Samantha Chester
Special Education Teacher
CLARKSVILLE,TN
Summary
Organized Special Education Teacher successful at providing classroom and emotional structure for special needs children required to flourish in academic setting. Certified and licensed in Tennessee and recognized as highly qualified educator. Coordinates well with classroom teachers with supportive strategies for behavior management and lesson accommodations for students. Versatile Special Education Teacher with focus on individual student needs across academia and emotional development. Empathetic and accommodating in design and implementation of hands-on lessons, catering to diverse learning abilities. Proficient in employing constant communication, patience and positive reinforcement in team efforts to deliver exceptional educational tools, fostering academic achievement. Highly experienced in Special Education with over 25 years in field. Proven skills in verbal and written communication and problem-solving combined with unsurpassed work ethic, proactive mindset and detail-oriented approach. Special Education Teacher equipped with engaging personality and enthusiasm for promoting hands-on learning with children.
Overview
25
25
years of professional experience
6
6
years of post-secondary education
3
3
Certifications
Work History
Special Education Comp. Development Elementary
Clarksville Montgomery County School System
CLARKSVILLE, TN
08.2013 - Current
- Modified general education curriculum for special-needs students using various instructional techniques and technologies.
- Delivered effective and differentiated classroom instruction to range of neurodiverse students.
- Worked with students with moderate to severe autism to increase life skills.
- Taught students across multiple classifications and degrees of special needs.
- Created learning and content strategies to meet needs of mentally and physically disabled students.
- Assisted struggling students to maintain progress levels by designing individualized lesson plans focused on areas for improvement.
- Cultivated connections and strong student rapport to foster classroom engagement, in addition to recording student progress to inform parents and school administration.
- Provided life skills programming for students with moderate to severe autism.
- Taught multiple subjects to students with intellectual or emotional disabilities.
- Organized instruction material, constructed bulletin boards and set up work areas.
- Instructed students with physical and cognitive disabilities.
- Designed and implemented point system to encourage positive behavior.
- Created and managed IEPs to define student learning objectives and educational strategies, in addition to applying instructional knowledge and methods to support goals.
- Redirected students using Positive Behavior Support (PBS).
- Instructed students in core academic areas and specialized reading groups.
- Led activities that developed students' physical, emotional and social growth.
- Communicated nonverbally with children to provide comfort, encouragement and positive reinforcement.
- Coordinated special education students and teacher assistant schedules with master schedule.
Special Education Resource Teacher Elementary
Clarksville Montgomery County School System
CLARKSVILLE, TN
08.2009 - 05.2013
- Modified general education curriculum for special-needs students using various instructional techniques and technologies.
- Delivered effective and differentiated classroom instruction to range of neurodiverse students.
- Assisted struggling students to maintain progress levels by designing individualized lesson plans focused on areas for improvement.
- Taught students in self-contained and resource environments.
- Designed and implemented point system to encourage positive behavior.
- Created and managed IEPs to define student learning objectives and educational strategies, in addition to applying instructional knowledge and methods to support goals.
- Taught students across multiple classifications and degrees of special needs.
- Taught multiple subjects to students with intellectual or emotional disabilities.
- Communicated nonverbally with children to provide comfort, encouragement and positive reinforcement.
- Coordinated special education students and teacher assistant schedules with master schedule.
- Created learning and content strategies to meet needs of mentally and physically disabled students.
- Led activities that developed students' physical, emotional and social growth.
- Instructed students with physical and cognitive disabilities.
- Organized instruction material, constructed bulletin boards and set up work areas.
- Partnered with standard education teachers from across academic departments.
- Instructed students in core academic areas and specialized reading groups.
Special Education Resource Teacher Middle School
Clarksville Montgomery County School System
CLARKSVILLE, TN
08.2001 - 05.2009
- Modified general education curriculum for special-needs students using various instructional techniques and technologies.
- Delivered effective and differentiated classroom instruction to range of neurodiverse students.
