Regan Whiteford
Vienna,VA
Summary
With a proven track record as a teacher leader in various school settings, I excel in fostering diversity and inclusion while enhancing cognitive and behavioral development. My expertise in special education and faculty collaboration, coupled with a knack for coaching and leadership role experience, has significantly improved educational outcomes for diverse student and teacher populations.
Overview
14
14
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
School Based Equity Lead (KCS) & Co-Lead (ATES)
Annandale Terrace Elementary & Kilmer Center School
Fairfax County, VA
08.2024 - Current
- Lead a voluntary Equity Committee to address ways to promote Equity practices within the school by planning professional development activities, student activities, and initiatives within the school community
- Attend 4 district-mandated and other voluntary professional development offerings each school year to further my knowledge of Equity issues and employ that knowledge meaningfully and effectively for the specific needs of our staff and students
- Collaborate with administrative staff to promote Equity practices and a welcoming environment for staff and students
- Run multiple school-wide professional development sessions
- (Cultural Proficiency Modules)
- Attended a district-run Cultural Proficiency Cohort with a school team and led in planning school initiatives based on the learning from that cohort
- Collaborate with curriculum specialist to create diversity and cultural awareness lessons and activities tailored toward students on the adapted curriculum
- Member of FCPS’s Neurodiversity Action Project Team run by Kristen Haynor (FCPS Neurodiversity Specialist)
- Member of FCPS Equity Policy Steering Committee to help draft FCPS’s first formal policy regarding issues of equity in the school district
Facilitator & Mentor of Neurodivergent Educators Affinity Group
Fairfax County Public Schools
09.2023 - Current
- Facilitator – Plan monthly conversation and professional development topics for a group of educators who share affinity as Neurodivergent Educators
- Provide regular communication and support to team members via multiple different platforms
- Mentor – Touch base with and provide coaching and support to specific members of the Neurodivergent Educators Affinity Group
- Work with facilitators to provide meaningful learning and safe spaces to group members
Multiage/Cat B Team Lead & Multiple Disabilities Teacher – Enhanced Autism Class
Annandale Terrace Elementary School
Annandale, VA
08.2023 - Current
- Team lead for Multiage Cat B (self-contained and adapted curriculum special ed) department of a Title I elementary school
- Department included two preschool autism classrooms, four enhanced autism classrooms, and one noncategorical classroom supporting seven teachers, fourteen instructional assistants, and over fifty students
- Worked closely with Special Education Department Chair, math and reading resource teachers, and school administration to plan professional development, CLTS, curriculum, supply, and other department jobs
- Provide coaching and mentorship to teachers in my department on teaching, behavior, IEP writing skills, etc
- Lead teacher in a classroom of 7-8 students ages 6-8 in a self-contained autism classroom
- Adapted and differentiated instruction to meet a wide variety of student needs and abilities
- Teacher mentor to two novice teachers providing coaching and safe space for them to grow and learn as educators
Multiple Disabilities Teacher – Behavior/Transitional Program
Kilmer Center School
Vienna, VA
08.2017 - 07.2023
- Lead teacher in a classroom for 4-6 students with significant cognitive and behavioral disabilities ages 12-20 and two-three classroom assistants
- Adapted and differentiated instruction to meet a wide variety of student needs and abilities
- Collaborated weekly with CLT to develop data- and research-driven lessons for students using district- and school-provided resources along with our own materials and resources
- Attended I’m Determined PD and worked with school team to develop ways to implement the training within the school
- Assigned as Buddy Mentor to new teacher to the school on my team for school year 2021-2022
EC Teacher – Adapted Curriculum (Life Skills)
James B. Dudley High School
Greensboro, NC
08.2015 - 06.2017
- Established a student-run school and community garden and schoolwide baking enterprise with co-teacher
- Worked with team to establish inclusionary practices for Adapted Curriculum Students in previously excluded areas, including PE, Art, Chorus, Drama, Career/Tech Classes, School assemblies and dances, etc
- Collaborated with co-teacher and department head to build an Adapted Curriculum program that previously had very little structure, influence, or inclusion within the school
- Advocated among my colleagues for inclusion of our students in multiple different areas of the high school and for access to broader and more inclusive experiences outside of the separate classroom
EC Teacher – Adapted Curriculum (Life Skills)
James B. Dudley High School
Greensboro, NC
08.2015 - 06.2017
- Lead teacher in a classroom for 6-8 students with significant cognitive disabilities ages 14-21 and co-taught with another AC teacher and her class for a total of up to 15 students
- Adapted lessons using the Unique Curriculum, MeVille to WeVille, and other curriculum sources to align with Common Core Extended Content Standards and teach functional academic skills, behavior, vocational, and home skills
- Planned with co-teacher frequent trips into the community to provide hands-on, real-world learning opportunities
- Worked with other EC department teachers, therapists, and behavior specialists to provide the most comprehensive educational experience possible for each student
EC Teacher – Occupational Course of Study (OCS)
