Ph.D. in Special Education, Emphasis: Severe/Low Incidence Disability, Department of Curriculum, Instruction, and Special Education, The University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, MS
Master’s of Education, August 2006, Special Education, Jackson State University, Jackson, MS
Bachelor’s of Science, December 2001, Psychology, The University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, MS
Licensure
AAAA — Elementary Education K-8 Valid to 6/30/2021
AAAA — Special Education K-12 Mild/Moderate Disabilities Valid to 6/30/2021
K-12 Experience
2004-2010— Special Education Teacher Madison County Schools
Write and Implement Individualized Education Plans for 5+ students
Write and Implement Lesson Plans based on Individualized Education Plans
Manage a classroom of 5+ students
Manage 2 teacher assistants and 1 ABA Trainer
Work with 4+ Regular Education Teachers and Specials Teachers to provide inclusive environments for my students
Provide a structured classroom setting for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder
Work with parents to improve student behavior at home and at school, provide consistency between environments, and give parent support
2002-2004— ABA Therapist Madison County Schools
Applied Behavior Analysis therapy with students ages 3-9
Take data and track progress on each student
Assist teachers with IEP decisions
Attend IEP meetings
Contribute to lesson plans
Maintain classroom structure in absence of the teacher
IHL Experience
Fall 2018 Adjunct Professor Department of Communicative Disorders, Jackson State University
CMD 535 Augmentative and Alternative Communication
Fall 2012- 2015— Visiting Professor Special Education, The University of Southern Mississippi
SPE 121 Introduction to Field Experiences in Special Education
SPE 402 General Teaching Methods in Special Education
SPE 421 Program Development: Severe Disabilities
SPE 422 Skill Development Strategies: Severe Disabilities
SPE 643 Curriculum for Severe/Low Incidence Disabilities
SPE 645 Assessment & Intervention: Severe Disabilities
Summer 2012— Instructor Special Education, The University of Southern Mississippi SPE 792 Special Problems Severe/Low Incidence Disabilities
Syllabus construction
Construct an online classroom
Lead discussions about assigned readings through Blackboard online
Lecture on topics about severe/low incidence disabilities through Blackboard online
Grade student work
Conduct student conferences via phone, email, face-to-face
Summer 2011— Co-teacher Special Education, The University of Southern Mississippi SPE 655 Autism
Syllabus construction
Construct an online classroom
Lead discussions about assigned readings through Blackboard online
Lecture on topics about autism through Blackboard online
Grade student work
Conduct student conferences via phone, email, face-to-face
June 2011-Present— Graduate Assistant, REACH, MS Grant
Product development, formatting, and dissemination
Event Coordination
Data collection and entry
Facilitation of PBIS facilitator and Model Site visits
Formatting products for the website
August 2010-May 2011— Graduate Assistant, 325 T Grant
Research data entry
Survey and data collection of double major students entering and exiting the program
Research data and double major plan organization
Development of data collection instruments via electronic format
Plan, organize, and run the double major graduation ceremony (40-50 individuals in attendance)
Maintenance of double major files
Office maintenance
Administrative support to Dr. Elgen Hillman
Professional Experience – Participant
October 1-3, 2010 — US Autism and Asperger’s Assosiation’s (USAAA) world conference with speakers Dr. Temple Grandin, Dr. Stephen Shore, Dr. Martha Herbert, and other professionals in the autism field, St. Louis, MO
July 2010 — Childhood Neurology, Training by PESI Healthcare, Speaker Patricia G. Braun, PhD, MSN, MA, APN, RN, Jackson, MS
January 20-21, 2010 — Training: Language Acquisition Through Motor Planning (LAMP), speaker, Lindsey Cargill, Jackson, MS
October 28-31, 2009 — Participant in ATIA Conference, Showcasing Excellence in Assistive Technology, Schaumburg, Ill
August 2009 — Training: Language Acquisition Through Motor Planning (LAMP), speaker, John Halleran, Starkville, MS
July 10, 2009 — Cooperating Teacher Training by Education Field Experiences, Hattiesburg, MS
