Gina Garner Lunsford

2806 Ashley Lane Anna, TX 75409

(W) (903) 464-7140; (H) (972) 679-3415

EDUCATION/CERTIFICATION

B.B.S.                                                     Public Communications, Hardin-Simmons University,

Abilene, TX 1991

 Master’s in Education Administration, Lamar University,

Beaumont,  TX, August 2013

Teaching Certificate                         Generic Special Education, PreK-12 Region XIV ESC Alternative Certification

Texas 1995

ADMINISTRATIVE AND LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCE

Educational Administration Principal Intern, Denison ISD, Denison, TX November 2011-May 2013

·         Interned/job shadowed at the high school and one of the elementary schools in the district as a principal intern

·         Served on the district’s Strategic Planning Committee on the Community Partnerships committee to establish partnerships with real estate developers and builders within the community and establish and strengthen partnerships with businesses and business owners in the community, establish partnerships with local churches in the community, and conduct annual reviews of existing partnerships

·         Review district’s collection procedure and data collected and worked with our building principals, department chairs, school counselors, and special education director. in several meetings throughout the year, to discuss data from state standardized test scores, common assessments, and benchmarks, and compare them to previous years, and discussed services and programs that were needed in order to improve these scores

·         Challenged my special education department  to communicate with parents in positive way, on a regular basis and note  changes they saw in struggling students, which produced reduction in discipline referrals, failures, and attendance problems

·         Lead PLC meetings twice a month for the special education department  to discuss issues, make plans, and brainstorm better ways of working within the general education  classrooms/self-contained classrooms; created measurable goals for our department, and integrated ourselves into the general education  PLC’s

·         Participated  in the process of student class scheduling, working hand in hand with other department chairs, counselors, and principals to create a schedule for our students, and to place them in the classes that they must have to graduate, particularly as it pertains to special education  student’s schedule, ensuring that they have what they are enrolled in the classes indicated in their ARD document

·         Conducted two classroom observations using the clinical supervision model, observing the similarities and differences in teaching styles and classroom management

·         Gathered and analyzed the district/school, state, and national normed test results. Assessed the current strengths and weaknesses in student achievement. Made recommendations for improvement in student performance on standardized tests, in particular ensuring that all special education students take the appropriate test as indicated in their ARD document, and ensure that the appropriate and allowable accommodations are in place for test day (included in those duties are the training of teachers, room assignments, and class rosters, and analyzing current testing data)

·         Helped create and implement, along with the school counseling staff, the “Student Success Fair,” a parent involvement activity aimed at increasing or improving parent involvement and attitude toward the school, inviting the parents and students of those who were considered At-Risk for failure or being held back this school year

Special Education High School Department Coordinator/Transition Supervisor/Vocational Adjustment Coordinator, Denison High School, Denison, TX, 2010-present

• Supervised and coordinated high school special education program, including 2 resource classrooms, 4 inclusion specialists, 1 emotional adjustment classroom, and 2 life skills classrooms; and staff of including 9 professional staff and 12 paraprofessional staff
• Supervised the transition program for Indicators 13 and 14; wrote transition plans for all high school special education students; trained 2 professional staff to become transition specialists for low incidence population and emotionally disturbed population.
• Conducted monthly department meetings
• Attended High School Department Chair  meetings
• Attended relevant School District and professional meetings
• Assisted department teachers in the handling of the day-to-day activities and instructional issues
• Acted as a resource specialist for teachers
• Coordinated in-service programs for personnel, i.e., Auditory Impairment Training and Emergency/Fire Evacuation Training for students in wheelchairs
• Reviewed PLAAFPS, IEP’s, and other special education ARD paperwork
• Established process of reviewing progress reports
• Problem solved with parents and teachers to maintain good relationships and prevent misunderstandings
• Attended Annual, Brief, and MD ARDs when requested
• Worked as a liaison between general education teachers, students and/or parents
• Served as a PEP (personal education plan) advisor for 8^th graders preparing for entrance into high school
• Served as advisor for Student Success Fair for At Risk high school students
• Tracked /monitored teacher and paraprofessional staff absences at high school
• Made informal classroom observations
• Monitored special education program on campus and reported to Special Education Director
• Created Special Education Tracking Lists
• Acted as TAKS/STAAR coordinator for Special Education
• Administered TAKS M and STAAR M assessments
• Served as Administrative Liaison at Special Olympics practices/meets

