Michele Grimm
Fort Wayne
Summary
A School Psychologist with over 30 years of experience who is a proactive, positive individual with a proven ability to build trust and develop effective relationships. I have a proven track record completing comprehensive assessments which are used in the identification of student needs. I possess communication skills which can bring technical and complicated terminology to a level to which parents, students, and staff are able to more efficiently understand the learning style of their student. I am able to effectively perform at the highest level in difficult and challenging environments. Excellent organizational skills, combined with the ability to adapt to new challenges. Expertise in handling and resolution of a wide range of learning and assessment issues. Outstanding interpersonal and communication skills. I have a proven ability to step up and take on additional responsibilities in order to maximize the mission and vision of the district.
Overview
35
35
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
School Psychologist
Fort Wayne Community Schools
04.2016 - Current
- Consult with teachers and parents to gain in-depth understanding of students.
- Conduct functional behavioral assessments to identify underlying causes of challenging behaviors and create effective behavior intervention plans accordingly.
- Collaborate with educators, school administrators and external professionals in development of Individualized Education Plans (IEPs).
- Maintain accurate records and documentation in accordance with state regulations, ensuring confidentiality and ethical practices across all professional activities.
- Provide professional development opportunities for staff members on topics related to mental health awareness, classroom management, and social-emotional learning.
- Enhance student-teacher relationships through consultation services aimed at fostering empathetic understanding of individual student needs and experiences.
- Improve student well-being by conducting comprehensive psychological assessments and creating tailored intervention plans.
- Collaborate with teachers, parents, and community partners to implement effective strategies for addressing students'' unique learning needs.
- Serve as a liaison between families, school personnel, community agencies, and other professionals involved in the care of students with special needs or disabilities.
- Built positive and productive relationships with students, parents, educators and community resources.
- Support the transition process for students entering new educational settings, ensuring smooth integration and appropriate accommodations.
- Support students' transition to higher education by offering guidance and psychological assessments that informed their educational choices.
- Compile and interpret students' test results along with information from teachers and parents to diagnose conditions and assess eligibility for special services.
- Selected, administered and scored psychological tests.
- Evaluated existing psychoeducational programs to ensure alignment with evidence-based practices and emerging research findings in the field of school psychology.
- Enhanced collaboration among multidisciplinary teams by facilitating regular meetings between educators, counselors, and other support staff members.
- Supported successful transitions for students entering or leaving the school community through effective communication and planning efforts.
School Psychologist
DeKalb Central School District
01.2014 - 01.2016
- Consulted with teachers and parents to gain in-depth understanding of students.
- Collaborated with educators, school administrators and external professionals in development of Individualized Education Plans (IEPs).
- Utilized formal and established testing protocols to evaluate educational, emotional and behavioral needs of students.
- Coordinated with multidisciplinary teams to ensure comprehensive support for students with complex needs.
Special Education Coordinator/School Psychologist
East Noble School Corporation
01.2010 - 01.2014
- Coordinated with outside state agencies to acquire services for special needs children.
- Facilitated IEP meetings by using family-centered, strength-based approach.
- Advocated for appropriate resources and supports necessary for special education students to succeed academically and socially.
- Participated in multidisciplinary team meetings focused on identifying unique strengths and challenges faced by each child while developing effective solutions.
- Evaluated 10-person special education staff through classroom observation, feedback and recommendations.
- Maintained contact with parents to address concerns and needs of children.
- Collaborated with families to provide resources for children outside of school district.
- Organized professional development workshops focused on special education topics, increasing staff knowledge and expertise in the field.
- Improved parent satisfaction and communication by organizing regular meetings to discuss student progress and address concerns.
- Facilitated ongoing communication between school personnel, families, service providers, specialists, regarding student goals and progress.
- Developed strong relationships with parents, caregivers, and outside service providers to support student progress both in school and at home.
- Implemented technology-based learning tools to enhance educational access for students with diverse learning needs.
- Planned, administered and controlled budgets and produced financial reports.
School Psychologist
East Noble School Corporation
01.1999 - 01.2010
- Conducted functional behavioral assessments to identify underlying causes of challenging behaviors and create effective behavior intervention plans accordingly.
- Maintained accurate records and documentation in accordance with state regulations, ensuring confidentiality and ethical practices across all professional activities.
- Provided professional development opportunities for staff members on topics related to mental health awareness, classroom management, and social-emotional learning.
- Coordinated with multidisciplinary teams to ensure comprehensive support for students with complex needs.
- Selected, administered and scored psychological tests.
- Consulted with teachers and parents to gain in-depth understanding of students.