T. Wingate Andrews High School
High Point, NC
08.2014 - 06.2015
- Worked with virtual teacher of record to teach high school students Life Science, Biology, Math 1, and Financial Management courses with a caseload of up to 25 students
- Managed and worked with job coaches to oversee students in job placements throughout the community, and taught job and life skills with aim to have students gainfully employed by the time they graduated high school
- Worked with fellow school staff and OCS teacher to coordinate school-based jobs and vocational skill-based activities for students
- Consistently held conversations with colleagues about ways to make sure that my students were included in the general ed classroom in meaningful ways
ESE Teacher-CBI/TMI Level
Lincoln High School
Tallahassee, FL
08.2012 - 06.2014
- Lead teacher in a classroom for students with significant cognitive disabilities ages 15-21 and a consult level caseload of about 20 students for whom I collaborated with teachers and parents to manage their IEP’s, academic progress, and meaningful inclusion and access to resources and accommodations within the classroom and school
- Adapted lessons using the Unique Curriculum to teach functional and academic skills to meet a broad range of abilities and needs
- Structured activities and advocated for more inclusion of students within the school and outside of the separate classroom setting
- Planned weekly trips into the community to provide hands-on, real-world learning opportunities
- Worked with other ESE department teachers, therapists, and behavior specialists to provide the most comprehensive educational experience possible for each student
Title I and School Advisory Council Leader
Wakulla’s C.O.A.S.T. Charter School
St. Marks, FL
08.2011 - 06.2012
- Chaired the school’s Literacy Leadership Team, School Advisory Council, and conducted two Parent Night Title I events to build inclusion and better involve community and parents in the school setting in a positive way
- Collaborated with colleagues and community liaisons to provide resources to parents and build community involvement in the school, focused on enhancing and increasing educational opportunity and access for students
ESE/Title I Teacher, RtI Coordinator
Wakulla’s C.O.A.S.T. Charter School
St. Marks, FL
08.2011 - 06.2012
- In charge of providing and/or overseeing implementation of interventions and services provided to all students with RtI, 504, and Individual Education Plans in a school with very limited resources
- Worked with students in grades PreK-8 with reading difficulties, lack of motivation, SLD, TBI, ADHD, and behavioral issues
- Worked to integrate new RtI models from the district into the school through meetings with district personnel and teacher trainings
Education
Post Master’s Certificate - Educational Leadership & Administration
George Washington University
Washington, DC08.2023
Master of Science - Education of Children with Exceptionalities
Florida State University
Tallahassee04.2011
Bachelor of Science - Exceptional Student Education
Florida State University
Tallahassee, FL04-2011
Associate of the Arts - General Transfer
Tallahassee Community College
04.2008
Skills
- Influencing skills
- Diversity and inclusion
- Process improvement
- Coaching and mentoring
- Relationship building
- Cultural sensitivity
- Student-centered learning
- Serving diverse communities
- IEP planning
- Faculty collaboration
- Cognitive and behavioral development
Certification
Virginia, Postgraduate Professional Educator License, 07/31/32, Special Education – Adapted Curriculum K-12, Special Education – General Curriculum K-12, English as a Second Language PreK-12, Educational Leadership & Administration (In Process with VDOE – Applied)
Other Education
- FCPS Academy Course - Culturally Responsive Family Engagement, 2021
- Cultural Proficiency Level I Workshop Cohort, 2019
- Equity Lead Institutes 2022, 2023
- Equity Symposiums 2019-2024, presented as coach in 2024
- Harvard Graduate School of Education Course: Race, Equity, and Leadership in Fairfax County Public Schools, 2019
Accomplishments
- Nominated for Annandale Terrace Outstanding Teacher 2023-2024
References
References available upon request.
Timeline
School Based Equity Lead (KCS) & Co-Lead (ATES)
Annandale Terrace Elementary & Kilmer Center School
08.2024 - Current
Facilitator & Mentor of Neurodivergent Educators Affinity Group
Fairfax County Public Schools
09.2023 - Current
Multiage/Cat B Team Lead & Multiple Disabilities Teacher – Enhanced Autism Class
Annandale Terrace Elementary School
08.2023 - Current
Multiple Disabilities Teacher – Behavior/Transitional Program
Kilmer Center School
08.2017 - 07.2023
EC Teacher – Adapted Curriculum (Life Skills)
James B. Dudley High School
08.2015 - 06.2017
EC Teacher – Adapted Curriculum (Life Skills)
James B. Dudley High School
08.2015 - 06.2017
EC Teacher – Occupational Course of Study (OCS)
T. Wingate Andrews High School
08.2014 - 06.2015
ESE Teacher-CBI/TMI Level
Lincoln High School
08.2012 - 06.2014
Title I and School Advisory Council Leader
Wakulla’s C.O.A.S.T. Charter School
08.2011 - 06.2012
ESE/Title I Teacher, RtI Coordinator
Wakulla’s C.O.A.S.T. Charter School
08.2011 - 06.2012
Virginia, Postgraduate Professional Educator License, 07/31/32, Special Education – Adapted Curriculum K-12, Special Education – General Curriculum K-12, English as a Second Language PreK-12, Educational Leadership & Administration (In Process with VDOE – Applied)
Post Master’s Certificate - Educational Leadership & Administration
George Washington University
Master of Science - Education of Children with Exceptionalities
Florida State University
Bachelor of Science - Exceptional Student Education
Florida State University
Associate of the Arts - General Transfer
Tallahassee Community College
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