Hi, I’m
Vera Zjalic-Maksimov
Mount Prospect,IL
Summary
Dynamic educational administrator and organizational leader offering 17 years of experience in education. Exercises honed competencies in curriculum development, implementation, and execution of performance-enhancing programs using data-driven decision-making. A detail-oriented planner and problem-solver that assesses the quality and effectiveness of instruction and makes positive changes to better serve student needs. Outstanding skills in parent communication, conflict resolution, and staff management. Known for consistently supporting faculty and staff as an advocate leader. Motivated to improve relationships among faculty, students, and administrators. Personable and outgoing, with skill in building rapport with diverse cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds.
Overview
16
years of professional experience
1
Certification
Work History
Lumen AcademyWest Dundee, IL
Principal
07.2022 - Current
Job overview
- Administered personnel policies and procedures for school faculty and staff.
- Mentored newly hired educators and provided encouragement and feedback.
- Hire and organize orientation for new teachers and staff.
- Monitored and evaluated educational programs to maintain high-quality performance objectives and standards.
- Administered personnel policies and procedures and approved professional staff additions.
- Supported hiring, training, and disciplinary action in compliance with legal guidelines and requirements.
- Oversaw schedule management and protocols for orientation, registration, and related activities.
- Managed all details regarding student discipline.
- Facilitated continued education for teaching staff by implementing quality curriculum training and appropriating necessary resources.
- Established a positive, stimulating learning environment for students and an exciting education-focused setting for teachers.
- Cultivated positive relationships between community members, school students, and teachers.
- Monitored student behavior and enforced discipline policies.
- Modeled expected and appropriate leadership to promote teaching staff and administrative personnel's positive interaction with students and families.
- Researched and incorporated new educational trends and instructional strategies to optimize education effectiveness.
- Coordinated yearly operations and staff budgets, tracked expenses, and documented actions.
- Performed classroom evaluations to assess teacher strategies and effectiveness.
- Verified adherence to state, federal, and private funding source requirements across programs and outcomes.
- Trained teachers on effective teaching techniques, classroom management strategies, and behavior modification.
- Established instructional practices driven by statistical performance data.
- Encouraged interdepartmental and cross-functional team collaboration in developing and supporting student activities, programs, and lessons.
- Communicated policies and procedures to students and parents regarding student behavior.
- Established instructional practices driven by statistical performance data.
- Led meetings to convey policy changes, gather information, and assess employee thoughts.
- Instructed small groups of teachers and students.
- Introduced modifications to the English Language Arts and Math curriculum and new effective instructional techniques.
- Defined and enforced student academic achievement standards per district goals and objectives.
D300 - AlgonquinAlgonquin, IL
District Administrator - Special Education
07.2017 - 06.2022
Job overview
- Reduced achievement gap by 5% in Math and 17% in English for 11th-grade students with IEPs with strategically implemented Professional Learning Committees (PLCs) focusing on data to forward student learning.
- Developed and delivered professional development on Special Education Topics (OH/ED, 504), Para-Professional Training, Compliance Training, and PSAT/SAT-accommodated training and testing.
- Developed and implemented curriculum for Personal Development according to Education Services Strategic Plan following CCSS and NGSS.
- Collaborated with school counselors and district administrators to advise and support excessively truant or lower-performing students.
- Coordinated special education services through frequent principal collaboration and consultation.
- Allocated special education staff and addressed requests for additional allocations.
- Evaluated and supervised itinerant teachers and support staff based on student needs.
- Coordinated staff evaluations for special education personnel.
- Observed teachers, documented activities, and implemented improvement plans to optimize classrooms.
- Monitored and evaluated educational programs to maintain high-quality performance objectives and standards.
- Studied assessment information covering students, teachers, and school operations to formulate improvement plans.
- Maintained compliance with established policies, legal requirements, and student safety standards.
- Established a positive, stimulating learning environment for students and an exciting education-focused teacher setting.
- Maintained the school's focus on learning by enforcing rules related to academics, student discipline, and class attendance.
- Trained 21 teachers and 35 support staff on effective teaching techniques, classroom management strategies, and behavior modification.
- Provided chaperone supervision during dances, sporting events, etc.
D201 - BerwynBerwyn, IL
District IEP Facilitator
08.2016 - 06.2017
Job overview
- Conducted data analysis to ensure compliance with various policies/procedures and monitored program components as a SIT Team Facilitator.