July 10-11, 2008 — “Focusing on…Achieving Real Citizenship” ARC Conference Raymond, MS
January 14-16, 2008 — “Introduction to Verbal Behavior, Teaching Communication Skills to Children with Autism” Training by Dr. Vincent Carbone, Verbal Behavior, Philadelphia, MS
January 31-February 1, 2008 — “Practical Applications of Classroom and Intervention Strategies for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders” Social Communication, Emotional Regulation, and Transactional Support (SCERTS) training, Dr. Patrick Rydell, Jackson, MS
August 3, 2007 — “Utilizing Intellitools and Classroom Suites within the Curriculum”, Canton, MS
July 26-27, 2007 — “Frameworks Training”, Ann Smith Elementary, Ridgeland, MS
August 2006 — “Social Communication, Emotional Regulation, and Transactional Support” (SCERTS) training, Dr. Patrick Rydell, Biloxi, MS
March 28, 2006 — “ADHD, Asperger’s, OCD, and Tourettes, Beyond the Basics: Advanced Strategies and Interventions” speaker Emily L. Stevens, Ph.D., LPC, Jackson, MS
2005 — Serving children with Autism IEP Development, Motivation training by Susan Wilczynski, PhD, BCBA & Melissa Scoggins, MA, Hattiesburg, MS
October 6-7, 2005 — Southeast Augmentative Communication Conference, Birmingham, AL
February 25, 2005 — “Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Research to Practice Mini-Conference” speaker Carol Gray, Director of Gray Center for Social Learning and Understanding, Hattiesburg Lake Terrace Convention Center, Hattiesburg, MS
February 20, 2004 — Gulfcoast Conference on Autism/Asperger’s Syndrome, speakers Temple Grandin, Ph.D., Raun Melmed, M.D., Alex Gilpin and Scott Lambeth, Biloxi, MS
Professional Presentations
Presenter: “Family Experiences with Autism and Speech Generating Devices” RPD-04, ATIA, January 26-28, 2012, Orlando, FL, National
Presenter: “Making the Common Core Curriculum Work for Students with Severe Disabilities” Proposal #0369, TASH, November 30-December 3, 2011, Atlanta, GA, National
Presenter: “Family Experiences with Autism and Speech Generating Devices” RPD-08, ATIA, November 3-5, 2011, Chicago, IL, National
Presenter: “Get Up and Go! Teaching Children with Autism to Communicate at Home” Session #5559, Autism Society of America, July 6-9, 2011,Orlando FL, National
Presenter: “Speech Generating Devices: Who, When, Where, and How?”, Mississippi Council for Exceptional Children Conference, February 3-4, 2011, Natchez, MS, Statewide
Presenter: “Making it Real: Incorporating Augmentative Communication with peers and family,” Gulf Coast Augmentative Communication Conference, Bay St. Louis, MS, 2010, Statewide
Presenter: “All About Autism,” Hinds Behavioral Health Services, Jackson, MS, June 2010, Statewide
Nonpublished Research and Grants
2011 — “Tools for Teaching Autism” in the amount of $20,000 for training regarding Autism Spectrum Disorders for Mississippi teachers and assistants, Invitation to submit full proposal, April 10, 2011
2010 — Literature Review, “Children and Adolescents with Autism Using Speech Generating Devices”
2011 — Qualitative Research Study, “Exploration of the Impact of Speech Generating Devices in the Home for Children with Autism”
Honors and Awards
2010-2012 — Fellowship University of Southern Mississippi
2010-2012 — Tuition Scholarship University of Southern Mississippi
August 2008 — Superior IEP Writing Madison County Schools, Madison, MS
2005-2006 — Teacher of the Year Madison Station Elementary, Madison, MS
2005 — Teacher of the Month Madison Station Elementary, Madison, MS
Summer 2000 — Studies Abroad Scholarship The University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, MS
Funded Grants
August 2007 — “Hands-on Hope” Nissan grant in the amount of $1100 for Math and Science classroom materials, Madison Avenue Elementary, Madison, MS
Organizations
Behavior Analysis Association of Mississippi
Council for Exceptional Children
Mississippi Professional Educators
Autism Society of America
National Autism Association of Mississippi
Community
June 2011 — Volunteer, Camp Jabber Jaw, Starkville, MS
July 2010 — Assistant Camp Director, Camp Hope Hollow, Augmentative and Alternative Communication Camp, Madison, MS
2010-Present — Volunteer, Ridgeland Challenger Baseball League, Ridgeland, MS
2008-Present — Coach, TOP Soccer, Ridgeland, MS
June 2006 — Volunteer, Kamp Kaleidoscope, summer camp for children and youth affected by Autism Spectrum Disorders
