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2017 CEC (Council for Exceptional Children) Graduate Student of the Year

BACKGROUND

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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

Masters in special education with a concentration on transitions to adulthood for students with disabilities.

Graduated, Spring 2017

GPA: 4.0 (4 point scale)

Sam Houston State University, Huntsville, Texas

B.S. 2002, Academic Studies (Education)/English minor

Graduated with a 3.88 G.P.A. (4 point scale) Summa Cum Laude

PRESENTATIONS, AWARDS, RESEARCH, and PROFESSIONAL AFFFILIATIONS

CEC 2017 Graduate Student of the Year

Various presentations to districts and charters within Arizona on special education compliance

Presentations on the State Systemic Improvement Plan (SSIP) to the Special Education Advisory Panel (SEAP), and to both internal and external stakeholders throughout Arizona

Invitee - 2017 ECET2 (Elevating and Celebrating Effective Teaching and Teacher) Conference, Utah

Team Leader - Utah Transition Institute 2015-2017

Participant - Special Education Director's Academy (2019-present)

Lead Presenter - Poster Session - “Thinking Outside the Box: Utilizing Technology in Effective Transition Planning to Benefit All Students” - Utah CEC Conference, February, 2017
Lead Presenter - Break-out Session “Thinking Outside the Box: Utilizing Technology in Effective Transition Planning to Benefit All Students” Utah UMTSS, June 2016.

Lead Presenter – Poster Session “Transition in the Virtual Setting” Division on Career Development and Transition Conference, October 2016.

Member - Council for Exceptional Children, 2014-present, attended 2015 conference (San Diego, CA), attended 2017 conference (Boston, MA), will attend 2020 conference (Portland, OR)

Member – Division on Career Development and Transition, 2015-present, attended 2015 conference (Portland, OR), 2016 conference (Myrtle Beach, SC).

Member - Council for Exceptional Children ( AZ CEC), Arizona Special Education Administrators of Arizona (SEAA), and Council for Administrators of Special Education (CASE)

Committee Member - State Superintendent of Education's Committee on Teacher Retention 2018-2019

Committee Member - State Superintendent of Education's Culturally Inclusive Practices Action Committee 2018-2019

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"