Heather Raithel
2017 CEC (Council for Exceptional Children) Graduate Student of the Year
BACKGROUND
I have a unique background in education with over 18 years of full-time teaching experience. Beginning my career as the sole-teacher at a one-room schoolhouse in rural Montana, I have since taught a variety of subjects and grade levels in Hawaii, Texas, Utah, and Thailand. I was the Transition Coordinator at Utah Virtual Academy, a fully online charter school, where I oversaw all transition services for students with disabilities. In 2017-2019, I was the State Systemic Plan Coordinator and a Lead Program Support and Monitoring Specialist with the Arizona Department of Education. Currently, I serve as the Compliance Coordinator in the Avondale Elementary School District.
TEACHING CREDENTIALS
ARIZONA - Special Education, Mild/Moderate (K-12)
Expires: 7/12/2031
UTAH - All Subjects (1-8); Special Education (EC-12+)
Expires: 6/30/2021
TEXAS - All Subjects (1-8); English as a Second Language (K-12); Special Education (K-12); English (1-8)
Expires: 7/31/2019
EDUCATION
Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona
Ed.D. Special Education Leadership and Innovation (expected completion December 2023)
Utah State University, Logan, Utah
M.Ed. Special Education
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Masters in special education with a concentration on transitions to adulthood for students with disabilities.
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Graduated, Spring 2017
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GPA: 4.0 (4 point scale)
Sam Houston State University, Huntsville, Texas
B.S. 2002, Academic Studies (Education)/English minor
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Graduated with a 3.88 G.P.A. (4 point scale) Summa Cum Laude
PRESENTATIONS, AWARDS, RESEARCH, and PROFESSIONAL AFFFILIATIONS
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CEC 2017 Graduate Student of the Year
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Various presentations to districts and charters within Arizona on special education compliance
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Presentations on the State Systemic Improvement Plan (SSIP) to the Special Education Advisory Panel (SEAP), and to both internal and external stakeholders throughout Arizona
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Invitee - 2017 ECET2 (Elevating and Celebrating Effective Teaching and Teacher) Conference, Utah
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Team Leader - Utah Transition Institute 2015-2017
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Participant - Special Education Director's Academy (2019-present)
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Lead Presenter - Poster Session - “Thinking Outside the Box: Utilizing Technology in Effective Transition Planning to Benefit All Students” - Utah CEC Conference, February, 2017
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Lead Presenter - Break-out Session “Thinking Outside the Box: Utilizing Technology in Effective Transition Planning to Benefit All Students” Utah UMTSS, June 2016.
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Lead Presenter – Poster Session “Transition in the Virtual Setting” Division on Career Development and Transition Conference, October 2016.
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Member - Council for Exceptional Children, 2014-present, attended 2015 conference (San Diego, CA), attended 2017 conference (Boston, MA), will attend 2020 conference (Portland, OR)
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Member – Division on Career Development and Transition, 2015-present, attended 2015 conference (Portland, OR), 2016 conference (Myrtle Beach, SC).
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Member - Council for Exceptional Children ( AZ CEC), Arizona Special Education Administrators of Arizona (SEAA), and Council for Administrators of Special Education (CASE)
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Committee Member - State Superintendent of Education's Committee on Teacher Retention 2018-2019
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Committee Member - State Superintendent of Education's Culturally Inclusive Practices Action Committee 2018-2019
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Committee Member - Avondale Elementary School District's PRIDE Committee on Teacher Retention (present)
Masters of Education Research Project
"Parent perceptions on transition knowledge and expectations for students with disabilities at an online school"