Cheryl A.

Graff
(847) 287-1959 cherylagraff@gmail.com cherylagraff.weebly.com

CERTIFICATIONS
Illinois Professional Educator License, LBS 1 Nov. 2016
Michigan Teaching License, Special Education, Learning Disabilities K-12 May 2016

EDUCATION

Master of Arts, Special Education Expected May 2018

Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI

Bachelor of Arts, Special Education-Learning Disabilities, K-12 May 2015

Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI

Post-Baccalaureate Teaching Certification Internship Program/Masters Coursework Aug.2015 - Apr.2016

Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI and Chicago Public Schools, Chicago, IL
Masters: 24 credits toward a Masters in Special Education

TEACHING EXPERIENCE
Special Education Resource Teacher Aug. 2017 Present
Elm Place Middle School, North Shore School District 112, Highland Park, IL
Grade level: 7th-8th
Managed a caseload of 4 students in 7th and 8th grade
Collaborated and co-taught 7th and 8th grade Science classes with a General Education Teacher to deliver
quality instruction and Special Education services in the general education classroom to students with LD,
ADHD/ADD, Autism Spectrum, and Other Health Impairments, and Behavioral Disorders
Maintained a Twitter account, personal Weebly website, and a Wordpress blog to inform families and the
community of learning occurring the classroom
Prepared and implemented 4 Individualized Education Plans through PowerIep Program
Attended and lead IEP annual, revaluation, and transition meetings throughout the school year
Worked one-on-one with a student with special needs to develop proficiency in assistive technology
Collected data on IEP goals for 20 students in 7th/8th grade using Google Spreadsheets, Google Drive, and
Google Forms
Modified general education daily Science class work and assessments
Developed an FBA/BIP plan for a 7th grade student within the STEP program

Special Education Resource Teacher Jan. 2017 Jun.2017

Melzer School, East Maine School District 63, Morton Grove, IL
Grade level: 5th-6th
Managed a caseload of 7 students in 5th and 6th grade
Collaborated with 2 general education teachers to deliver daily quality instruction and Special Education
services in the general education classroom to students with LD, ADHD/ADD, Autism Spectrum, and
Other Health Impairments, and Behavioral Disorders
Planned and taught small group reading and math instruction/ interventions within the general education
and resource setting
Prepared and implemented 7 Individualized Education Plans through I Star IEP Program
Attended and lead IEP annual, revaluation, and transition meetings throughout the school year
Collected data on IEP goals for 7 students in 5th/6th grade using Google Spreadsheets and Google Drive
Administered and used progress monitoring tools of F &P, PDAISEL, EasyCBM, and Aimsweb to students
on a weekly and bi-weekly basis
Modified a variety of general education daily class work and assessments in the subjects of Math,
Language Arts, and Writing
Collaborated with the student services team to plan and implement behavior interventions for students

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Special Education Paraprofessional
Lake Zurich High School, Community Unit School District 95, Lake Zurich, IL Aug. 2016-Jan.2017
Grade level: 9th-12th
Collaborated with 8 teachers to deliver daily quality instruction and Special Education services in 9
classroom periods to students with LD, ADHD/ADD, Autism Spectrum, ED/BD, and multiple disabilities
in general education, self-contained, and integrated classrooms
Worked with small groups and individual students in academic areas of career/job skills, social sciences,
study skills, and English to reinforce learning of material initially introduced by certified staff
Performed clerical, classroom maintenance, and instructional duties assigned by certified staff
Co-taught Reading Strategies I with a general education teacher to provide reading intervention services to
freshmen students
Co-taught a self-contained Instructional English course with a special education teacher that focuses on
students having access to the general education curriculum and making adequate progress towards their IEP
goals
Collected student data requested by the teacher for students IEPs
Served as a chief source of information to help substitute teachers assigned in the absence of a certified
teacher
Developed a teaching portfolio that included lead teaching 3 lesson plans on the skill of sequencing and a
case study with a focus learner

General Education Pre-Service Teacher Jan.2016 Apr.2016

Beulah Shoesmith Elementary School, Chicago Public Schools, Chicago, IL
Grade level: 3rd General Education Classroom
Mentor Teacher: Ms. Jeannette Bernard
! Delivered quality instruction to 30 students in a general education classroom
! Facilitated small group instruction during literacy and math centers
! Generated and executed common-core aligned lesson plans in Math, Language Arts, and Social Science
! Designed a reading/writing inquiry unit plan on The Great Migration to develop 21st century skills
! Facilitated daily text talk read-alouds to introduce weekly vocabulary words
! Implemented behavior management techniques of CHAMPS, PBIS, and a student incentive program
! Attended weekly grade level team meetings to discuss student data and grade level goals
! Consulted with 3rd grade team teachers to plan units, lessons, field trips, and assessments
! Participated in planning and executing after school events including Career Day, College Week, and
Curriculum Night
! Planned and attended educational field trips to the Chicago History Museum and the Shedd Aquarium

Special Education Pre-Service Teacher Sept.2015 Dec.2015

Beulah Shoesmith Elementary School, Chicago Public Schools, Chicago, IL
Grade levels: 5th-6th Special Education Classroom
Mentor Teacher: Mrs. Erika Goldsborough
! Provided quality instruction to students with emotional disturbances, mild-moderate cognitive disabilities,
and mild-moderate Learning Disabilities in a resource room and four general education classrooms
! Implemented instruction of four general education curriculums
! Developed and implemented schedules to service students in a resource room and general education classes
! Generated Math and Language Arts lessons for 5th/6th grade students with disabilities
! Modified lessons to meet student accommodations
! Collected and logged data on students IEP annual goals/benchmarks
! Co-taught lessons with 5th/6th grade Language Arts teachers using Engage New York Curriculum
! Administered and scored Language Arts and Mathematics REACH assessments, vocabulary/spelling tests
! Designed formative/summative assessments using game-based learning programs; Kahoot, Spelling City,
Read Theory, Flash To Pass, and Socrative
! Conducted educational assessments on a student using AIMSweb, Basic Reading Inventory, Woodcock
Johnson IV, and dynamic assessments

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 ACTIVITIES & AWARDS
! Sword of Honor, Sigma Alpha Iota International Womens Music Fraternity May 2015
! Decker Muns / Friendship Memorial Scholarship Apr.2015
! Katrina Tagget Fellowship Apr.2014
! MSU Deans List: 6 semesters Dec.May; 2011-2014
! Shoesmith Glee Club Founder and Artistic Director Oct. Apr.; 2015-2016

ADDITIONAL SKILLS, CERTIFICATIONS, & TRAINING

! Classically trained Mezzo-Soprano opera singer for 15 years
! National Association of Special Education Teachers (NASET) Member
! Council of Exceptional Children (CEC) - Member
! Heartsaver First Aid, CPR, AED American Heart Association Nov.2015 Nov.2017
! Proficient in Microsoft Office Programs, Google Programs, game-based learning, Smartboards,
! Professional development in tech lesson plans, ThinkCerca, thinking maps, and social-emotional learning

REFERENCES

Christine Moyer
5/6 General Education Teacher
Melzer School
Cell: 847. 366.2172
Email: cmoyer@emsd63.org

Maureen Anderson
Special Education Teacher
Lake Zurich High School
Cell: 773.732.9914
Email: Maureen.Anderson@lz95.org

Peter Nadler
Special Education Department Chair
Lake Zurich High School
Phone: 847.540.4196
Email: Peter.Nadler@lz95.org

Francine Williams
Field Instructor
Michigan State University
Cell: 773.330.0523
Email: will2605@msu.edu