Melissa S. Acenas
Wolf Point,MT
Summary
Experienced with developing and implementing individualized education plans for students with diverse learning needs. Utilizes effective behavior management techniques to create positive and inclusive classroom environment. Track record of collaborating with multidisciplinary teams to support student success and development.
Overview
13
13
years of professional experience
Work History
1st - 2nd Grade Special Education Teacher
Wolf Point School District
Wolf Point, MT
08.2025 - Current
- Develops individualized education plans to meet diverse student needs.
- Implements behavior management strategies to enhance classroom engagement.
- Collaborates with multidisciplinary teams to assess and support student progress.
- Monitors academic performance and adjusts teaching methods accordingly.
- Advocates for student accommodations within school policies and community resources.
- Conducts parent-teacher conferences to discuss student achievements and challenges.
- Develops IEPs tailored to individual student needs, ensuring their academic success and personal growth.
- Creates and manages IEPs to define student learning objectives and educational strategies, in addition to applying instructional knowledge and methods to support goals.
- Promotes a positive learning environment through the use of differentiated instruction and individualized support for diverse learners.
- Fosters strong relationships with parents and guardians, maintaining open lines of communication to ensure student progress.
- Improves student behavior management by implementing consistent routines, clear expectations, and positive reinforcement strategies.
- Participates in ongoing professional development opportunities focused on evidence-based practices in special education teaching methodologies.
- Evaluates student progress regularly using various assessment methods, ensuring accurate measurement of skill development and areas requiring additional support.
- Teachers students across multiple classifications and degrees of special needs.
- Coordinates with general education teachers to develop accommodations or modifications necessary for successful inclusion of students with special needs in mainstream classrooms.
- Cultivates connections and strong student rapport to foster classroom engagement, in addition to recording student progress to inform parents and school administration.
- Assists struggling students to maintain progress levels by designing individualized lesson plans focused on areas for improvement.
- Collaborates with multidisciplinary teams to provide comprehensive support for students with special needs.
- Provides targeted instructional support to struggling learners, identifying specific areas for improvement and designing effective intervention plans.
- Develops individualized education plans to meet diverse student needs.
- Implements behavior management strategies to enhance classroom engagement.
2nd – 3rd Grade Special Education Teacher (Resource)
Southside Elementary
Wolf Point, MT
08.2021 - 05.2025
- Established and communicated clear objectives for all lessons, units and projects to both students and parents.
- Implemented specialized tests to evaluate literacy performance.
- Promoted language development skills through reading and storytelling.
- Developed interesting and interactive learning methods tailored to help students with individual needs.
- Facilitated the development of life skills in students with varying degrees of Autism.
- Worked with students of varying degrees of specialized need to accomplish tasks and build practical skills.
- Established clear objectives for all lessons to both students and parents.
- Developed Individual Education Programs (IEP) to establish student outcome goals and define educational strategies; leveraged developmental practices and educational theories to achieve educational objectives.
4th Grade Special Education Teacher (Inclusion)
KINOGUITAN CENTRAL SCHOOL
Kinoguitan, Misamis Oriental, Philippines
08.2018 - 08.2021
- Crafted and delivered detailed objectives for lessons and projects, promoting transparency and collaboration among students and parents.
- Analyzed literacy performance data to identify specific improvement opportunities and inform instructional strategies.
- Designed and produced thorough instructional documents and communication memos to promote clarity in information exchange.
- Implemented structured reading sessions and storytelling methods to cultivate advanced language abilities and foster engagement.
- Crafted and executed dynamic educational approaches to foster enriched learning environments for students.
- Created and facilitated tailored programs focused on fostering critical life skills in students with different levels of autism.
- Mentored students with specific challenges in executing tasks and fostering critical skill sets.
- Designed comprehensive lesson objectives to ensure transparency and alignment with educational goals for both students and parents.
- Engaged with educators and specialists to formulate customized education plans that support student success and align with their unique requirements.
- Department of Education, Misamis Oriental
- Developed individualized education plans to support diverse learning needs.
- Collaborated with multidisciplinary teams to enhance student engagement and curriculum effectiveness.
Multi-grade Level Special Education Teacher (Inclusion)
KALITIAN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Kinoguitan, Misamis Oriental, Philippines
07.2016 - 08.2018
- Wrote instructional materials, communication memos, and reports for approval and distribution.
- Provided specialized classroom instruction to a broad range of students with Developmental Disorders, including Autism.
- Created new ideas and strategies for learning to be approved by administration.
- Promoted language development skills through reading and storytelling.
- Developed interesting and interactive learning methods tailored to help students with individual needs.
- Worked with students of varying degrees of specialized need to accomplish tasks and build practical skills.
- Fostered relationships with students to increase engagement, and periodically reported student progress to parents/guardians and school leadership.
