Melissa M. Ward

Collaborated with administration, teachers, and support staff to identify areas in need of improvement and implement solutions.
Planned and facilitated professional development for special education staff in various areas of need and compliance.
Assisted IEP teams, administration, professional staff, and support staff with the effective implementation of federal, state, and local mandates.
Monitored the special education process with all special education staff for compliance.
Website administrator for Special Education's section of the district website.
Google Classroom administrator for Special Education's Google Classroom resource for district Special Education Teachers.

Developed training materials to support employee onboarding and skill development.

• 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.

• 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

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.