Paula Atherton
West Hartford,CT
Summary
Dedicated, cheerful, hard-working, and organized Behavior Coach offering 18 years of professional experience with children in preschool, elementary, general education, and special education. Twenty-four years of personal experience with children with autism, mental illness, and other learning disabilities. Able to create, maintain, and distribute various Microsoft and Google documents. Skilled in Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint. Familiarity with data entry, auditing, producing charts and graphs. Able to multitask while maintaining efficiency and speed in fast-paced situations. Focused on detail and time management. Adherence to effective and respectful communication with parents, staff, and students.
Overview
32
32
years of professional experience
Work History
Behavior Coach
Simsbury Public Schools
Simsbury, CT
08.2017 - Current
- Provided students with breaks.
- Assisted students in crisis by using deescalating techniques.
- Created and maintained student's behavior plan binders.
- Developed motivational tools for students.
- Mentored paraprofessionals.
- Created graphs and charts to later read and analyze.
- Frequently communicated with appropriate staff.
- Conducted student and paraprofessional observations.
- Performed recess duties.
- Collaborated with classroom teachers, specialists, and paraprofessionals on effectively aiding students.
- Worked as 1:1 paraprofessional when needed.
Special Education Paraprofessional
Simsbury Public Schools
Simsbury, CT
09.2015 - 08.2017
- Planned and led activities to develop students’ physical, emotional and social growth.
- Tailored lesson plans.
- Assisted classroom teacher in supervising snack time and indoor and outdoor play.
- Led reading and arts and crafts lessons.
- Assisted in preparing reports and paperwork for parent-teacher conferences.
- Prepared instruction materials, including making copies and setting up work areas.
- Reported on student progress, behavior, and social skills to appropriate school staff.
Regular Education Kindergarten Paraprofessional
Simsbury Public Schools
Simsbury, CT
09.2014 - 06.2015
- Instructed small groups of students in basic concepts such as alphabet, shapes, and color recognition.
- Assisted classroom teacher in supervising snack time and indoor and outdoor play.
- Maintained headcount.
- Kept classrooms clean.
- Prepared instruction materials, including making copies, constructing bulletin boards, and setting up work areas.
- In small groups, led curriculum lessons.
- Helped in behavior management.
Camp Director
Newton Parks and Recreation
Newton, MA
02.2008 - 08.2013
- Interviewed and trained staff.
- Evaluated staff.
- Conducted weekly meetings.
- Administered medications to campers.
- Communicated with parents and vendors.
- Participated in activities with campers and staff.
- Continuously observed safety of campers, staff, and camp.
- Mediated conflict amongst staff or campers.
- Encouraged excellence in staff.
- Received and recorded balances from parents.
- Maintained required paperwork from staff and parents.
- Worked with Inclusion Facilitator to ensure success amongst camp and students with disabilities success.
Special Education Assistant
Newton Public Schools
Newton, MA
10.2002 - 08.2013
- Worked as 1:1 special education assistant.
- Adhered student's Individual Education Plan (IEP).
- Instructed students in small group and whole class settings.
- Modified academic assignments.
- Tailored classroom instruction for student.
- Created behavior charts.
- Conducted student assessments.
- Taught life skills programs.
- Researched teaching materials.
- Participated in workshops.
- Communicated with staff, parents and professionals.
- Encouraged positive attitude towards learning.
- Compiled student's learning progress charts, graphs and reports.
Branch Operations Manager
Fleet Bank
Boston, MA
05.1993 - 08.1997
- Managed staff of 5-10 tellers.
- Conducted weekly staff meetings.
- Interviewed potential employees.
- Audited cash and documents.
- Ordered materials and cash.
- Performed teller duties as needed.
- Trained employees.
- Completed reports.
- Set up and supervised cash shipments.
- Performed daily, weekly, and monthly compliance checks.
- Maintained friendly and professional customer interactions.
- Handled staff conflicts, evaluations, hiring, and termination processes.
- Assessed employee performance and developed improvement plans.
- Verified amount of cash in cash drawer against day's receipts, quickly identifying errors.
- Completed highly accurate, high-volume money counts via both manual and machine-driven approaches.
- Introduced customers to other bank team members to help meet financial needs.
- Received car loan, home loan, and other payments and posted to accounts.
- Answered inquiries regarding checking and savings accounts and other related products.
- Investigated and promptly resolved issues with patron accounts.
- Created teller schedule to keep weekly and weekend shifts properly staffed.
- Replenished ATM funds in empty canisters.
- Mentored newly hired team members.
- Handled various accounting transactions.
- Identified issues, analyzed information, and provided solutions to problems.
- Operated and maintained variety of computers and technological devices.
Education
Bachelor of Science - Psychology
Charter Oak State College
New Britain, CTBachelor of Arts - Pre-med
Rhode Island College
Providence, RISkills
- Verbal/written communication
- Customer Service
- Critical thinking
- Mathematical calculations
- Computer skills
- Detail-oriented
- Spreadsheet management
- Documentation and control
- Scheduling and calendar management
- Bookkeeping
- Writing reports
- MS and Google programs/software
Professional Development Workshops
- Including Samuel
- Intro to Brain Gym
- Social Thinking
- Protecting Children and Youth: 51 A Mandated Reporting
- Kindergarten Curricula
- Avoiding Behavioral Meltdowns
Courses
- Teaching Children with Autism Using Applied Behavior Analysis (certificate)
Awards
2018, Simsbury Public Schools Paraeducator of the Year
Timeline
Behavior Coach
Simsbury Public Schools
08.2017 - Current
Special Education Paraprofessional
Simsbury Public Schools
09.2015 - 08.2017
Regular Education Kindergarten Paraprofessional
Simsbury Public Schools
09.2014 - 06.2015
Camp Director
Newton Parks and Recreation
02.2008 - 08.2013
Special Education Assistant
Newton Public Schools
10.2002 - 08.2013
Branch Operations Manager
Fleet Bank
05.1993 - 08.1997
Bachelor of Science - Psychology
Charter Oak State College
Bachelor of Arts - Pre-med
Rhode Island College