Margaret Fechter
Summary
Dedicated Special Educator with over 20 years' experience in public schools. Committed to providing a positive atmosphere and learning environment to students, families, and school personnel. Compassionate, team-oriented leader with proven multi-tasking abilities.
Overview
21
21
years of professional experience
Work History
Special Education Department Chair
Fairfax County Public Schools
08.2016 - Current
- Local Screening Chair (lead initial and reevaluation meetings)
- Coach and assist first year teachers with IEP writing, specially designed instruction lesson planning, data collection, model lessons.
- Lead weekly departmental meetings to relay important and relevant information relating to current best practices in special education.
- Co-plan with Office of Special Eduction Instruction to provide staff development with the special education team that focuses on specially designed instruction and leveraging best practices.
- Collaborate with school-based administration and central office teams using current data to develop best practices for special education instruction of students with disabilities.
- Collaborate with and use data with special education teachers and general education teachers to ensure appropriate educational programming is in place (instructional matching)
- Attend MTSS meetings and review data to determine next steps for students not progressing with tiered intervention(s).
- Provide procedural support to the special education team (IEP, educational evaluations, reevaluation & initial meetings, progress reports)
- Case manage students with disabilities (created SDI lessons, implemented informal assessments to drive instruction, data collection, created IEPs)
Special Education Teacher
Fairfax County Public Schools
08.2003 - 06.2016
- Developed Standards Based Individualized Education Plans for students with learning disabilities, emotional disabilities, and high functioning Autism.
- Acted as a liaison with other members of the special education staff, general educators, parents, and administrators to make sure that the needs of the students are being met.
- Provided small group or individualized instruction and provided special education services based on the continuum of services to best meet the needs of the children.
- Co-taught and collaborated with general education teachers and resource teachers in all content areas.
- Member of Responsive Instruction Team (MTSS).
- Mentor ed new special education teachers as needed.
- Co-Planned with general education teachers in CLTs (Collaborative Learning Teams) to maximize curriculum and pacing. Also provided differentiated lessons for all students.
- Utilized pacing guides to implement lesson plans using OneNote.
Education
Masters of Education - Special Education
George Mason University
Fairfax, VA05.2006
Bachelor of Science - Business Administration
Fordham University
The Bronx, NY05.1993
Skills
- Local Screening Chair
- Specially Designed Instruction Planning & Implementation
- Orton Gillingham-Multi-Sensory Reading Program
- Teachers as Instructional Leaders
- Instructional Matching
- Data Collection
Affiliations
- Local Screening Chair
- MTSS-Academic
- School Improvement Team
- Instructional Leadership Team
Timeline
Special Education Department Chair
Fairfax County Public Schools
08.2016 - Current
Special Education Teacher
Fairfax County Public Schools
08.2003 - 06.2016
Masters of Education - Special Education
George Mason University
Bachelor of Science - Business Administration
Fordham University