portfolio

Jaclyn Williscroft

Thank you for taking this opportunity to review my online portfolio.

As an effective leader, I cultivate a positive climate and culture while motivating professionals to create an encouraging, hands-on, collaborative learning experience in the educational setting. I value equity, positivity, and unity. By creating a compassionate school; I believe we can influence students to become accepting, well-rounded individuals in an ever-changing world. My mission is to support students to reach their highest academic, physical, and emotional potential while empowering them to be strong, independent thinkers.

About Me

I am Jaclyn and I am an administrator at the Red Bank Charter School. I am the Supervisor of Special Education and am so excited to work with the stakeholders of this community and school. I have been working in public education for thirteen years now. In that time, I have obtained leadership titles such as; Lead Teacher of Assessment, Science Coach, Teacher Mentor, and Co-Coordinator of PBIS. I am a doctoral student at Stockton University and plan to graduate in 2025. I enjoy facilitating professional development sessions, running fundraisers, and teaching other professionals how to enhance their learning environments with technology. I have hands on experience in every type of special education setting and know how to use augmentative devices to communicate with individuals with autism. Furthermore, I am trained to administer the NJSLA and the Dynamic Learning Maps Assessment. I am CPI certified and also completed a 40 hour RBT course, and a 15 hour Professional Development course in Sheltered English Instruction.

Since I have been in the educational setting, I have built a strong collegial rapport with the other professionals in the districts. I am confident that my experience working in special education has prepared me to work as a team member and not just as an individual. In addition, I have a positive track record with communicating empathetically with parents, students, and the Child Study Team.

Recently, I started my own business called Overcoming Obstacles LLC and became a certified Life Coach. I earned credentials through IAP Career College. It is truly my passion to improve the lives of others, whether it is inside or outside of a classroom.

CV continued

Doctoral Student at Stockton Univeristy

I have successfully finished my first year as a doctoral student. I am blessed to be a part of "The Great 8" cohort and plan to graduate in 2025. I have completed numerous projects that involve stakeholder engagement, the Seven Action Logics of Vertical Development, and administering the OCAI to determine the current and preferred climate and culture of an organization. Additionally, I have experience with utilizing Kotter's 8-Step Change Model for implementing a successful organizational change. This program is teaching me how to be an effective leaders that will lead an organization down a successful path and be able to survive in this VUCA society. Stockton University places high value on applied leadership development and this program has truly transformed me.

PBIS

While at LEHSD, I was the co-coordinator of the PBIS program at Frog Pond Elementary School. Students were recognized for positive behavior on the school bus and in the cafeteria. Students earned a Pond Pass, completed the ticket with their name and placed it in the correct grade level bin. Each day I selected 4 Pond Passes from each grade level and I read those names on our morning news. Additionally, the students' parents received an email highlighting their fabulous behavior. Those students got to take a "Selfie" and placed it on our school's "Selfie Board". We also randomly gave out prizes to the Pond Pass winners. Surprises included; pizza parties, cupcakes, donuts, pencils, toys, etc.

Furthermore, we were promoting Pond Passes in the local community. Several local stores had coupons that they were able to hand out to students acting appropriately in public. Students were allowed to submit those Public Pond Passes into the bin!

We had so much fun with the green screen.

Lead TeACHER OF ASSESSMENT & Science Coach

TEACHER MENTOR

As Lead Teacher of Assessment, I collaborated with professionals throughout the year providing them assistance with assigning and analyzing online assessments. During this time we focused on the NWEA assessment, inputting data into LinkIt, and creating custom learning paths for students on Edmentum. Additionally, I supported teachers with utilizing Exact Path, Nearpod, and the G-Suite. I also was a Science coach and assisted with turnkeying new curriculum to educators.

One of my greatest strengths as a leader is my ability to create strong relationships because I communicate in an empathetic and caring manner. This in turn will help foster a positive climate and culture. I am an extremely compassionate educator that truly has a passion for helping others and making them feel comfortable and supported.

professional development

I love presenting at professional development sessions. I have taught educators how to effectively utilize Nearpod and the Google components in the classroom. Additionally, I have presented about LinkIt, Edmentum and Active Inspire. By holding these PD sessions, I gained leadership skills and motivated other professionals in the area to infuse technology into their every day lessons to add engagement and differentiation into their classroom. Moreover, I created a district digital library on Nearpod for teachers to easily locate lessons and games that are aligned with the school's curriculum.

RBT 40 hour course

I have a true passion for leadership and working with individuals with special needs. That is why I chose to complete a 40 hour RBT course. At this point in time, I did not take the RBT assessment. I feel this course has been extremely beneficial to me as a special education teacher. The RBT course provided me in-depth training on Applied Behavior Analysis principles and techniques. Furthermore, the training shared effective strategies for de-escalating situations and building authentic relationships with families and students. I am using the knowledge to work effectively with individuals with autism and other developmental disabilities, promoting positive behavioral changes and enhancing their overall quality of life.

The joy of witnessing the progress and growth of the individuals I serve is powerful and very fulfilling.

sheltered english instruction-

15 hour pd units

I completed a 15 hour professional development unit offered by Stockton University on Sheltered English Instruction. Teachers trained in Sheltered English Instruction (SEI) are better equipped to create inclusive and effective classrooms, supporting the academic success and language development of all their students.

