Melissa A. Sreckovic 2122 Kedvale Avenue, Raleigh, NC 27617 msreck@email.unc.edu (586) 419-2820 EDUCATION University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Ph.D. candidate in Education Concentration: Early Childhood, Special Education, and Literacy Prospective completion: May 2015 Michigan State University Masters in Education, August 2009 Concentrations: Special Education and Literacy Michigan State University Bachelor of Arts, May 2006 Elementary Education, Minors: mathematics and English LICENSURE North Carolina Professional Teaching License K-6 all subjects, 7-9 mathematics and English Michigan Elementary Provisional Certificate K-5 all subjects, 6-8 mathematics and English Michigan Literacy Progress Profile (MLPP) K-3 TEACHING EXPERIENCE UNC, Chapel Hill Teaching Assistant, SPHS 802: Problems in Speech and Hearing, An Interdisciplinary Introduction to Autism Seminar, Spring 2012 Designed course syllabus with co-teaching assistants based on discipline specific national guidelines and state standards Connected course content to emphasize the important relationship between occupational therapists, speech language pathologists, and educators Created a climate of mutual trust and expectations between peers and instructors to provide an optimal cooperative learning experience Provided autonomy in class assignments to provide students with opportunities to be self directed learners Provided formative and summative assessments to gauge student understanding and motivation and adjust teaching strategies and content as necessary Wake County Public Schools Penny Road Elementary Third Grade Teacher, August 2007-August 2011 Conceptualized, designed, and taught inquiry based lessons for mathematics, science, social studies, and literacy based on county curriculum guidelines and state standards 1 Developed a successful learning environment among a group of students with diverse needs, including students with autism spectrum disorders, learning disabilities, English as a second language learners, and academically gifted students Motivated and actively engaged all students in the learning process by employing multiple learning strategies, using kinesthetic, visual, and auditory approaches; balancing individual, classroom, and community needs Differentiated instruction and adapted academic material to meet the individual needs of all students; constructed enrichment projects that integrated the entire classroom community by working in a collaborative effort which demonstrated every students’ strengths Assessed student learning continuously by providing a variety of techniques; adjusted material and instruction appropriately in response to students’ interests, strengths, and weaknesses Integrated 21st century skills in the classroom to enhance the learning environment and maximize student learning Contributed to a team of teachers in professional learning communities, reflecting on formative and summative assessment data, best practices, and effective intervention strategies Developed an Autism Support Team to provide useful and functional interventions to teachers Created an after school homework help room program to help at risk youth with their mathematics skills Served as the third grade team leader for the 2010-2011 school year Instructional Designer American Research Institute, Morrisville, North Carolina, June 2008-August 2008 Designed online training courses for companies Created a relationship of mutual respect and expectations with project managers to ensure course product was accurate Worked collaboratively with a team of instructional designers and graphic designers Designed educational screen pages with easy navigation Chippewa Valley School District Ojibwa Elementary Second Grade Summer School Teacher, June 2007-August 2007 Implemented a range of literacy and mathematics instruction to students who were not meeting grade level standards Monitored student progress through a variety of formal and informal assessments and data collection RESEARCH EXPERIENCE School of Education University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Social skills Project for Children with High Functioning Autism in Middle and High School: Parent and Educator Focus Groups Research Assistant; September 2011-present School of Education University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Reconnect and Recharge Research Assistant; October 2011-present 2 PROFESSIONAL PRESENTATIONS Sreckovic, M.A. (2012, February). Peer mediated interventions: An effective way to create a more inclusive classroom. Poster presented at North Carolina Council for Exceptional Children, Winston Salem, North Carolina. Sreckovic, M.A. (2012, February). Peer mediated interventions for secondary students with autism spectrum disorders. Paper presented at Southeastern Association of Educational Studies Agency in the Accountability Era: Stories of Resistance and Success, Columbia, South Carolina. PUBLICATIONS SERVICE Course Development University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, November, 2011 Assisted in developing an introduction to special education course syllabus that would benefit K12 pre-service, general and special educators Autism Support Team Coordinator Penny Road Elementary, August 2010-present Developed and coordinated an autism support team to assist teachers, students, and families working with children with autism spectrum disorders After School Support Group Coordinator Penny Road Elementary, August 2010-June 2011 Developed and coordinated an after school program for at risk youth, assisting them with homework and life skills Staff Development Penny Road Elementary, October 2010 Provided staff training on how to differentiate instruction and accommodate for students with autism spectrum disorders in general education classrooms HONORS and AWARDS Translational Research Training for Interdisciplinary Doctoral Students, Fellowship from the U.S. Office of Education Grant, Participant, 2011-2015 Penny Road Elementary Teacher of the Year, 2011 Michigan Association of Teacher Educators Student Teacher/Intern of the Year, 2007 MEMBERSHIPS Council for Exceptional Children, 2011-present 3 International Society of Autism Research, 2012-present UNC Graduate Student Association, 2011-present PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT Autism Spectrum Disorders in Three Islamic Countries featuring Dr. Samuel Odom and Dr. Ann Cox, Chapel Hill, NC, 2011. Autism Asperger’s Super Conference: "The Way I See It" featuring Dr. Temple Grandin "The Complete Guide to Asperger's Syndrome" featuring Dr. Tony Attwood "No More Meltdowns" featuring Dr. Jed Baker and "The Out-of-Sync Child" featuring Carol Kranowitz, Charlotte, NC, 2010. Keeping Students Engaged In Reading Activities, Raleigh, NC, 2010. K-5 Moving From Assessment to Reading Instruction, Raleigh, NC, 2010. Positive Behavior Support Training, Cary, NC, 2008. Empowering Writers Workshop, Cary, NC, 2008. Training in Technology, Raleigh, NC, 2008. Elementary Science Notebooks, Garner, NC, 2008. K-6: Healthy Active Children Training, Cary, NC, 2008. Classroom Management Conference, Raleigh, NC, 2007. Guided Reading: A Mind Journey of Strategies, Macomb, MI, 2006. Six Trait Writing, the WRITE WAY featuring Susan Miller Fryrear, Mt. Clemens, MI, 2006. 8 Step Process featuring Pat Cunningham, Mt. Clemens, MI, 2006. Michigan State University Special Education Conference Learning to Teach Students with Disabilities, East Lansing, MI, 2006. SMEA Presenting Music in the Classroom Seminar, East Lansing, MI, 2005. SMEA Brain Gym Seminar, East Lansing, MI, 2004. 4