Special Education High School
Resume:
Objective
Work as a professor/director promoting growth in students focusing on individual strengths and diversity while continuing research in the field of special education and technology.
Certification
• Arizona
o AZ Standard Elementary Education K-8
o AZ Standard Special Education ED K-12
o AZ Standard Special Education LD K-12
o AZ Standard Special Education MR K-12
o AZ Standard Structured English Immersion Endorsement K-12
• California
o CA Multiple Subject Teaching Credential
o CA Level II Education Specialist Instruction Credential
Education
Ed.D. Winter 2012 Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ
Seeking doctorate in Special Education with an Emphasis on Multiculturalism, projected completion Fall 2o12, currently A.B.D.
2008 University of Phoenix, on-line
Non-degree seeking Administration, GPA 4.0
Various Courses to acquire requirements for certificates/endorsements:
• Teaching the Gifted
• Public School Law
• Personnel Administration in Education
• Finance and Administration
2008 Chapman University, on-line
Non-degree seeking, GPA 4.0
Various Courses to acquire requirements for certificates/endorsements:
• Diagnosis and Remediation Skills Crucial to the Successful Instruction of Reading
• Decoding Strategies to Reading Instruction
M.A. 2002 Northern Arizona University, Yuma, AZ
Masters of Special Education with emphasis on multiculturalism
Graduated Magnum Cum Laude, GPA 4.0
B.A. 1994 Trinity College of Vermont, Burlington, VT
Bachelors of Arts Special Education/Elementary Education/Psychology
Dean’s List, GPA 3.75
Received following honors:
Sr. Elizabeth Candon Humanitarian Award,
Theresa Amblo Smith Award for Spirit and Involvement
Experience
• Western Governors University – On-line
Adjunct Professor/Special Education Cohort Facilitator
August 2011 - Present
• Pacifica College – Moreno Valley, CA
Accreditation Liaison Officer/ Disability Awareness Specialist
• Review steps necessary to meet Accreditation Requirements
• Guide educational departments in determining appropriate curriculum to reach college goals
• Reviews disability documentation of functional limitations to determine eligibility for services and to substantiate requests for reasonable accommodations.
• Assesses the interaction of the student’s disability with the academic environment and develops a plan for the provision of reasonable accommodations to facilitate equitable opportunities.
• Coordinates communication between faculty, staff, and prospective and enrolled students with disabilities, and provides on-going consultation and technical assistance to faculty and staff to facilitate equal learning opportunities.
• Provides information, referral, and support to prospective and enrolled students with disabilities.
• Assists students in understanding their disabilities and their rights and responsibilities relating to reasonable accommodations.
• Provides support and problem solving assistance to individuals and groups.
• Maintains strict confidentiality in verbal and written communications.
• Maintains knowledge of current legislation and national, state, and local issues affecting access for students with disabilities.
• Documents, maintains and reviews current and accurate case records, notes and related information in electronic and manual files.s
• Delivers formal training to and provides technical consultations to faculty, staff, students, and the local community to promote awareness, sensitivity, and knowledge regarding access for disabled individuals.
August 2011 - Present
• Northern Arizona University – Flagstaff, AZ,
Adjunct Professor
November 2003 - Present
• Independent Contractor – Statewide, AZ
Educational Consultant
o Provide staff development training, resource materials, and information as determined necessary to ensure competencies and skills of school program
o Provide technical assistance to secure and maintain Private Special Education Day School accreditation
o Conduct trainings on voucher and residential placement policies and procedures
o Provide, maintain, and make available written teacher observations, program evaluation reports, and other documentation required by hiring agency
o Train staff on State and Federal guidelines relating to special education
June 2003 – December 2010
• Yuma School District One – Yuma, AZ
Exceptional Student Services Compliance Coordinator
o Complete annual data reports and grants required for district budget
o Attend and conduct a variety of meetings dealing with compliance issues and parental complaints
o Initiated and led district iPod committee and program.
o Responsible for establishing procedures for placement, evaluation and re-evaluation of students with special needs
o Assisted in design of intervention program to supplement general classroom instruction for all students
o Developed procedures for identification, referral, evaluation, multidisciplinary conferencing and writing of individual education plans for eligible students
o Worked with district E.S.S. staff to ensure compliance to state and federal guidelines with assessments, evaluations and IEPs.
o Train district staff on current state and federal legal requirements governing special education.
o Work with staff to coordinate collection and reporting of AIMS-A data.
o Coordinate the development of extended school year (ESY)
o Complete voucher placement of students in residential treatment centers or receiving homebound instruction
o Coordinate and run district gifted education program
o Work closely with department head and superintendent concerning district, state, and federal policies
o Assist in completion of complaints filed through State Department.
