support student learning across various grade levels, from kindergarten to twelfth grade.
I firmly believe that all students, including those with the most profound disabilities, have the ability to learn. My passion lies in ensuring that all students have equal opportunities to learn and succeed. In my desired job position, I focus on providing structure and support for special needs children in an academic setting. I collaborate closely with classroom teachers to implement behavior management strategies and make necessary lesson accommodations.
Education
Autism Endorsement - Education of Individuals With Autism
Brandman University
Irvine, CA08.2012
Moderate To Severe Credential - Education of Individuals With Multiple Disabilities
Brandman University
Irvine, CA06.2022
Work History
Special Education Teacher
Conejo Unified School District
06.2021 - 05.2022
- Improve memory, cognition, and language development by participating in interactive, hands-on activities and receiving personalized instruction
- .Collaborate with parents, therapists, and school staff to implement behavior management strategies to reduce disruptive behaviors. Communication skills, establishing daily routines, visuals, and token economy were proven successful.
- Maintain accurate records of student progress and behavior, preparing detailed reports for parents and administrators and ensuring compliance with state and federal regulations
- Implement individualized behavior intervention plans, using evidence-based strategies to support social and communication skills development in students with moderate/severe autism
- Utilize assistive technology and visual supports to enhance communication and learning opportunities for students with moderate/severe autism, fostering their independence and self-expressing
- Help students with special needs integrate into general classroom environments by advocating for individual requirements and helping teachers solve problems.
- Promote memory, cognition, and language development with hands-on activities and individualized instruction.
- Utilize evidence-based strategies, such as Applied Analysis (ABA), to support positive behavior and communication skills development, resulting in improved social interactions and decreased challenging, behaviors
- Collaborate with multidisciplinary team, including teachers, and parents, to create supportive and inclusive learning, ensuring consistent effective delivery of services
- Assess and document progress regularly, conducting thorough evaluations and creating comprehensive reports to inform parents, educators, and support staff about student achievements and areas for further growth
- Assist struggling students to maintain progress levels by designing individualized lesson plans focused on areas for improvement.
- Plan daily activities to keep students engaged and on track with learning goals.
- Design individual education plans to encourage student growth according to different learning abilities and needs.
- Created and managed IEPs to define student learning objectives and educational strategies, in addition to applying instructional knowledge and methods to support goals
Student Teacher
Brandman University
08.2020 - 05.2021
- Utilize exceptional learning experiences to expand student knowledge and actively participate in specialized educational opportunities.
- Develop. and implement individualized education plans (IEPs) for students with autism, resulting in significant academic and behavioral improvements
- Facilitate small group activities and one-on-one instruction to meet individual student needs.
- Assist in managing classroom rules, procedures,, and expectations to promote discipline and adherence to school policy.
- Monitored classrooms for safety and good behavior, offering students positive reinforcement to maintain discipline.
- Create and implement different learning activities to meet the needs of different types of learners.
- Observe and participate in special learning opportunities to expand horizons and learn different approaches.
- Modified lessons and curriculum to accommodate diverse learners by using strategies such as peer-assisted learning and group work.
- Shifted between formal and informal methods of teaching to keep students engaged.
- Collaborated with general education teachers to provide inclusive classroom accommodations for students with autism, allowing for successful integration into mainstream classrooms
- Utilized evidence-based instructional strategies, such as Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) and visual supports, to improve communication and social skills for students with autism.
Student Teacher
Lancaster Unified School District
08.2020 - 12.2020
- Provide intensive reading interventions for students requiring intensive reading support
- Complete individual assessments of students to gather baseline data
- Conduct small group and individual classroom activities with students based on differentiated learning needs to ensure all students are learning
- Maintain open and frequent communication with parents and guardians to update them on student progress and solicit feedback on classroom
- Improve students' communication skills by initiating classroom discussions based on thesocial skills curriculum
- Maintain accurate records and documentation of student progress, behavior, and attendance, ensuring federal and state regulations compliance
- Employ various evidence-based instructional strategies and assistive technology tools to enhance student engagement and learning outcomes.\
- Create lessons and online testing materials to facilitate remote learning
- Conduct ongoing assessments and progress monitoring to track students' academic and functional growth and adjust instruction to meet individual needs.
- Improvestudents' analytical skills by introducing state-of-the-art computer program technologies
- Design detailed learning plans for struggling students based on test, homework, and assignment records
- Met with students, parents, and administrators to address and resolve students' behavioral and academic issues
Mild/ Moderate RSP Teacher
Oxnard Elementary School District,
08.2018 - 08.2020
- Utilize a variety of teaching techniques to promote the academic growth of a group of 43 students. students with varying special needs
- Employed daily data collection, performance evaluations, and other assessment tools to evaluate student progress and adjust curriculum activities to suit student needs
- Efficiently organize the timetables of special education students and instructional assistants to optimize the utilization of resources and foster improved learning outcomes.
- Lead activities such as morning and afternoon meetings, daily check-ins, and lunchtime activities to foster students' physical, emotional, and social development
- Design and delivered engaging, real-world instruction that resonates with students' abilities and experiences, resulting in a remarkable 95% increase in students' reading levels
- Monitor students' progress and adjust lessons accordingly
- Collaborate with student's parents and other teachers to ensure students' progress Collaborated with general education teachers and specialists to create inclusive learning environments, accommodating diverse learning styles and needs to promote successful integration of students with disabilities
- Apply evidence-based instructional strategies and resources to facilitate student comprehension, to foster a positive supportive classroom
- Monitor and assess student progress regularly, adapting teaching methods and materials as necessary to address individual strengths and areas of growth, ensuring consistent academic and social-emotional progress for all students.
