Suzanne Bohan
Guilford
Summary
Dedicated special education professional with over 20 years of experience supporting students with learning disabilities, ADHD, and processing deficits at the middle school level. Expertise in IEP development, standardized assessment interpretation, and evidence-based reading instruction for students with dyslexia and reading disabilities. Currently an Orton-Gillingham Associate in Training through The Southport CoLAB, building on Classroom Educator-level coursework to deepen skills in multisensory, structured literacy and diagnostic-prescriptive instruction.
Overview
38
38
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Special Education Teacher
Guilford Public Schools
08.2009 - Current
- Provide direct, specialized instruction in reading, writing, and executive functioning t students with identified learning disabilities, ADHD, dyslexia, and processing speed deficits
- Develop and implement individualized IEP goals, objectives and accommodations aligned with student assessment profiles and Connecticut CT SEDS documentation requirements
- Administer and interpret standardized assessments including the WISC-V, KTEA-3, Woodcock Johnson, NEPSY-II, CTOPP, and Criterion and informal measures to inform instructional planning and progress monitoring
- Deliver structured, multisensory reading instruction using the Orton-Gillingham Approach and Wilson Reading System, targeting phonemic awareness, phonics, decoding, fluency, comprehension and spelling for students with dyslexia and reading disabilities
- Design and implement explicit decoding instruction for multisyllabic words, including syllable types, morphology and spelling patterns
- Create fluency passages and administer oral reading fluency probes to monitor student growth and inform diagnostic-prescriptive lesson planning
- Apply principles of the Orton-Gillingham Approach in daily reading and spelling instruction, including sound-symbol associations, encoding and systematic phonics
- Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams and families to implement effective instructional strategies
- Communicate assessment results and student progress to families through PPT meetings, written correspondence, and progress reports
- Utilize assistive technology and adaptive tools to enhance student engagement and learning outcomes.
- Implement evidence-based instructional strategies to enhance student engagement and academic performance.
- Support executive functioning skills development including organization, planning, task initiation, and self monitoring strategies
Special Education Teacher
Milford Public Schools
08.1994 - 08.1998
Special Education Teacher
Boys Village
08.1988 - 08.1994
Education
Master of Science - Elementary Education
Southern Connecticut State University
New Haven, CTBachelor of Science - Special Education
Southern Connecticut State University
New Haven, CTSkills
- Structured Literacy & the OG Approach: Explicit, systematic, multisensory phonics instruction; sound symbol associations; syllable instruction; advanced morphology; encoding and decoding strategies; diagnostic-prescriptive teaching; Wilson Reading System
- Assessment & Diagnostic Teaching: Interpretation of cognitive and achievement profiles (WISC-V, KTEA-3, NEPSY-II, GE, Woodcock Johnson) to design individualized, prescriptive lesson plans
- Dyslexia Expertise: Understanding of the neurological underpinnings of dyslexia, indicators across age groups and evidence-based intervention approaches
- IEP Development: Skilled in writing measurable, standards-aligned goals and objectives with appropriate accommodations and modifications
- Executive Functioning Interventions: Strategies for self regulation, planning, organization, and task completion for students with ADHD and processing deficits
- Technology Integration: Use of assistive technology, speech-to- text, text-to-speech, and digital tools to support struggling learners
Certification
- Connecticut Professional Educator Certificate #065-Special Education, Comprehensive (K-12)
- Orton-Gillingham Classroom Educator Coursework-Completed, The Southport CoLAB
- Orton-Gillingham Associate in Training-The Southport CoLAB (in progress)
- Wilson Reading System Training (Completed)
Timeline
Special Education Teacher
Guilford Public Schools
08.2009 - Current
Special Education Teacher
Milford Public Schools
08.1994 - 08.1998
Special Education Teacher
Boys Village
08.1988 - 08.1994
Master of Science - Elementary Education
Southern Connecticut State University
Bachelor of Science - Special Education
Southern Connecticut State University