Latarsha Wallace-Madison
Sauk Village,IL
Summary
Compassionate Language Arts Teacher motivated to promote student growth and ignite lifelong learning. Desiring to contribute over 20 years of experience to a long-term position. Equipped with extensive background working with eighth grade Special and General education students on reading comprehension, vocabulary, writing and grammar skills, in addition to recent skills as a ESL 6th graders, district curriculum developer and classroom interventionist. Knowledgeable about building strong communication skills in struggling students by nurturing students individual needs. Familiar with integrating technology, strategic lesson planning and classroom management with a focus on SEL skills. Excellent time management, organization, and problem-solving skills.
Overview
15
15
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Language Arts Co-Teacher
West Aurora School District 129
08.2020 - Current
- Prepared and implemented co-taught lesson plans covering integrated effective verbal and written communication with reading comprehension, vocabulary, writing, grammar to 6th grade ESL students and Special Education and General Education 8th graders.
- Provided one-on-one intervention support to seventh grade students and/or worked with pull-out groups to help classroom teacher maintain overall focus on entire group.
- Administered numerous assessments and standardized tests to evaluate student progress and used data to drive district, school and classroom curriculum planning, differentiation of strategies, and day to day lessons.
- Led engaging group listening and speaking activities that increased student academic dialogue and questioning skills.
- Utilized multimedia strategies and technology to convey information in fresh and interesting ways, to maintain accurate grades, and used platform to keep students and parents aware of classroom and school activities.
- Helped students develop academic, social and emotional skills for long-term success.
- Graded and evaluated student assignments, papers, and course work.
Learning Behavior Specialist
West Aurora School District 129
08.2015 - 05.2020
- Implemented numerous of the above work experience tasks.
- Prepared and delivered instruction covering effective and differentiated reading comprehension, vocabulary, writing, and grammar skills to Special Education and General Education 8th graders for 2 co-taught classes and 1 General Education class.
- Created and managed IEPs to define student reading, writing and behavioral learning objectives and educational strategies, in addition to applying instructional knowledge and methods to support goals for caseloads up to 15 students.
- Cultivated connections and strong student rapport to foster appropriate classroom engagement by encouraging students to take ownership of learning by providing choices, skills. and support.
- Designed and used data collecting methods to record student performance, success plans and needs to inform all involved parties and make discussion about students needs for 8th grade students preparing to transition to high school.
- Partnered with general education teachers from across academic departments to help students success in all academic classes by modifying curriculum, and using various instructional techniques and technologies.
- Developed and facilitated girl's group to promote social/emotional skills to 8th graders.
Self-Contained Special Education Teacher
West Aurora School District 129
08.2008 - 05.2015
- Implemented numerous of the above work experience tasks.
- Prepared and delivered instruction covering effective and differentiated language arts, math, science, social studies, and health instruction to Self-Contained Emotional Disorder Special Education classroom for 7th & 8th graders.
- Assisted struggling students to maintain progress levels by designing individualized lesson plans focused on areas for improvement by creating and implementing activities that developed students' physical, emotional, and social growth.
- Coordinated special education students and teacher assistant schedules with master schedule to integrate students into general classroom environments. Then. advocated for individual requirements, collaborated with others educators to develop instructional strategies, monitored students performance, and evaluate effectiveness.
- Facilitated regular communication and meetings to work closely with parents, guardians and colleagues to analyze and share student performance data and success plans to address students' issues, successes and needed adjustments, in addition to providing emotional support to students and families.
- Developed and implemented behavior modification techniques to improve student social and academic performance by modeling positive choices and teaching socially-acceptable options.
- Conducted assessments of students to determine individual needs and design IEPs focused on areas for improvement.
Education
Master of Social Work - Mental Health
Governors State University
Park Forest, IL12.2000
Bachelor of Science - Education
Western Illinois University
Macomb, IL12.1995
Some College (No Degree) - Letter of Approval To Teach EBD
Chicago State University
Chicago, ILSkills
- Literacy Skills
- Team Collaboration
- Engage Students
- Innovative Teaching Methods
- Time Management
- Social Behaviors
Certification
Standard Type-03, K-9 License: 1996- Current
- Language Arts - Junior High - Grade 5 through 8th Grade: 1996 - Current
- Elementary Education (Self-Contained General Education) Kindergarten through 9: 2000 - Current
- Learning Behavior Specialist - Kindergarten through 9: 2007 - Current
Timeline
Language Arts Co-Teacher
West Aurora School District 129
08.2020 - Current
Learning Behavior Specialist
West Aurora School District 129
08.2015 - 05.2020
Self-Contained Special Education Teacher
West Aurora School District 129
08.2008 - 05.2015
Master of Social Work - Mental Health
Governors State University
Bachelor of Science - Education
Western Illinois University
Some College (No Degree) - Letter of Approval To Teach EBD
Chicago State University
Standard Type-03, K-9 License: 1996- Current
- Language Arts - Junior High - Grade 5 through 8th Grade: 1996 - Current
- Elementary Education (Self-Contained General Education) Kindergarten through 9: 2000 - Current
- Learning Behavior Specialist - Kindergarten through 9: 2007 - Current
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