- Encourage students to take ownership of learning by providing choices.
- Helped students with special needs integrate into general classroom environments by advocating for individual requirements and helping teachers solve problems.
RSP/SDC/ED Teacher
Oak Park Unified School District,
08.2013 - 05.2018
- Ensure compliance with special education regulations by adhering to strict timelines, analyzing data, leading IEP meetings, and guaranteeing IEPs and assessments are in compliance
- Teach TK-5th-grade students in SDC, RSP, and Emotional Disturbance categories, utilizing evidence-based curriculum to promote inclusivity and guarantee student success under IEPs
- Develop cross-curricular lessons and activities that align with students' IEP goals and objectives, catering to diverse learning needs
- Evaluate student learning through daily data collection, criterion-referenced, and norm-referenced assessments such as WJ-IV, KeyMathD, WRMT-D, and TOWL, and adjust curriculum accordingly
- Provide guidance and support to instructional assistants, including teaching them how to take data, work with evidence-based curriculum, and directing them to specialized trainings such as ABA and NCPI
- Develop and implement individualized education plans (IEPs) resulting in academic growth and progress for each student
Special Education Teacher
Rio Vista Elementary School
08.2012 - 05.2013
- Developed behavior plans to address specific needs of children with autism resulting in improved social skills
- Learned how to Facilitate social skills groups
- Learn effective behavior management techniques, such as positive reinforcement and visual supports, to create structure and supportive environment for individuals with autism
- Instructed students with physical and cognitive disabilities.
- Led activities that developed students' physical, emotional, and social growth.
- Redirected students using Positive Behavior Support (PBS).
- Worked with students with moderate to severe autism to increase life skills.
- Collaborated with other educators to develop instructional strategies.
- Designed individual education plans to encourage student growth according to different learning abilities and needs.
- Conducted assessments of students to determine individual needs.
- Promoted memory, cognition, and language development with hands-on activities and individualized instruction.
- Provided emotional support to students and families.
Student Teacher
California State University Chico
01.1997 - 05.2003
- As a student teacher, I excelled in a rigorous curriculum that emphasizes the development of effective classroom management skills. I received praise from both my mentor educators and my students.
- Facilitate small group activities and one-on-one instruction to meet individual student needs.
- Assist in managing classroom rules, procedures, and expectations to promote discipline and adherence to the conduct code.
- Create a positive and productive learning environment to increase engagement and rapport with students
- Monitor classrooms for safety and good behavior, offering students positive reinforcement to maintain discipline.
- Utilized various teaching techniques and strategies to engage students in learning.
- Develop lesson plans that incorporate mandated topics and include immersive activities for student engagement.
- Design lessons for students using various teaching methods and modern classroom technologies.
- Taught multiple subjects to students with intellectual or emotional disabilities.
- Delivered effective and differentiated classroom instruction to a range of neurodiverse students.
- Led activities that developed students' physical, emotional, and social growth.
- Modify general education curriculum for special-needs students using various instructional techniques and technologies.
- Plan daily activities to keep students engaged and on track with learning goals.
- Encouraged critical thinking and problem-solving skills to enable students to step out of their comfort zone
- Assisted in administering tests and other assessments to evaluate student progress
- Worked with staff members and teachers to design comprehensive and individualized plans to optimize student education
Accomplishments
- Ensure compliance with special education regulations by adhering to strict timelines, analyzing data, leading IEP meetings, and ensuring IEPs and assessments are in compliance.
- Teach TK-5th-grade students in SDC, RSP, and Emotional Disturbance categories, utilizing evidence-based curriculum to promote inclusivity and guarantee student success under IEPs.
- Develop cross-curricular lessons and activities that align with students' IEP goals and objectives, catering to diverse learning needs.
- Evaluate student learning through daily data collection, criterion-referenced, and norm-
- Provide guidance and support to 10 instructional assistants, including teaching them how to take data, work with evidence-based curriculum, and directing them to specialized trainings such as ABA and NCPI.
- Develop and implement individualized education plans (IEPs) resulting in academic growth and progress for each student
referenced assessments such as WJ-IV, KeyMathD, WRMT-D, and TOWL, and adjust curriculum
Timeline
Special Education Teacher
Conejo Unified School District
06.2021 - 05.2022
Student Teacher
Brandman University
08.2020 - 05.2021
Student Teacher
Lancaster Unified School District
08.2020 - 12.2020
Mild/ Moderate RSP Teacher
Oxnard Elementary School District,
08.2018 - 08.2020
RSP/SDC/ED Teacher
Oak Park Unified School District,
08.2013 - 05.2018
Special Education Teacher
Rio Vista Elementary School
08.2012 - 05.2013
Student Teacher
California State University Chico
01.1997 - 05.2003
Bachelor of Arts - Liberal Arts And General Studies
California State University - Chico
Autism Endorsement - Education of Individuals With Autism
Brandman University
Moderate To Severe Credential - Education of Individuals With Multiple Disabilities
Brandman University
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