Patricia Radzik

I have had many different jobs. I started working for money when I was 16 years old as a gift wrapper in a department store called Joske's in San Antonio. Afterwards, I moved to Austin and held many different jobs: IRS in the tax dept working with returns, worked at both Motorola and Crystal Semiconductor, where I designed integrated computers. I worked there until my husband became ill and eventually passed away. I had two little girls I raised by myself. They were 2 and 6 at the time of his death. For a while, I worked at the Oak Hill Post Office and delivered mail in the Circle C area and further south into what was then country and ranches. This job convinced me to go to College so I could become a teacher. I attended St Edwards and I believe I graduated in 3 years with a Bachelors Degree with a focus on Education. I already had a teaching job lined up directly after graduation on the east side of Austin in the gang territory. I know this sounds rough, but actually, the kids really wanted to learn and they were very protective of me. From Austin Can, I followed my then principal to East Austin College Prep were my job was strictly Special Ed. I remained there until July of this year. I have been enjoying my time off and I am more than ready to return to work. I miss the comradery with the staff and especially the children. I hope you found the story of my professional life Interesting and entertaining. The kids would often ask me to tell them a story. I used them as a reward for doing there expected assignments!

Special Ed is and always will be my foremost favorite occupation the the teaching world.

I conducted Resource Math Briefly to help out the schools and the kiddos. I have not done so for a very long time now because my focus has been strictly on Special Ed and ARD Facilitating.

• Served as a mentor for new teachers in the mathematics department, sharing best practices and providing guidance on effective teaching methods.
• Developed and implemented assessment tools to monitor student progress, effectively adjusting instructional methods as needed.
• Promoted a positive learning environment by establishing clear expectations and consistently enforcing classroom rules and procedures.
• Coordinated extracurricular tutoring sessions to provide additional support for struggling students outside of the classroom setting.
• Contributed to school-wide initiatives aimed at improving overall academic achievement, participating in professional development workshops and collaborative planning sessions.
• Advocated for the importance of mathematics education within the school community by presenting at conferences, writing articles for educational publications, or hosting informational events for parents.
• Improved student focus and participation by incorporating engaging activities and group work into daily lessons.
• Established positive relationships with students, parents, and fellow educators to support student growth and achievement.
• Utilized data-driven instruction to target specific areas for improvement in students'' math skills, leading to significant gains in academic performance.
• Created and managed IEPs to define student learning objectives and educational strategies, in addition to applying instructional knowledge and methods to support goals.
• Taught multiple subjects to students with intellectual or emotional disabilities.
• Delivered effective and differentiated classroom instruction to range of neurodiverse students.
• Cultivated connections and strong student rapport to foster classroom engagement, in addition to recording student progress to inform parents and school administration.
• Taught students across multiple classifications and degrees of special needs.
• Modified general education curriculum for special-needs students using various instructional techniques and technologies.
• Redirected students using Positive Behavior Support (PBS).
• Assisted struggling students to maintain progress levels by designing individualized lesson plans focused on areas for improvement.
• Instructed students with physical and cognitive disabilities.