Glenda Buchanan

• Provide leadership that will motivate Instructional Assistant personnel to strive the superior performance so as to provide the best possible opportunities for student growth and development, both educationally and personally.
• Ability to build good relationships with children, parents, teachers, and social workers
• Ability to work well with children from different backgrounds who have different abilities.
• Well-organized and self-driven to devise and adopt new techniques for teaching and keeping the class orderly.
• Ability to manage the classroom despite challenging behavior.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Compassionate, kind, and patient with kids
• Excellent leader and mentor for students
• Strong attention to detail and an inquisitive mind to understand each individual student.
• Meeting with parents to discuss the goals and needs of students in the program.
• Coordinating with the administration to create education plans for the students.
• Using information from observations to help note ineffective areas and sharing alternative methods that are more successful.
• Assisting Instructional Teaching Assistants in solving problems and find a solution.
• Tracking the academic performance of students for signs of progress

Al Nibras International Bilingual School 8/2018-Present
Primary Function:
• Provide leadership and administration that will motivate instructional and support personnel to strive the superior performance so as to provide the best possible opportunities for student growth and development, both educationally and personally.
Secondary Function:
• Developing and administering general school routine, and coordinate all activities in the KG and Elementary Departments
• Participating in the selection of new teachers and specialized personnel.
• Observing, counseling, and motivating professional staff towards performances to attain the educational goals of the students and the school
• Utilizing the maximum amount of available school material and staff services to meet the mission and vision of the school
• Continually evaluating existing programs and practices, curriculum content, and pilot experiential programs
• Maintaining an education philosophy and school climate that encourages a cooperative and participating attitude on the part of all teachers and students
• Maintain a standard of behavior designed to command respect and minimize school and classroom interruptions.
• Resolving student behavioral problems through the KG and Elementary department
• Encouraging and initiating continued improvement in the curriculum and teaching methods aligned with the vision and mission of the school
• Identify the intellectual, physical, social, and emotional needs of students and staff
• Direct and coordinate services for students with special needs
• Planning and submitting budget needs for supplies, educational services, and other materials necessary for day-to-day operations.
• Maintaining effective communication to keep the staff, students, and parents properly informed
• Provide orientation and training development for teachers and support staff.
• Provide strategies and resources for students to engage in e-learning and other online activities.

• Directing the daily school administration activities, observing staff and faculty performance, working with department heads and faculty to compile annual budget based on program needs.
Collating research information and maintained accurate record of research work.
• Evaluating latest/most innovative technologies thus helping principal in increasing and sustaining an effective educational program in an efficient and effective manner.
Incorporate special learning strategies for learning disabled students encompassing self-questioning rehearsal and review, cognitive behavior modification, organization, memory strategies and modeling.
• Skilled at keeping students on-task and tailoring lessons to meet specific needs.
• Attend faculty meetings to review and evaluate teaching methods.
• Generate quarterly and annual reports evaluating students’ progress to support recommendations for further student development.
• Regularly attended teachers’ meetings and discussed the methods to implement educational guides, policy, and manuals for teachers, administrators and laypersons thus improving existing teaching methods and evaluating new ones.
• Managed formulation of lessons that enable students to develop their subject skills and concepts included in their curriculum and implementing programs to encourage student participation.

Joined as Special Needs Teacher, and charted a growth curve to merit promotions to the post Resource Inclusion - HOD.

Designation Chronology:
August 2013 to August 2014: Resource Inclusion - HOD
August 2009 to June 2013: Special Needs Teacher

Key Responsibilities as Resource Inclusion - HOD (August 2013 - 2014):
• Directing the daily school administration activities, observing staff and faculty performance, working with department heads and faculty to compile annual budget based on program needs.
• Collating research information and maintain an accurate record of research work. Evaluating the latest/most innovative technologies thus helping principal in increasing and sustaining an effective educational program efficiently and effectively.
• Mentoring students and imparting critical know-how on issues pertinent to solving complex problems according to learning objectives envisaged as per the formulated curriculum.
• Educating mainstreamed students and individuals with learning challenges within mainstreamed and inclusive classrooms.
• Serving as a member of the Special Education Team in writing educational plans and progress reports.
• Cordially providing support to the principal in developing school culture into a results-oriented collaborative learning community and ascertaining execution of the Board-approved curriculum.
• Implementing high-quality teaching and learning in inclusion and/or resource classes using appropriate differentiated instructional techniques.
• Regularly attended teachers’ meetings and discussed the methods to implement educational guides, policy, and manuals for teachers, administrators and laypersons thus improving existing teaching methods and evaluating new ones.
• Oversaw formulation of lessons that enable students to develop their subject skills and concepts included in their curriculum and implementing programs to encourage student participation.
• Maintain special reports, communicate effectively, ascertain deficiencies and provide the required support to negate identified deviations from achievement for students.