- Facilitated over 650 IEP Meetings, initial referrals, and 3-year re-evaluations for accuracy, compliance, and LEA representation for high school articulation meetings.
- Strategically implemented policies/procedures for Section 504 referrals.
- Evaluated and coached ten teachers and multiple support staff.
D201U - Crete MoneeCrete, IL
Special Education Resource Teacher
08.2015 - 06.2016
Job overview
- Assisted struggling students in maintaining progress levels by designing individualized lesson plans focused on areas for improvement.
- Taught students in self-contained and resource environments.
- Modified general education curriculum for special-needs students using various instructional techniques and technologies.
- Delivered effective and differentiated classroom instruction to a range of neurodiverse students.
- Assessed students using WISC, WIAT, and KTEA to determine student eligibility for special education.
- Developed Individual Education Plans (IEPs) following federal and state guidelines to meet the needs of students.
D201 - Bloom TownshipChicago Heights, IL
Transition Coordinator/Behavior Specialist
08.2013 - 06.2015
Job overview
- Asked appropriate open-ended questions to discover individual needs and requirements.
- Educated individuals on available educational materials, videos and online sites.
- Provided extensive support to patients and helped with acclimation to new settings.
- Collaborated with service members to provide effective transition planning.
- Customized vocational exploration activities to identify self-determined rehabilitation needs and goals.
- Assisted individuals with addressing disabilities and developing career plans.
- Implemented and facilitated all intake and exit/reintegration meetings with deans, parents and students, providing contractual information for parents regarding student attendance in the BIC (Behavior Intervention Classroom)
- Evaluated student behavior and progress for reintegration to the regular high school program
Academy For LearningDolton, IL
Data Assessment and Curriculum Coordinator
08.2007 - 06.2013
Job overview
- Teamed with subject matter experts to evaluate and revise training tools to continually improve learning platforms.
- Effectively implemented best training practices and adult learning principles in planning and creating instructional materials.
- Worked closely with instructors to prepare online materials, content, and tools to facilitate training.
- Designed, implemented, and managed successful training programs to meet department and school needs.
- Researched and incorporated current trends and data into the standard curriculum for common core subjects.
- Planned and monitored the implementation of technology-based learning programs.
- Targeted diverse learning modalities in developing new course content and training programs.
- Provided subject matter expertise on all courses, materials, and lesson plans.
- Developed assessments and user polls to evaluate course effectiveness, altering content and delivery to achieve student learning goals.
- Delivered top-quality training documentation, manuals, and tools addressing the needs of specific specialist groups.
Education
American College of EducationIndianapolis, IN
Doctoral - Ed.D. from Educational Leadership
05.2024
Purdue University CalumetHammond, IN
Master of Science from Education Administration
2012
Indiana University NorthwestGary, IN
Master of Science from Education of Individuals in Elementary Special Education Programs
2006
North Park UniversityChicago, IL
MBA from Management And Marketing
1996
North Park UniversityChicago, IL
Bachelor of Arts from International Business
1994
Skills
- Teacher and student development
- Curriculum development
- Group facilitation and presentations
- Program Evaluation and Process Improvement
- Staff Development and Team Collaboration
- Policy and Procedure Development
- Regulatory Compliance
- Learning Assessments, Performance Standards and Analysis
- School Community Relations
- Excellent Verbal and Written Communication
- Interpersonal Skills
Certification
Type 75 - Educational Administration / PERA Certified - Illinois and Indiana
PEL - Type 10 / LBS 1 K-12 Field Endorsed - Illinois and Indiana
Director of Special Education - Illinois and Indiana
Languages
Serbian
Native or Bilingual
Macedonian
Elementary
French
Elementary
Timeline
Principal
Lumen Academy
07.2022 - Current
District Administrator - Special Education
D300 - Algonquin
07.2017 - 06.2022
District IEP Facilitator
D201 - Berwyn
08.2016 - 06.2017
Special Education Resource Teacher
D201U - Crete Monee
08.2015 - 06.2016
Transition Coordinator/Behavior Specialist
D201 - Bloom Township
08.2013 - 06.2015
Data Assessment and Curriculum Coordinator
Academy For Learning
08.2007 - 06.2013
American College of Education
Doctoral - Ed.D. from Educational Leadership
Purdue University Calumet
Master of Science from Education Administration
Indiana University Northwest
Master of Science from Education of Individuals in Elementary Special Education Programs
North Park University
MBA from Management And Marketing
North Park University
Bachelor of Arts from International Business
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