Jessica Harris
Aurora
Overview
20
20
years of professional experience
Work History
Special Education Paraprofessional
Aurora Public Schools
Aurora, CO
08.2005 - 07.2025
- Supported instructional staff in implementing individualized education plans for diverse learners.
- Assisted students with daily activities, promoting independence and social skills development.
- Adapted materials and resources to meet unique learning needs of students.
- Collaborated with teachers to track student progress and identify areas for improvement.
- Provided one-on-one support during classroom activities, enhancing student engagement and participation.
- Implemented behavioral interventions under the guidance of special education professionals.
- Maintained a safe and inclusive learning environment through proactive behavior management strategies.
- Participated in training sessions to stay current on best practices in special education support techniques.
- Developed strong rapport with students by demonstrating empathy, patience, and understanding during daily interactions both inside and outside the classroom setting.
- Managed challenging behaviors using de-escalation techniques to maintain a safe and productive learning environment for all students involved.
- Assisted in the implementation of effective behavior management techniques, resulting in a more focused and positive classroom environment.
- Collaborated with teacher to create customized classroom environment integral to students' needs.
- Monitored student classroom and outdoors activities to promote student safety.
- Maintained positive attitude and affirmatively communicated with each student.
- Interacted physically and verbally with students throughout each day.
- Offered student support through special accommodations, extra assistance, and assessments.
- Delivered personalized educational, behavioral, and emotional support to individual students to enable positive learning outcomes.
- Participated in ongoing professional development opportunities to stay current on best practices in special education instruction and support services.
- Supported students with various disabilities through one-on-one tutoring sessions, improving their understanding of course materials and concepts.
- Oversaw class of students in absence of instructor.
- Supported teacher in development of individual learning strategies.
- Documented student behaviors, interventions, and outcomes to enable lead teacher to address pertinent issues.
- Enhanced students'' learning experiences by implementing individualized educational plans and adapting teaching methods for special needs students.
- Partnered with speech therapists, occupational therapists, and other related service providers to ensure comprehensive support for each individual student''s growth and progress.
- Responded proactively to emerging challenges by adapting instructional strategies as needed, ensuring continuous progress toward established goals for each student''s academic success and personal growth.
- Set up visual aids, equipment, and classroom displays to support teacher's lesson delivery.
- Collaborated with multidisciplinary teams to develop comprehensive support strategies for each student, contributing to improved academic performance.
- Facilitated social skills development through targeted group activities, promoting positive peer relationships and increased self-confidence among special education students.
- Encouraged students to participate in school activities and programs to promote well-roundedness and increase confidence.
- Implemented evidence-based instructional strategies tailored to each student''s unique learning style, promoting greater comprehension across subject areas.
- Established professional relationships with parents and other teachers to increase rapport and support.
- Provided necessary accommodations for testing situations, ensuring fair opportunities for all students to demonstrate their knowledge and skills.
- Alerted instructor to student behavior or issues requiring intervention.
- Served as a liaison between general education teachers and special education professionals, fostering collaborative relationships that benefitted all students involved.
- Maintained accurate records of student progress, enabling timely communication with parents and other stakeholders regarding individual achievements and areas needing improvement.
- Utilized assistive technology tools strategically in order to facilitate increased independence among students with diverse learning needs.
- Promoted a culture of inclusion within the school community by modeling respectful interactions and encouraging open communication among all stakeholders involved in the education of special needs students.
- Coordinated with teachers to create inclusive lesson plans that addressed the diverse needs of all learners within the classroom setting.
- Assisted in the organization of field trips and extracurricular events that offered valuable real-world experiences for special education students, fostering skill-building opportunities outside the classroom setting.
- Developed tailor-fit lesson plans to cater to individual needs of each student.
- Contributed to successful transitions between grade levels by collaborating closely with incoming teachers about each student''s specific strengths, challenges, and support requirements.
- Created positive and inclusive classroom environment by helping students develop social skills and relationships.
- Observed students' performance and recorded relevant data to assess progress.
- Understood and acclimated to teacher's routine to provide classroom coverage.
- Communicated with teachers and other district personnel to assist in evaluating progress and implementing IEP objectives.
- Supported faculty in implementing behavioral intervention plans to address challenging student behaviors.
- Liaised one-on-one with learners to provide additional support tailored to specific learning needs.
- Provided individualized reading, writing and math instruction to support student development.
- Responded to emergency situations to resolve immediate safety concerns or direct appropriate personnel for resolution.
- Collaborated with teachers and specialists to assess student progress.
- Helped feeding and daily living skills to support physical and emotional well-being.
- Maintained classroom equipment and work area to promote safe learning environment and meet mandated requirements.
- Worked with students to promote learning and pro-social development.
- Observed individuals or groups of students in variety of settings to maintain safe and positive learning environment.
- Assisted with communication methods to keep parents informed about child's development and behavioral issues.
- Kept open and frequent communication with families to provide regular updates on child's academic progress and individualized needs.
- Delivered efficient instruction by assisting with lesson planning and materials preparation.
- Promoted good study habits and student independence to improve quality of student outcomes.
- Adapted equipment and technology, boosting student engagement and motivation.
- Instructed student activities to implement goals for remediation of deficiencies and drive student success.
- Facilitated administration and scoring of standardized tests and assessments to draw meaningful data regarding learning and growth.
Education
High School Diploma -
Harris-Smith Academy
15819 East Tennessee Ave (Homeschooled 1997-2001)06.2001
Skills
- IEP compliance
- Teacher assistance
- Learning disabilities support
- Classroom organization
- Collaboration with teachers
- Progress monitoring
- Verbal and written communication
- Teaching and instruction
- Student advocacy
- Instructional support
- Lesson plan implementation
- Student supervision
- Conflict resolution
- Behavioral plan management
- Nonverbal communication
- Life skills development
- Crisis intervention
- Autism and spectrum disorders
- Special needs
- Feeding assistance
- Physical disabilities support
- Personal hygiene assistance
Timeline
Special Education Paraprofessional
Aurora Public Schools
08.2005 - 07.2025
High School Diploma -
Harris-Smith Academy