RENEE COLEMAN
Highland Park,IL
Summary
Educator with nearly 30 years of experience supporting children's cognitive, social-emotional, and academic development from preschool through elementary school. My background combines graduate training in psychology with extensive experience in early childhood education, literacy intervention, and special education. Throughout my career, I have focused on understanding how children learn, developing engaging instruction, and building strong relationships with students, families, and colleagues. I look forward to helping high school students explore child development while preparing them for future careers working with children and families.
Overview
1
1
Certification
29
29
years of professional experience
Work History
Special Education Teacher
Washington Elementary School | Waukegan Community Unit School District 60
Waukegan
09.2021 - Current
- Develop and implement individualized instructional plans that support students' academic, behavioral, and social-emotional growth.
- Write and monitor Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) while collaborating with families, classroom teachers, and multidisciplinary teams.
- Design standards-aligned lessons, instructional materials, and individualized learning sequences to meet diverse learning needs.
- Use assessment data to adjust instruction, resulting in measurable academic growth for students receiving specialized instruction.
- Teach executive functioning, organization, and self-advocacy skills that help students become more independent learners.
- Built strong partnerships with teachers and families to support student success across school settings.
- Collaborated with multidisciplinary teams to assess student progress and adjust educational plans accordingly.
- Advocated for students' rights and needs within school policies, ensuring access to necessary resources and support services.
- Promoted a positive learning environment through the use of differentiated instruction and individualized support for diverse learners.
- Participated in ongoing professional development opportunities focused on evidence-based practices in special education teaching methodologies.
Reading Interventionist
Washington Elementary School | Waukegan Community Unit School District 60
Waukegan
09.2021 - Current
- Provided intensive reading intervention within a Title I elementary school serving a diverse multilingual student population.
- Designed individualized instructional plans, scope and sequence, and daily lessons using evidence-based literacy practices grounded in the Science of Reading.
- Used diagnostic and progress-monitoring data to identify learning gaps, refine instruction, and monitor student growth over time.
- Partnered with classroom teachers to develop instructional supports that helped struggling readers access grade-level curriculum.
- Designed and facilitated professional development for paraprofessionals, creating training materials that strengthened instructional consistency and student support across classrooms.
- Developed individualized instructional materials and learning sequences to meet students at their current skill level while accelerating progress toward grade-level expectations.
- Supported the development of phonemic awareness and decoding skills through targeted activities, promoting fluent reading in struggling learners.
Enrichment & Intervention Teacher
South Elementary School | Des Plaines School District
Des Plaines
08.2020 - 06.2021
- Delivered literacy and mathematics intervention through whole-class, small-group, and one-on-one instruction.
- Used assessment data to identify learning gaps and design targeted interventions.
- Created engaging lessons that supported students with a wide range of learning needs.
- Implemented PBIS and CHAMPS strategies to create positive learning environments.
- Integrated educational technology to enhance instruction and engage students during both in-person and hybrid learning.
Project Manager & Volunteer Coordinator
Pathways | Buffalo Grove
Buffalo Grove
09.2016 - 06.2020
- Managed daily operations for an organization providing social-emotional learning and personal development programs for teen and adult learners.
- Supervised a team of 15 staff members and volunteers, coordinating daily operations and program logistics.
- Partnered with facilitators to support seminars focused on emotional intelligence, communication, leadership, conflict resolution, and healthy relationships.
- Coordinated educational programming, volunteer engagement, and community outreach to support participant success.
- Built collaborative relationships with participants, families, community organizations, and corporate partners.
Homeschool Educator
Self-Employed
North Shore
08.2003 - 10.2011
- Designed individualized educational programs for students with diverse academic, behavioral, and developmental needs.
- Partnered closely with families to create supportive learning environments that fostered academic growth, confidence, and independence.
- Adapted curriculum, instructional strategies, and learning materials to meet each student's unique developmental profile.
- Used ongoing observation and assessment to monitor progress and adjust instruction to support student success.
Early Childhood Teacher
Seabury-Western Child Care Center
Evanston
08.1997 - 08.2003
- Planned and implemented developmentally appropriate curriculum and learning experiences for preschool children ages 3–5.
- Supported children's language, cognitive, social, and emotional development through play-based learning.
- Partnered with families to support children's developmental progress and promote consistency between home and school.
- Observed developmental milestones and adapted activities to meet individual learning needs.
Education
LBS1 - Special Education
University of Illinois
Springfield, IL09-2021
Master of Arts - Psychology
National Louis University
Skokie, IL06-2009
Bachelor of Arts - Psychology & Early Childhood Education
National Louis University
06-2005
Skills
- Child Development
- Developmental Psychology
- Early Childhood Education
- Social-Emotional Development
- Family & School Partnerships
- Curriculum & Lesson Design
- Differentiated Instruction
- Classroom Management
- Assessment & Progress Monitoring
- Collaborative Team Leadership
- Professional Development & Staff Training
Accomplishments
- Selected to serve on Washington Elementary School's hiring committee, participating in candidate interviews and hiring recommendations.
- Designed and facilitated professional development for paraprofessionals, creating training materials that strengthened instructional consistency and student support.
- Served on the school's Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) team, collaborating with colleagues to analyze student data and develop targeted academic interventions.
- Designed individualized scope and sequence plans, lessons, and instructional materials to meet the diverse learning needs of students receiving intervention and special education services.
- Used ongoing assessment and progress monitoring to guide instruction and support measurable academic growth for students receiving intervention and special education services.
Certification
- Illinois Professional Educator License (PEL)
- Learning Behavior Specialist I (LBS1)
- Early Childhood Education Certification
- WIDA Certified
Additional Experience
- Kindergarten Classroom Assistant.
- Naval Air Station Glenview Child Development Program.
- Assisted classroom teachers in supporting kindergarten students through daily instruction and activities.
- Higher Education Experience.
- While completing my Master's degree in Psychology, I was invited by the Chair of the Psychology Department to assist with undergraduate psychology instruction, including coursework related to child development.
Timeline
Special Education Teacher
Washington Elementary School | Waukegan Community Unit School District 60
09.2021 - Current
Reading Interventionist
Washington Elementary School | Waukegan Community Unit School District 60
09.2021 - Current
Enrichment & Intervention Teacher
South Elementary School | Des Plaines School District
08.2020 - 06.2021
Project Manager & Volunteer Coordinator
Pathways | Buffalo Grove
09.2016 - 06.2020
Homeschool Educator
Self-Employed
08.2003 - 10.2011
Early Childhood Teacher
Seabury-Western Child Care Center
08.1997 - 08.2003
LBS1 - Special Education
University of Illinois
Master of Arts - Psychology
National Louis University
Bachelor of Arts - Psychology & Early Childhood Education
National Louis University