Melissa Dillon
Summary
Highly accomplished candidate with proven track record of successfully maintaining accurate records, administering various assessments, and leading team meetings to determine placement and eligibility. Adept at developing and implementing strategies that improve educational outcomes and increase employee satisfaction. Experienced in collaborating as part of a team, and developing positive relationships with families and administrators alike. Frequently praised as hard-working and empathetic. Seeking to continue to service young children and their families, while incorporating ABA strategies into treatment session
Overview
14
14
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
SPECIAL EDUCATOR
Sunny Days Inc.
10.2023 - Current
- Establish activities to assist with the enhancement of developmental skills in accordance with children's' IFSP goals.
- Maintain communication with and assist families with execution of strategies during daily living.
- Collaborate with multidisciplinary team members to ensure consistency of treatment and to continue to develop new and improved strategies
- Develop ABA curriculum for targeted skills
SPECIAL EDUCATOR
Progressive Steps, LLC
06.2023 - Current
- Establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with students, families, and fellow therapists
- Create activities that help to promote achievement of IFSP goals and precursors for pre-school
- Maintain accurate student records
- Participate in review meetings to discuss children's progress and make changes to existing IFSP as needed.
FPEA HEAD BUILDING REPRESENTATIVE
Florham Park School District
06.2020 - 07.2023
- Investigated and evaluated union complaints and arguments to determine viability
- Mediated discussions between district administration and employee representatives in attempt to reconcile differences
- Prepared reports and presentations to communicate employee satisfaction and related data to management
- Reviewed and documented both approval and disapproval of written reprimands, suspensions, or terminations related to employee disciplinary matters
- Participated in monthly association meetings, to both share and gather data on district wide issues
- Met with association members to review and clarify contractual language and policies as needed.
SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHER
Florham Park School District
09.2014 - 07.2023
- Participated in individual student educational planning meetings to properly place students in the least restrictive environment and to access curriculum that best fits his/ her needs
- Established and maintained cooperative working relationships with students, parents, fellow colleagues, child study team members, and the director of special services
- Assessed student progress by maintaining current records across all content areas, inclusive of both empirical and statistical data, and provided feedback to parents and guardians
- Implemented instructional activities to keep students actively engaged in meaningful learning experiences
- Promoted positive learning environment to engage students and encourage lesson participation
- Offered small group and one-on-one instruction to students requiring reading, writing, and math support
- Designed and implemented behavior management plans for students with challenging behaviors
- Utilized technology to supplement instruction and enhance student learning
- Supervised and guided assistants and aides working with students
- Fulfilled district and state educational development requirements.
FPEA CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS TEAM MEMBER
Florham Park School District
07.2021 - 05.2022
- In collaboration with team members, selected a mediator for meetings with board of education members, during collective bargaining
- Researched and annotated neighboring and comparable districts' contracts
- Surveyed the association via Google Forms in order to gain perspective on the most important sought out changes for the new contract
- Drafted contract proposals and counter proposals for collective bargaining
- Reviewed current contractual policies pertaining to items such as wages, hours, benefits, and woking environment, to prepare for proposed changes.
FPEA VICE PRESIDENT
Florham Park School District
06.2020 - 09.2021
- Participated in monthly association meetings, to both share and gather data about district wide issues
- Participated in monthly meetings with district superintendent and association president in order to share association satisfaction and/or dissatisfaction with policies and procedures
- Maintained records of employee disciplinary matters to file grievances in accordance with the Florham Park Education Association contract, when appropriate
- Assisted staff members with the interpretation of the Florham Park Education Association contract, as needed
- Maintained open-communication with all members of the executive council to keep abreast of issues within each building in the school district.
CHILD DEVELOPMENT SPECIALIST
Sunny Days
11.2019 - 06.2020
- Designed activities to address IFSP goals for children ages 0-3 within the home setting
- Collaborated with families to ensure comfortability with carrying out various strategies
- Communicated with families to gain and provide information on child progress
- Provided detailed progress notes after each session, via an online portal
- Attended virtual professional development opportunities to enhance educational practice.
REHABILITATION ASSISTANT
Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation
06.2010 - 10.2011
- Cleaned work area and checked and stored equipment after treatment
- Transported patients to and from treatment areas, lifting, and transferring according to positioning requirements
- Collaborated with Occupational and Physical Therapists to determine best ways to assist during patient therapy sessions
- Built positive rapport with patients on both the orthopedic and spinal cord injury floors of the facility.
Education
Master of Science - Applied Behavior Analysis
Simmons University
Boston, MA 08.2026
Master of Arts in Special Education -
Saint Elizabeth University
Morristown, NJ05.2015
Bachelor of Arts in Psychology -
Quinnipiac University
Hamden, CT05.2010
Skills
- Collaborate well with others
- Can administer various assessments to determine eligibility
- Can shift gears without prior notice
- Able to lead meetings to discuss assessment results and other matters of importance
- Able to advocate for others as needed
- Able to maintain accurate records
- Able to work in a fast paced environment
- Compassionate and empathetic toward the needs of others
- Maintain both written and oral communication regarding progress, performance, and areas of concern
- Able to serve as a mediator between two or more opposing parties
Certification
- New Jersey Standard Teaching Certification K-6
- New Jersey Standard Teaching Certification Teacher of Students with Disabilities
Personal Information
Title: SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHER
Timeline
SPECIAL EDUCATOR
Sunny Days Inc.
10.2023 - Current
SPECIAL EDUCATOR
Progressive Steps, LLC
06.2023 - Current
FPEA CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS TEAM MEMBER
Florham Park School District
07.2021 - 05.2022
FPEA HEAD BUILDING REPRESENTATIVE
Florham Park School District
06.2020 - 07.2023
FPEA VICE PRESIDENT
Florham Park School District
06.2020 - 09.2021
CHILD DEVELOPMENT SPECIALIST
Sunny Days
11.2019 - 06.2020
SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHER
Florham Park School District
09.2014 - 07.2023
REHABILITATION ASSISTANT
Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation
06.2010 - 10.2011
Master of Science - Applied Behavior Analysis
Simmons University
Master of Arts in Special Education -
Saint Elizabeth University
Bachelor of Arts in Psychology -
Quinnipiac University
- New Jersey Standard Teaching Certification K-6
- New Jersey Standard Teaching Certification Teacher of Students with Disabilities
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