Brittney Zaylo Lyons
Edmonton
Summary
I am a passionate Teacher with 10+ years of experience developing and implementing curriculums covering all subject areas in Kindergarten and Grade 1. I am highly skilled at motivating students through positive encouragement and reinforcement of concepts via interactive classroom instruction and observation. I am devoted to helping students develop strong literacy, numeracy, social and learning skills. I have worked with outside experts to build my capacity when working with students with a variety of special needs in an inclusive classroom setting. I believe that all students have the potential for growth and students only learn from people that they have a strong relationship with. I believe teachers should be enthusiastic and flexible in order to maintain a classroom culture based on mutual respect, kindness and compassion.
Overview
11
11
years of professional experience
Work History
Teacher
Thorncliffe Elementary School
04.2014 - Current
- Taught Grade 1, Grade 1 online (Dec. 2020- June 2021) and Kindergarten (2 years) and Interactions Div 1 (2025 during EA strike).
- Work cooperatively with other teachers, administrators and parents to help students reach learning objectives.
- Keep students on-task with proactive behavior modification and positive reinforcement strategies.
- Incorporate multiple types of teaching strategies into classroom.
- Prepare and teach curriculum aligned units and daily lessons.
- Promote physical, mental and social development using classroom games and activities.
- Planned school-wide, K-2, and my individual class field trips.
- Communicate frequently with parents, students and faculty to provide feedback and discuss instructional strategies.
- Have taught students with wide variety of special needs including learning disabilities, autism spectrum disorder, severe emotional/behavioral disabilities, global development delays, Selective Mutism, severe speech and expressive language delays, and many English language learners in inclusive and trauma sensitive classroom environment.
- Develop, implement and review Individual Program Plans and Individual Behavior Support Plans
- Collaborate with Educational Assistants to meet needs of students
- Liaise with Inclusive Services team and outside services (Children Autism Society of Edmonton and Community Options) to effectively program for and support individual students
- Plan, facilitate and assist with extra-curricular activities, including student led clubs and Leadership clubs
- Synergize with students and other staff members to plan and lead school-wide assemblies
- Effectively integrate technology across curricular areas to increase student engagement and support special needs learners
- Support varied needs of increasingly diverse classroom including significant percentage of First Nations, Metis, and Inuit students
- Alberta Teacher's Association representative (2013-2019)
- Prepare and teach curriculum aligned units and daily lessons
Temporary Contract Teacher
Callingwood School
01.2014 - 04.2014
- Taught Grade 1 for 3 months and then covered a 1 week leave in Grade 2/3 split.
- Worked cooperatively with other teachers, administrators and parents to help students reach learning objectives.
- Planned and implemented integrated lessons to meet curriculum objectives.
- Kept students on-task with proactive behavior modification and positive reinforcement strategies.
- Incorporated multiple types of teaching strategies into classroom.
Substitute Teacher
Edmonton Public School Board
12.2013 - 12.2014
- Taught students in all elementary grade levels including Behaviour Learning Assistance and Interactions.
- Followed classroom plans left by class teacher to continue student education and reinforce core concepts.
- Upheld classroom routines to support student environments and maintain consistent schedules.
- Kept students on-task with proactive behavior modification and positive reinforcement strategies.
- Repeatedly requested as substitute teacher by teachers and principals based on excellent past referrals and trusted performance.
Education
Bachelor of Education - Generalist- Psychology Minor
University of Alberta
Edmonton, AB04.2012
Bachelor of Arts - Education
Grant MacEwan University
Edmonton, AB04.2010
Skills
- Motivating students
- Student-centered instruction
- Growth mindset and critical thinking
- Trauma Informed Practices
- Flexible practices and expectations
- Differentiated instruction
- Adaptability and flexibility
- Lesson planning
- Integrate technology through classroom website
- Classroom management strategies based on relationship building
- Parent-teacher communication
- Have worked with variety of special needs, disabilities and English as an Additional Language Learners
Professional Development
Trauma Community of Practice -Waking the Tiger (2024/25) What Happened to You? (2023/2024) (2022/2023)
Best Teaching Strategies Course 2024
Streamdeck Training 2024
UFLI Training 2023
Hands on Math Activities - Silvia Greco (Equity Achievement Project)
Heart Centered Teaching Practices Classroom Management- Andriana Zarovska 2023
Secret Stories Online Training 2023
Heggerty Community of Practice 2021/2022
Heggerty Training- Heggerty Website
First Steps in Math Training/Equity Achievement Project- Tracy Sheloff and Kathleen Degeer
Jump Math- Donna Prato
Math Foundations- Kerry Faber and Cathy Cambell
How to Connect with Kids: Dr. Jody Carrington Course
DIBELS Training- DIBELS online training and Jayashree Ramaswami
Trauma Informed Practices- Mardi Hardt (Bernard)
Assessment for Learning - Sandra Herbst
Leader In Me training
Jolly Phonics - Ann and Alan Box
Math and Literacy workshop - Jane Felling
Literacy Foundations - Su Kerslake
Open ended math questions - Marian Small
Joyful Interventions: Raising Expectations and Results for Vulnerable Children Conference
Empowering writers – Susan Clark
Zones of regulation - Nicole Hnatiuk
Social Thinking- Nicole Hnatiuk
Hands on Math games and activities - Jeanette Kostrosky
Language and Literacy Project- Jayashree Ramaswami
Math Community of Practice- Rachel Miller and Cathy Cambell
Children Autism Society Annual Conference
Inclusive Classrooms Conference- Shelley Moore
References
Kristina Bagan
Principal- Thorncliffe School
(780)-298-6953
Amanda Wentland
Div 1 Interations Teacher - Thorncliffe School
(780) 288-0425
Su Kerslake
Budget Supervisor
Former Vice Principal- Thorncliffe School
(780)-266-1651
Nesrin Dundar
Educational Assistant -Thorncliffe School
(780)-655-8112
Judy
Parent/ Class Lunchroom Supervisor- Thorncliffe School
(780)-720-7426
Timeline
Teacher
Thorncliffe Elementary School
04.2014 - Current
Temporary Contract Teacher
Callingwood School
01.2014 - 04.2014
Substitute Teacher
Edmonton Public School Board
12.2013 - 12.2014
Bachelor of Education - Generalist- Psychology Minor
University of Alberta
Bachelor of Arts - Education
Grant MacEwan University
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