Rochelle Smith

Along with the Special Education Teacher, Paraprofessional and Related Service Providers, the Cluster Teacher provides behavioral and academic supports for all students during all class activities outside of the classroom as students engage in academic, social emotional and physical learning activities throughout the day.

Collaborate with classroom team, school staff, related service providers, administrators, families to create and implement instructional and behavioral support plans that maximize student strengths and fosters, academic growth and the generalization of skills for each student that is data driven, measurable and fosters student independence.

Participate in weekly student data meetings with the teacher team, related service providers, administrators and SIT members when needed. Meeting include data review, progress monitoring, parent/family contact, updating academic, social emotional, and or physical environment supports that foster individualized growth.

As the Special Education Liaison it is my responsibility to attend monthly District wide Special Education meetings regarding implementation, compliance, student, teacher and family supports with regards to IEP implementation, best practices and State/Local rules, laws and procedures.

It is the duty of the Special Education Liaison to ensure that the school remains in compliance and that all students receive a Free Appropriate Education in the Least Restrictive Environment and that all services indicated in the student's Individual Education Plan are provided with fidelity.

Facilitates the use and adoption of the SESIS application by all staff responsible for the implementation of the student's IEP.

Provide turn-key professional development for all staff with regards to Special Education law, procedures, and policies on an ongoing basis.

Ensure the school remains in compliance with Annual Review meetings, Triennials, Re-Evaluations, Initials and the delivery of services in accordance with each students' Individual Education Plan.

Establish and maintain open communication with parents, school staff, community supports and teacher teams.

Work in conjunction with administrators, school staff, SIT teams and School Based Support Teams to analyze data, maintain student records, and collaborate with stakeholders and other agencies t provide students and families with wrap around supports.

Participate in planning and implementation of IEPs and serve as a support during IEP meetings as needed.

As a member of the Instructional Leadership Team, School Implementation Team and Data Inquiry Team, the Special Educaton Instructional Coach assists in fostering reflective practice among teachers of students with disabilities.

Provide cycles of coaching to individual teachers as well as teacher teams in order to implement literacy, math and behavioral evidence based strategies and skill building systems that build upon student data which reveals student strengths, areas of need and interests as they strive to increase their capacity to generalize skills and strategies that will assist them in meeting and exceeding their individualized goals.

Engage in the Individualized Education Plan process from initiation to completion. Review and provide feedback in support of teacher building capacity in writing quality IEPs that demonstrate a complete plan of support for students.

Facilitate professional development sessions and or lunch and learn sessions to turn key District session key ideas as well as fostering the development of best practices for teachers, paraprofessionals, families and related service providers which include, specially designed instruction, RTI, processes and procedures from initiating an IEP, assessments, progress reporting, meetings, maintenance, placement and supports.

As a Special Education Teacher Support Services provider, I supplemented academic services in accordance with the academic intervention and educational mandated service guidelines.

I serviced students from grades 2-8 in small instructional groups aligned with the Core Curriculum Content Standards as well as IEP goals providing academic engagement 3-5 times per week that emphasized phonemic awareness, decoding, reading comprehension, written expression, computation and problem solving skill building.

Worked collaboratively with teacher teams, related service providers, school staff and families in order to create effective academic intervention plans, monitor progress through formal and informal periodic assessment, and maintain parent/guardian involvement as active team members.

As the RTI/Special Education Facilitator I supported special education teachers, general education teachers and school staff in implementing strategies to meet needs of students with IEPs. Facilitating IEP meetings by using family-centered, strength-based approach.

Coached and observed individual teachers and teacher teams in order to improve teaching practices and use of data to inform lesson planning and delivery.

Interpreted and analyzed academic data as a part of the Instructional Leadership Team in order to maintain student development and retention. As a member of the child study team, the RTI/Special Education Facilitator develops and implements small group lessons as a pull-out or push-in support for students across all grades tailored to match student abilities and needs.

Worked in collaboration with teachers, related service providers, families, administrators and the school based support team to analyze data, interpret evaluations to design and implement Individualized Education Plans for students across all grade levels.

As a Special Education Teacher Assigned at the Committee on Special Education we created IEPs based on data, evaluations, observations and relevant medical documentation to support student learning, and progress towards academic, social emotional and physical goals as they strive to meet grade level standards.

Served as a liaison between the New York City Board of Education and Charter, Private, Parochial and Non-Public Schools in a effort to provide students with IEPs a Free Appropriate Education in the Least Restrictive Environment.

Conducted IEP conferences, served as District Rep, case manager and team member in the IEP process from initiation to development to compliance maintenance and transition of the IEPs for students Kindergarten through High School.

As a Co-hort Team Leader I provided effective professional development for an assigned team of psychologists, social workers and teachers fostering the vision of the Committee on Special Education and ensuring protocols, guidelines, special education laws and regulations are follow with every case.

Conducted biweekly case by case and procedural reviews as well as reviewing educational practice updates and publications articles that pertain to special education law and educational implementation of salient information required to deliver timely and effective services, placement recommendations, and supports for the students with disabilities , families and school personnel.

As a Departmentalized Special Education Math Teacher, I provided differentiated math instruction for grades 6-8 Special Classes guided by their individualized IEP goals and grade level standards.