- Designed and implemented Individual Education Plans (IEP) to provide educational, physical, and social development activities.
- Directed individual and small group activities designed to accommodate students with different learning needs.
- Department of Education, Misamis Oriental
- Girl’s Scout Moderator
- Planned varied interactive activities that fostered camaraderie, sportsmanship and good characteristics of a girl’s scout.
- Attended meetings with other schools’ moderators.
- Provided guidance and trainings on leadership and empowerment.
- Implemented behavior management strategies to enhance classroom engagement.
- Developed individualized education plans to support diverse learning needs.
Grade 7 Level Coordinator
CORPUS CHRISTI SCHOOL
Cagayan de Oro City
05.2015 - 05.2016
- Conducted weekly groups to support teachers in developing positive behavioral tools and skills.
- Organized program development events emphasizing individual donor and corporate cultivation.
- Performed classroom and teacher evaluations and completed observation reports.
- Created unique lesson plans to be used to engage differing student levels.
- Identified professional development needs through creating and presenting teacher surveys.
- Coached teachers to improve instructional practices through professional development, modeling instructional strategies and feedback.
- Planned and facilitated relevant, needs-based professional learning tools, resources and educational materials to enhance teaching skills.
- Counseled students on personal, academic, vocational, and behavioral issues and actualized plans to remove obstacles to success.
- Met with parents and instructors to discuss student progress and behavioral or learning issues.
- Partnered with administrative leadership to improve discipline practices based on data findings.
- Collaborated with teachers to understand and improve classroom conditions.
7th Grade Special Education Teacher (Inclusion)
CORPUS CHRISTI SCHOOL
Cagayan de Oro City
05.2013 - 05.2016
- Created unique lesson plans to be used to engage grade 7 students.
- Developed IEPs for student instruction to address gaps in learning and made use of various teaching aids and motivational games.
- Monitored learners’ scores in quizzes, tests and performance tasks to improve areas in my teaching methods.
- Consistently communicated with parents to report on learners’ concerns and progress.
- Conducted personal talks with learners individually.
- Created activities that developed and established learners’ creativity and authenticity on the subject such as making a context out of a photograph.
- Wrote instructional materials, communication memos, and reports for approval and distribution.
- Provided specialized classroom instruction to a broad range of students with Developmental Disorders, including Autism.
- Promoted language development skills through reading and storytelling.
- Collaborated with fellow educators and IEP Team with the objective of improving student success.
- Developed interesting and interactive learning methods tailored to help students with individual needs.
- Developed Individual Education Plans (IEP) to establish student outcome goals and define educational strategies; leveraged developmental practices and educational theories to achieve educational objectives.
- Designed and implemented Individual Education Plans (IEP) to provide educational, physical, and social development activities.
- Cagayan de Oro City
Education
Master of Arts in Teaching - Special Education
University of Science And Technology of Southern Philippines
Philippines09-2020
Bachelor of Elementary Education - Special Education
Mindanao University of Science And Technology
Philippines04-2013
Skills
- CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT
- IEP IMPLEMENTATION
- SPECIALIZED TESTING
- CRITICAL THINKING
- CREATIVE LESSON PLANNING
- TEAM BUILDING
- GOAL SETTING AND IMPLEMENTATION
- CLASSROOM INSTRUCTION
- CLASSROOM DISCIPLINE
- TIME MANAGEMENT
- MULTI-TASK MANAGEMENT
- PROMOTION
- DECISION-MAKING
- PARENT/TEACHER CONFERENCES
- PERSONALIZED INSTRUCTION
Awards
- Outstanding Performance in Television-Based Instruction, 2020-12-01, Department of Education, Northern Mindanao, Philippines
- 3rd Placer – 2019 Division Research Congress (SpEd Category), 2019-10-01, Department of Education, Northern Mindanao, Philippines
- Outstanding District Research Presenter, 2019-10-01, Department of Education, Northern Mindanao, Philippines
Timeline
1st - 2nd Grade Special Education Teacher
Wolf Point School District
08.2025 - Current
2nd – 3rd Grade Special Education Teacher (Resource)
Southside Elementary
08.2021 - 05.2025
4th Grade Special Education Teacher (Inclusion)
KINOGUITAN CENTRAL SCHOOL
08.2018 - 08.2021
Multi-grade Level Special Education Teacher (Inclusion)
KALITIAN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
07.2016 - 08.2018
Grade 7 Level Coordinator
CORPUS CHRISTI SCHOOL
05.2015 - 05.2016
7th Grade Special Education Teacher (Inclusion)
CORPUS CHRISTI SCHOOL
05.2013 - 05.2016
Master of Arts in Teaching - Special Education
University of Science And Technology of Southern Philippines
Bachelor of Elementary Education - Special Education
Mindanao University of Science And Technology