Sheltered English Instruction (SEI) is an instructional approach designed to support English language learners as they develop English proficiency while simultaneously learning academic content. SEI incorporates culturally relevant materials and practices, creating a more accepting classroom environment. I am a firm believer that the benefits of SEI extend beyond English language learners and can positively impact all types of students.

CPI Certified

I have been CPI certified for four years now. Crisis Prevention Institute, is an internationally recognized training program designed to equip educators and professionals with the knowledge and skills needed to safely manage and de-escalate crisis situations, particularly when working with individuals with autism and other disabilities.

Obtaining CPI certification is imperative for educators working with students with autism and other disabilities for several critical reasons. First and foremost, it ensures the safety of both students and staff by equipping educators with evidence-based techniques to manage challenging behaviors without resorting to physical restraint. CPI training emphasizes de-escalation strategies that prioritize the emotional well-being of students, reducing the risk of physical harm and trauma. Additionally, CPI certification promotes a consistent and standardized approach to crisis intervention, ensuring that all educators are on the same page when dealing with challenging situations.

PECS and Augmentative Devices

I have worked closely with individuals who have various communication disabilities, including autism, speech disorders, and intellectual disabilities. Therefore, I have substantial experience in utilizing PECS and augmentative communication devices, including GoTalk boards, to support individuals with communication challenges. I have used GoTalk boards as an effective tool to facilitate communication by creating customized communication boards with symbols, pictures, and icons tailored to the unique needs and preferences of each individual. These devices have played a crucial role in helping individuals express their thoughts, make choices, and engage in social interactions, ultimately fostering independence and enhancing their quality of life.

Dynamic Learning MAPS & NJSLA

As a special education teacher, I have experience administering state assessments. I have administered the New Jersey Student Learning Assessment and the Dynamic Learning Map

The Dynamic Learning Maps (DLM) Assessment is an innovative and personalized assessment system designed to measure the academic progress of students with significant cognitive disabilities. Unlike traditional standardized tests, the DLM Assessment takes into account the unique learning profiles of these students and offers tailored assessments aligned with their individualized education plans (IEPs). It is specifically designed to provide a more accurate representation of what these students know and can do, focusing on essential academic skills in English language arts, mathematics, and science. The DLM Assessment aims to ensure that students with disabilities have equitable opportunities for meaningful learning and assessment, promoting their academic growth and facilitating informed educational decision-making for educators and parents.

The New Jersey Student Learning Assessment (NJSLA) is a comprehensive state assessment system used to measure student proficiency in English language arts (ELA) and mathematics, as well as other subjects such as science. The NJSLA is administered to students in various grade levels across New Jersey's public schools. It is aligned with the state's academic standards and is designed to provide educators, parents, and policymakers with valuable insights into students' academic progress and readiness for college and careers.

Student Government

I was involved with Student Government at Frog Pond Elementary School for a total of four years. I feel student government provides students with an opportunity to voice their opinions and concerns for their school and it's environment. I am also a community member therefore, I always tried to incorporate outside businesses and organizations to interact with the student government members. We had fundraisers to raise money for their class and created spirit days to spread school spirit.

Municipal alliance committee

I was the Coordinator of the MAC program at LEHSD for eight years and found that the program was beneficial for students. The Municipal Alliance Committee is a wonderful way to engage internal and external stakeholders. Students learned essential skills and life lessons by being a part of this wonderful club. I facilitated sessions to discuss topics that were affecting students in the community. Then, students collaborated and searched for solutions or came up with ideas to help others. Additionally, each session we created a project that got shared with the student body and staff members. Last year, we focused on the importance of emotional and mental health. We learned about yoga, meditation, counseling services, and breathing. Students made mental health bags for the staff that included; eye masks, a face mask, exfoliating gloves, and bath bombs. Years prior, topics included; peer pressure, drugs, alcohol, and the community prescription drop box. Students have designed mouse pads, sunglasses, billboards and slide presentations.

MAC continued

The Guiding Good Choices program has allowed MAC members to attend their events. The Guiding Good Choices Program is sponsored by the Municipal Alliance Committee and works with students to help them cope with social pressures, bullying, anger management, and other conflicting issues associated with this age group. Guiding Good Choices offers strategies and methods to deal with these issues through role-playing, making a craft, and game playing.

Fundraisers and food drives

I was in charge of organizing, collecting, and delivering for multiple food drives. I collected for the local animal shelter and the local food bank. In addition, I assisted with fundraising at FPE. In order to collect money for the sixth grade trip and graduation, we would sell candy grams, poinsettias, and pretzels throughout the year. In 2022, I arranged for a food truck to come to the school to celebrate PBIS winners. This was an excellent way to acknowledge student accomplishments and also connect with external stakeholders.

disney trials and field trips

Students learned to construct an argumentative essay by participating in Disney trials. We had one student act as the prosecutor and the other was the defendant. We were lucky enough to have a local company donate funds so that the class could go to the movie theater to see a new Disney film. My class was awarded this two years in a row. Each child was awarded a ticket, small beverage, popcorn, and fruit snacks.

sensory path and cozy corner

Student Government helped design a sensory path for GJM. We had the vinyl donated and it is beautiful.

I created the Cozy Corner in honor of my co-worker and dear friend, Jennifer Carnes. We worked together in the ICS setting and she passed away in 2017. We wanted an area out of the classroom where students could be supported and also be comfortable cozying up to read!