Prepared and implemented whole and small group lesson plans that incorporated technology, hands on materials, peer groups and individually paced assignments that met the needs of the students as outlined in their IEPs.

Worked collaboratively with core subject teachers, related service providers, school based support team and families to provide skill building activities at school and at home in an effort to build upon student strengths and support their areas of need.

As a Dean of Students I established, maintained and participated in effective school wide and individual Behavioral Management across all grades Pre-K through 8th grade.

Created a safe, supportive, learning environment that values respect for all, acceptance of differences and promotes accountability and responsibility for our actions.

Provided transitional support for students, teachers and support staff to ensure that equitable behavior management systems were in place and supporting the social emotional development of the individual student.

Facilitated parent/guardian conferences that maintain open communication and provide academic and social emotional supports for the students and the families as needed in conjunction with the School Based Support Team and school staff.

Worked in conjunction with teacher teams, support staff, administrators, families and related service providers to ensure that the students receive all services and supports in accordance with District, State and Federal compliance regulations in order for all students to attain a high level of success both academically and socially.

Lead recognition assemblies and luncheons that celebrated and promoted citizenship, academic and social achievements as well as highlighting participating families and school staff personnel in the positive development of our students.

Assisted with the Alternative Learning Environment Instruction and incentive programs.

Enter and maintain Online Occurrence System records.

Served as the school's representative for District suspension hearings.

Developed, implemented and managed crisis management and behavioral intervention plans as a part of the School Based Support Team.

As a Special Education Teacher Support Services provider, I supplemented academic services in accordance with the academic intervention and educational mandated service guidelines.

I serviced students from grades 2-8 in small instructional groups aligned with the Core Curriculum Content Standards as well as IEP goals providing academic engagement 3-5 times per week that emphasized phonemic awareness, decoding, reading comprehension, written expression, computation and problem solving skill building.

Worked collaboratively with teacher teams, related service providers, school staff and families in order to create effective academic intervention plans, monitor progress through formal and informal periodic assessment, and maintain parent/guardian involvement as active team members.

As a Dean of Students I established, maintained and participated in effective school wide and individual Behavioral Management across all grades Pre-K through 8th grade.

Created a safe, supportive, learning environment that values respect for all, acceptance of differences and promotes accountability and responsibility for our actions.

Provided transitional support for students, teachers and support staff to ensure that equitable behavior management systems were in place and supporting the social emotional development of the individual student.

Facilitated parent/guardian conferences that maintain open communication and provide academic and social emotional supports for the students and the families as needed in conjunction with the School Based Support Team and school staff.

Worked in conjunction with teacher teams, support staff, administrators, families and related service providers to ensure that the students receive all services and supports in accordance with District, State and Federal compliance regulations in order for all students to attain a high level of success both academically and socially.

Lead recognition assemblies and luncheons that celebrated and promoted citizenship, academic and social achievements as well as highlighting participating families and school staff personnel in the positive development of our students.

Assisted with the Alternative Learning Environment Instruction and incentive programs.

Enter and maintain Online Occurrence System records.

Served as the school's representative for District suspension hearings.

Developed, implemented and managed crisis management and behavioral intervention plans as a part of the School Based Support Team.

As a Special Class 8th grade teachers I taught all CORE subjects to students with intellectual and emotional disabilities.

Modified the general education curriculum for students with IEPs using various instructional techniques and technologies in order to provide lessons with multiple points of entry and checks for understanding.

Delivered highly effective and differentiated instruction to assist students in meeting IEP goals which were aligned to the Common Core grade level standards.

Created, implemented and managed IEP goals define student learning objectives with educational skills and strategies to assist students in meeting meeting expectations and increasing their instructional knowledge and independent application of skills taught.

As a Head Teacher in the Middle School I managed a classroom team and coordinated related services for 12 students with diverse needs.

Developed Individual Educational Plans in collaboration with the Program Director, Curriculum Coordinator, Paraprofessionals and Related Services team.

Administered educational and behavioral assessment that informed programming and IEP development.

Implemented crisis and physical intervention procedures in accordance with ABA methodologies.

Supervised the daily data collection and analysis of student academic and behavioral performance in accordance with IEP goals and State/District standards.

Facilitated team meetings with classroom teams, related service providers and school administration weekly to discuss each student's progress and inform instruction.

Organized bi-weekly parent conferences and maintained open communication between home, classroom teams, school administration and related service providers ensuring wrap around support for students and families.

Prepared students for community and school-based employment. Emphasizing speech, vocational and social skills development.

Completed annual performance reviews for classroom staff, participated in weekly staff development training increasing my capacity as a Special Educator.

As an Assistant Teacher in the Autism Program, I was responsible for the Implementation of the skill acquisition reduction programming.

Created materials for instruction and treatment programs. to assist students with daily living skills, social emotional development and academic growth.

Served as case manager providing weekly data for team meeting which informed instruction, goal setting and the creation and implementation of Individual Education Plans.

Trained in ABA methodology in support of students daily living and academic skills acquisition.

Worked one to one with students in preparation for mainstream education providing age and grade appropriate academic and social skills development.

Worked in conjunction with the Head Teacher, Related Service Providers, Program Director and families to provide wrap around supports at school and at home to ensure students and families are in a safe nurturing environment.