Leah Quintana
Bettendorf
Summary
Experienced special education teacher at Frances Willard Elementary School, specializing in IEP development and compliance. Achieved significant results with 23 of 26 students meeting academic goals through effective data analysis and family engagement. Committed to promoting inclusive educational practices that enhance learning for all students.
Overview
13
13
years of professional experience
Work History
Special Education Teacher and Building Case Manager
Frances Willard Elementary School
Rock Island
01.2019 - Current
- Manage a caseload of 36 K–6 students with IEPs; maintain 100% on-time IEPs and full compliance with IDEA, timelines, and documentation requirements
- Develop and implement individualized education programs aligned to Illinois Learning Standards
- Provide targeted instruction in reading, writing, and math using evidence-based interventions (aligned with Science of Reading principles)
- Monitor student progress and adjust instruction using data-driven practices
- Facilitate IEP meetings and maintain consistent communication with families and multidisciplinary teams
- Collaborate with general education teachers to support inclusion, accommodations, and modifications
- Implement behavior supports and intervention plans to address social-emotional needs
- Facilitated discontinuation of Behavior Intervention Plans for 2 of 5 students over three years, demonstrating effective behavioral support strategies
- Ensured 5 of 6 students consistently met or exceeded daily behavior goals with 90%+ accuracy through targeted interventions
- Supported academic progress for 23 of 26 students with IEPs, ensuring they achieved adequate progress toward annual goals
- Aligned instruction and interventions with MTSS and SEL frameworks by delivering tiered supports, progress monitoring, and explicit social-emotional skill instruction to improve student outcomes
- Rock Island/Milan SD #41
5th Grade Teacher
Frances Willard Elementary School
Rock Island
01.2018 - 01.2019
- Delivered standards-aligned instruction in core content areas (ELA, math, science) using district curriculum
- Differentiated instruction to meet diverse student learning needs
- Analyzed formative and summative assessment data to guide instruction, tailoring strategies that improved student outcomes
- Collaborated with grade-level teams to align curriculum and instructional practices, enhancing instructional coherence
- Emphasized content rigor, critical thinking, and preparation for middle school expectations
- Fostered strong communication and partnerships with families, actively supporting student success and engagement
- Rock Island/Milan SD #41
1st Grade Teacher
Frances Willard Elementary School
Rock Island
01.2013 - 01.2018
- Delivered standards-aligned instruction with a focus on foundational literacy and numeracy
- Applied Science of Reading principles to develop phonemic awareness, decoding, and fluency
- Differentiated instruction to address diverse student learning needs, fostering individual growth
- Utilized formative and summative assessment data to tailor instruction, enhancing student outcomes
- Collaborated with grade-level teams to align curriculum and instructional practices
- Cultivated strong communication and partnerships with families, reinforcing support for student success
- Rock Island/Milan SD #41
Education
Master of Science - Reading Specialist
Western Illinois University
Moline, IL01-2019
Master of Science - Curriculum and Instruction (Reading Emphasis)
Western Illinois University
Moline01-2017
Bachelor of Science - Elementary Education
Western Illinois University
Moline, IL01-2013
Skills
- IEP development and compliance
- Data analysis and progress monitoring
- Literacy intervention strategies
- MTSS and RTI frameworks
- Behavior intervention plans
- Co-teaching models
- Family collaboration
- Transition planning
References
Available upon request
Leadership And Contributions
- Building Leadership Team Member
- SMART School Improvement Committee (data analysis, goal setting, collaboration)
- Parent/Family Engagement Coordinator (2015–2018; 2022–Present)
- Coordinated community partnership initiatives, including collaboration with John Deere to support student and family engagement
- Grant Writing (secured funding for literacy and classroom resources)
- Coordinated community partnerships (WIU, Family Museum, WQPT)
Licensure And Endorsements
- Illinois Professional Educator License (PEL)
- K–12 Reading Specialist Endorsement
- Learning Behavior Specialist I (LBS1)
- Elementary Education (K–9)
- Endorsements: Language Arts, Social Science
Timeline
Special Education Teacher and Building Case Manager
Frances Willard Elementary School
01.2019 - Current
5th Grade Teacher
Frances Willard Elementary School
01.2018 - 01.2019
1st Grade Teacher
Frances Willard Elementary School
01.2013 - 01.2018
Master of Science - Reading Specialist
Western Illinois University
Master of Science - Curriculum and Instruction (Reading Emphasis)
Western Illinois University
Bachelor of Science - Elementary Education
Western Illinois University