Taylor McCourt
Beaverton,Oregon
Summary
Experienced Special Education Professional with a robust background in trauma-informed care and behavior analysis. Supported K-6 students at Hillsboro School District and advanced to Behavior Specialist in 24-hr Residential Care, developing and implementing positive behavior support plans for clients ages 7-21. Skilled in Functional Behavior Assessments, person-centered support plans, and crisis management. Certified in Safetycare; licensed Oregon Intervention System Instructor. Pursuing Master’s degrees in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and Special Education, dedicated to holistic, trauma-informed support plans.
Overview
10
10
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Special Education Teacher
Hillsboro School District
Hillsboro, OR
10.2023 - 06.2024
- Developing Individualized Education Plans (IEPs) for a caseload of 35
- Implementing specialized instructional strategies and accommodations
- Managing behavior effectively through positive behavior interventions, collaborating with fellow educators and support staff to ensure inclusive practices, and maintaining accurate documentation and records of student performance and interventions
- Collaborate with general education teachers, support staff, and administrators to promote inclusive practices and ensure that students with special needs have access to the general education curriculum
- Provide consultation and support to classroom teachers regarding effective instructional strategies and accommodations for students with disabilities
- Facilitating communication with parents/guardians regarding student progress and needs, and participating in professional development to stay informed of best practices and legal requirements in special education
- Advocating for the educational rights and needs of students with disabilities while promoting a supportive and inclusive learning environment.
Qualified Behavior Professional
Cornerstone Valley
Salem, OR
02.2023 - 09.2024
- Responsible for providing behavior support services to the individuals served by Cornerstone Valley, Inc
- Conducted Functional Behavior Assessments, as needed
- Conducted interviews with staff, managers, medical professionals, guardians, case managers, and supported clients for FBA and PBSP creation and maintenance
- Updated behavioral risk data prior to annual Individual Service Planning (ISP) meetings
- Completed observations of supported clients and their interactions with peers, family, managers, and staff in community and home settings to create comprehensive, person-centered support plans
- Created Temporary Emergency Safety Plans (TESPs), created, updated, and maintained workable PBSPs to ensure that PBSPs reflect and match the Risk Identification Tool, Home Safety Plan, and Provider Risk Management Strategies as dictated by the Oregon Administrative Rules (OARs)
- Reviewed, analyzed, and compiled behavior data monthly
- Responsible for additional training of Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) in Therap: General Event Report creation, Behavior Data Tracking, trauma-informed care, behavioral interventions, de-escalation techniques, collaborative problem solving, and OIS physical skills, as needed
- Certified OIS Instructor: C Level-All (trainer ID #012321).
Behavior Specialist
Albertina Kerr Centers
Portland, OR
08.2022 - 02.2023
- Performed comprehensive functional assessment, conducted interviews, direct observation, and environmental manipulations in order to generate hypotheses about the causes and functions of behaviors that require intervention for youth and adults residing in Kerr group homes
- Identified relevant support services including psychiatric, counseling, medical, vocational, school sites and/or other specialist supports for a caseload of 16 clients in Washington County
- Writing, monitoring, and modifying ongoing, positive behavioral supports as indicated in the Positive Behavior Support Plan (PBSP), based upon the needs of the client
- Supported the person/client, their family, program staff, management and other Individual Support Plan team members to develop and implement behavior support plans and data collection procedures
- Provided training of PBSPs and necessary modifications
- Maintained an Oregon Intervention System Certificate and began initial instructor training to support staff in reasonably anticipating and applying protective physical interventions, and functional alternatives to behaviors
- Monitored agency compliance to behavior related responsibilities as outlined in state administrative rules and agency compliance with the state psychiatric review board
- Provided ongoing consultation to program administrators, coordinators, and managers.
Special Education Assistant
Hillsboro School District
Hillsboro, OR
11.2014 - 06.2022
- Provided culturally responsive educational supports to all students under the direction of licensed staff
- Delivered the services and supports outlined in students’ Individual Education Plans (IEPs)
- Supervised students in various settings and monitored for safety concerns
- Collaborated with teachers, counselors, case managers, Assisted with the implementation of Behavior Support Plans
- Helped to develop Functional Behavior Assessments for students, grades K-6
- Very skilled in trauma-informed de-escalation strategies as well as collaborative problem solving with students K-6 with cognitive and behavioral disabilities
- Successfully implemented crisis management strategies
- Experience with creating a therapeutic learning environment for trauma-impacted students grades K-6.
Socioemotional Learning Coach
Foundationscll
Hillsboro, OR
03.2020 - Current
- Facilitates social skills/friendship groups weekly to aid students in developing and fostering friendships with a focus on how to proportionally respond to social situations, practice expected behaviors, recognize unexpected behaviors, as well as how to recognize facial expressions, respond to conflict, problem-solve, stay on topic, and have meaningful conversations.
Direct Support Professional
RISE Inc. Services
Portland, OR
06.2020 - 08.2020
- Supported a 13-year-old individual within their personal home and community in hygiene, mobility, and behavioral supports with a focus on social skills acquisition, communication, and emotional regulation while promoting independence and autonomy.
Education
Bachelor of Science - Psychology
Portland State University
Portland, OR06-2022
Master of Science - Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Grand Canyon University
Phoenix, AZ10-2027
Master of Science - Special Education
American College of Education
Indianapolis, IN12-2025
Skills
- Microsoft Office
- Adobe
- SPSS
- EPIC
- Therap
- Google Applications
- Oregon Special Education System (ORSPED)
- Synergy
- Building rapport
- Strong interpersonal skills
- Writing and documentation
- Collecting and analyzing data
- Leadership
- Crisis intervention, conflict resolution, and behavior management
- Collaborative problem-solving
- Teamwork/collaboration
- Providing culturally responsive, trauma-informed care
- Training direct support professionals/assistants
Certification
- CPR
- First Aid
- Certified OIS Instructor: Crisis Level-All (trainer ID #012321)
- Safetycare
- Trained in UFLI
- Trained in Lindamood Phoneme Sequencing (LiPS)
- Trained in the (TERA-3) Test of Early Reading Ability and the (TEMA-3) Test of Early Mathematics Ability
Affiliations
- Reading
- Running
- Mycology
- Biology
- Zoology
- Abnormal Psychology
- Drawing/Painting
- Research
- Singing
- Studying languages
Languages
Arabic
Elementary
French
Elementary
References
References available upon request.
Timeline
Special Education Teacher
Hillsboro School District
10.2023 - 06.2024
Qualified Behavior Professional
Cornerstone Valley
02.2023 - 09.2024
Behavior Specialist
Albertina Kerr Centers
08.2022 - 02.2023
Direct Support Professional
RISE Inc. Services
06.2020 - 08.2020
Socioemotional Learning Coach
Foundationscll
03.2020 - Current
Special Education Assistant
Hillsboro School District
11.2014 - 06.2022
Bachelor of Science - Psychology
Portland State University
Master of Science - Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Grand Canyon University
Master of Science - Special Education
American College of Education
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