Krista Clark

Experience

• 

  Self-employed

  Feb 2002 - Dec 2003

  • Encouraged appropriate emotional expression, eye contact, shared experience, and problem solving in preschool aged children with autism spectrum disorders through child-led play using the DIR approach• Created and implemented activities using the Treatment and Education of Autistic and Communication-handicapped Children (TEACCH) model in order to use individual interests and strengths in visual processing to assist skill acquisition• Contributed to Individualized Family Service Plan meetings• Applied Diane Lewis’ Affect-based Language Curriculum• Performed brushing and massage programs as outlined by occupational therapists Show less

  • DIR/Floortime Para-professional and Transdisciplinary Assistant

    Jun 2002 - Dec 2003

  • Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) Para-professional

    Feb 2002 - Dec 2003
• 

  Townsend Middle School

  Jan 2004 - May 2007

  • Managed four Teacher Assistants and collaborated with teams of therapists, teachers, administrators, caseworkers, and parents• Developed and implemented Individualized Education Plans• Presented professional development information to teams during periodic meetings• Met 100% of school and state exceptional education paperwork deadlines• Programmed Dynavox and Prentke-Romich devices to augment language in children with low verbal skills • Initiated a reverse inclusion physical education program to maximize social involvement• Cared for physical needs of students including G-tube feeding, tracheostomy cleaning and suctioning, seizure management, blood glucose and insulin pump monitoring, wheelchair transfers, diapering and toileting• Wrote curricula in order to teach communication, literacy, writing, math, science, and to promote functional skills • Employed Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales and Arizona’s Instrument to Measure Standards-Alternate (AIMS-A) to track student progress and improve curriculum• Established behavior intervention plans using functional behavior assessments• Employed assistive technology and durable medical equipment (DME) including switches, standers and walkers to help students participate effectively in school activities • Utilized Mayer-Johnson products in order to implement a picture exchange communication system (PECS) with children who most effectively expressed themselves in this manner Show less

  • Special Education Teacher (multiple disabilities, self-contained), "Emergency Certified"

    Sept 2006 - May 2007

  • Special Education Teacher Assistant,

    Jan 2004 - Sept 2006
• 

  The Family Room

  Sept 2008 - May 2009

  Child Development Specialist Intern, Parent Support

  • Facilitated support groups for first time mothers and their infants• Gathered demographics and statistics from Microsoft MapPoints for fundraising proposals• Built collaborative bridges with other community agencies

• 

  Ravenswood Community Child Care Center

  Jan 2009 - Jun 2010

  Infant/ Toddler Specialist

  • Screened and assessed students • Referred families to clinical services• Coordinated parent education events• Provided reflective supervision to teaching staff• Facilitated in-service professional development sessions• Encouraged the use of research-based techniques for dealing with sensory integration and behavior disorders• Employed Parents as Teachers model to bridge home and school for teen parents and their children

• 

  Peace Corps

  Jun 2010 - Sept 2013

  Community Health and Development Volunteer

  • Mitigated the effects of HIV on young children by strengthening early education through training of preschool teachers to use standards-based teaching methods and utilize observational assessment to check for understanding• Partnered with Rural Health Motivators to improve the dissemination of health information on topics such as Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission (PMTCT), water hygiene, and improved nutrition • Mentored community committee members on grant writing and project planning• Facilitated the development of 2 school libraries which service nearly 2000 students• Fund-raised for book acquisition and delivery• Trained staff in library development and management and in methods for fostering literacy Show less

• 

  Vusumnotfo kaHhohho, Peace Corps

  Jan 2011 - Sept 2013

  Training and Curriculum Specialist

  • Developed a teacher training package including a training of trainers manual, classroom videos demonstrating 39 learning standards at 4 levels of development, bilingual (siSwati/ English) descriptions and examples of the learning standards (modeled after California standards, contextualized for Swaziland), child observation and class summary tracking tools, and a teacher monitoring and evaluation rubric • Provided intensive, long-term in-service training for 27 community preschool teachers on the developmental nature of learning, teaching aimed at growth in social/emotional, physical and communicative as well as cognitive areas, the importance of tracking learning through observational assessment in order to guide curriculum, promoting early literacy, and classroom management• Coached teachers using reflective supervision in order to nurture self-confidence and to incite intentional teaching• Consulted on curriculum and assessment with community primary school piloting an exceptional education mainstreaming program• Created home/school partnership program which trains parents on how to encourage reading in the home using newly available age-appropriate books lent from preschools• Established library serving 50 preschools• Wrote proposals to fund-raise for literacy and learning standard initiatives Show less