Bridges to Employment

Autism and Behavior Intervention Specialist: Currently, I am working with the K-5 Population in an Autism unit and a Behavior Unit as an Intervention Specialist. I am having a great time with this change in pace, and am learning a ton about teaching while doing it! While My current job is not in the field of Transition, I am excited to keep developing transition resources for my Teachers Pay Teacher Shop. --------- Work-Based Learning Teacher: Prior to moving back to my hometown I worked in Houston, Texas for three years as a Work-Based Learning Teacher. I taught students with moderate-intensive disabilities the skills they needed for entry-level employment. The students participating in my class also participated in non-paid work experience for 1-2 years, rotating work sites each semester, followed by a transition into paid employment upon readiness. ----- Youth Empowerment Specialist: I worked in a Grant funded program throughout Wood County, Ohio that serviced at-risk youth. We focused on providing them with the necessary knowledge, skills, and resources to be successful in the competitive employment market. Our services included paid job training, funding for classes and certification tests, assistance with transportation, assistance with supplies, and weekly classes pertaining to employability skills.

When teaching I enjoy incorporating as many authentic opportunities to practice skills as possible. I focus on preloading skills in the classroom and then encourage the students to apply these skills at their worksite. I like to emphasize that failure is acceptable and use the students' failures as teaching experiences as often as possible. While focusing on the key ideas I am trying to teach, I also openly emphasize the importance of students' health- both physical and mental. I incorporate many lessons about communication, healthy time maagement, and healthy relationships into my regular curriculum.

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I went to Bowling Green State University in Ohio and studied Special Education. While in school I participated in many pieces of training through my job including Bridges out of Poverty, and Career and Technical Education 101. Upon graduation, I moved to Texas and continue to gain certifications through the school district I work for including "Career Traning Academy" and "Texas Transitions Training". After teaching in Texas for four years, I moved back to Cincinnati, Ohio where I am now.

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