Rachel Ables
Cordova,TN
Summary
With over 20 years of teaching experience, including 14 years in the same district, I have effectively collaborated with parents, therapists, and fellow educators to develop comprehensive educational plans. I am a compassionate, creative and effective special education teacher with valuable experience in classroom administration, professional development and project planning. Equipped with extensive background in versatile education environments. Student-centric instructor, academic facilitator and motivational coach. Competent at performing independently or as member of teaching team. Well-versed in management techniques to maintain productive and respectful learning envrionment.
I believe in fostering strong relationships among all individuals involved in a student's well-being, aiming to create a supportive and individualized environment that helps students understand their disabilities and the requirements for their success. Drawing from my personal experience navigating my own disability, I advocate strongly for independence and self-advocacy.
I have strong analytical, communication, and teamwork skills, with proven ability to quickly adapt to new environments and find solutions to complex problems. I am eager to contribute to team success and further develop professional skills. I will bring a positive attitude, fresh perspective and a commitment to continuous learn and grow.
Overview
14
14
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Teacher of Student's with Visual Impairments (CTVI)
Bartlett City Schools/Contracted out with Germantown Municipal School District
06.2024 - 10.2024
- Develop and implement individualized educational plans (IEPs)
- Develop and implement Functional Visual and Learning Media Assessments (FVLMA) for students
- Determine initial eligibility for students based on Tennessee state law and federal law
- Conduct re-evaluations of students as needed
- Provide necessary materials to students who meet Federal Quota requirements.
- Review students' cumulative files
- Fax eye reports to doctors and interpret the results
- Develop and implement functional vision assessments and learning media assessments
- Integrate students with visual impairments into general education classrooms
- Modify work as needed
- Provide Braille training in UEB and Nemeth code
- Implement the Expanded Core Curriculum (ECC)
- I seek assistance when necessary
- Lead and participate in meetings at different schools
- Research unfamiliar eye conditions and reach out to other resources
- Keep team members informed of student progress
- Order and distribute large print books for visually impaired students
- Sign students up for free services like the National Library Services (NLS)
- Write and present documents for IEP meetings
- I work with students from kindergarten to age 22 with various eye conditions.
- Implement goals and objectives set in the IEP.
- Supervise, train, and provide strategies to practice within the classroom setting.
- Manage classroom behaviors
- Use and implement assistive technology such as embossers and braille writers.
- Encourage students to explore and advocate for themselves
- Support orientation and mobility goals and related service goals
- Encourage parents to be actively involved in their child's education and independence
- Adhere to state and federal laws.
- Modified lessons and curriculum to accommodate diverse learners using strategies like peer-assisted learning and group work.
- She created and developed lesson plans to meet students' academic needs.
- I worked with staff members and teachers to design comprehensive and individualized plans to optimize student education.
- They adapted teaching methods and materials to meet students' varying needs.
- It increased educational expertise and knowledge by participating in instructor-oriented workshops.
- Completed student progress reports mid-term to notify students and parents of strengths and areas of improvement.
- We communicated frequently with parents, students, and faculty to provide feedback and discuss instructional strategies.
Reource/Co-Teach: SPED Student
Bartlett City Schools
08.2023 - 06.2024
- Delivered effective and differentiated classroom instruction to a range of neurodiverse students.
- Taught students across multiple classifications and degrees of special needs.
- Assisted struggling students to maintain progress levels by designing individualized lesson plans focused on areas for improvement.
- Instructed students with physical and cognitive disabilities.
- Taught multiple subjects to students with intellectual or emotional disabilities.
- Led activities that developed students' physical, emotional, and social growth.
- Partnered with standard education teachers from across academic departments.
- Created and managed IEPs to define student learning objectives, educational strategies, instructional knowledge, and methods to support goals.
- Redirected students using Positive Behavior Support (PBS).
- Cultivated connections and strong student rapport to foster classroom engagement and student progress to inform parents and school administration.