Key Responsibilities Special Needs Teacher (August 2009 - June 2013):
• Explored new innovative technologies, referred to research articles and other resources for meeting the special educational needs of children with Autism, MR, CD, ED, and LD disorder.
• Formulated, reviewed and implemented BHP, developed IEP's, conducted diagnostic assessments and inculcated interactive lecture sessions to enhance better understanding of the subject by the students.
• Responsible for communicating and collaborating special learning strategies for learning disabled students including self-questioning, rehearsal and review, cognitive behavior modification, organization, memory strategies, and modeling.
• Planned and executed instructional lessons, prepared subject material assessed students based on specific objectives derived from a set curriculum and communicated with parents periodically to discuss student’s progress/issues.
• Helped parents by providing academic and disability information; suggested available educational, social, and special resources, addressed parent concerns, answered questions and requests.
• Maintained accurate and complete records of students' progress/notes, medical log documentation, and CFT reports including implementing plans for special education groups.
• Kept abreast of new trends and development in the field and endeavoring to implement the best educational practices during teaching.

Key Responsibilities:
• Delivered educational courses/programs in accordance with university requirements and applied multiple teaching techniques to best achieve course objectives.
• Prepared lesson plans, developed classroom material and presentations. Customized and implemented creative curricula utilizing outcome-based education and alternative assessments.
• Utilized appropriate teaching methods to enhance verbal and written skills of students by empowering them with language tools (grammar, idioms, vocabulary).
• Prepared assignments, weekly / monthly tests to assess students' learning levels.
• Organized multiple teaching methods that included visual, tactical, and auditory materials to reinforce or simplify complex concepts.
• Developed integrated study plans that allowed students to bridge the gap between real world issues and course material through library and internet research, interviews, and creative writing exercises.
• Communicated with parents to acknowledge superior work and areas of concern through weekly newsletters and encouraged parent-volunteer assistance throughout the year.
• Organized cooperative learning activities, tutored students who sought additional guidance with course work.

Key Responsibilities:
• Planned, prepared and delivered lessons to a range of classes and age groups; and helping pupils to improve their four basic language skills: listening; speaking; reading; and writing.
• Performed various tasks including classroom management; preparing and setting tests, examination papers, and exercises, creating new teaching materials, including audio and visual resources.
• Designed and established course structure as per syllabi and a definite roadmap, in consultation with management and senior faculty members, to meet long term organizational objectives.
• Evaluated and assisted students on class works and assignments completion as delineated in the syllabus.
• Observing students performance and providing appropriate feedback on oral and written work.
• Restructured existing syllabus and developed teaching methodologies to suit aptitude level of all students.
• Maintained discipline in the classroom and ensured a highly conducive atmosphere for learning by encouraging healthy competition.

Key Responsibilities:
• Instructed children from grades K-8 with special needs. Formulated class curriculum/lessons plans, designed teaching methodology, prepared daily and unit lessons for students along with quarterly study plans thereby gathered resources required for the classroom.
• Developed teaching aid materials comprising of writing review quizzes and tests for diverse levels of courses and classes. Customized and implemented creative curricula utilizing outcome-based education and alternative assessments.
• Identified and analyzed students’ requirements and competencies tailoring teaching methodologies to maximize students’ comprehension and learning experience.
• Responsible for creating and coordinating schedule of services for students to ensure all IEP requirements are met.
• Oversaw basic needs of individuals with Autism, MR, CD, ED and LD disorders; guided and helped children with changing unproductive behavior to further manageable behavior.
• Assessed student knowledge using formal and informal means to develop measurable IEP goals and to support student learning.
• Reviewed, restructured and innovated thematic processes/methodologies to ensure current methods of teaching are addressed in a practical fashion.
• Developed and maintained a comfortable/orderly classroom atmosphere to promote and support quality learning.

Previous Professional Experiences:
• January 2005 - November 2006: Direct Support Specialist at Child and Family Support Services
• December 2004 - February 2006: Case Manager at Save the Family
• February 2000 - September 2004: Public Relations Executive at Office Team and Account Temps
• January 1979 - February 1990: Radio Repairer and Training Non Comissioned Officer at US Army