LISA SINCLAIR BENJAMIN
New York City Department of Education
N. Bellmore
1
Certification
20
years of professional experience
Accomplished Special Education Teacher with over 15 years of experience, including 7 years in high school settings. Expertise in delivering culturally responsive instruction across diverse subjects, including English Language Arts and history. Focused on enhancing student achievement through data-driven strategies and collaborative partnerships, fostering inclusive environments that empower all students.
Work History
Special Education Teacher | English Language Arts • Social Studies • Career Development
8 Years 6 Months- Deliver rigorous, standards-based instruction in English Language Arts (Grades 9–11), Global History, U.S. History, and Career Development across Horizon (8:1:1), Integrated Co-Teaching (ICT), and SETSS instructional settings.
- Design engaging, student-centered lessons aligned with the New York State Learning Standards while maintaining high expectations for all learners.
- Differentiate instruction using scaffolds, graphic organizers, literacy strategies, technology integration, flexible grouping, and evidence-based instructional practices.
- Analyze MAP Growth, classroom assessments, Regents examinations, and progress-monitoring data to inform instruction and accelerate student achievement.
- Developed and implemented Specially Designed Instruction (SDI) to enhance literacy, executive functioning, critical-thinking, and self-advocacy skills.
- Built meaningful partnerships with students and families through ongoing communication and collaboration, facilitating progress monitoring.
- Use progress-monitoring data to evaluate interventions and adjust instructional practices to meet individual student needs.
- Build meaningful partnerships with students and families through ongoing communication, collaboration, and progress monitoring.
- Coordinated instructional accommodations and modifications to provide equitable access to rigorous grade-level curriculum.
- Special Education Leadership
- Special Education Team Leader: Support teachers with instructional planning, IEP implementation, compliance, and best practices in Special Education. Facilitate collaborative discussions focused on improving instructional effectiveness and student achievement. Promote consistency in Special Education programming and instructional practices across the department.
- Formal Teacher Mentor: Mentor early-career teachers through instructional coaching, collaborative planning, classroom support, and reflective feedback. Model effective instructional strategies, classroom management techniques, and differentiated instructional practices. Foster teacher growth through ongoing coaching and professional collaboration.
- Instructional Leadership Team (ILT) Member: Collaborate with school leadership to analyze instructional data and strengthen schoolwide teaching and learning. Contribute to curriculum development, instructional planning, and professional learning initiatives. Support continuous school improvement through evidence-based instructional practices.
Paraprofessional
11 Years- Supported classroom instruction across multiple grade levels, enhancing student engagement and addressing academic, behavioral, and social-emotional needs.
- Collaborated with classroom teachers to design and implement effective instructional and behavioral interventions, improving student outcomes.
- Fostered positive relationships with students, families, and school staff, contributing to a supportive learning environment.
Education
Master of Science in Education - Adolescent Education (Grades 7–12)
Master of Public Administration - Human Resource Management
Bachelor of Arts - Political Science and History
Skills
IEP management
Literacy intervention
Small group instruction
Instructional coaching
Teacher mentoring
Technology: Google Workspace | Google Classroom | Microsoft Office Suite | Microsoft Teams | Zoom | SESIS | MAP Growth
Classroom discipline
Accomplishments
- Mentored and coached new teachers, strengthening instructional practice through collaborative planning, modeling effective teaching strategies, and providing ongoing instructional feedback.
- Served on the Instructional Leadership Team (ILT), collaborating with school leadership to analyze instructional data, strengthen curriculum implementation, and support continuous school improvement.
- Led Special Education initiatives that promoted IEP compliance, improved service delivery, and strengthened collaboration among teachers, related service providers, and families. Successfully taught across multiple instructional settings, including Integrated Co-Teaching (ICT), SETSS, and Horizon (8:1:1), while delivering instruction in English Language Arts, Global History, U.S. History, and Career Development.
- Designed and implemented rigorous, differentiated instruction that increased student access to grade-level curriculum while addressing diverse academic, behavioral, and social-emotional needs.
- Built strong partnerships with students, families, and multidisciplinary teams to foster inclusive learning environments and improve student achievement.
- Demonstrated instructional versatility by successfully teaching multiple content areas and grade levels while adapting to evolving student and school needs.
Certification
Professional Teaching Certificate: Students with Disabilities (Grades 7–12), Generalist
PROFESSIONAL LEADERSHIP & SERVICE
- Instructional Leadership Team (ILT) Member
- Special Education Team Leader
- Formal Teacher Mentor
- Professional Development Turnkey Facilitator
- IEP Compliance & Progress Monitoring
- Lead, Prom Committee Member
Timeline
Special Education Teacher | English Language Arts • Social Studies • Career Development
New York City Department of Education
01.2018 - CurrentRead More
Paraprofessional
P.S. 217 Colonel David Marcus School
01.2007 - 01.2018Read More
Lincoln University
Bachelor of Arts from Political Science and History
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John Jay College of Criminal Justice
Master of Public Administration from Human Resource Management
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Long Island University – Brooklyn Campus
Master of Science in Education from Adolescent Education (Grades 7–12)
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