Trisha Forton-Mata
Arlington,TX
Summary
- Certified Teacher with over 15 years of experience instructing in pre-K-6 classrooms. Enthusiastic, creative and adaptable to institutional needs. Encouraging and compassionate approach fostering positive learning environments.
- Instructs, advocates, and assists the most vulnerable population in finding school and community resources to best help the students' and parents' needs.
Overview
16
16
years of professional experience
8
8
years of post-secondary education
Work History
Substitute Teacher
St. Joseph Catholic School
Arlington, TX
10.2021 - Current
- Followed classroom plans left by class teacher to continue student education and reinforce core concepts.
- Upheld classroom routines to support student environments and maintain consistent schedules.
- Kept students on-task with proactive behavior modification and positive reinforcement strategies.
- Took over class for regular classroom teacher, managing assignments, student needs and recordkeeping.
- Maintained day-to-day classroom management and discipline to promote learning initiatives.
- Assigned, explained and graded homework.
- Worked with principal's office on disciplinary and safety issues.
- Provided instruction for students in core subject areas.
- Supervised lunchroom and recess activities.
- Kept accurate and current attendance records and assignment sheets to maintain file compliance.
- Organized and cleaned teaching areas after daily use to maintain high standards for returning teachers or other substitutes.
- Repeatedly requested as substitute teacher by teachers based on excellent past referrals and trusted performance.
Special Education Teacher
Kennedale ISD
Kennedale, TX
05.2010 - 06.2019
- 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.
- Redirected students using Positive Behavior Support (PBS).
- Taught reading, mathematics, language arts and social sciences in self-contained ED and LD classroom.
- Designed and implemented point system to encourage positive behavior.
- Communicated nonverbally with children to provide comfort, encouragement and positive reinforcement.
- Taught multiple subjects to students with intellectual or emotional disabilities.
- Assisted struggling students to maintain progress levels by designing individualized lesson plans focused on areas for improvement.
- Instructed students with physical and cognitive disabilities.
- Organized instruction material, constructed bulletin boards and set up work areas.
- Created learning and content strategies to meet needs of mentally and physically disabled students.
- Worked with students with moderate to severe autism to increase life skills.
- Created and managed IEPs to define student learning objectives and educational strategies, in addition to applying instructional knowledge and methods to support goals.
- Completed intensive leadership training and provided training to colleagues on applied behavior analysis.
- Taught students across multiple classifications and degrees of special needs.
- Instructed students in core academic areas and specialized reading groups.
- Led activities that developed students' physical, emotional and social growth.
- Coordinated special education students and teacher assistant schedules with master schedule.
- Provided life skills programming for students with moderate to severe autism.
- Implemented and taught life skills program, enabling students to master such tasks as checkbook balancing and laundry.
- Cultivated connections and strong student rapport to foster classroom engagement, in addition to recording student progress to inform parents and school administration.
- Partnered with general education teachers from across academic departments.
- Coordinated with teaching assistants, parents, and specialists regarding unique needs of each individual student to create and implement the best plan of action.
- Consulted with outside resources to help the vulnerable population in getting assistance with programs such as providing respite care, MMHR, DDS, DHS, and CPS, as needed.
Preschool Teacher/Nursery Supervisor
St. Vincent De Paul Catholic Church
Arlington, TX
10.2005 - 05.2010
- Applied play-based strategies to provide diverse approaches to learning.
- Promoted sensory development by providing access to different textures.
- Monitored students' academic, social and emotional progress and recorded in individual files.
- Worked with teaching staff to evaluate individual progress and recommend appropriate learning plans.
- Identified signs of emotional and developmental problems in children and reported to parents.
- Supervised students and enforced discipline during all Head Start activities.
- Gave one-on-one attention to children while maintaining overall focus on entire group.
- Addressed behavioral and learning issues with parents and academy management.
- Sanitized toys and play equipment each day to maintain safety and cleanliness.
- Maintained well-controlled classrooms by clearly outlining standards and reinforcing positive behaviors.
- Assisted and supervised 12 children through entire school day.
- Educated students in foundational concepts such as shapes, numbers and letters.
- Allowed for ample outdoor discovery time in schedule each day.
- Observed children to identify individuals in need of additional support and developed strategies to improve assistance.
- Protected children in-class, at recess and off-site with observational skills and positive reinforcement for good behavior.
- Coordinated with specialists and management to contact outside contacts for assistance with gaining resources such as Early Childhood Intervention, MMHR, speech services and DDS services.
Aircrew Life Support Journeyman
USAF
03.1999 - 04.2001
- Inspects, maintains, and adjusts aircrew life support (ALS) equipment and aircrew chemical defense equipment (ACDE) such as flight helmets, oxygen masks, survival kits, night vision systems, parachutes, anti-G suits, eye and respiratory protective equipment, and other types of ALS and aircrew chemical defense systems.
- Issues and fits ALS equipment and ACDE.
- Installs and removes ALS prepositioned and integrated aircraft equipment.
- Uses various types of test equipment such as oxygen testers, leakage testers, radio testers, and other types of testers to conduct reliability testing on ALS equipment and ACDE.
- Maintains inspection and accountability documentation on ALS equipment issued to aircrews or prepositioned aboard aircraft.
Education
Bachelor of Science - Education
The University of Texas At Arlington
Arlington, TX 06.2008 - 05.2010
Associate of Science - Education
Tarrant County College District
Fort Worth, TX 01.2003 - 12.2008
Skills
Safety awareness
Group Instruction
Student records management
Lesson implementation
Group and individual instruction
Disciplinary procedures
Relationship building and management
Elementary education
Parent Communication
Creative problem solving
Classroom management
Middle school education
Adaptable
Verbal and written communication
Differentiated instruction
Instructional technology
Timeline
Substitute Teacher
St. Joseph Catholic School
10.2021 - Current
Special Education Teacher
Kennedale ISD
05.2010 - 06.2019
Bachelor of Science - Education
The University of Texas At Arlington
06.2008 - 05.2010
Preschool Teacher/Nursery Supervisor
St. Vincent De Paul Catholic Church
10.2005 - 05.2010
Associate of Science - Education
Tarrant County College District
01.2003 - 12.2008
Aircrew Life Support Journeyman
USAF
03.1999 - 04.2001