Karen Watson
Waukegan
Summary
Accomplished in Intellectual disabilities environment and experienced working with all types of individuals. Knowledgeable about developmental delays, injuries and other diagnoses severely limiting mental and physical capabilities. Analytical in approaching problems and creative in developing personalized solutions. Flexible and caring special education professional specializes in [Area of expertise with intellectual disabilities]. Customizes approaches based on individual needs and impairments. Focused on helping individual build important skills for physical and mental issues impacting academic performance, social integration or physical capabilities. Compassionate in helping with struggles and adapting approaches. Offering solid comprehension of cultural diversity. Flexible hard worker ready to learn and contribute to team success. Dedicated employee known for punctuality pursuing employment options where good customer service and positive attitude will make a difference. Adaptable and driven with strong work ethic.
Overview
13
13
years of professional experience
Work History
Crew Leader 11
Goodwill Industries Of Southeastern Wisconsin Inc.
08.2022 - Current
- Enhanced team productivity by implementing efficient work processes and providing clear guidance for crew members. Supervisor over a full staff of all diversity from a range of different social and ethnic backgrounds.
- Collaborated with management to develop strategies for achieving company goals, such as increasing efficiency or improving customer service. Goodwill mission is to create a safe place for Intellectual disabilities are able to gain.
- independence and self confidence within the workplace.
- Developed a strong sense of teamwork among crew members through regular communication and team building activities.
- Ensured timely completion of projects by effectively allocating tasks and closely monitoring progress.
- Conducted regular performance evaluations to identify areas of improvement and provide constructive feedback to crew members.
- Handled employee scheduling, balancing workload while accommodating individual preferences and availability.
- Communicated effectively with upper management, team members, and customers to keep everyone informed.
Residential Service Director
Francis House DD Homes Network
08.2021 - Current
- Access directly with disabilities in developed individual designed to promote educational, physical and social development
- Access with Organizing and prepared instructional materials, communiqués and reports to facilitate Adults living circumstances and saturation through life skills
- Collaborated with other educational personnel to provide inclusive activities or programs for adult's disabilities
- Access with enhancing adult's physical, behavioral and social skills through everyday activities
- Access with defining and communicated rules and enforced through approved disciplinary methods
- Demonstrated appropriate behaviors using behavior modeling and positive reinforcement techniques
- Maintained adult's medical records in accordance with Illinois standards
- Evaluated adult's needs to provide helpful resources and support
- Worked successfully with diverse group of coworkers to accomplish goals and address issues related to our products and services
- Worked closely with team members to deliver project requirements, develop solutions and meet deadlines
- Prioritized and organized tasks to efficiently accomplish service goals
- Juggled multiple projects and tasks to ensure high quality and timely delivery
- Demonstrated self-reliance by meeting and exceeding workflow needs
- Staff training 16 P's and developing programs for individuals with disabilities assists with recruitment, hiring, and disciplinary action also misconduct in the workplace or poor performance.
Teacher Team Leader
Proviso Area-PAEC Center High School
03.2018 - 08.2021
- Administered diagnostic tools to help classroom teacher aid / paraprofessionals in understanding unique needs of each adult
- Work directly with Principal and administrative duty also tasks in organized their daily function in the classroom
- Work with adults students with specialized needs to with Intellectual disability accomplish tasks and build practical skills
- Collaborated with conventional education instructors across multiple departments to optimize student learning
- Fostered positive and trusting relationships with adult students to increase engagement
- Conducted large groups and individual classroom activities with students based on differentiated learning needs
- Developed interesting and interactive learning methods tailored to help adults students with individual needs
- Encouraged adult's student empathy of others to build confidence and improve self-image
- Established and communicated clear objectives for lessons, units and projects to adult's students and parents
- Facilitated functional life skills development in adult's students with autism and down-syndrome through explicit instruction and repetition to entrench skills
- Delivered specialized classroom instruction to students with developmental disorders
- Eliminated learning gaps and instructed adult students by using teaching aids and motivational strategies
- Implemented specialized tests to evaluate literacy performance
- Developed IEP to leverage developmental practices and educational theories to achieve educational objectives
- Supervised field trips to local parks, fire stations and zoos to develop social skills and community awareness
- Enhanced lessons using Smart Board technology and computers and assisting adult's behavior
- Participated in week-long intensive leadership training and provided training to colleagues on applied behavior analysis
- Offered students personalized educational, behavioral and emotional support
- Maintained focused, inclusive and supportive learning environments and building adult relationships social and emotional
- Completed documentation on adults student behaviors, interventions and results.
Elementary Teacher
AllStaff -Behavioral Staffing
06.2011 - 03.2018
- Collaborated with conventional education instructors across multiple departments to optimize student learning behavioral in an Inclusion classroom
- Worked with autistic and down-syndrome students with specialized needs to accomplish tasks and build practical skills ages 7 through 16 years old
- Collaborated with conventional education instructors across multiple departments to optimize student learning disabilities
- Conducted small group and individual classroom activities with students based on differentiated learning needs within the classroom setting
- Developed interesting and interactive learning methods tailored to help students with individual needs
- Encouraged student empathy of others to build confidence and improve self-image and awareness of themselves and how to communicate with others
- Established and communicated clear objectives for lessons, plans and activities to students and parents
- Delivered specialized classroom instruction to students with developmental disorders
- Transitioned students across grade levels through careful planning and preparation
- Eliminated learning gaps and instructed students by using teaching aids and motivational strategies
- Implemented specialized tests to evaluate literacy performance
- Developed IEP to leverage developmental practices and educational theories to achieve educational objectives
- Administered minor first aid to injured students and notified school nurse to render additional aid
- Offered students personalized educational, behavioral and emotional support.
Education
BA - Applied Behavioral Science (Analysis)
National Louis University
Chicago, IL12.2018
Associate of Applied Science - Special Education
Malcolm X College
Chicago, IL06.2014
Skills
- Friendly always in a positive state of mindset and attitude Job readiness training also flexible
- Critical thinking
- Behavioral/cognitive skills development
- Learning style assessment
- Team building
- Motivating students
- Social skills development
- Competent in Smartboard technology
- In-depth knowledge of autism and down-syndrome-Adults
- Mastery of intellectual disabilities in adult behavioral
- Working collaboratively
- Computer skills
- Clerical
- Team player
- Good communication skills
- Conflict resolution
Additional Information
(ELS) Endorsed as a Paraprofessional License
Timeline
Crew Leader 11
Goodwill Industries Of Southeastern Wisconsin Inc.
08.2022 - Current
Residential Service Director
Francis House DD Homes Network
08.2021 - Current
Teacher Team Leader
Proviso Area-PAEC Center High School
03.2018 - 08.2021
Elementary Teacher
AllStaff -Behavioral Staffing
06.2011 - 03.2018
BA - Applied Behavioral Science (Analysis)
National Louis University
Associate of Applied Science - Special Education
Malcolm X College
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