Sarah Schaefer
South Ogden,UT
Summary
With a proven track record at Syracuse Arts Academy, I excel in instructional leadership and effective communication, adeptly coordinating special education services and ensuring compliance. My expertise in data analysis and program development, coupled with the ability to solve complex problems, has significantly enhanced educational outcomes and stakeholder collaboration.
Overview
28
28
years of professional experience
Work History
Director of Special Education
Syracuse Arts Academy
08.2015 - 03.2025
- Performed job specific duties at an average of 50+ hours weekly.
- Allocated special education staff and addressed requests for additional allocations throughout school year.
- Contributed to district-level committees to support needs of students on IEPs.
- Trained teachers on effective teaching techniques, classroom management strategies, and behavior modification.
- Coordinated special education services through frequent principal collaboration and consultation.
- Communicated with parents to encourage active parental participation in education.
- Kept school in full compliance with established policies, legal requirements and student safety standards.
- Studied assessment information covering students, teachers and school operations to formulate improvement plans.
- Coordinated retrieval and distribution of student records from other schools and institutions.
- Proven record of developing and implementing school policies to ensure compliance with state and federal regulations.
- Performed continual compliance auditing to ensure accurate student and school record systems.
Special Education Teacher
Syracuse Arts Academy
08.2012 - 07.2015
- Performed Job Specific duties at an average of 50+ hours per week.
- Delivered effective and differentiated classroom instruction to range of neurodiverse students.
- Partnered with general education teachers across multiple grade levels.
- Assisted struggling students to maintain progress levels by designing individualized lesson plans focused on areas for improvement.
- Cultivated connections and strong student and parent rapport to foster classroom and family engagement, in addition to recording student progress to inform parents and school administration.
- Collected appropriate documentation from both internal and external sources to maintain complex student records that met state compliance requirements.
3rd Grade General Education Teacher
Ogden School District / T.O. Smith Elementary
08.2010 - 06.2012
- Performed Job Specific Duties at an average of 50+ hours weekly.
- Taught diverse student groups and worked with educational data of varied types and purposes while integrating technology into teaching.
- Applied grade-appropriate assessment instruments and planned and managed projects using pertinent software applications.
- Upgraded and expanded skills regularly to meet changing job, cultural and educational requirements.
- Worked independently and collaborated with other elementary education professionals and used defined pedagogical processes.
Driver License Employee
Department of Public Safety, Driver License Div
07.1997 - 12.2009
- Performed job specific activities at an average of 40 hours per week.
- Performed Driver Examinations both on the road and on a closed course.
- Worked as a Hearing Officer to facilitate civil hearings for possible driving related infractions.
- Trained new personnel regarding company operations, policies and services.
- Promoted superior experience by addressing customer concerns, demonstrating empathy, and resolving problems swiftly.
- Performed quality assurance testing for new digitized license system.
Education
Bachelor of Science - Composite Elementary And Special Ed
Weber State University
Ogden, UT04-2010
Skills
- Instructional leadership
- Data analysis
- Program development and evaluation
- Multitasking Abilities
- Complex Problem-solving
- Stakeholder collaboration
- Effective communication -written and verbal
- Critical thinking
- Proficient with Google Suite programs
- Quality assurance
Timeline
Director of Special Education
Syracuse Arts Academy
08.2015 - 03.2025
Special Education Teacher
Syracuse Arts Academy
08.2012 - 07.2015
3rd Grade General Education Teacher
Ogden School District / T.O. Smith Elementary
08.2010 - 06.2012
Driver License Employee
Department of Public Safety, Driver License Div
07.1997 - 12.2009
Bachelor of Science - Composite Elementary And Special Ed
Weber State University
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