James Wilkinson
Denver
Summary
Dedicated special education teacher with 13 years of experience guiding students through positive teaching experiences. I am committed to fostering safe and inclusive learning environments that encourage collaboration, risk-taking, and reflection, while also promoting critical thinking and supporting student development. Proficient in managing classroom dynamics and student behavior through positive, proactive strategies. I bring strong communication, relationship-building, and problem-solving skills that enhance collaboration and build equity with my students.
Overview
25
25
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Special Education Math and Literacy Teacher
North High School
Denver, Colorado
07.2015 - Current
- Adapt and refine a standardized curriculum to meet diverse learner needs, improving accessibility, equity, and individual student success.
- Integrate culturally responsive teaching practices to better support Hispanic and multilingual learners, fostering inclusive and supportive classroom environments.
- Lead professional development sessions with teammates to identify challenge points, develop action plans, or further skill development.
- Collaborate with families, interpreters, and community liaisons to build trust, and ensure alignment between home and school expectations.
- Implement data collection and evaluation methods in line with the current curriculum to better drive instruction and efficiency (Frontline, WIAT IV, IXL, Schoology, Desmos, EasyCBM, Khan Academy, TransMath).
- Evaluate both the necessity for particular instruction, as well as post-evaluation, to determine progress and make improvements to instruction where needed.
- Planned and led resource special education classes, with instruction and assessments utilizing the TransMath and Math 180 curriculum.
- Lead cross-support collaboration with school psychologists, speech therapists, occupational therapists, and ESL specialists to ensure holistic support for student development.
- Managed a caseload of 20+ students, delivering individualized and small-group instruction, monitoring academic and behavioral progress, and collaborating with general education teachers, specialists, and families to ensure student success.
SPED Elementary Teacher
N .Charleston Elementary School
North Charleston, South Carolina
07.2013 - 05.2015
- Enhanced standardized curriculum to better accommodate individual needs, and promote equity.
- Facilitated effective behavioral support for educators addressing student needs in inclusive classroom settings.
- Assessed the necessity of specific instruction while conducting post-evaluation to gauge progress and enhance instruction as required.
- Facilitated professional development sessions with teammates to identify challenge points, formulate action plans, and enhance skill development.
- Worked alongside colleagues to optimize lessons and support all students in classroom
- Designed and helped to run a new self-contained classroom to support students with severe behavioral needs.
- Trained and practiced Nonviolent Crisis Management (CPI) procedures for two years.
- Developed engaging lesson plans to enhance student learning and foster a positive classroom environment.
SPED Middle School Teacher
C.E. Williams Middle School
07.2012 - 05.2013
- Developed engaging lesson plans aligned with curriculum standards.
- Maintained a positive classroom environment through effective behavior management techniques.
- Implemented diverse instructional strategies to accommodate all learning styles.
- Evaluate both the necessity for a particular instruction, as well as a post-evaluation to determine progress and make improvements to instruction where needed.
- Established and managed innovative self-contained classroom supporting students with severe behavioral needs.
- Delivered Math curriculum to at-risk students
- Adapted instructional materials based on individual student needs or interests.
Tour Manager / Liaison
Warren Miller Entertainment
Boulder, CO
11.2007 - 02.2008
Tour Manager
Matchstick Productions
Crested Butte, CO
02.2001 - 11.2007
Education
Master of Arts - Special Education
University of Colorado Denver
Denver, COBachelor of Arts - Business and Resort Management
Western Colorado University
Gunnison, COTripleTen Quality Assurance Specialist - Computer And Information Systems
TripleTen Program Graduation
OnlineSkills
- Leadership and communication
- Culturally responsive teaching
- Special education support
- Classroom management
- Family engagement
- Adaptability to change
- Classroom community building
- Team collaboration and training
- Inclusive environment fostering
- Student success strategies
- Individualized instruction techniques
- Teacher support and development
- Relationship building
- Parent-teacher communication
- Student engagement
- Collaborative learning
Certification
- Colorado READ Act Certification
References
Principal:
German Echevarria / german_echevarria@dpsk12.net
Assistant Principal:
Jennifer Reiner / jreiner@dpsk12.net
Operational Services Director:
Scott Wolf / scott_wolf@dpsk12.net
Timeline
Special Education Math and Literacy Teacher
North High School
07.2015 - Current
SPED Elementary Teacher
N .Charleston Elementary School
07.2013 - 05.2015
SPED Middle School Teacher
C.E. Williams Middle School
07.2012 - 05.2013
Tour Manager / Liaison
Warren Miller Entertainment
11.2007 - 02.2008
Tour Manager
Matchstick Productions
02.2001 - 11.2007
Bachelor of Arts - Business and Resort Management
Western Colorado University
TripleTen Quality Assurance Specialist - Computer And Information Systems
TripleTen Program Graduation
Master of Arts - Special Education
University of Colorado Denver