Melissa M. Ward
Wetumpka,AL
Summary
Passionate, caring, student-focused teaching professional with a wealth of teaching experience as a Special Education teacher, Title I Intervention teacher, Language Arts teacher, English as a Second Language teacher, Problem Solving Team Coordinator, and Building Level Team member. Proven track record of actively and effectively working with students at all levels of ability. Exemplary interpersonal skills with excellent verbal and written communication skills.
Overview
27
27
years of professional experience
3
3
Certifications
Work History
Special Education Teacher/ Title I Representative
Holtville Middle School
Deatsville, AL
08.2020 - Current
- Modified general education curriculum for special needs students using various instructional techniques and technologies.
- Assisted struggling students to maintain progress levels by designing individualized lesson plans focused on areas for improvement.
- Taught students across multiple classifications and degrees of special needs.
- Partnered with general education teachers from across academic departments.
- Designed or used assessments to monitor student learning outcomes.
Intervention/ ESL teacher and 7th Language Arts teacher
Holtville Middle School
Deatsville, AL
08.2012 - 05.2020
- Taught 7th grade English Language Arts (standard and Pre-AP)
- Taught Creative Writing to diverse classes of 8th-grade students
- Taught 7/8 Reading Remediation classes working collaboratively with 7/8 teachers to provide focused remediation on deficit areas based on curriculum-based assessments
- Worked collaboratively with classroom teachers to schedule and provide large group, small group, and individual remediation to students in grades 5-8
- Chaired Title I and ESL committee meetings
- Presented Understanding the ESL Program in Your School and Annual Meeting of Title I Parents
- Chaired school-wide Problem Solving Team (PST) using RtI model to provide high-quality instruction and intervention matched to student needs, using learning rate over time and level of performance to inform instructional decisions
- Collaborated with faculty and shareholders to develop Holtville Middle School's Continuous Improvement Plan (CIP)
- Collaborated with faculty and shareholders on Holtville Middle School's AdvancED Accreditation Team
- Monitored ASPIRE testing as Portal Proctor
- Facilitated and monitored HMS Yearbook Staff during the development of the yearbook, slideshow presentations, and orientation movies
Special Education teacher
Holtville Middle School
Deatsville, AL
09.2004 - 05.2012
- Taught Language Arts and Math in a resource and inclusive setting to 5th and 6th grade special needs students
- Taught all core subjects to special needs students in a self-contained setting (grades 5-8)
- Performed student background reviews to develop tailored lessons based on student needs
- Designed lesson plans focused on age and level-appropriate material
- Administered annual achievement testing to special needs students to develop annual IEPs
- Trained, managed, and scheduled special education paraprofessionals
- Collaborated with general education teachers to provide special needs students access to general education curriculum.
- Modified general education curriculum for special-needs students using various instructional techniques and technologies.
Special Education teacher
Robinson Springs Elementary School
Millbrook, AL
08.1998 - 05.2003
- Taught Language Arts and Math in resource and inclusive settings to 3rd grade special needs students
- Designed lesson plans focused on age and level-appropriate material
- Administered annual achievement testing to special needs students to develop IEPs
- Trained, managed, and scheduled special education paraprofessionals
- Collaborated with general education teachers to provide special needs students access to general education curriculum
- Routinely met with students' parents regarding in-class issues and learning interruptions to discuss solutions.
Special Education teacher
Wetumpka Intermediate School
Wetumpka, AL
08.1996 - 05.1998
- Taught Language Arts and Math in a resource and inclusive setting to 4th-6th grade special needs students
- Administered annual achievement testing to special needs students to develop IEPs
- Routinely met with students' parents regarding in-class issues and learning interruptions to discuss solutions
- Collaborated with general education teachers to provide special needs students access to general education curriculum.
Education
Master of Arts - Education: English As A Second Language
The University of Alabama At Birmingham
Birmingham, AL08.2018
Bachelor of Science - Special Education
Georgia Southwestern State University
Americus, GA03.1996
Skills
- Student records management
- Conflict resolution techniques
- Student Progress Reporting
- Motivating Students
- Group and individual instruction
- Differentiated instruction
- Classroom management
- Documentation skills
Certification
Alabama Professional Educator Certification:
Class A, English for Speakers of Other Languages Grades P-12, 2018-present
Class B, Special Education Grades P-12, 1996-present
Specific Learning Disabilities and Mental Retardation
Class B, Secondary Grades 6-12, 2012-present
English Language Arts
Quote
“You can’t go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending.”
C.S. Lewis
Work Availability
monday
tuesday
wednesday
thursday
friday
saturday
sunday
morning
afternoon
evening
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Accomplishments
- Trained fellow teachers on the procedures for completing Individual Education Plans.
Timeline
Special Education Teacher/ Title I Representative
Holtville Middle School
08.2020 - Current
Intervention/ ESL teacher and 7th Language Arts teacher
Holtville Middle School
08.2012 - 05.2020
Special Education teacher
Holtville Middle School
09.2004 - 05.2012
Special Education teacher
Robinson Springs Elementary School
08.1998 - 05.2003
Special Education teacher
Wetumpka Intermediate School
08.1996 - 05.1998
Master of Arts - Education: English As A Second Language
The University of Alabama At Birmingham
Bachelor of Science - Special Education
Georgia Southwestern State University
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