Nicole Cage
Crete,IL
Summary
Experienced Special Education Case Manager offering 22-year background in education. Result-oriented education professional skilled at strengths-based, collaborative, approach to management, relationship building, and excellent written and oral communication. Flexible and versatile team player who is committed to implementing inclusive practices and removing roadblocks to students success.
Overview
18
18
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Special Education Advocate
K Altman Law
Farmington Hills, Michigan
05.2023 - 08.2023
- Advised parents about service, programs, and accommodations that met their children's individual needs.
- Helped parents interpret reports and evaluations, as well as explaining their implications.
- Drafted requests, responses, and complaints to schools.
- Prepared parents for IEP and 504 meetings.
- Checked special education documents for accuracy and completion both before and after IEP and 504 meetings.
- Virtually accompanied parents to IEP and 504 meetings to offer advice and assistance.
- Advised parents concerning strength of their due process case before scheduling virtual meeting with firms special education attorney.
Special Education Case Manager
Chicago Public School District
Chicago, IL
08.2017 - 06.2022
- Served as local school district representative at all required meetings under IDEA and serving as 504 coordinator for all meetings under Section 504.
- Ensured all IDEA and Section 504 timelines were met.
- Ensured that all parental notices and consents for Full and Individual Evaluations and placements were processed and provided in their native language.
- Sent parents/guardians copy of draft IEP documents and if applicable paraprofessional, ESY, and Learning Environment, Intervention forms along with copies of all other conducted evaluations and any other collected data at least five school days prior to meeting.
- Ensured that all relevant student data was entered into SSM in timely manner.
- Arranged special education and related services for students within school in accordance with students IEP and contacted Office of Diverse Learners Support and Services to arrange assignments in another school if necessary to implement IEP.
- In collaboration with principal, overseeing and ensuring implementation of all IEPs and 504 plans for each student with disabilities in school.
- Trained and supported school staff regarding implementation of IDEA and section 504 requirements.
- Coordinated all referrals for Full and Individual (FIE) to ensure that process is completed within 60 school days after receiving signed parental consent, including but not limited to, referrals for assistive. technology/alternative argumentative communication evaluation or functional behavioral assessments.
- Convene and chair IEP and 504 conferences including initial and reevaluation eligibility determination meetings, annual reviews, and acting as District Representative.
- Ensured that IEP team were utilizing qualitative and quantitative data when making service decisions in development of IEP.
- Finalized each students' IEP or 504 plan in SSM at meeting and provided students' parents/guardians with copy.
- Attended all Office of Diverse Learners Support Service professional development and meetings targeted at supporting case manager/local school district representative.
- Assisted scheduler/programmer with students' classroom placement in accordance to their IEP.
- Collaborated with principal, scheduling paraprofessional in accordance with students' IEP and 504 plan.
Special Education Teacher
Chicago Public School District
Chicago, IL
08.2012 - 08.2017
- Developed interactive lesson plans to deliver high quality instruction for self-contained and resource students.
- Collaborated with general education teachers to plan and implement instruction in accordance with students' IEPs.
- Developed IEPs tailored to individual student needs, ensuring their academic success and personal growth.
- Progressed monitored students, analyzed and interpret data in order to determine students' academic needs.
- Participated on school leadership team.
- Fostered strong relationships with parents and guardians, maintaining open lines of communication to ensure student progress.
- Assisted in creating safe and nurturing classroom environment that promoted emotional well-being and academic growth for all students.
Administrative Dean of Students
Bremen Highschool School District 228
Country Club Hills, IL
08.2006 - 06.2009
- Assisted in development and articulation of school wide building management plan.
- Conferred with parents and staff to discuss district policies, students' behavior and academics.
- Supervised and evaluated certified staff.
- Recommended revision and assisted with rewriting district wide behavioral policy handbook.
- Worked with community, judicial and government agencies on incidents regarding drug abuse, gangs and truancy.
- Maintained accurate discipline records in power school.
- Conducted classroom walkthrough.
Assistant Principal
Posen Robbins School District 152.2
Robbins, IL
08.2005 - 06.2006
- Partnered with principal to administer school program in alignment with vision and goals, providing positive, high-expectation academic environment.
- Assisted with compliance efforts for fire and other safety regulations.
- Supported positive school culture by addressing student behavior concerns promptly and effectively.
- Built and maintained positive relationships with diverse stakeholders, such as parents, school volunteers and outside agencies.
- Completed school improvement plan with assistance from committee.
- Added additional bus service and restructured school bus routes.
- Coordinated special events such as parent-teacher conferences, open houses, and graduation ceremonies to promote sense of community within school.
- Communicated with parents to encourage active parental participation in education.
- Fostered safe learning environment by collaborating with security personnel and implementing safety protocols throughout school.
- Maintained school focus on learning by enforcing rules related to academics, student discipline and class attendance.
- Analyzed standardized test results to identify areas of improvement in instruction methods and curriculum content.
- Actively participated in district-level meetings to contribute insights on policies affecting schools within district.
- Performed classroom evaluations to assess teacher strategies and effectiveness.
Education
Master of Arts in Education - School Administration
Olivet Nazarene University
Bourbonnais, IL05.2005
Master of Arts - Special Education
Loyola University of Chicago
Chicago, IL01.2000
Bachelor of Arts - Political Science
Chicago State University
Chicago, IL01.1995
Skills
- Attention to Detail
- Parent Communication
- Time Management
- Organizational Skills
- Student records management
- Legal Compliance
Certification
Professional Educators License ID #2027113
Endorsements: General Administrative, Learning Disabilities, Learning Behavioral Specialist I, Social Emotional Disorder
Illinois Teacher Evaluation Certified
Timeline
Special Education Advocate
K Altman Law
05.2023 - 08.2023
Special Education Case Manager
Chicago Public School District
08.2017 - 06.2022
Special Education Teacher
Chicago Public School District
08.2012 - 08.2017
Administrative Dean of Students
Bremen Highschool School District 228
08.2006 - 06.2009
Assistant Principal
Posen Robbins School District 152.2
08.2005 - 06.2006
Master of Arts in Education - School Administration
Olivet Nazarene University
Master of Arts - Special Education
Loyola University of Chicago
Bachelor of Arts - Political Science
Chicago State University
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