 

 

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Transition Specialist/Instructor

Transition Services, McKinney ISD                                                                                 

 McKinney, Texas, 2006-2009

• Worked with Life Skills Teachers, Functional Academic Teachers and Structured Teach Teachers to more fully incorporate the self-contained post-secondary student population in the restructuring of the MISD Transition Services
• Collaborated daily with Transition Team Members to provide an all-encompassing post-secondary Transition Model (employment, independent living skills, social skills and recreation/leisure skills) to facilitate appropriate transition for students ages 18-22
• Developed on-going relationships with community
• Made initial local employer contacts
• Provided follow-up services with local employers to be aware of local job market
• Assisted with resolution of job-related issues
• Maintained regular communication with employers/supervisors (on-site visits/phone calls/email)
• Assessed and evaluated student job performance
• Developed,  monitored and evaluated student vocational goals
• Facilitated the learning of job-search, job-securing and job-maintaining skills
• Assisted with clarification of student career options
• Assisted with job leads, job applications, job interviews, resume writing and developing long-range career goals
• Assisted with self-advocacy/self-determination skills
• Managed daily schedule and the choosing of activities to fill that schedule
• Provided opportunities for students to develop meaningful social support networks and support groups for social outlets

 

Next Step Transition Services Coordinator,

McKinney ISD, McKinney, TX,  2005-2006

• Worked with post-secondary transition students from McKinney High School and McKinney North High School to foster maximum level of independence after completion of high school credits
• Designed services to fully incorporate the transition model of employment, independent living, social skills, community based instruction and recreation/leisure skills, based on student preferences, needs and interests
• Developed on-going relationships with community
• Made initial local employer contacts
• Provided follow-up services with local employers to be aware of local job market
• Assisted with resolution of job-related issues
• Maintained regular communication with employers/supervisors (on-site visits/phone calls/email)
• Assessed and evaluated student job performance
• Developed, monitored and evaluated student vocational goals
• Facilitated the learning of job-search, job-securing and job-maintaining skills
• Assisted with clarification of student career options
• Assisted with job leads, job applications, job interviews, resume writing and developing long-range career goals
• Assisted with self-advocacy/self-determination skills
• Managed daily schedule and the choosing of activities to fill that schedule
• Provide opportunities for students to develop meaningful social support networks and support groups for social outlets

 

 

High School Functional Academics Teacher,

Centennial High School, Frisco ISD, Frisco, Texas, 2004-2005

• Taught Functional Academic core subjects (English, Math, Social Studies, Science) in the high school setting
• Supervised Content Mastery Center during last period of each day
• Collaborated with Life Skills Teacher and VAC teacher to begin process of developing a post-secondary transition program for Frisco ISD
• Developed and administered Locally Developed Alternative Assessments for Social Studies and Science curriculum (LDAA – alternative to TAKS)
• Reviewed and administered State Developed Alternative Assessment for English (Reading/Writing) and Mathematics (SDAA – alternative to TAKS)
• Managed a working caseload of 16 special education students at Centennial High School (monitored progress in each class – regular and special education; developed ARD paperwork; developed transition plans; developed graduation plans; determined TAKS/SDAA/LDAA testing levels; collaborated with regular education teachers for caseload students in their classes for adequate progress; collaborated with special education teachers to acquire additional knowledge and expertise in Special Education policies, procedures, practices and laws)

 

Co-Instructor/Transition Specialist

Collin County Special Education Cooperative                              

Bridges Program @ Collin County Community College,

McKinney, Texas, 2001-2004

·         Developed, implemented, and organized Bridges, a post-secondary transition program for special education high school graduates at the community college

• Taught vocational, social, recreation/leisure, and independent living skills to special needs students attaining adulthood
• Administered vocational and career assessments
• Collaborated with outside service providers such as Life Paths, Texas Rehabilitation Commission, Texas Workforce Commission, and Community Options to help foster maximum levels for individual independence with adult special needs students
• Coordinated vocational job sites in the community
• Taught core subjects (English, Math, Science, Social Studies) in a vocational setting
• Conducted ARD and ITP meetings for Bridges students
• Collaborated on staff schedules, job coach evaluations, weekly staff meetings

