I have taught in Special Education for over 23 years beginning my career in Westfield, Massachusetts as a High School Resource Room Teacher for grades 9-12 in curriculum assistance. I also worked as a counselor/case manager at a treatment center for abused children, for five years. I moved to North Carolina in 2005 and have worked in Lee and Harnett County Schools as an Exceptional Education Teacher serving students with academic/emotional disabilities, as well as currently working as an Instructor in Effective Teaching for Central Carolina Community College in the Continuing Education Department. I completed my undergraduate studies in Sociology at Central Connecticut State University in New Britain, Connecticut and earned my graduate degree in Education from Cambridge College. I currently hold a teachers certification in moderate special needs for the state of North Carolina. As the Director of Exceptional Children for the newly opened Carolina Charter Academy, I established the special education department to serve the needs of students with learning disabilities and the physically challenged, to be fully compliant with state and federal law. I worked closely with the Director to ensure that students with an I.E.P. were provided the services and support indicated on their individual plans.