- Modified general education curriculum for special-needs students using various instructional techniques and technologies.
- Coordinated special education students' and teacher assistant schedules with the master schedule.
- Encouraged students to take ownership of learning by providing choices.
- Improved behavior by modeling positive choices and teaching socially acceptable options.
- Collaborated with other educators to develop instructional strategies.
- Developed Individual Education Plans for students with special needs.
- Promoted memory, cognition, and language development with hands-on activities and individualized instruction.
- Facilitated small group instruction to address individual learning needs.
- Planned daily activities to keep students engaged and on track with learning goals.
- Monitored student performance to evaluate the effectiveness of instructional strategies.
- Conducted assessments of students to determine individual needs.
Preschool: Special Education Teacher
Bartlett City Schools
09.2017 - 05.2024
- Create and implement age-appropriate goals and objectives
- Use various teaching strategies based on individual needs and preferences
- Reinforce positive behavior
- Provide a safe and structured environment
- Incorporate sensory activities
- Promote language development through storyboards, songs, and sign language
- Promote communication using Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS)
- Create and implement visual schedules for daily and school schedules
- Establish professional relationships with parents, teachers, directors, and therapists
- Collaborate with general education teachers and related services
- Encourage parents to be actively involved in their child's education
- Create situations to promote communication and problem-solving skills
- A team player
- Manage and train paraprofessionals
- Effectively communicate with paraprofessionals, parents, and school personnel.
- Provided respite night in December for parents to have a night to themselves
- Promote independence
- Adhere to state and federal laws.
- Maintained accurate records of student progress and attendance.
- Led activities that developed students' physical, emotional, and social growth.
- Coordinated special education students' and teacher assistant schedules with the master schedule.
- Worked closely with parents and guardians to address students' issues.
- Implemented behavior modification techniques to improve student social and academic performance.
- Developed and implemented behavior management plans to improve student behavior.
- Provided emotional support to students and families.
- Helped students with special needs integrate into general classroom environments by advocating for individual requirements and assisting teachers to solve problems.
Teacher: Alternative/Behavior Classroom
Bartlett City Schools
08.2012 - 05.2016
- Developed Individualized Educational Plans (IEP) based on the individual needs of the students
- Created, developed, and implemented behavioral charts and plans based on the student's individualized needs
- Collected data using customizable behavioral charts based on the individual
- Integrated students into the general educational classroom
- Kept up with current training in crisis management, CPR, and AED
- Wrote and presented documents to lead IEP meetings
- Administered TCAP TN Ready
- Implemented general educational lesson plans
- Worked with students ranging from kindergarten to fifth grade
- I worked with a variety of disabilities, emotional disturbance, behavioral disorders, and autism
- Created and implemented behavior goals and objectives
- Supervised and trained assistants
- Collaborated with other staff members to plan and schedule lessons promoting learning and student engagement
- Delegated tasks to teacher assistants
- Managed classroom behaviors
- Implemented RTI (intervention) programs
- Created, customized, and integrated a point system to document student's individual behavioral needs
- Taught students to take ownership and responsibility for their actions using social skills and role-play
- Taught students that actions have consequences
- Encouraged students to explore issues in their lives and the world around them and provided coping and problem-solving skills
- Encouraged parents to take an active role in their child's education through training, open communication, and available resources within their community
- Abided by state and federal law.
- Completed student progress reports mid-term to notify students and parents of strengths and areas of improvement.
- Worked with staff members and teachers to design comprehensive and individualized plans to optimize student education.
- Participated in department meetings to provide input to colleagues about student achievement and improvement.
- Adapted teaching methods and materials to meet students' varying needs.
- Designed detailed learning plans for struggling students based on tests, homework, and assignment records.
