Master Career Specialist focused on helping others achieve personal and professional success.

Treasurer

Transition Facilitator in the Department of Student Support, Office of Special Education, Baltimore County Public Schools where I provided transition information and technical assistance to teachers, IEP Team members, parents, students and other interest parties in a variety of formats. Refined student’s career interests, skills and knowledge by: Administering informal career interest inventories and creating and monitoring career exploration activities. Increased family involvement in transition by meeting individually or in groups to expand parents’ knowledge of transition, community resources, and post secondary options. As well as developed collaborative relationships with external partners and exchange information to benefit students with IEPs in a seamless transition from school to post secondary education, school to work, and community life.

Transition Specialist at the Baltimore City Juvenile Justice Center, in the Juvenile Correctional Program, Division of Career Technology and Adult Learning, Maryland State Department of Education where I ensured that all detained students had appropriately developed transition plans by participating in on-site multidisciplinary team meetings to support career development services and institutional transition coordination. Worked cooperatively with school staff to ensure delivery and documentation of appropriate activities and services to support education and career transition plans. Served on interview panels in screening and interviewing prospective employees into juvenile correctional education program. Developed and expanded opportune partnerships with local school systems, employers, community resources, and agency partnerships to support successful student transition. Developed a GED preparation and mentoring program with a faith based organization for returning detained youth to the Park Heights Community. Planned and conducted presentations for school-based employees as well as for statewide conferences.

Family, School and Community Involvement Specialist in the Program Improvement and Family Support Branch, Division of Student and School Services, Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) where I provided technical assistance and consultation to local school systems and other agencies/organizations on a full range of family involvement and dropout prevention issues and practices to help strengthen local program and institutionalize family involvement and dropout strategies in all aspects of education. Planned and conducted workshops, conferences and other activities to provide resources, information and professional expertise in the area of dropout prevention, intervention, recovery, and family involvement. Coordinated with the Family Works, Maryland's Congress of PTAs an annual statewide family involvement conference. Developed in collaboration with public libraries and Johns Hopkins University a pilot program geared to Hispanic parents on school readiness. Developed, operated, managed, and monitored grant programs that provided resources to strengthen school/family/community partnerships that will prevent dropout and increase student achievement. Worked collaboratively with local school systems, schools, PTA councils, and community groups to build the capacity of parents in establishing effective partnerships to support high student achievement. Coordinated the Family Reading Plan, a reading initiative for pre-kindergarten through second grade children and their families. Assisted in the formation of the Maryland English Language Learner Family Information Network (MELLFIN). Chaired the Family and Community Partnership Committee of the Maryland State School Health Council.

Vocational Evaluator. Processed referrals for vocational evaluation, by scheduling students, evaluating them to determine vocational aptitudes and interests, and writing a vocational evaluation report, as well as, interpreting results of testing to students, parents, teachers, and other appropriate persons. Interacted with vocational instructors to facilitate student placement, follow-up, and to remain aware of instructional process for each vocational area. Served as Project Director of the Recruitment and Retention grant (Perkins Act Title II-B) for female students into nontraditional career programs at Harford Technical High School. Developed 81 activities to supplement the standards of the Transition to Work Inventory, a job placement system for workers with severe disabilities. Completed the 1997-1998 Leadership Development Program through the Maryland State Department of Education, Division of Career Technology and Adult Learning.