Kathryn McDonald
Everett,WA
Summary
I am an experienced Special Education teacher who is very familiar with the challenges associated with teaching children who have varying degrees of special needs. I have found my ability to remain positive and flexible under times of stress or conflict, while providing a positive attitude and patience is vital to teaching children with special needs. I am skilled in collaborating with teachers and specialists to develop accommodations and strategies for success in an inclusive classroom or the community. I also have considerable experience supervising and training para professionals on collecting consistent data with fidelity to make changes as indicated.
Overview
23
23
years of professional experience
Work History
Para Educator
Everett School District
2023.09 - 2024.06
- Maintained a safe and inclusive learning environment by addressing behavioral issues promptly and following established protocols.
- Facilitated successful transitions between grade levels or school settings for students requiring additional support throughout the process.
- Assisted teachers with classroom management and document coordination to maintain positive learning environment.
Achieve Teacher
Everett School District
2001.08 - 2023.06
- Worked cooperatively with other teachers, administrators, and parents to help students reach learning objectives.
- Incorporated multiple types of teaching strategies into classroom.
- Communicated frequently with parents, students, and faculty to provide feedback and discuss instructional strategies.
- Supported student physical, mental, and social development using classroom games and activities.
- Provide individualized behavior plans and academic instruction
- Kept students on-task with proactive behavior modification and positive reinforcement strategies.
- Incorporated exciting and engaging activities to achieve student participation and hands-on learning.
- Graded and evaluated student assignments, papers, and course work.
- Conducted evaluations to measure performance and progress of students, providing guidance for areas requiring improvement.
- Participated in parent teacher conference to discuss developments of students and increase support.
- Advised and counseled students to help them develop skills and knowledge required to succeed.
- Developed and implemented classroom routines to address varying student needs.
- Served as a mentor to new teachers, sharing best practices in special education instruction and classroom management techniques.
- Modified lessons and curriculum to accommodate diverse learners by using strategies such as peer-assisted learning and group work.
- Worked with staff members and teachers to design comprehensive and individualized plans to optimize student education.
- Met with students, parents and administrators to address and resolve students' behavioral and academic issues.
- Promoted a positive learning environment through the use of differentiated instruction and individualized support for diverse learners.
- Coordinated with general education teachers to develop accommodations or modifications necessary for successful inclusion of students with special needs in mainstream classrooms.
- Collaborated with teachers and therapists to develop individualized educational plans for each student, ensuring optimal progress.
Education
Master of Science - Applied Behavior Analysis
University of Washington
Seattle, WA2014
Bachelor of Arts - Special Education
Gonzaga University
Spokane, WA1987
Skills
- Conflict resolution
- Group and individual instruction
- Parent-teacher communication
- De-Escalation Techniques
- Instructional Strategies
- Differentiated Instruction
- Documentation
- Behavior Management
- Sensory integration strategies
- Educational support
- Social skills development and training
- Data collection
- Evaluation of data and making indicated changes
- Classroom organization
Timeline
Para Educator
Everett School District
2023.09 - 2024.06
Achieve Teacher
Everett School District
2001.08 - 2023.06
Master of Science - Applied Behavior Analysis
University of Washington
Bachelor of Arts - Special Education
Gonzaga University
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