Melissa Perry-Clearwater
Gaffney
Summary
Highly qualified, skilled educator with strong expertise in special education. Adept at developing tailored learning plans, employing effective instructional strategies, and fostering inclusive classroom environments. Known for collaboration, adaptability, and delivering measurable results. Proficient in behavior management, individualized education plans and student assessments.
Overview
40
40
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Special Education Teacher
Cherokee County Schools
08.1998 - Current
- Developed IEPs tailored to individual student needs, ensuring their academic success and personal growth.
- Created and managed IEPs to define student learning objectives and educational strategies, in addition to applying instructional knowledge and methods to support goals.
- Promoted a positive learning environment through the use of differentiated instruction and individualized support for diverse learners.
- Modified general education curriculum for special-needs students using various instructional techniques and technologies.
Special Education Teacher
Horry, Spartanburg, Cherokee Counties
08.1985 - Current
- Fostered strong relationships with parents and guardians, maintaining open lines of communication to ensure student progress.
- Improved student behavior management by implementing consistent routines, clear expectations, and positive reinforcement strategies.
- Participated in ongoing professional development opportunities focused on evidence-based practices in special education teaching methodologies.
- Provided targeted instructional support to struggling learners, identifying specific areas for improvement and designing effective intervention plans.
- Taught students across multiple classifications and degrees of special needs.
- Taught multiple subjects to students with intellectual, learning and/or emotional disabilities.
- Partnered with standard education teachers from across academic departments.
Education
Master of Arts - Special Education
Converse College
Spartanburg SCBachelor of Arts - Elementary Education
University of South Carolina
Spartanburg & Columbia, SC01-1985
Skills
- Customized teaching strategies
- Effective classroom management
- Development of individual education plans
- Effective small group teaching
- Collaborative teaching experience
- Strategic networking skills
- Curriculum development
- Cross-functional teamwork
- Diversity initiatives
- Delivering individual instruction
- Effective parent communication
- Collaborative educational partnerships
- Diverse teaching strategies
- Conflict resolution strategies
- Interpersonal skills enhancement
- Experienced in CPI applications
- Verbal and nonverbal communication
- Behavioral intervention methods
- Curriculum optimization
- Teaching practical life skills
- Interpersonal skills development
- Crisis prevention techniques
- Multisensory integration
- Skills in food preparation techniques
- Effective transition management
- Collaborative classroom integration
- Implementation of tailored educational strategies
- Facilitation of personal hygiene practices
- Experience with autism spectrum
- Cross-functional teamwork
- Proficient in handling multiple tasks
Accomplishments
- Trained on the procedures for completing Individual Education Plans.
- Targeted Development - Met with parents and guardians to discuss children's progress and to determine priorities and resource needs.
- Curriculum Implementation - Taught reading, language arts, social studies, mathematics, science, art and physical education to pupils utilizing course of study adopted by the Board of Education.
- Dynamic Teaching Techniques - Instructed students in academic subjects using variety of techniques such as phonetics, multisensory learning and repetition to reinforce learning.
- Curriculum Development - Tailored educational curriculum to students with range of learning styles, disabilities, strengths and weaknesses. Developed innovative semester lesson plans and practical application exercises for classroom, reversing scores on Physical Science tests from 65% average to 87% average.
Certification
- Elementary
- Intellectual Disabilities
- Learning Disabilities
- Read to Succeed (Pending)
Timeline
Special Education Teacher
Cherokee County Schools
08.1998 - Current
Special Education Teacher
Horry, Spartanburg, Cherokee Counties
08.1985 - Current
Master of Arts - Special Education
Converse College
Bachelor of Arts - Elementary Education
University of South Carolina
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