Nastassia Taylor

Hello all,

My name is Nastassia Taylor and I am a trained Special Education Teacher( SEN), located in Jamaica, West Indies. 

I was trained in Jamaica and I have worked with the Ministry of Education, Jamaica for seven years a SEN teacher and SENCO at the primary , secondary and semi- tertiary levels. I have taught both adults and children with hearing impairments, physical disabilities, intellectual disabilities, and learning disabilities.

I have a Bachelor's Degree and a teaching Diploma in Special education.

I keep abreast with the latest trends in the field and I have a keen interest in helping learners succeed no matter how small the task. I have very objective oriented and love to see others grow and improve.

I currently work with the Ministry of Local Government and Rural/Community Development in Jamaica as a Capacity Development Coordinator. I am currently training adult learners( both staff members and community members) who have and do not have special education needs to transition into becoming productive members of society among other things.

I have a true and deep passion for developing the talents of young people and would relish the opportunity to take my experience and skillsets to one of the fastest developing countries. I am a lifelong learner, I embrace learning new ideas and technologies as needed to enhance not only my life but those I engage with. I am currently doing a Masters in Education where I have come in contact with the IB curriculum which I believe is an innovative approach to 21st -century teaching and learning .

I do not have an issue relocating and I am excited about the prospects and would love the opportunity to discuss how I can add value to an organization that is looking for a diverse staff member who can not only get the work done but do so with passion, love, and excellence.

• I was trained as a teacher in Jamaica in the field of Special Education. I did my teaching practicum at Jamaica Christian School for the Deaf as I specialized in Deaf Education and mild to moderate disabilities.
• Right after which I was employed with the Ministry of Education Jamaica to work with students who had severe reading disabilities as a classroom teacher/ Literacy specialist. These students ranged from grades 7 to 11. Many of them were unable to spell small words and some even their names. This was a temporary position however I assisted one child to the point of improving from an F to C in final exams. 
• I later moved to another position as an SEN/SENCO again with the Ministry of Education in a programme called Alternative Secondary Transition Programme (ASTEP) as a Center Coordinator (SENCO). Here I worked with students at the primary level with intellectual and learning disabilities, implementing interventions from their IEPs/IIPs and drafting IIPs. I coached other classroom teachers and parents on how to cater to the needs of students with special needs.
• As the (ASTEP) program faded out, I transitioned to worked as a SEN teacher in an inclusive classroom setting again at the primary level as classroom teacher for students with and without special needs. These learners had physical and learning disabilities. Again i worked as a resource person for both classroom teachers and parents of students with special needs. 
• I later got an opportunity to work with some of the students who moved from primary school to high school who still required special education accommodations at the high school level. Here I worked as a SEN and SENCO. I planned school-wide interventions for students, teachers and parents, and functioned as a direct teacher and co-teacher based on the needs of the students and teachers. I worked with students between grades 7 to 12. I have over this period assisted many students to the point of passing English at the City and Guilds level these students would have had years of mild to moderate learning challenges ( students were undiagnosed with a disability however, many seem to display many of the characteristics ). 
• Based on my success with teaching these students with special needs I was promoted as a senior teacher in special education at the school and to a new position a Alternative Pathways to Secondary Education Coach ( SENCO) . In this position continued to work at the high school , teaching students between grades 7 to 12. Other responsiblities included:
• Individual or Group Intervention Plans developed and implemented
  • Diagnostic and prescriptive teaching strategies designed and utilized
  • Student Performance portfolios maintained

  -Support procedures for teachers developed

  • Workshops planned and conducted

  -Best practices introduced, applied and documented

  • Students’ progress monitored and recorded
  • Provided instructional support for teachers of students requiring special education intervention
  • Guided the development of support procedures for the teachers of students on learning pathways II and
  • Developed Individual Intervention Plan (IIP) for each student; or Group Intervention Plan (GIP)

  to meet the educational needs of students

• Used diagnostic and prescriptive teaching strategies to address the identified learning difficulties of the student
• Performed other related duties consistent with the requirements of instructional including counseling and support functions, in the best interest of the school and students.
• Currently I work with the Ministry of Local Government and Community Development as Capacity Development Coordinator for the parishes of Saint Ann and Trelawny Jamaica. I work under Training and Development where I am employed to plan, guide and coordinate teaching and learning activities for staff and other adults leaners (in an inclusive setting ) with special learning needs and those without. 

I am currently completing a Masters in Education (online ) through the University of the West Indies Jamaica previous to this I completed a Bachelor's in Education ( Literacy Studies) and Diploma in teaching Special Education