Art
Melanie Walsh-Mager
Chelmsford,MA
Summary
Versatile Special Education Teacher with focus on individual student needs across academia and emotional development. Excelled in creating individualized education plans and implementing behavior modifications, significantly enhancing student engagement and academic growth. Empathetic and accommodating in design and implementation of hands-on lessons, catering to diverse learning abilities. Proficient in employing constant communication, patience, and positive reinforcement in team efforts to deliver exceptional educational tools, fostering community within the classroom.
Overview
4
4
years of professional experience
Work History
Special Education Teacher
Lowell Public Schools
08.2022 - 05.2024
- Developed six IEPs tailored to individual student needs, ensuring their academic success and personal growth.
- Fostered strong relationships with parents and guardians, maintaining open lines of communication to ensure student progress every single day via phone calls, virtual meetings, or classroom communication apps.
- Implemented behavior modification strategies, resulting in improved self-regulation and classroom participation among students.
- Planned daily activities to keep students engaged and on track with learning goals.
- Modified math, reading, pre-writing, and writing curriculum for special-needs students using various instructional techniques.
- Collaborated with teachers and therapists to develop individualized educational plans for each student, ensuring optimal progress through carefully curated goals and objectives.
Special Education Teacher
Lighthouse School, Inc
08.2021 - 06.2023
- Collaborated with teachers and therapists to develop individualized educational plans for each student, ensuring optimal progress.
- Participated in ongoing professional development opportunities several times each week that were focused on evidence-based practices in special education teaching methodologies.
- Assisted in creating a safe and nurturing classroom environment that promoted emotional well-being and academic growth for all students.
- Redirected students using Positive Behavior Support (PBS) and took data on the effectiveness of those supports.
- Facilitated small group instruction with a group of two to five students to address individual learning needs.
First Grade Classroom Teacher
Acton Boxborough Regional School District
08.2020 - 06.2021
- Supported students developing targeted social skills through structured activities and positive reinforcement techniques.
- Developed students' critical thinking skills through engaging problem-solving tasks.
- Promoted a positive learning environment by establishing clear expectations, enforcing rules consistently, and modeling respect for all individuals.
- Evaluated student progress using various assessment methods, ensuring a comprehensive understanding of each individual's strengths and areas for improvement.
- Kept classroom clean, organized, and safe for students and visitors during the first year of Covid.
Education
Bachelor of Science - Elementary Education
Westfield State University
Westfield05.2017
Skills
- Differentiated Instruction
- Classroom Management
- Individual Education Plans IEPs
- Small Group Instruction
- Autism Spectrum Knowledge
- Motivating students
- De-Escalation Techniques
- Behavior Intervention Plans
- Trained in CPI
- Verbal and Nonverbal Communication
- Collaborative Teamwork
- Parent Communication
- Behavior Modifications
- Emotional Support
Work Availability
monday
tuesday
wednesday
thursday
friday
saturday
sunday
morning
afternoon
evening
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Work Preference
Work Type
Full TimeLocation Preference
On-SiteRemoteHybridImportant To Me
Work-life balanceHealthcare benefitsFlexible work hoursWork from home optionInterests
Animals and Nature
Activism and awareness, specifically with neurodivergent communities
Timeline
Special Education Teacher
Lowell Public Schools
08.2022 - 05.2024
Special Education Teacher
Lighthouse School, Inc
08.2021 - 06.2023
First Grade Classroom Teacher
Acton Boxborough Regional School District
08.2020 - 06.2021
Bachelor of Science - Elementary Education
Westfield State University