o Review over 1100 IEPs annually
o Train staff as part of curriculum development team for district
o Liaison to parents and schools
o Participate in Arizona Department of Education Academic Support Division
August 2002 – June 2011
• Arizona State Department – Statewide, AZ
Response To Intervention (RTI) Coach
o Response to Intervention (RTI) mentor for Somerton School District
o Oversaw introduction and implementation of RTI program
o Trained staff on progress monitoring of students in reading phonetics and fluency
September 2006 – March 2007
• Yuma School District One – Yuma, AZ
Special Education Teacher
o Taught self-contained classroom for students with emotional/behavioral disabilities
o Taught in cross categorical resource classroom
o Conducted functional behavioral assessments and implemented behavior intervention plans for individual students
o Collaborated with general education teachers on accommodations and modifications for students in the mainstream setting
o Assessed students using standardized testing materials
o Developed IEPs and conducted IEP meetings
o Supervised student teachers
o Lead teacher for special education department
o Scheduled in-service training for teachers and aides in the special education department
o Provided in-services for general education teachers and staff
o Developed and presented district inservice on mainstreaming
o Worked with teachers to develop an inclusive special education program
September 1994 – June 2002
• JTPA of Yuma – Yuma, AZ
o Worked with at-risk high school students
o Conducted goal planning with students
o Worked with community to establish job shadow programming
o Monitored student progress towards program goals May 1998 – August 1998
Publications/Presentations
• Presenter, International 2011 HICE Conference, “iPod, iPad and Apps: Tales of Student Success”
December 2011
• Presenter, National 2011 CEC Conference, “Who knew ankle biters really bit? Strategies for preschool behaviors.”
April 2011
• Presenter, International 2011 LDA Conference, “iPods Technology: A friend to CLDE students”
February 2011
• Presenter, International 2011 LDA Conference, “Culturally –responsive MAPS: Challenges and recommendations”
February 2011
• Presenter, National 2010 CEC Conference, “Give them something to talk about: Enhancing communication in students with autism spectrum disorder.
April 2010
• Presenter, Yuma Union High School District, “Special education’s impact on general education.”
September 2007
• Presenter, Casa Grande School District, “Modifications for the Real World”
October 1996
Research Experience
• Use of iPods with CLDE Students – Yuma School District One, iPod/Technology project
September 2010 – January 2010
Teaching Experience
• Western Governors University – Adjunct Professor
o Advise and guide teacher candidates prior to, during, and following the student teaching experience
o Follow the required guidelines, activities, and pacing delineated in the WGU Cohort Facilitator Guide and Cohort Seminar Course of Study (annotated syllabus).
o Facilitate an online community to include monitoring and responding to weekly message board postings.
o Facilitate a 60-minute weekly group conference call with candidates that supports a collegial sharing of ideas and promotes reflective discourse based on the designated topics.
o Provide timely and personal feedback to candidates regarding their weekly emailed reflections.
o Support candidate learning during student teaching.
o Provide ongoing guidance and support in the candidates' development and completion of the Teacher Work Sample / Professional Portfolio.
o Serve as a primary point of contact for candidates and serve as a liaison with WGU clinical practice staff. Fall 2011 to Present8
• Northern Arizona University – Adjunct Professor
o Teach “Secondary Methods In Special Education” to undergraduate and graduate level students
o Teach “Teaching Culturally Linguistically Diverse Students” to graduate students
o Teach “Introduction to Exceptionality” to undergraduate students
o Complete grant assessments and paperwork related to bachelor level special education grant program
o Supervise externs in the field of education
November 2003 to Present
• Yuma School District One, Presenter/Facilitator
Presented on following topics:
o “Modifications in the Real World”
o “Development of Behavior Plans”
o “The Gifted Toolbox” – Part I and Part II
o “Functional Behavior Assessments Can Be Fun”
o “IEP Development and Application”
o “Overview of Special Education Eligibility”
o “I Never “MET” a Multidisciplinary Education Team I Didn’t Like”
o “504 Plan Development”
o “Student Assistant Team Overview”
o “504 Plan Development”
o “Student Assistant Team Overview”
o “AIMS-A, What Does it Mean to You?
o “Odyssey of the Mind – Alternative Instruction Strategies”
o “Identifying the Under Represented Gifted Students”
o “Day to Day Data Collection”
1994 - Present
Professional Services
• Surrogate Parent, State of California, Beaumont 2011 - Present
• Guest Lecturer for R.I.S.E. program through Northern Arizona University Spring 2008
• Advisory Review Board Member for Transitional Living Center, Yuma, AZ
2005 - Present
• Arizona Department of Education Surrogate Parent 2005 - Present
• Educational Consultant for Excel Behavioral Health 2004 - 2005
• Member of YSD#1 District Discipline Committee 2002 - 2004
• Advisory board member for Yuma County Safe House 2002 - 2005
• State Board Member of Arizona Gifted and Talented Board 2002 - 2005
• Literacy Framework development team member for YSD#1 2002 - 2003
• Trainer of Trainers Presenter for B.R.I.D.G.E program through Northern Arizona University
Spring 2002
• Arizona Western Regional for Odyssey of the Mind –Director/Board Member/Coach/Judge 1994 - 2008
• YSD#1 Sub Allocation Committee member 1996- 1997
Affiliations/Memberships
• Learning Disabilities Association 2010- present
• Golden Key International 2010 - present
• Council for Exceptional Children 2009 - present
• Phi Beta Kappa 1994 - present
Publications
Johnson, G., Armfield, S., Thornton, F. & Venditelli, D. (2011). Using iPods in the Math Classroom. In M. Koehler & P. Mishra (Eds.), Proceedings of Society for Information Technology & Teacher Education International Conference 2011 (pp. 3993-3995). Chesapeake, VA: AACE.
Awards
• 2007 Cambridge Who’s Who of Executives and Professionals Honored Member
• 2002 Teacher of the Year for Woodard Junior High School, Yuma, AZ
• 2001 Walmart Teacher of the Year
• 2000 Nominee for Disney Teacher of the Year
• 1998 Teacher of the Year, Yuma, AZ County Finalist
• 1998 Teacher of the Year for Woodard Junior High School, Yuma, AZ
• 1997 Light of Education Mini-Grant Recipient Yuma Education Association
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