Wesley Thurman

Writer/Editor

845-***-**** addm17@r.postjobfree.com http://wesleythurman.workfolio.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/w-828700149/

Editor -Writer-Publisher Curriculum Development Instructional Design Employee Development Project Management Coaching Mentoring Non-Profit Multilingual (Spanish, Mandarin, American Sign Language) Educational Management Outreach Presentations Performance Standards Best Practices Conflict Resolution Team Leadership Staff Development Data Analysis

Passionate and creative Writer and international educator looking to transition. Offering a vast level of experience ranging from editing, writing, developing curriculum and programs that elevate learning opportunities across non-profits and educational environments as well as government administration and relations, behavioral science/psychology-human services, communications, community development, language acquisition and the financial services industry. Proven track record with staff management & development, formulating assessments and developing learning offerings based upon their data. Has received accolades for published writing, developing remediation strategies, problem solving, charting progress utilizing data, and incorporating best practices across improved learning offerings.

Successes Include:

Designing educational curriculum, marketing and presenting to learners.

Analyzing, creating and re-designing educational and training resources.

Recommending, developing and implementing learning strategies to meet requirements.

Developing assessments and metrics to ensure consistent evaluation and measurement of objectives.

Education:

Master of Science (MS) degree in Education/Special Education from Touro College Graduate School of Education and Psychology

Bachelor of Arts (BA) Degree in Economics & Finance from CUNY at York College.

Certifications: New York State Teaching Licenses for General & Special Education; CPR; Conflict Resolution.

Organizations and Volunteer:

Urban Youth Initiative Inc.; Writer, Green Point Observer; North Brooklynn Community Council, Inc, 2004-2011, Board Member; New York City Council, 2000-2011, Community volunteer & Writer/Editor for the Brooklyn Newspaper; Prince Hall Scholarship Committee, Chairperson.

Work History

Lecturer – Foreign Teaching Expert - Consultant

Anhui Progressive Culture & Education Co. Ltd., Huainan City & Hefei City, China

03/2018 – 01/2019

Hired to partner with Universities, Colleges and private international education management firms developing, engaging, and teaching students in age range from 4 to 30 years of age. Designed programs that exposed students to various courses including English, Marketing Communications, Statistics, Early (Childhood Development) Education and American culture. Designed programs for formal academic settings as well as for corporate seminars and executive/professional staff development. Left to return to the United States at the end of my Chinese teaching contract.

Developed International University student exchange program. With a lack of exchange programs in place for Chinese students wishing to experience studying abroad, stepped into role as liaison between international university leaders and domestic colleges. Designed 2-pronged program focusing on course curriculum as well as cross-cultural acclimation. Successfully instituted these programs and drove interest and enrollment in exchange program supporting students and received accolades for the success of this exchange program.

International Teaching Expert - Consultant

E-Door Foreign Language Institute, Wuxi City, China

08/2017 – 03/2018

Primary teacher for teaching students English as a second language with various approaches and to assist them in exposure with the English language, knowledge and culture. Prepared individualized lessons in collaboration with a Chinese Teaching Assistant, including; preparing formal and informal assessments; coordinating class and school activities, functioning as a support to Chinese teachers and evaluating student performance. Contracted.

International Teaching Expert - Consultant

Qunxing Foreign Language School, Yiwu City, China

02/2017 – 08/2017

Teacher for Chinese students’ English language, knowledge and culture. Prepared curriculum, formal and informal assessments for student performance evaluation. Short-term contract.

Early Interventionist, Applied Behavior Analyst

Achieve Beyond Bilingual, Inc., Queens & Brooklyn, NY

02/2016 – 02/2017

Hired as an independent contractor to develop language learning programs to meet the needs of developmentally delayed and disabled children (ages 6 months – 10years) in particular children with bilingual (English & Spanish) needs.

Instituted ADA (American's with Disabilities Act) and IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act) child language program remediating behavioral issues. Families needed coping strategies to manage their children’s potentially difficult behaviors. Conducted language assessments through receptive and expressive communication to identify, gather, monitor, guide and coach children with Autism (ASD.) These assessments drove the development of coping strategies for the family managing difficult child behavior as well as improved the language skills of the child. These assessments created a path for the child through their Infant and Family Service Plan (IFSP) and the Committee on Special Education & the Preschool Committee of Special Education (CPSE.) This program created a positive rapport with families and boosted behavioral and language skills not just with their families but teachers and classmates. Parents were taught invaluable strategies to manage disruptive behaviors successfully.

Special Education Teacher

Heart Share School, New York

03/2016 – 02/2017

Experienced in self-contained settings for students with Autism (specialty) ages 14 – 21. Administer NYS Alternate Assessments - as well as initial and interim/predictive assessments for developmentally disabled students with autism, to construct and manage IEPs goals. Contracted.

