Resume
Education
M.Ed. Special Education with focus on Autism, Oakland University, Rochester, MI (2001)
B.S. Education, Secondary English and Special Education, Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, PA (1997)
Certification: PA, Certified Presenter (Level 1), Sign2Me Presenters’ Network (2005)
MI, Autistically Impaired, Mentally Impaired, and Emotionally Impaired (K-age 26) (1999)
MA, Special Needs (pre-K-12) (1998)
PA, Mentally and/or Physically Handicapped (K-12) and Secondary English (7-12) (1997)
HONORS AND AWARDS
Outstanding Special Educator of the Year, Council for Exceptional Children, Jackson County, MI (2001)
Lipinski Advocate Award, Autism Society of Michigan (2001)
Honorary Board Member, Autism Society of Michigan (2000-2001)
Trained in the TEACCH Model of educating individuals with autism, University of North Carolina (1999)
USA Today All-USA Collegiate Academic First Team, 1 of top 20 students out of 1,300 nominees (1997)
Rhodes Scholarship nominee, Duquesne University (1996)
PROFESSIONAL PREPARATION AND EXPERIENCES
Teaching Experiences
Sign With Me, Sign Language for Infants and Toddlers, Philadelphia, PA (2005-present)
- created company to provide families with a unique opportunity to create a stronger bond, empower infants/toddlers to communicate their needs, enhance children’s self-esteem and confidence,
and gain insight into the mind of children through the use of American Sign Language (ASL)to provide
- facilitate classes, workshops, playgroups, private lessons, and consultations for infants/toddlers and their families across the Philadelphia, New Jersey, and Delaware area
Special Education Teacher for children with autism, Boston Public Schools, Boston, MA (2002-2004)
- educated children with autism at the elementary school level by creating individualized curricula based on student strengths and needs
- created functional learning series in the areas of reading, writing, mathematics, social studies, science, arts/crafts/leisure activities, and life skills such as cooking, community trips,
and pre-vocational skills
- fostered disability awareness and peer buddies through talks with typically developing students and structured opportunities to interact with students with autism
Inclusion Facilitator, Newton Public Schools, Newton, MA (2001-2002)
- collaborated with diverse Team members at the elementary school level (parents, students, classroom teachers, inclusion assistants, specialists, administrators, and advocates) to develop
student centered individualized education plans and biannual reviews for students with a wide range of disabilities such as autism, cerebral palsy, developmental delay, down’s syndrome,
and emotional/behavioral issues
- assisted the Team to include students with disabilities in all aspects of the school day and developed strategies to allow the students to practice their learning goals across different
school environments
- assessed students’ needs, adapted/created curricular materials, and modeled instructional techniques and lessons for inclusion assistants and teachers
Special Education Teacher for children with autism, Jackson Public Schools, Jackson, MI (1998 - 2001)
- educated children with autism at the middle school level by utilizing their strengths to teach functional life skills
- trained in the TEACCH model (University of North Carolina School of Medicine) to empower and to plan for successful life-long learning in children with autism
- provide a structured program for students with autism to be included in regular education classes with support
Special Education Teacher / L.D. Diagnostician, Brookline Public Schools, Brookline, MA (1997 - 1998)
empowered ninth grade students with severe emotional difficulties, such as autism, aggression/anger, AD/HD, and depression, by designing and creating a self-contained classroom
assessed and diagnosed children with disabilities and aided in the development of their educational plans
INTERNATION VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE
Volunteer Teacher Consultant, G.V. School for the Handicapped, India (June 2000 – August 2000)
- created and applied the CHILD Model (Cultural, Historical, Interdependent model for Learners in Developing countries) as a Master’s thesis
- assessed the special educational needs of the G.V. School and the community it serves
trained teachers to identify individual student needs, design goals, and implement appropriate interventions
Volunteer Teacher, Mother Teresa's Missionaries of Charity, India (May 1996 - June 1996)
- empowered orphaned children with disabilities by developing special education and rehabilitation programs
stimulated children with disabilities through creative play and the arts
- designed a program to educate the Sisters of Charity concerning teaching children with disabilities
Volunteer Worker, Haiti Reforestation Project (March 1996)
- aided the peasants of Haiti in their fight towards political and economic equality by planting 15,000 fruit trees
- explored the depth of the struggle of the Haitians by conferencing with former-president Aristede
Award Recipient and Intern, Heinz Endowment Study Abroad Scholarship (May 1995 - July 1995)
- designed a self-directed program consisting of a comparative study of special education in the U.S.A. and U.K.
DOMESTIC VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE
Volunteer Coach, Special Olympics, PA (1990 - 2000)
- fostered a sense of self-efficacy in special adults through interaction and positive praise
RESEARCH EXPERIENCES
Therapeutic Counselor, Autism Center, Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, PA (May 1997 - Aug. 1997)
- provided therapeutic support for children with autism in a regularized camp setting
- designed and implemented treatment plans focusing on the communication, social and behavior needs of children with autism
Research Assistant, Child Development Unit, Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, PA (Jan. 1996 - May 1996)
- assisted with and wrote educational recommendations for interdisciplinary team evaluations of children with disabilities
- assessed children's comprehensive needs by conducting family interviews for Project CHILD
- analyzed data for the development of the "NIAD" scale linking children's brain function with behavior
PUBLICATIONS
Author, Resume Writing Workbook, Greater Love Tabernacle, Dorchester, MA (2004)
- workbook designed to empower individuals to introspectively explore life goals, understand the basic principles of resume writing, and create a personalized resume reflective of their
true life vision
- conducted resume writing workshops for over 100 individuals
Author, ABC’s of Autism, Autism Society of Michigan, Lansing, MI (2000)
- book written to educate families, children, and professionals to make them aware of the strengths and capacities of individuals with autism, available through http://www.autism-mi.org
Founder and Editor, The Experiential Learner, Pittsburgh, PA (1994 - 1997)
- first journal in the country for aspiring teachers through Duquesne University: http://www.duq.edu
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