Sarah Stephens
Seneca
Summary
Compassionate and results-driven Special Education Teacher with over a decade of experience serving students with varied cognitive, behavioral, and developmental needs. Master’s-prepared educator skilled in IEP compliance, differentiated instruction, progress monitoring, and cross-functional collaboration with parents, administrators, and support staff. Dedicated to promoting inclusive practices and fostering student independence and achievement.
Overview
12
12
years of professional experience
Work History
Special Education Teacher, Resource Department Lead
South Carolina Preparatory Academy
01.2023 - Current
- As Resource Teacher Lead: Mentoring other resource teachers, collaborating with leadership team to address issues and determine strategies to improve operations, attendance and overall student success
- Providing live, direct instruction in reading, writing, mathematics, transition skills, social-emotional learning, and organizational skills to middle and high school students with IEPs
- Delivering differentiated instruction in small-group and one-on-one settings to meet diverse academic and behavioral needs
- Developing and implementing individualized lesson plans aligned to IEP goals and state standards
- Conducting monthly progress monitoring and collecting data to track student growth on all IEP goals
- Facilitating annual IEP meetings, special reviews, reevaluation meetings, and other compliance-based IEP meetings in collaboration with families, related service providers, and administrators
- Maintaining compliance with IDEA regulations and state special education requirements through accurate documentation and timely reporting
- Virtual
Special Education Teacher – Intensive Teaching Class
Northside Elementary School
Seneca, SC
08.2017 - 12.2022
- Teaching students with Autism Spectrum Disorder, Intellectual Disabilities and Speech/Language Impairments
- Creating Individual Education Plans and Behavior Intervention Plans
- Creating and implementing individual daily programs based off of IEP goals
- Creating individual and group activities to assist in progressing through IEP goals
- Using Applied Behavior Analysis techniques
- Creating and implementing visual schedules for individual students
- Documenting and analyzing daily behavioral data from each student
- Assisting students in daily hygiene routines
- Following Crisis Prevention Intervention protocol during behavioral episodes
- Using Alternative Augmentative Communication and various voice-output devices for non-verbal students
- Using multimodalities such as sign language and visual schedules to communicate with nonverbal students
- Managing multiple instructional assistants and/or companion aides
Special Education Teacher – Resource, Self-Contained
Orchard Park Elementary School
Westminster, SC
01.2016 - 06.2018
- Teaching students with Intellectual Disabilities, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Specific Learning Disabilities, Speech/Language Impairments, Hearing Impairments and ADHD
- Creating Individual Education Plans and Behavior Intervention Plans
- Creating daily lesson plans based off of SC state standards and individual IEP goals
- Creating individual and group activities to assist in progressing through IEP goals
- Assisting students in daily hygiene routines
- Managing multiple instructional assistants and/or companion aides
- Collaborating with general education teachers who also served my students
Companion Aide, Autism/Seizure Dog Handler
West Oak High School
Westminster, SC
09.2015 - 04.2016
- Working one-on-one with a student with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Speech/Language Impairment
- Implementing individual daily programs based off of IEP goals
- Using Applied Behavior Analysis techniques
- Using Alternative Augmentative Communication and various voice-output devices
- Handling autism/seizure dog for nonverbal student
- Assisting student in daily hygiene routines
- Leading in seizure protocol when student with epilepsy had seizures
- Wearing magnetic wand bracelet and placing on the Vagus Nerve Stimulator of the student having a seizure
Behavior Therapist
Northside Elementary School
Seneca, SC
08.2014 - 12.2015
- Designed and implemented individualized behavior intervention plans for students with diverse needs.
- Collaborated with educators to integrate behavioral strategies into classroom management practices.
- Conducted assessments to identify student behavior patterns and develop targeted interventions.
- Monitored student progress, adjusting interventions based on behavioral data and feedback.
- Developed educational materials to promote positive behavior reinforcement among students and staff.
- Established trusting relationships with stuents, providing a foundation for successful behavioral change.
- Administered therapy and applied behavioral analysis techniques in school, home and community to facilitate student treatment plan.
- Documented student behavior and interventions attempted and collected and reported data using approved format, methods and forms.
- Engaged in pre-crisis and crisis interventions to facilitate positive outcomes using least restrictive alternative.
Education
BS - Recreation Therapy
Clemson University
05-2012
MAT - Special Education Multicategorical K-12
Liberty University
12-2015
Skills
- Team collaboration/mentoring
- Compliant IEP development
- Managing sensitive conversations with families while maintaining professionalism and compliance
- Behavioral and social/emotional skills development
- Classroom management
- Crisis Prevention Intervention certified
Timeline
Special Education Teacher, Resource Department Lead
South Carolina Preparatory Academy
01.2023 - Current
Special Education Teacher – Intensive Teaching Class
Northside Elementary School
08.2017 - 12.2022
Special Education Teacher – Resource, Self-Contained
Orchard Park Elementary School
01.2016 - 06.2018
Companion Aide, Autism/Seizure Dog Handler
West Oak High School
09.2015 - 04.2016
Behavior Therapist
Northside Elementary School
08.2014 - 12.2015
BS - Recreation Therapy
Clemson University
MAT - Special Education Multicategorical K-12
Liberty University
Related Experience
- Hummel Physical Therapy, Physical Therapy Assistant, Jan 2013-Aug 2013
- Clemson Outdoor Lab - Camp Sunshine, Jan 2011-May 2011
- Beaverdam Baptist Association Children’s Camp, Camp Counselor for grades 3-6, Summer 2004-Summer 2016