VAC/Transition Specialist

Collin County Special Education Cooperative

Wylie, Texas, 2000-2001

• Collaborated with 3 participating CCSEC districts to provide transition and VAC services for high school special needs students
• Administered vocational and career assessments
• Coordinated vocational job sites in the community
• Conducted Individual Transition Planning meetings for high school special needs students collaborating with outside agencies, colleges and community
• Taught Extended School Year for elementary and middle school autistic students

Career and Technology Teacher

Coleman High School

Midland ISD, 1999-2000

• Collaborated with other Career and Technology Teachers for job acquisition in the community
• Taught Marketing Education, BCIS I and BCIS II courses on an alternative placement high school
• Assisted students with employment goals, skills and securing employment
• Served on the DEC follow up team
• Served as vocational education teacher (regular education) in special education ARD meetings

High School Community Based Vocational Teacher                                                        

Taylor Callahan Education Cooperative, Abilene, TX, 1995-1999

• Taught core subjects (English, Math, Science, Social Studies) in a vocational setting to special needs high school students
• Administered vocational and career assessments
• Collaborated with outside service providers such as MHMR and Texas Rehabilitation Commission
• Coordinated vocational job sites in the community
• Participated in ARD and ITP meetings for students
• Collaborated with 3 participating districts for the CBV program (Baird High School, Clyde High School, Eula High School)
• Coordinated the VAC program for two of the districts (Baird High School, Eula High School)

High School/Middle School Self-Contained/Life Skills Teacher

Baird High School/Middle School, 1994-1995

• Taught core subjects (English, Math, Science, Social Studies) to special needs middle school students
• Administered vocational assessments
• Participated in ARD meetings
• Coordinated class “Free Enterprise” project to help students earn money for class outings
• Coordinated pre-employability sites on campus such as other teachers classrooms, school office, library and athletic department
• Served as One-Act play director

Other Related Experience

• Over 400 hours of workshop and conferences relating to vocational and transition education
• Crisis Intervention Prevention Certified, 2002-present
• Trained in Herrmann Reading Method, 2004

 

Presentations and Mentoring

• Developed and presented vocation/transition workshops at:
• TAVAC conference in Irving, Texas
• Vocational Education for Special Populations Statewide Conference, College Station, Texas
• Paraprofessionals Training/Workshop, Denison ISD, Summer2004
• Paraprofessionals Training/Workshop, Denison ISD, Summer 2005
• Paraprofessionals Training/Workshop, Denison ISD, Summer 2006
• Paraprofessionals Training/Workshop, Denison ISD, Summer 2007
• Paraprofessionals Training/Workshop, Denison ISD, Summer 2008
• Paraprofessionals Training/Workshop, Denison ISD, Summer 2009
• Paraprofessionals and Teacher Training/Workshop, Denison ISD, Summer 2010
• Paraprofessionals and Teacher Training/Workshop, Denison ISD, Summer 2011
• Paraprofessionals and Teacher Training/Workshop, Denison ISD Summer 2012
• ARC of Dallas, Parent Workshop – Transition/Person Centered Planning, October 2007/February 2008

·         Collaborated with Life Skills, Functional Academics and Structured Teach programs to develop new Post-Secondary Transition Model currently being implemented in McKinney ISD

Professional References

Lori May

Director of Special Education, Denison ISD

1201 S. Rusk Avenue

Denison, TX 75020

903-462-7020

lmay@denisonisd.net

Yalonda Ivers

Counselor, Denison High School

1901 S. Mirrick Avenue

Denison, TX 75020

903-462-7086

yivers@denisonisd.net

Tessa Porter

Special Education Coordinator, McKinney ISD

4113 Valley Ridge Lane

McKinney, TX 75071

972-369-2298

teporter@mckinneyisd.net

Claudia S. Mullins

Special Education Supervisor, Kerrville ISD

514 East Lane

Kerrville, TX 78028

830-370-3953

claudia.mullins@kerrvilleisd.net