Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Accomplishments
Timeline
Generic

Laquanda Thomas

Covington,GA

Summary

Dedicated and experienced special education professional with a proven track record of fostering inclusive learning environments and advocating for students with diverse needs. Skilled in program development, staff mentoring, and implementing evidence-based practices to support student success. A collaborative leader adept at building strong relationships with team member within department, students, families and multidisciplinary teams to drive positive outcomes. Seeking to leverage expertise in special education leadership to make a meaningful impact within an educational school systems.





Overview

18
18
years of professional experience

Work History

Special Education Lead Teacher

Atlanta Public Schools - Atlanta Virtual Academy
11.2021 - Current
  • Lead department of eight special education teachers and two paraprofessionals
  • Developed and implemented policies and procedure to support federal and state mandated laws in virtual settings.
  • Reviewed school-wide IEP's for compliance, grammar, and over-all effectiveness in addressing student needs.
  • Planned and led monthly special education meetings/ professional development sessions.
  • Performed compliance-related duties in order to ensure that IEP meetings were scheduled, held and finalized according to GADOE guidelines
  • Mentored new teachers on best practices for classroom management and instructional techniques, contributing to their professional growth and effectiveness in the classroom.
  • Monitored Re-evaluation and IEP reports to ensure FTE data was in compliance,
  • Established procedures for Special Education transfers, including intake meetings to review current IEP and ensuring or developing a plan to effectively service students.
  • Developed team communications and provided information from district-wide SPED Coach meetings to building special education staff.
  • Developed and implemented differentiated instruction strategies to accommodate diverse learning styles, resulting in increased student engagement and success.
  • Conferred with parents about student progress to boost family involvement and enhance student support.
  • Served as member of school's leadership team, participating in strategic planning efforts aimed at continuous improvement initiatives.

Special Education Resource Teacher- Grades 1 -5

DeKalb County Public Schools - Bob Mathis ES
08.2017 - 11.2021
  • Instructed students in multiple content academic areas (Reading, Math, Language Arts, and Social Skills) for grades 1-5.
  • Delivered effective and differentiated classroom instruction to diverse range of developmentally challenged students.
  • Created and managed IEPs to define student learning goals and educational strategies, in addition to applying instructional knowledge and methods to support goals.
  • Implemented behavior modification strategies, resulting in improved self-regulation and classroom participation among students.
  • Utilized various assistive technology tools to augment the learning experience for students with diverse abilities while promoting independence in the classroom setting.
  • Trained special education teachers and paraprofessionals in areas of understanding and analyzing data collection for progress monitoring.
  • Developed strong relationships with students, fostering trust and creating a safe learning environment where they could thrive academically and emotionally.
  • Provided one-on-one support for students with learning disabilities, enabling them to excel in their coursework.

Interrelated Special Education Teacher

Gwinnett County Schools - Shiloh Middle Schools
08.2014 - 06.2017
  • Assessed student progress through ongoing evaluations and adapted lesson plans accordingly, ensuring continuous improvement in academic achievement levels.
  • Supported students in developing social skills through structured activities and positive reinforcement techniques.
  • Department Grade Level Chair - Assisted 4 team members in developing grade-level policy to ensure progress monitoring systems were in place to monitor with fidelity as required by state and federal laws.
  • Cultivated connections and strong student rapport to foster classroom engagement, in addition to recording student progress to inform parents and school administration.
  • Created and managed IEPs to define student learning objectives and educational strategies, in addition to applying instructional knowledge and methods to support goals.
  • Conferred with parents about student progress to boost family involvement and enhance student support.
  • Planned and implemented different daily activities to enhance overall development and growth of every student by ensuring students were taught study and social skills that can be transferred .
  • Maintained an effective behavior management system through school-wide positive behavior intervention system to kept students on-task with proactive behavior modification and positive reinforcement strategies to minimize class and school disruptions..
  • Enhanced student learning by optimizing wide range of instructional approaches and innovative classroom activities.

Instructional Teacher

Atlanta Public Schools
06.2006 - 06.2014
  • Boosted student engagement by incorporating hands-on activities and real-world connections into lessons.
  • Provided one-on-one support for students with learning disabilities, enabling them to excel in their coursework.
  • Promoted collaboration among students through group projects, fostering learning environment.
  • Fostered growth mindset in students by modeling resilience and adaptability in face of challenges, encouraging them to persevere towards their goals.

Education

Tier 1 Certification Educational Leadership -

University of West Georgia
Carrollton, GA
11.2021

Gifted Endorsement -

Valdosta State University
Valdosta, GA

Teacher Education

Georgia State University
Atlanta, GA

Master of Arts - General Administration

Central Michigan University
Atlanta, GA

BBA - Management And Marketing

Mercer University
Atlanta, GA

Skills

  • Effectively ensuring Reevaluations and IEPs are in compliance as required by state and federal laws
  • Classroom Management
  • Student records management
  • Providing guidance to special education teachers in current building (mentoring, training on IEP software, individual training)
  • Differentiated instruction/Group and individual instruction
  • Accessing, developing, and providing monthly professional development opportunities for special education teachers in current building based on currently needs assessment
  • Scheduling
  • IEP Development
  • School Leadership
  • Instructional Practices
  • Strategic Direction
  • Continuous Improvement
  • Teacher Training

Accomplishments

- Nominee for the Teacher of the Year for Shiloh Middle School for the 2016-2017 school year.

- Received recognition from administrators, colleagues, and families for dedication, compassion, and commitment to promoting the success and well-being of students with disabilities.

-Act as a mentor and resource for special education teachers, providing guidance, support, and sharing best practices to facilitate their professional growth and development.

- Served as LEA for Special Education Meetings since 2016 (as needed)

- Proven record of growth for special education students based on NWEA Map assessments.

- Developed and implemented individualized education plans (IEPs) for students with various disabilities, resulting in measurable academic and behavioral improvements.

- Utilized differentiated instruction techniques to cater to diverse learning styles and abilities within the classroom, resulting in increased student engagement and achievement.

- Led professional development sessions for colleagues on topics such as inclusive teaching strategies, behavioral management techniques, co-teaching models, and technology integration.

- Implemented data-driven assessments and progress monitoring tools to track student growth and inform instructional decisions, resulting in targeted interventions and support.


Timeline

Special Education Lead Teacher

Atlanta Public Schools - Atlanta Virtual Academy
11.2021 - Current

Special Education Resource Teacher- Grades 1 -5

DeKalb County Public Schools - Bob Mathis ES
08.2017 - 11.2021

Interrelated Special Education Teacher

Gwinnett County Schools - Shiloh Middle Schools
08.2014 - 06.2017

Instructional Teacher

Atlanta Public Schools
06.2006 - 06.2014

Tier 1 Certification Educational Leadership -

University of West Georgia

Gifted Endorsement -

Valdosta State University

Teacher Education

Georgia State University

Master of Arts - General Administration

Central Michigan University

BBA - Management And Marketing

Mercer University
Laquanda Thomas