Melissa Derr Email & Phone Number

Fogelsville, Pa, Us

Allentown, Pennsylvania, United States

As a Manager of Early Head Start at Community Services for Children Inc. (CSC) in Lehigh Valley, I lead and supervise a dedicated team of seven staff members, ensuring the delivery of high-quality services to families in alignment with Head Start Program Performance Standards. My role involves driving staff development initiatives, coordinating training sessions, and modeling best practices in early childhood education. I spearhead the utilization of data management strategies to improve information tracking, identify needs, and ensure regulatory compliance. By fostering collaboration across agency departments and maintaining effective communication with stakeholders, I ensure the seamless operation of our programs. My data-driven approach allows me to identify and address pain points, resulting in increased staff satisfaction, improved data accuracy, and enhanced process efficiency. Additionally, I oversee the timely completion of reports and data collection to drive quality improvement. My efforts have been recognized for being thorough, empathetic, supportive, and motivating, creating a positive work environment. I have also contributed to the creation of classrooms focused on social-emotional learning and am an active member of both the Employee Engagement Committee and Parent Recognition Committee.

Pennsylvania, United States

At Easter Seals of Eastern PA, I served as an Early Intervention Special Instructor, providing personalized educational support to infants and toddlers with developmental delays. In this role, I worked closely with caregivers, educating and coaching them to ensure their children's progress toward developmental goals. I offered essential resources and support to families, helping them navigate and advocate for their child's unique needs. My work involved coordinating with a multidisciplinary team, including family members, teachers, therapists, and other service providers, to align all efforts with the established developmental goals, ensuring a cohesive and supportive approach to each child's development.

Greater Boston, Massachusetts

At EdTech Solutions LLC in Boston, MA, I worked as an Assistive Technology (AT) Specialist, where I conducted comprehensive assessments to identify the assistive technology needs of individuals, schools, and organizations. Collaborating with multidisciplinary teams, I delivered tailored AT solutions and supported the integration of these tools into various educational settings. My responsibilities included developing customized implementation plans, designing and leading training workshops, webinars, and professional development sessions for educators, therapists, parents, and students. I created high-quality instructional materials to support AT use, provided ongoing training and troubleshooting, and maintained a database of technologies and applications. I also kept abreast of advancements in assistive technology by pursuing relevant professional development opportunities and prepared detailed reports on assessments, interventions, and recommendations to ensure that AT tools were effectively incorporated into educational programs.

Salem, Ma

As the Assistive Technology (AT) Specialist with Salem Public Schools in Salem, MA, I was responsible for assessing and identifying the assistive technology needs of students and staff. I collaborated with educators, therapists, and IT professionals to develop and implement personalized AT solutions that enhanced learning and accessibility. My role involved providing training and support to ensure the effective use of these technologies in the classroom. I also created instructional materials tailored to the needs of students with disabilities and worked closely with multidisciplinary teams to integrate AT tools into individualized education programs (IEPs) and other learning plans, ensuring that students received the necessary support to achieve their educational goals.

At Advancing Opportunities in New Jersey, I served as an Assistive Technology (AT) Specialist, where I conducted detailed assessments to identify the assistive technology needs of individuals with disabilities. I worked closely with educators, therapists, and families to design and implement customized AT solutions that supported greater independence and accessibility. My responsibilities included providing training and ongoing support to ensure the successful integration of these tools into everyday activities. Additionally, I developed instructional materials and resources to aid in the effective use of AT devices, and I collaborated with multidisciplinary teams to ensure that AT recommendations were fully integrated into individualized education programs (IEPs) and other personalized support plans.

Madison, Wisconsin, United States

Master Of Science (Ms), Special Education And Teaching

Activities and Societies: Syracuse University Marching Band

Master Of Science (M.S.), Elementary Education And Teaching

Activities and Societies: Syracuse University Marching Band

Bachelor Of Arts (B.A.), Sociology

Activities and Societies: Syracuse University Marching Band