Special Education Teacher: Functional Skills
Shelby County
08.2010 - 05.2012
- Collaborated with parents, teachers, and other professionals to ensure the best educational plan for each student
- Provided ongoing support and guidance to staff in implementing IEPs
- Attended and participated in IEP meetings and annual reviews
- Conducted alternative assessments to monitor progress (Portfolio) and make adjustments to individualized plans as needed
- Supported students in accessing and participating in extracurricular activities
- Acted as a liaison between school and community resources
- Kept up to date with current trends and best practices in special education
- Engaged in professional development to enhance skills and knowledge
- Prioritized student safety and well-being at all times
- Built positive relationships with students to foster a supportive learning environment
- Adapted teaching strategies to meet the diverse needs of students
- Celebrated successes and milestones with students to promote a positive self-image
- Strive to create an inclusive and welcoming classroom environment for all students.
- Redirected students using Positive Behavior Support (PBS).
- Cultivated connections and strong student rapport to foster classroom engagement and student progress to inform parents and school administration.
- Partnered with standard education teachers from across academic departments.
- Created and managed IEPs to define student learning objectives, educational strategies, instructional knowledge, and methods to support goals.
- Instructed students with physical and cognitive disabilities.
- Taught students across multiple classifications and degrees of special needs.
- Helped students with special needs integrate into general classroom environments by advocating for individual requirements and assisting teachers to solve problems.
- Provided emotional support to students and families.
- Improved behavior by modeling positive choices and teaching socially acceptable options.
- Implemented behavior modification techniques to improve student social and academic performance.
Education
Master of Science - Teacher of Students Visual Impairments
Trevecca. Nazarene University
01.2017
Master of Science - Special Education
University of Memphis
01.2012
Bachelor of Science - Child Development and Family Studies
Middle Tennessee State University
01.2005
Skills
- Relationship building
- Critical thinking
- Classroom management
- Lesson planning
- Data management
- Team collaboration
- Motivating students
- De-escalation techniques
- Parent communications
- Parent-teacher communication
- Collaborative learning
- Growth mindset
- Data-driven instruction
- Assessment strategies
- Faculty collaboration
- Special needs students
- Serving diverse communities
- Learning style assessment
- Verbal and written communication
- Team building
- Data analysis
- Reporting and documentation
- Parental participation
- Flexible and adaptive
- Task prioritization
Certification
- Master's 2012: Certified Special Education Teacher Modified (K-12)
- Master's 2017: Certified Teacher of Visual Impairments (CTVI)
Accomplishments
- Chosen for the BASE TN Program: Masters in Special Education - 3.9 GPA
- Chosen by Trevecca to represent West Tennessee to become a Certified Teacher of Visual Impairments (CTVI) for a 2nd Masters - 3.8 GPA
- Completed all coursework in Orientation and Mobility (O&M)
- Completed intense 6-week program "under blindfold" in Texas (O&M).
- Dynamic Teaching Techniques - Instructed students in academic subjects using variety of techniques such as phonetics, multisensory learning and repetition to reinforce learning.
- Excellent with Microsoft Word
Affiliations
- Christian Educators Association
Timeline
Teacher of Student's with Visual Impairments (CTVI)
Bartlett City Schools/Contracted out with Germantown Municipal School District
06.2024 - 10.2024
Reource/Co-Teach: SPED Student
Bartlett City Schools
08.2023 - 06.2024
Preschool: Special Education Teacher
Bartlett City Schools
09.2017 - 05.2024
Teacher: Alternative/Behavior Classroom
Bartlett City Schools
08.2012 - 05.2016
Special Education Teacher: Functional Skills
Shelby County
08.2010 - 05.2012
Master of Science - Special Education
University of Memphis
Bachelor of Science - Child Development and Family Studies
Middle Tennessee State University
- Master's 2012: Certified Special Education Teacher Modified (K-12)
- Master's 2017: Certified Teacher of Visual Impairments (CTVI)
Master of Science - Teacher of Students Visual Impairments
Trevecca. Nazarene University
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