TrishaTorkildsen

7017 Farrington Farms Drive

Wilmington , NC 28411

trishatork@yahoo.com

OBJECTIVE:

To obtain a position in which I can utilize my skills, education and experience to offer an innovative, effective and successful approach to the profession.

ACADEMIC BACKGROUND:

University of North Carolina at Wilmington

Master of Science, Instructional Technology

• Grade Point Average-3.97

Bachelor of Arts Degree, Special Education

• Academic concentration in History

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE:

Exceptional Children's Coordinator, Cape Fear Center for Inquiry

Wilmington, North Carolina-June 2003-Present

• Act as liaison between the state and school regarding Exceptional Children’s Programming
• Part-time teacher, including working with students in various settings
• Evaluate diagnostic testing and prescribe educational programming
• Design effective instruction and interventions for performance enhancement
• Ensure the implementation of all state and federal guidelines for special education policies and procedures
• Write grants for the Exceptional Children’s program and budget spending
• Attend state trainings and communicate pertinent information to director and staff
• Maintain state and federal monitoring systems for the Department of Public Instruction
• Utilize Internet based accountability system to manage and maintain student data
• Lead Student Support Team procedures and processes
• Employ various innovative instructional strategies and technologies to support struggling students and diverse learners
• Chairperson of the Continuous Improvement Monitoring System steering committee
• Initiate, develop, design and present workshops on various topics

Special Education Instructor, Williston Middle School of Math, Science and Technology

Wilmington, North Carolina-August 1999-June 2003

• Responsibilities include instruction of students with various learning differences
• Assess and evaluate needs of students with learning, mental, and behavioral disabilities and support students in various ways to help ensure success
• Organize and facilitate lessons in all curricular areas
• Lead team of professionals as Case Manager of students in Individualized Education Plan team meetings
• Develop appropriate materials and goals to support at-risk and struggling learners
• Supervise and instruct students in and out of regular classroom environments including: large classes, small group and one-on-one instruction
• Develop and provide positive behavioral supports for students to include: interventions, plans, student conferences and contracts
• Collaborate with team of teachers on educational programming for students

DISTINCTIONS & MEMBERSHIPS:

• Two-time recipient of Chancellor's Academic Achievement Award
• Recipient of Anne Durrant Scholarship for future educators
• Vice-President of the Student Council for Exceptional Children
• Member of Williston Curriculum Resource Team
• Member of Williston Literacy Team
• Committee memberships: Technology, Life Long Learning, Hiring, Communications, and teacher Guided Improvement Teams

VOLUNTEER & RELATED WORK EXPERIENCE:

• Lead Exceptional Children's Teacher-Williston Summer School 2003’
• Willie M . Support Staff-Crisis Intervention Team-New Hanover County Schools
• Teacher of students with Autism at ASAP-A Summer Autism Program
• Internship experience in Life Skills I class at New Hanover High School
• Education Lab, Donald R. Watson School of Education, UNCW, 1997

PROJECTS & TECHNICAL EXPERIENCE:

• Several team and individual MIT projects in all completed MIT courses
• Created and implemented reading program for non-proficient readers
• Proficient in Microsoft Office applications, Macromedia Suite applications

RELEVANT TRAINING & PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

• Certified Master Teacher: Intel Teach to the Future
• Trainer: Student Support Team Procedures
• Trainer: Meeting the Needs of Students with ADHD
• Trainer: Using Brain Pop in the classroom
• Trainer: Effective Classroom Management
• Trainer: Life Skills I Curriculum, Assessment and Positive Behavioral Supports
• Trainer: Using the Smartboard in the Classroom
• Facilitator: Meeting the Needs of Diverse Learners
• Facilitator: Structures for Success: Increasing and Improving Student Engagement
• Teacher Academy Participant-Integrating Technology into the Curriculum
• Focus Group Member: Materials for Life Skills I classroom
• Focus Group Member: Crime Prevention for At-Risk Students
• Participant: Webquests
• Participant: Web Page Design
• Participant: Using the Internet for Research
• Participant: Using the Internet to Teach the Science Fair
• Participant: Jeopardy Power Point
• Participant: Evaluation and Monitoring of Special Education Programming
• Participant: North Carolina Council for Administrators of Special Education
• Participant: Exceptional Children’s Conference
• Participant: Inquiry Based Learning
• Participant: Differentiating Instruction
• Participant: Meeting the Needs of Students with Autism and Asperger’s Syndrome
• Participant: How to Handle the Hard to Handle Student
• Participant: Field Trip Earth-interactive web-based collaboration with NC Zoo
• Participant: Teaching Children to Care
• Certified to administer the IPT: Test for English Proficiency

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