SUMMARY OF QUALIFICATIONS:
Thirteen years of experience in education, program coordination, training and public relations. Team player excelling in defining goals and objectives.
• Published author.
• Excellent communication skills as an administrator, group facilitator and trainer; proven interpersonal skills.
• Experience working with a diverse population of individuals and students.
• Skilled at collaborative processes to ensure success of programs.
• Capable of managing a large number of critical job functions concurrently and successfully. Effective at working with others to accomplish goals.
• Organizational, instructional, research, budgeting, planning, supervisory and coordination skills.
Education:
Master of Arts in Special Education, August 1995
Bachelor of Science in Economics, June 1992
Santa Clara University, Santa Clara, California
Licenses/Certifications:
Colorado Provisional Administrator License- Director of Special Education Endorsement
Colorado Professional Elementary Education and Special Education- Mild/Moderate Needs
Experience:
Disabilities and Mental Health Administrator, Mayor’s Office for Education and Children, Denver’s Great Kids Head Start, Denver, Colorado (2003- present)
• Selected as one of 10 coaches in the state for the Center on the Social and Emotional Foundations of Early Learning Environments (CSEFEL) at the University of Colorado, Denver. Developed state demonstration site in partnership with Mile High Montessori Early Learning Centers, Sewall Child Development Center, Mental Health Center of Denver, and CSEFEL.
• Received no findings in disabilities and mental health core questions during the 2006 triennial federal program review. Federal review team consisted of 23 reviewers, including four reviewers in the areas of disabilities and mental health.
• Responsible for developing and monitoring the Disabilities and Mental Health Services Plans for contracted support to five delegate agencies serving 1083 children.
• Coordinated the activities of 20 direct and administrative staff providing disabilities and mental health services.
• Responsible for developing and monitoring contractual service agreements totaling approximately $450,000.
• Developed and coordinated training activities related to disabilities and mental health for delegate agencies and approximately 200 delegate staff.
• Developed a plan for program evaluation, and completed a self-assessment of disabilities and mental health services for the current grant application.
• Authored successful $50k grant application to support fatherhood programming for the Colorado Head Start Association.
CHRISTOPHER AUER, PAGE 2
Special Education Coordinator, Family Crisis Center, Department of Human Services,
Denver, Colorado (2001–2003)
• Coordinated all aspects of the on-grounds school Special Education Program for up to 500 students during the program year. Responsible for records management, recruitment, community networking, program analysis, annual evaluations, and contract administration.
• Coordinated necessary change of placements, and related services, as needed for 142 special education students during 2002-2003.
• Generated budget of approx. $500,000 to document excess cost rate for 2003-2004, as required by the Colorado Department of Education.
• Obtained funding for Title 1 teacher, and negotiated six thousand dollars in additional Title 1 materials for the 2002-2003 school year.
• Developed and revised the school improvement plan
• Revised and updated building policy and procedures manual as a member of the Policy and Procedures Committee.
• Supervised a staff of one Social Worker and two Human Service Aides.
• Planned lessons and implemented Individual Education Plans in a residential center for children in need of temporary protected shelter due to severe abuse, neglect and delinquency.
Director-Special Education, Wyatt-Edison Charter School, Denver, Colorado (2000–2001)
• Supervised two special education teachers.
• Coordinated the activities of five professionals under contract from Denver Public Schools.
• Provided various in-services to staff and community organizations.
• Coordinated and facilitated all pre-referral meetings with staff and parents.
• Primary Lead Teacher under the Primary Lead Teacher Program of Denver Public Schools.
Integration Specialist, Amphitheater School District, Tucson, Arizona (1999–2000)
• Provided consultation to regular education teachers in order to facilitate effective instruction.
• Instructed special education students in a resource setting utilizing alternative teaching methods.
• Provided homebound instruction to medically fragile students unable to attend school.
• Consultant to student study teams to accommodate students in the mainstreamed environment.
Education Specialist, SALT Center – University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona (1999)
• Developed training workshops for students and staff.
• Consultant to the PEEL Grant, a $1M federal grant to enhance faculty teaching.
• Counseled students regarding academic and social concerns.
• Instructed students in the use of test and learning strategies.
• Reviewed confidential psychological reports to determine eligibility for academic accommodations.
Special Education Teacher, Esperanza Elementary, Sunnyside Unified School District,
Tucson, AZ (1995-1999)
• Achieved highest level of the career ladder program, which provided qualification to serve as a mentor to new teachers.
• Consultant to the district social studies curriculum adoption committee in matters pertaining to the needs of special education students. Presented staff in-services related to this activity.
• Consultant to the school staff and administration as the site Technology Lead.
• Reviewed qualitative/quantitative data to revise & develop the school improvement plan.
CHRISTOPHER AUER, PAGE 3
Bilingual Teacher, Grant School – San Jose Unified School District, San Jose, CA (1994–1995)
• Planned and presented all areas of instruction in a bilingual classroom utilizing team teaching and science-based thematic units.
• Chaired the Learning Environment Committee that amended school procedures and proposed a weekly assembly for the school.
Resource Teacher, Randol School, San Jose Unified School District, San Jose, CA (1994)
• Planned & presented modified instruction to students eligible for Chapter 1 assistance in Grades 1-5.
• Assessed individual students to provide recommendations to Student Study Teams, and regular education teachers.
Boards and Commissions:
• Responsible Fatherhood Initiative. Steering Committee, (2006-present)
This is a five year, $10 million grant to support fatherhood programming in Colorado through the Colorado Department of Human Services. Activities included initial grant application advisement, sub grant review and selection, and consultation on program activities.
• Colorado Interagency Coordinating Council. Parent Representative, (2004-2006)
The Governor makes appointments to the council, which advises the lead agency on disabilities services birth to three throughout the state. Elected by the council to the Executive Committee during 2005-2006.
• The Foundation for Knowledge in Development (KID Foundation). Board Member, (2004 – 2007) Elected Board President, (2006)
The KID Foundation was founded by Lucy Jane Miller, Ph.D., OTR, and supports research, education and advocacy for families and children with Sensory Processing Disorder.
Book:
Christopher R. Auer, MA., with Susan L. Blumberg, Ph.D., Helping Your Child with Sensory Processing Disorder: A Guide for Families. Oakland, CA: New Harbinger Publications, December 2006
Endorsed by:
• Morton Ann Gernsbacher, Ph.D. Vilas Research Professor and Sir Frederic Bartlett Professor University of Wisconsin-Madison
• Rick Lavoie, author of It’s So Much Work to Be Your Friend: Helping the Child with Learning Disabilities Find Social Success and The Motivation Breakthrough: 6 Secrets to Turning On the Tuned-Out Child.
• Ann Turnbull, Ph.D., Co-Founder and Co-Director of the BEACH Center at the University of Kansas.
Select Presentations:
• Office of Special Education Programs, Washington D.C., Panel Presentation, December 2007
• Parents as Teachers National Conference, Partnering with Parents to Help Children with Sensory Processing Disorder and their Families, April 2007
• National Head Start Association, Family Strength Through the Child with Special Needs, May 2006