Rodrigo Pichardo
Summary
Inspired, motivated, and creative Special Education teacher who is heavily invested in improving student outcomes by providing specially designed instruction informed by students' individualized education plans, progress monitoring data, and parent input. I teach my students with empathy, enabling a relationship of respect and trust that lets me tap into their limitless potential. My lesson plans are flexible and adaptable, focusing on evidence-based strategies, routines, systems, norms, and protocols that are easily replicated from one lesson to the next.
Overview
15
15
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Autistic Support Teacher
Frankford High School
09.2023 - Current
- Lead an Autistic Support program with an emphasis on group project-based activities with extensive scaffolding for varied skill levels
- Manage a team of special education assistants, coordinating roles and responsibilities to enhance student support
- Lead meetings for various special education protocols, including annual IEPs, Behavioral
Manifest Determination Meetings, interagency meetings, advocate meetings, initial evaluation
reviews, and Functional Behavior Assessment/Behavior Support Plan development. - Conduct diagnostic testing, develop re-evaluation reports, and create and implement
Individualized Education Plans (IEPs) for students with Autism Spectrum Disorder. - Managed challenging behaviors effectively using proactive interventions, reducing disruptions in the learning environment.
- Fostered self-regulation skills among students through the implementation of calming strategies during challenging situations.
- Utilize progress monitoring and data analysis to create effective lesson plans and differentiated
instruction strategies. - Collaborate with grade group partners and school community members to maximize student
learning experiences and support program transitions.
Resident Teacher (Life Skills Support)
Frankford High School
09.2022 - 06.2023
- Teach a transitional curriculum to a classroom of 17-21-year-old students with intellectual disabilities
- Differentiated instruction in academics provided from levels K-4 in both Literacy and Math
- Use of positive behavioral support strategies to manage behaviors in classroom; restorative practices
- Co-plan instruction with my mentor teacher, proactively aligning teacher and student expectations to optimize our co-teaching dynamic
- Project based learning through the Community Love Cafe
- Follow a student's IEP while collecting data as a means to monitor progress towards its stated goals
Freelance Musician
Self-employed
01.2010 - Current
- Manage a complex schedule of rehearsals, gigs and personal practice time
- Lead groups of musicians towards achieving common goals in the short-, medium-, and long-term
- Write, produce, mix, and promote my own music which requires a disciplined and detailed-oriented mentality
- Mentor younger musicians and provide private 1-on-1 instruction
Education
Master of Education - Special Education
Temple University
Philadelphia, PA08.2023
Bachelor of Music - Instrumental Performance
The University of the Arts
Philadelphia, PA05.2012
Skills
- Microsoft Office suite and Google workspace
- Extensive experience with instructional technology, such as Lumio, Unique Learning Systems, Canva, Gimkit, Lexia, Zearn, and more
- Parent-teacher communication
- Life Skills training
- Social skills training
- Transition planning
- Nonverbal communication
Certification
PA Special Education (K-12) Certification - June 2023
Languages
Spanish
Native or Bilingual
French
Limited Working
Timeline
Autistic Support Teacher
Frankford High School
09.2023 - Current
Resident Teacher (Life Skills Support)
Frankford High School
09.2022 - 06.2023
Freelance Musician
Self-employed
01.2010 - Current
Bachelor of Music - Instrumental Performance
The University of the Arts
Master of Education - Special Education
Temple University
Similar Profiles
Lorri Linda ReyesLorri Linda Reyes
Campus Office Manager at Plano ISD - Frankford Middle SchoolCampus Office Manager at Plano ISD - Frankford Middle School
Joshua WilsonJoshua Wilson
Long Term Sub at Frankford Middle SchoolLong Term Sub at Frankford Middle School
Hannah AndersonHannah Anderson
Professional Teacher at Frankford Middle SchoolProfessional Teacher at Frankford Middle School