Richard Contreras Jr

I have been working in special education for 11 years. I was an instructional assistant for six years, where I worked with both behavioral and medically fragile students. I have also been a K-12 substitute teacher for one year, a long-term substitute teacher for a semester, and am currently finishing up my third year as an Education Specialist. My passion for teaching in the field of special education comes from growing up with my aunt and 20-year-old brother, who both have autism. They have taught me a lot about special needs, which is why I am passionate about becoming the best educational specialist I can be for students with special needs. Throughout my career, I have developed strong relationships with students, families, and staff, and have extensive experience with annual and triennial IEPs, student assessments (Brigance, SANDI, and ELPAC), and implementing curriculum-based instruction, such as the Unique Learning System and the STAR Curriculum. I also support students in using AAC devices, including Proloquo2Go and TouchChat. I take pride in building positive relationships with everyone I work with, so we can create the best educational environment for all our students.