Vivian James, Educator
Boston,United States
Summary
Professional caseworker with expert collaborative skills, high-level integrity, and a passion for creating effective educational experiences that produced favorable student outcomes and independent learners
Overview
9
9
years of professional experience
Work History
Caseworker & STEM Literacy Manager
Boston Public Schools/Paul A. Dever, Elementary School
Boston, MA
08.2022 - 08.2023
- Coordinated and monitored IEP goal progress for timely completion and compliance with applicable regulations.
- Documented progress in service plans, educational goals, and social-emotional learning
- Maintained updated case records.
- Effectively used differentiated planning and instructional methods, to anticipate and/or respond to developmental and academic needs of learners with multiple intelligences and various communicative behaviors
- Edited and/or created content for lesson-building and learning management systems including: Google Classroom, Schoology, Nearpod and Clever
- Constructively mentored teachers and paraprofessionals in student conflict deescalation techniques
- Developed and implemented classroom management procedures that reduced student disengagement by 80%
- Offered support and direction to families and coordinated with other school-based and community partners for additional resources.
- Maintained high level confidentiality, following strict guidelines, and recommendations.
Resource Teacher
Elmore County Schools/Wetumpka High, School
08.2021 - 05.2022
- Identified seven (7) students who were anticipated to not graduate; collaborated with colleagues and school district partners to engineer favorable student outcomes until all achieved eligibility to graduate and secured post-secondary education and/or work opportunities
- Modified general education curriculum for special-needs students using various instructional techniques and technologies
- Conducted benchmark assessments of students to determine individual academic needs and inform IEP goal planning
- Delivered data-based, IDEA-aligned Individualized Education Plans and actionable Summaries of Academic Achievement and Functional Performance for 20+ students on the caseload
- Delivered 1:1 and small-group explicit instruction in grade-level and remedial reading and math content
Collaborative Teacher
Schools/EPIC Elementary School
03.2020 - 05.2021
- Created welcoming, engaging learning environments for students during remote learning and blended classroom instruction
- Edited and/or created content for lesson building/learning management systems including: Google Classroom, Schoology, Nearpod and Clever
- Developed and maintained parent involvement via positive, timely outreach, learning platform trainings, and student progress meetings throughout remote and blended learning
- Delivered data-based, IDEA-aligned Individualized Education Plans and actionable Functional Behavioral Assessments and Behavior Improvement Plans for students
- Prevented academic regression for 80% of students during 2020-2021 school year
- Documented academic progress for 90% of students during 2020-2021 school year
- Delivered and/or facilitated accommodations and services for students during remote and blended learning
- Effectively utilized district tech, learning management systems, and online instructional programs to deliver meaningful, goal-aligned, and data-driven instruction according to Alabama General Education Curriculum and Alternate Achievement Standards
- Equipped and challenged students' parents to exceed initial goal of reading 1000 books to their children; parents read over 1750 books to their children
- Served as School Title I Committee member, offering budget allocation advisement
Unit Teacher
ASD, School District of Manatee, County/Florine J. Abel Elementary School
08.2017 - 12.2019
- Created welcoming, structured, self-contained classroom environment for K-2 students by providing and/or facilitating accommodations that included: individualized and/or small-group instruction, sensory diets, multiple classroom-based cognitive and behavioral therapies, as well as developmentally appropriate science, technology, engineering, fine arts, fitness, and music enrichment activities
- Provided sensory and cognitive learning strategies for parents to use at home with students
- Earned Autism Spectrum Disorder Endorsement upon completing graduate-level training for unit teachers
- Received "Highly Effective" teacher evaluation ratings in instruction, classroom management, and professional development
- Served as Teacher Representative for School Advisory Council
- Coordinated efficient, collaborative development of student IEPs by: ensuring informed parental preparation and participation, completing timely “Child Find” referrals for students who may potentially require special education services, requesting relevant district-level student evaluations, and assembling therapy reports, student progress notes and standardized test data to support annual reevaluations, FBA/BIPs, IEP goals and objectives, and LRE placement recommendations
- Coordinated meeting logistics for high-stakes IEP negotiations to facilitate student-centered team cooperation among attendees
- Processed final IEP for distribution to parents, LEA administrators, instructional staff, and therapy providers according to FL DOE timelines
- Registered student progress and attendance on database to enable tracking history and maintain accurate records.
Case Manager/Classroom Teacher
Florine J. Abel Elementary School, School Advisory Council
School District of Manatee County
08.2014 - 05.2017
- Created inviting, centers-based environment that accommodated developmental and instructional needs of a range of neurodiverse students.
- Taught multiple subjects to students with intellectual or emotional disabilities while honoring the multicultural composition of the class
- Delivered direct 1:1, small-, and whole-group instruction, using English (academic & conversant), Spanish (academic & conversant), German (academic) and Haitian creole (academic) per ESL best practices, whenever possible
- Coordinated transitional assessments and IEP processes for pre-K to K students
- Increased family involvement by recruiting parents/guardians to volunteer as classroom readers and/or book "listening buddies"
- Facilitated classroom-based related OT services and Speech therapies
- 100% of students who began their Pre-K tenure in my classroom at three years-old passed their kindergarten readiness diagnostics
- Received "Highly Effective" teacher evaluation ratings in professional development and classroom management
- Served as Teacher Representative to the School Advisory Council
Education
Bachelor of Arts -
Master of Arts -
Licensure: Elementary Gr. 1-6
Skills
- Positive learning environment & behavioral support techniques
- Curriculum implementation
- IEP case management & technical writing skills
- Positive Student and Parent engagement skills
- Data-based progress monitoring skills
- High-stakes scheduling & meeting logistics skills
- Co-Teaching and Co-Planning
- Classroom Technology Implementation
Timeline
Caseworker & STEM Literacy Manager - Boston Public Schools/Paul A. Dever, Elementary School
08.2022 - 08.2023
Resource Teacher - Elmore County Schools/Wetumpka High, School
08.2021 - 05.2022
Collaborative Teacher - Schools/EPIC Elementary School
03.2020 - 05.2021
Unit Teacher - ASD, School District of Manatee, County/Florine J. Abel Elementary School
08.2017 - 12.2019
Case Manager/Classroom Teacher - Florine J. Abel Elementary School, School Advisory Council
08.2014 - 05.2017
Georgia State University - Bachelor of Arts,
Liberty University - Master of Arts,
Massachusetts Department of Early And Secondary Ed - , Licensure: Elementary Gr. 1-6