Larena Ward
Signal Mountain,TN
Summary
Compassionate, highly organized, and versatile professional with a robust background spanning early childhood/special education and healthcare administration. Proven track record of supporting individuals with diverse needs, including experience in crisis interventions, autism support, visually impaired education, and tube feeding care. Adept at managing classroom operations, maintaining strict regulatory compliance, and executing complex administrative workflows, including patient data entry, chart management, and insurance prior authorizations. An exceptional communicator skilled in Interdisciplinary collaboration, goal tracking, and delivering high-quality, patient-and-student centered support.
Overview
3
3
Certifications
10
10
years of professional experience
Work History
Teaching Assistant
Grace Babtist Academy
Chattanooga, Tennessee
08.2023 - 11.2025
- Collaborate closely with lead teachers to support daily instruction, optimizing classroom management and enhancing learning outcomes for diverse student cohorts.
- Facilitate targeted reading and math interventions, boosting individual student literacy skills and general comprehension.
- Manage smooth daily operations by executing administrative task, setting up activities, and maintaining an organized, positive learning space.
Teaching Assistant
Hamilton County Schools
Signal Mountain, Tennessee
08.2018 - 07.2023
- Supported exceptional education programs, assisting students with special needs in daily living tasks while fostering long-term independence and personal well-being.
- Led small-group instruction in reading and math to accommodate varied learning styles and improve academic performance.
- Documented daily behavior incident logs and tracked goal completion milestones to facilitate data-driven progress reviews with administrators and parents.
- Enforced strict safety protocols during student transition times, including bus boarding, recess, and school-wide movements.
Preschool Teacher
Presbyterian Day School
Signal Mountain, Tennessee
08.2015 - 05.2018
- Designed and implemented play-based curricula that fostered early childhood development, cognitive growth, and social engagement.
- Maintained safe, highly structured learning environments complying with all health, hygiene, and safety guidelines.
- Cultivated strong parent-teacher partnerships through consistent, transparent communications regarding early milestone achievements.
Education
Associate of Science - CNA
Nurse Trainers
Brainerd, MN06-2003
Skills
- Special Education & Needs Support: Experience working with individuals with disabilities, autism, and visual impairments,
- Childcare & Preschool Instruction: Classroom experience, teaching, tutoring, and milestone tracking
- Emergency & Medical Response: First Aid, CPR certification, and specialized tube feeding care
- Clinical & Administrative Support: Patient data entry, chart management, goal sheet tracking, documentation
- Office & Operational Logistics: Appointment scheduling, calendar management, filing, data collection, and order processing
- Insurance Coordination: Managing insurance prior authorizations
- Software & Digital Literacy: Microsoft Excel, Word Processing, Outlook, and general computer skills
- Interpersonal Communication & Support: Interpersonal communication, phone communication, crisis intervention, customer service
Certification
First Aid Certification
Timeline
Teaching Assistant
Grace Babtist Academy
08.2023 - 11.2025
Teaching Assistant
Hamilton County Schools
08.2018 - 07.2023
Preschool Teacher
Presbyterian Day School
08.2015 - 05.2018
Associate of Science - CNA
Nurse Trainers