- Assisted struggling students to maintain progress levels by designing individualized lesson plans focused on areas for improvement.
- Taught students in self-contained and resource environments.
- Created and managed IEPs to define student learning objectives and educational strategies, in addition to applying instructional knowledge and methods to support goals.
- Redirected students using Positive Behavior Support (PBS).
- Instructed students with physical and cognitive disabilities.
- Cultivated connections and strong student rapport to foster classroom engagement, in addition to recording student progress to inform parents and school administration.
- Taught students across multiple classifications and degrees of special needs.
- Led activities that developed students' physical, emotional and social growth.
- Coordinated special education students and teacher assistant schedules with master schedule.
- Created learning and content strategies to meet needs of mentally and physically disabled students.
Special Education Intermediate Modified Teacher
Clarksville Montgomery County School System
Clarksville, Tennessee
08.1999 - 05.2001
- Modified general education curriculum for special-needs students using various instructional techniques and technologies.
- Delivered effective and differentiated classroom instruction to range of neurodiverse students.
- Instructed students with physical and cognitive disabilities.
- Communicated nonverbally with children to provide comfort, encouragement and positive reinforcement.
- Redirected students using Positive Behavior Support (PBS).
- Partnered with standard education teachers from across academic departments.
- Assisted struggling students to maintain progress levels by designing individualized lesson plans focused on areas for improvement.
- Instructed students in core academic areas and specialized reading groups.
- Organized instruction material, constructed bulletin boards and set up work areas.
- Led activities that developed students' physical, emotional and social growth.
- Designed and implemented point system to encourage positive behavior.
- Coordinated special education students and teacher assistant schedules with master schedule.
- Created and managed IEPs to define student learning objectives and educational strategies, in addition to applying instructional knowledge and methods to support goals.
- Created learning and content strategies to meet needs of mentally and physically disabled students.
- Taught students across multiple classifications and degrees of special needs.
- Taught multiple subjects to students with intellectual or emotional disabilities.
Special Education PreK Teacher
Clarksville Montgomery County School System
Clarksville, TN
08.1997 - 05.1999
- Created and managed IEPs to define student learning objectives and educational strategies, in addition to applying instructional knowledge and methods to support goals.
- Cultivated connections and strong student rapport to foster classroom engagement, in addition to recording student progress to inform parents and school administration.
- Created learning and content strategies to meet needs of mentally and physically disabled students.
- Communicated nonverbally with children to provide comfort, encouragement and positive reinforcement.
- Worked with students with moderate to severe autism to increase life skills.
- Taught multiple subjects to students with intellectual or emotional disabilities.
- Organized instruction material, constructed bulletin boards and set up work areas.
- Led activities that developed students' physical, emotional and social growth.
- Redirected students using Positive Behavior Support (PBS).
- Coordinated special education students and teacher assistant schedules with master schedule.
- Instructed students with physical and cognitive disabilities.
- Taught students across multiple classifications and degrees of special needs.
Education
Bachelor of Science - Special Education
Austin Peay State University
Clarksville, TN 08.1991 - 12.1996
Skills
Conflict resolution techniques
Student records management
Lesson Planning
Special education
Classroom management
Trained in CPI
Group and individual instruction
Child development
Disability assessment testing
Elementary education
Differentiated instruction
Interpersonal Communication
Basic Math
Written Communication
Certification
CRT
Timeline
CRT
08-2021
Special Education Comp. Development Elementary
Clarksville Montgomery County School System
08.2013 - Current
Read Well
08-2010
Special Education Resource Teacher Elementary
Clarksville Montgomery County School System
08.2009 - 05.2013
Language!
06-2007
Special Education Resource Teacher Middle School
Clarksville Montgomery County School System
08.2001 - 05.2009
Special Education Intermediate Modified Teacher
Clarksville Montgomery County School System
08.1999 - 05.2001
Special Education PreK Teacher
Clarksville Montgomery County School System
08.1997 - 05.1999
Bachelor of Science - Special Education
Austin Peay State University
08.1991 - 12.1996