Willard Ford
Wellston,OH
Summary
Dedicated candidate eager to leverage knowledge in social services and program development. Skilled in running social services initiatives and developing policies and procedures. Collaborative and committed to addressing social issues to improve quality of life in marginalized communities.
Overview
29
29
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Substitute Teacher, K-12
Wellston City Schools
05.2024 - Current
- Followed classroom plans left by class teacher to continue student education and reinforce core concepts.
- Repeatedly requested as substitute teacher by teachers based on excellent past referrals and trusted performance.
- Kept students on-task with proactive behavior modification and positive reinforcement strategies.
- Managed classroom behavior effectively, implementing clear expectations and consistent consequences for all students.
Product Owner
The Flea Queen
08.2015 - Current
- Provide OTC flea treatment for both dogs and cats.
- Manage customer service, shipping, and handling.
Bereavement Coordinator
Heartland Hospice
07.2007 - 08.2015
- Established strong relationships with community organizations to broaden available resources for grieving families.
- Participated in relevant professional development opportunities to stay current on best practices in grief counseling and service delivery techniques.
- Completed initial intakes and follow-up assessments and coordinated resources and referrals based on assessment.
- Applied suitable interventions to meet needs of patients and families and demonstrated understanding of community health, welfare, and social agencies.
- Provided one-on-one counseling for both adults and children to suggest tools to help them in the grieving process. I also did family counseling for the family dynamics that deal with anticipatory grief, loss, death of a loved one, and survivor's guilt.
- Provided grief support groups each month in the counties we served. I also coordinated an annual grief camp that provided specialized counseling for children who had suffered loss in their families.
Food Production Worker
General Mills
06.2003 - 07.2007
- Assembled and packaged food items securely to meet company standards.
- Operated food production equipment safely and responsibly for quality output.
- Complied with food storage and handling procedures for safe, hygienic operations.
- Increased safety standards by following proper sanitation procedures and wearing appropriate protective gear.
- Served as a state-certified first responder for medical issues and emergencies.
Library Branch Manager/Bookmobile Driver
Portsmouth Public Library
08.1997 - 04.2001
- Managed library staff for the Bookmobile department, including assigning daily duties and evaluating job performances.
- Maintained friendly and professional customer interactions.
- Maintained the branch collection and worked with patrons to purchase popular book and media material.
- Drove the Bookmobile to area schools and local stops in rural county areas to provide excellent library services.
- Developed innovated programming each month for adults and children that included crafts, lectures, and other activities to enhance their knowledge and enjoyments.
Native English Teacher
School of Tomorrow Russia
07.1995 - 06.1997
- Worked in an American-sponsored school in Moscow that specialized in teaching ESL to Russian students from Pre-school to 12th grade. My classes were grades 9-12 and we studied core courses and electives in English.
- Collaborated with native Russian teachers to build a curriculum that satisfied the government educational standards as well as solid ESL skills.
- Utilized various teaching methods and approaches to accommodate diverse learning styles, ensuring individual student success.
- Boosted student confidence and proficiency in speaking English through engaging conversational activities and real-life scenarios.
- Enhanced students'' reading and writing skills by implementing diverse literature selections and creative writing exercises.
Education
Bachelor of Arts - Social Sciences
Shawnee State University
Portsmouth, OH06.1993
Skills
- Student Engagement
- Positive Reinforcement
- Multi-Subject Instruction
- Curriculum knowledge
- Special Needs Support
- Artistic Expression
- Classroom Management
- Verbal and written communication
- Adaptable
- Activity Planning
- Behavior Modeling
- Group and individual instruction
Certification
- Substitute Teacher Certificate from the state of Ohio
- CPR/First Aid Certification
Languages
American Sign Language
Limited Working
Timeline
Substitute Teacher, K-12
Wellston City Schools
05.2024 - Current
Product Owner
The Flea Queen
08.2015 - Current
Bereavement Coordinator
Heartland Hospice
07.2007 - 08.2015
Food Production Worker
General Mills
06.2003 - 07.2007
Library Branch Manager/Bookmobile Driver
Portsmouth Public Library
08.1997 - 04.2001
Native English Teacher
School of Tomorrow Russia
07.1995 - 06.1997
Bachelor of Arts - Social Sciences
Shawnee State University
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