Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Timeline
Vivian James, Educator

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
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
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 -

Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA

Master of Arts -

Liberty University, Lynchburg, VA

Licensure: Elementary Gr. 1-6

Massachusetts Department of Early And Secondary Ed, Boston, MA

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

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Vivian James, Educator