Special Education Teacher

Hebrew Academy for Special Children, New York

07/2015 – 02/2016

Hired by this non-profit in a teacher role to provide educational and clinical services to individuals from 2 to 11 years of age, that exhibited developmental delays. Collaborated with parents to provide high quality education and therapeutic services to children with special needs. Contracted.

Facilitated learning for children and young adults with autism. Established the ADA and discreet child program to get language from the child to help remediate behavior issues. Taught children with a wide array of special needs. Utilized assessments to create, implement and monitor the student’s classroom behavior and development. Incorporated various conflict resolution strategies to mitigate and guide students through disruptive behaviors and ultimately formulated data to develop “best practices” for other teachers of special needs students.

Behavior Intervention Specialist, Social Worker, Counselor

PSCH (Professional Service Care & Health), Psychology Department

12/2014 – 04/2015

Hired as a conduit and liaison between corporate leadership, facility staff members and clients to develop to train on techniques for navigating disruptive activities during daily proceedings. Partnered and coordinated with medical facilities, providers and clients assuring the best care was being provided to patients. Trained staff and clientele techniques to ameliorate disruptive activities.

Championed and administered psychological behavioral in compliance with New York State regulations. Elevating the services and care provided to patients, designed, implemented and trained staff on innovative resolutions and challenges within the facility. Systematically monitored and reported out progress to senior management and clients maintaining compliance and creating visibility. Often mentored residences on best practices and coached them to be better and compliant in their delivery of care.

Special Education Teacher

New York City Department of Education

01/1988 – 09/2014

Recruited to educate in self-contained settings for students with Autism: specialty, E.D, D.D. and M.R. ages 14-21. Created innovative curriculum and reading + math learning program for special needs students. Facilitated the array of categories of special needs student within the Department ranging from age 2 years to 21 years of age.

Designed and developed an inclusion program entitled “The New Continuum.” Piloted the concept of combining general student population classes with special needs students creating an inclusive program. This program incorporated classroom safety and other precautions making sure all students were in a safe learning/classroom environment. Program was ultimately instituted across the district wide platform based upon the success of the program.

Formulated strategies and best practices in alignment with New York State learning criteria driving effectiveness. In partnership with staff, utilized interdisciplinary assessment results/ data to further define and map out more robust curriculum. Acknowledged for big improvements made and appointed to spearhead district wide projects.

Writer, Editor NYS Senate District Newsletter- State Senator Martin Malave Dilan

NYS Senate Liaison to New York Department of Education

New York State Senate

03/2003 – 01/2004

Staff liaison to former NYC School District 23 and Community Board 16. Coordinated and participated in community issues that impacted health and education in the North Brooklyn area. Advised and assisted community residents in resolving a variety of social matters and educational concerns. Organized district-wide discussions regarding the potential impact on the young learner and their families researched education legislation issues regarding Early Childhood, Elementary and Middle Schools. Edited and wrote weekly newsletter centering on legislative events in Albany and the State Senate District office.

Received recognition for spearheading a Senate Newsletter and district newspaper. Recognizing a communication disconnect in an economically challenged district needing support, spearheaded regular meetings to confer with Federal, State and local New York City agencies and government officials, creating and producing a Senate Newsletter and district newspaper. Articles featured areas of interest such as; potential budgeting matters and future funding prospects for school boards, community boards and local businesses. Produced, published and wrote bilingual articles in local community papers. Offered position as Editor and Chief for Prime Time News, newspaper.

Keyword Skills / Experience Factors / Personal Qualities

Administration, Change Agent, Client Relations, Communications Management, Community Relations, Bilingual, Program Design & Development, Communications, TESOL, Applied Behavior Analysis, TESOL, Intervention, Counseling, Behavioral Intervention, Behavioral Disorders, Pervasive Developmental Disorders, Behavior Analysis, Behavioral Pervasive Developmental Disorders, Behavior Analysis, Public Speaking, Policies & Procedures, Educational Program Management, Writing, Editing, Public Speaking, Conversational Spanish, Basic Sign Language, Basic functional Mandarin, Entrepreneurial management, Staff Development, Course Design, Professional Development Specialist, Special Needs Educational Consultant/Specialist, Community Organizing, Regulatory, Regulation, Crisis Communication, Regulatory Compliance, Financial Analysis, Financial Reporting, Public Relations, Government Relations, Media Relations, Office Management, Public Affairs, Program Development, Scheduling, Accounting, Agile, Banking, PR, Reporting, Care Management, Problem Resolution

Contact this candidate