Cover letter:
As noted, I have been working with children/youth in care for many years in a long-term residential setting developed for adolescent males/females and as a Child & Youth Social Worker within the Waterloo Region District School Board. I am confident that I possess the essential academic qualifications, experience and high degree of personal commitment to make a significant contribution to your team.
I assessed students' appropriateness for and continued involvement in the COMPASS programme at Sunnyside Senior Public School. COMPASS stood for "Creating Opportunities Maintaining Partnerships Accessing Skills and Strengths." It was designed to help students acquire coping strategies for reintegration into their home senior public school (junior middle school), and also served as a transition programme between treatment centres and community schools.
In Sunnyside, I developed and implemented behaviour management programmes, and taught classes in a variety of subjects including anger management, goal setting, math, and computers. I also organized extra-curricular activities, such as coaching track and field and, school's fundraising campaigns.
I have extensive knowledge of the development and application of IEPs (individual education plans), IPRCs, and family preservation. I frequently counseled parents on their children's progress and made recommendations for improvements. I possess the ability to communicate clearly at all levels and my time management and prioritizing skills are well developed. I am also able to make rational, pragmatic decisions in crisis situations. In addition, I am willing to obtain any additional training that shall further my development both personally and professional. Given the opportunity, I am sure that you will find me to be a professional, competent and conscientious addition to your team.
Resume
Education and Qualifications: 2000 - 2004 Bachelor of Social Work Degree Almeda University Atlanta GR. U.S.A. (Part-time studies)
1996 - 1999 Child & Youth Worker Degree Fanshawe College of Applied Arts & Technology London ON. Canada
2000 Preventive Management of Aggressive
Behaviour Training
1991 Junior Officer Leadership Course
1991 Captain Qualification Course
1990 Lieutenant Qualification Course
1990 Range Safety Officer Training Course
1989 Basic Officer Training Course
1989 Gold Duke of Edinburgh Citizenship Award
Professional Affiliations: Duke of Edinburgh Citizenship Programme
Key Experience
I have been involved in the education field for over 16 years . My early experience commenced with the Canadian Armed Forces where I was a Training Officer: Recruiting and training cadets/officers in the Canadian Military. Subsequently I worked as a Child & Youth Social Worker, counselling exceptional children/youth while in care. Finally I taught and counselled Junior students for many years within the Waterloo Region District School Board. In 2004 I relocated to China, here I have expericence working in different locations throughout the Country: Primary, Junior, Senior and College levels.
Areas of Particular Expertise
Familiar with the issues facing quality management in China.
Excellent communication skills and ability to network with peers and hierarchy.
Experience and high degree of personal commitment to make a significant contribution toward the school.
Extensive knowledge of the development and application of IEPs (individual education plans).
Possess the ability to communicate clearly at all levels.
Professional Experience
December 2004 - present
A Foreign Language Primary School
Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China
English Teacher
Responsibilities and accomplishments;
Teaching english and math in the Primary School: 18 classes a week
Coorindated the English Corner
Accessed the skills & strenghs of students in grades 1 to 6 for the Annual English Competition
Wrote several Child Behavioural Reports to assist in staff development: "Disruptive Children In The Classroom", "Helping Parents" and "Recognizing Dyslexia"
Developed an improved curriculum for delivery of spoken English Classes
Provided numerous english "math" lesson plans to assist chinese-english teachers commence their "english math curriculum"
Created and implemented an oral/written english examination to assess all chinese-english teachers level of english of Jingying Future Primary School: Headmaster
June 2005 - August 2005 (summer employment)
Kingston International College.
Zhanjiang, Guangdong, China
English Teacher in a Language School
Responsibilities and accomplishments;
Assisted with completing the necessary procedures for Kingston College's school registration.
Taught english to students of Primary, Junior, Senior, and Adult levels: 25 classes a week.
Assisted in the development of procedures for evaluation of student satisfaction and progress.
Assisted in student recruitment activites including radio commerials.
Improved and managed my own courses and assisted the Educational Manager in course development.
