Barb O'Neill

Experience

• 

  Rita Gold Early Childhood Center

  Aug 2001 - Jul 2004

  Preschool Teacher

  • Developed project-based curriculum based on the children’s interests and needs• Collaborated with Special Education and Itinerant Teachers and related service providers to support the inclusion of children with special needs• Presented on our approach to portfolio assessment at the NAEYC conference • Conducted training on diversity and inclusion • Mentored students in the Teachers College, Columbia University early education graduate program

• 

  Starting Point

  Aug 2004 - Jul 2007

  Special Education Teacher

  • Collaborated with teachers in private nursery schools, Head Start programs, and day care centers to support children receiving special education services• Conducted assessments, wrote annual reports, and created Individualized Education Plans• Developed relationship with each child’s family and worked with the child in the home when schools were closed• Developed innovative approaches to promote inclusion capitalizing on children’s propensity for play and published multiple articles detailing these methods Show less

• 

  Brooklyn College

  Sept 2008 - Aug 2014

  Assistant Professor of Early Childhood Education

  • Served as Program Head for the Early Childhood Education Graduate Program• Taught classes on developmentally appropriate practice, play, early childhood special education methods • Conducted research documenting the benefits of using interactive storytelling with children with disabilities and who use challenging behavior• Published articles on using play and the theater arts to promote inclusion, support the development of children with special needs, and to prevent challenging behavior• Collaborated with Head Start programs, special education programs, private preschools, and local school districts to coordinate student teaching and field work sites for students Show less

• 

  Barb O'Neill Consulting - for Early Childhood Programs

  Jan 2014 - now

  I help early childhood teachers and center directors transform challenging behavior using using a strengths-based methodology that builds on children's propensity for play and integrates theater arts strategies. I offer comprehensive consultation and training packages to programs who are ready to dive deep and truly transform both teachers' frustrations and children's behavior. For programs on a limited budget I offer trainings ranging from 2 hours to 3 days. I also offer short term coaching for directors struggling to support their staff around children's behavior, inclusion of children with disabilities, and other challenges. Show less

  • Speaker, Trainer, Online Conference Creator

    Jul 2016 - now

  • Trainer and Consultant

    Jan 2014 - Jul 2016
• 

  Fresno State

  Aug 2014 - Jun 2016

  Early Education Center Director & Assistant Professor

  • Directed the Joyce M. Huggins Early Education Center, a Reggio-inspired, NAEYC Accredited Center serving infants, toddlers, preschoolers and school-aged children• Collaborated with our on-site Inclusion Specialist/Special Education Teacher to support children with Individualized Education Plans in our Preschool Inclusion Program• Designed and implemented an annual Professional Development Plan • Led weekly curriculum meetings to support teachers in developing project-based curriculum• Supported teachers to submit conference proposals and present on their work• Conducted research demonstrating the benefits of using improv-based play support to foster the inclusion of children with special needs/disabilities• Taught classes on diversity and inclusion, leadership, and curriculum and assessment Show less