School Psychologist
Northeast Indiana Special Education Cooperative
01.1990 - 01.1999
Education
M.S. - School Psychology
University of St. Francis
Fort Wayne, Indiana01.1990
B.S. - Psychology, Minor: Biology
University of Evansville
Evansville, Indiana01.1986
Skills
- Utilize advanced technology skills to create and publish special education forms
- Assisted in development of special education forms compliant with state and federal regulations
- Coordinate and facilitate on-site training to local special education staff
- Coordinate local effort in building response to instruction by participating in building level RtI committees
- Use clear, concise communication skills in conjunction with organizational skills to perform daily duties
- Recognized for long hours, commitment to stakeholders, attention to detail, professionalism, and follow-up
- Supported the inclusion of personal devices (IPADS) for our special needs students within the self contained settings
- Mediation and problem solving skills
- Resourceful, energetic, competent, multi-task and results-oriented
- Serve as the Public Agency Representative in a range of case conferences
- Monitor completion and compliance of timelines in ISTAR, IEP, and Section 504 cases
- Complete comprehensive and meaningful multidisciplinary team evaluations while communicating these results to teachers and families in a manner which they are able to understand the learning style of their student
- Certified therapy dog handler
- Preschool coordinator for the district - schedule referrals and complete assessments for students exiting First Steps to parent referrals
Certification
- School Psychologist - School Services Personnel. State of Indiana. Issued: June 6, 2021 Expires: June 6, 2031
- Independent Practice - School Services Personnel. State of Indiana. Issued: June 6, 2021 Expires: June 6, 2031
Affiliations
- National Association of School Psychologists
- Indiana Association of School Psychologists
Training
- Making Sense of the VB-MAPP: Strategies for Assessment and Program development for Children with Autism in Public School Settings, 2015
- Nonviolent Crisis Prevention Intervention. Kendallville, IN, 2012 to 2015
- Section 504: From Referral to Placement and Everything in Between. Plymouth Indiana, 2014
- Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule 2nd Ed. Workshop (ADOS-2). MSD Warren Township Indianapolis, Indiana, 2014
- RISE: Teacher Evaluation Rubric - IDOE. Kendallville, IN, 2012 to 2013
- Hallmarks Leadership Training. Kendallville, IN, 2012 to 2013
- NE IN Special Education Administrators' Roundtable, 2012 to 2013
- Fall ICASE - ICASE, 2009 to 2012
- NE IN Special Education Administrators Roundtable, 2011 to 2012
- Online Autism Pro Workshops - Autism Pro Workshops, 2010 to 2011
- NE IN Special Education Administrators Roundtable, 2010 to 2011
- East Noble Study Group on Raising Achievement, 2006 to 2009
- Fall conferences, roundtables - Indiana Association of School Psychologists, 2002 to 2009
- IIEP Training - DOE. Kendallville, IN, 2013
- Transition Training - NEISEC, 2013
- IREAD 3 Administration. Kendallville, IN, 2012
- Current in Special Education - Indiana School Boards Association, 2011
- ISTAR KR, 2010
- Planning Comprehensive Behavior Interventions for Autism - Ziggurat, 2010
- IASP Fall Annual Conference - IASP. Indianapolis, Indiana, 2009
- Partnering to Build Better IEP's: A workshop for parents and educators - DASNI. Fort Wayne, Indiana, 2009
- Cross Battery Assessment and Best Practices in Writing RtI reports - IASP. Warsaw, Indiana, 2009
- Tiered Intervention and Prevention - SASP. Indianapolis, Indiana, 2007
- Autism Diagnostic Inventory Revised (ADI-R). Muncie, Indiana, 2007
- Legal Aspects of FBA/BIP. NEISEC Kendallville, Indiana, 2006
- IDEA Reauthorization in Indiana. South Bend, Indiana, 2005
- INSOURCE Annual State Conference - INSOURCE. Indianapolis, Indiana, 2003.
- Served as a member of a presentation team/panel on standards based IEP's
- Diagnosing, Parenting, and Working with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Children - Northeastern Center. Kendallville, Indiana, 2003
- Current practices regarding nonverbal learning disabilities and current mental health illnesses and concerns regarding schizophrenia and bipolar disorders - IASP Roundtable, 2002
- Autism Training Opportunities. Huntington, Indiana, 2002
- Inclusion of Down Syndrome students - Down Syndrome Society. Fort Wayne, Indiana, 2002
- Neuropsychology for School Psychologists/Motivation Assessment and Performance - IASP, 2001
Timeline
School Psychologist
Fort Wayne Community Schools
04.2016 - Current
School Psychologist
DeKalb Central School District
01.2014 - 01.2016
Special Education Coordinator/School Psychologist
East Noble School Corporation
01.2010 - 01.2014
School Psychologist
East Noble School Corporation
01.1999 - 01.2010
School Psychologist
Northeast Indiana Special Education Cooperative
01.1990 - 01.1999
B.S. - Psychology, Minor: Biology
University of Evansville
M.S. - School Psychology
University of St. Francis