Melissa Ramirez, M.Ed. Email & Phone Number

With my more than 19 years' experience in teaching, I bring my ability to build a safe, engaging, and collaborative learning space into the classroom. I am an innovative and resourceful educator that utilizes a variety of teaching methods to support diverse learners while fostering a positive environment for all students and staff. I incorporate real-life scenarios, hands-on experiences, and play-based lessons in my class, building my students' self-confidence, motivation to learn, creativity, and autonomy. Dedicating my time to making a difference in my students' lives ensures they reach their full potential both in and outside of the classroom. It is through my passion for education and high emotional intelligence that I hope to inspire future teachers and build a community of lifelong learners.Please feel free to reach out to me to learn more about how I can positively impact student success at your organization.

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  Special Education Teacher

  Easterseals Serving Chicagoland And Greater Rockford

  2008 - Present - Chicago, Illinois, United States

  Adhere to all mandated reporters and OIG guidelines at all times.Develop weekly lesson plans in alignment with student IEP goals.Perform and submit formal assessments at least 10 days prior to each student’s annual review.Develop, in collaboration with team members, appropriate IEP goals based on assessment results 10 days prior to annual review.Update and provide data-based quarterly progress reports and IEP benchmarks.Note in lesson plans, references of informal assessment of specific students that triggered plan.Arrange and perform activities, materials, and prompting hierarchies that relate to the IEP goals.Mentor and train classroom and 1:1 assistant to anticipate those activities that they can perform, supporting the lesson plan.Provide monthly suggestions to the School Administrator/Program Coordinator on areas of training to enhance the skills of teachers and aides.Conduct weekly meetings with paraprofessional staff members and submit documentation to administration.Interact with the School Administrator/Program Coordinator and clinical staff regarding clinical recommendations.Observe the performance of classroom staff sufficient to perform an evaluation and assist administration with annual performance evaluation.Communicate daily to parents via notebook or phone regarding the ongoing performance of students.Maintain and update all required components to student main files.Participate in at least 2 outside training courses per school year directly related to serving students with special needs, particularly those diagnosed with autism.Participate in all scheduled in-house training throughout the school year.Participate in student IEP/MDC meetings throughout the school year.Participate in medical case review meetings for students throughout the school year.Conduct at least 2 observations in other classrooms and provide the administration with documentation of each observation throughout the school year.