1998 - 2004
Family & Children's Services of Waterloo Region
Kitchener ON. Canada
Team Leader: Five month contract 2004
Child & Youth Social Worker: Full-time 2000 - 2004
Child & Youth Social Worker: Part-time 1998 - 2000
Responsibilities and accomplishments;
At all facilities demonstrated the ability to quickly adapt to each facility's programme and clients special needs.
Maintain a therapeutic milieu for each resident.
Utilize problem solving mediation techniques and modeled them for clients.
Engaged in one-to-one counselling as a form of crisis intervention.
Seconded to plan, administrate, and implement newly formed programmes, e.g., created and organized a filing system, document templates, designed staff orientation package, trained new staff in Agency policy and procedures; identified problems and solutions related to all aspects of the Facility's operation and anticipated and dealt with problems as they arose.
Dispensed all forms of medication to clients as per the Canadian Pharmactical Standard.
As Team Leader in a Long-Term Co-ed Residential Home of ten staff and nine youth: Managing the ongoing developing and operation of the residence; ensuring that the children/youth entrusted to the care of the facility receive care and services which provide them with safety and security, promote their healthy growth and development, and assist their transition to suitable long- term placements or provide long-term goal directed placements; ensuring that all of the above services meet expected standards and operated appropriately.
Developed and maintained a staff which was competent, confident and committed in striving the vision and mission statement of the Agency.
1997 - 2000
Waterloo District Board of Education
Kitchener ON. Canada
Child & Youth Worker/Teacher: full-time
Responsibilities and accomplishments;
Collaborate in the design, implementation and evaluation of differentiated behaviour programmes for exceptional students in High School.
Provide individual and group support to students, families and staff to assist them in managing exceptional behaviour.
Provide students with problem solving strategies through rehearsal, role modeling and mediation.
Demonstrate and coach behavioural management techniques, e.g., instruct parents/guardians, administrators, staff and education assistances on behaviour plans and techniques.
Taught grade 11 technical math and grade 9 art to nine high-needs students.
Assisted in developing curriculum for alternative grade 7 & 8.
Chaired several case conferences.
Administered and made recommendations on Psycho Pharmaceuticals for student's behaviour management.
Developed behavioural modification programmes and behaviour contracts.
Provided Family Preservation for parents who cannot control their children/youth.
Planned, coordinated and implemented intervention strategies.
1988 - 1999
Canadian Armed Forces
Canadian Navy
1994 - 1999 Canadian Armed Forces: Sea Cadet Summer Training Centre Fort Qu'Appelle SK. Canada
Chief Administration Officer (summers: 1996 - 1999)
Operations/Training Support Officer (summer: 1995)
Director of Music (summer: 1994)
Responsibilities and accomplishments;
Supervised and trained officers and cadet staff, and wrote performance evaluation reports on department staff.
Coordinated and supervised camp support staff.
Chaired Occupational Health & Safety Committee; Instructed WHMIS.
Conducted investigations (e.g., abuse, disciplinary, accidents)
Developed and implemented peer conflict resolution programme.
1990 - 1992 Canadian Armed Forces: Sea Cadet Summer Training Centre Gimli MB. Canada
General Training Officer (summers: 1991 - 1992)
Sail Training and Range Safety Officer (summer: 1990)
Responsibilities and accomplishments;
Planned and implemented training courses for youth aged 12 to 18.
Guided and supported cadets 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Supervised youth/officers firing weapons in a shooting range.
1995 - 1996 Royal Canadian Sea Cadet Corps Ajax Guelph ON. Canada
Sea Cadet Officer
Responsibilities and accomplishments;
Managed personnel and administrative records.
Raised 8K in cash and merchandise to fund trip for cadets.
Recruited youth to join cadet corps.
1988 - 1993 Royal Canadian Sea Cadet Corps Fort William Thunder Bay, ON. Canada
Commanding, Executive, and Training Officer
Responsibilities and accomplishments;
Promoted citizenship, leadership, and physical fitness in youth.
Performed all tasks to operate a Sea Cadet Corps of 80 personnel.
