Sonia Zinn
Summary
Dynamic education leader with a proven track record at Peel District School Board, excelling in project coordination and relationship building. Enhanced team productivity through effective communication and organized training initiatives, resulting in improved literacy outcomes. Skilled in MS Office and adaptable to diverse learning environments, fostering collaboration among staff and families.
Overview
17
17
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Co-ordinator of Elementary Special Education
Peel District School Board
09.2023 - Current
- Report to the Coordinating Principal of Special Education
- Improve team productivity with regular communication and progress updates, fostering a collaborative work environment.
- Enhanced operational workflows by maintaining well-organized documentation systems and updating records accurately as needed.
- provide leadership of the collaborative annual review of elementary and secondary special education programs and services
- provide leadership and support to special education staff (350 In school support program teachers, and 17 special education resource teachers), and families
- coordinate training for staff to implement Tier 3 reading interventions
- coordinate the Ministry's TPA Project Plan funding in support of Literacy
- collaborate with Sick Kids Hospital in providing training in Empower Reading intervention throughout year
- coordinate training for staff to implement Q-Global online KTEA scoring
- updated and review of Board's Special Education Plan annually
- coordinated Identification Placement and Review Committee (IPRC) for special education classes
- provide leadership and support for the Individual Education Plan (IEP), software training and the special education student Information System (SIS)
- conduct ministry reporting
- participate in Special Education advisory committee (SEAC)
- Manage special education contained classrooms via IPRC for Gifted, Communications, and General Learning Disability classes
- Staff for elementary In-School Support Program teachers (219 schools)
- Offer professional learning around Ableism, Tiered Supports of intervention, Assessment and Instruction
- collaborated on system memos around Special Education Procedures (IPRC, Placement Location Discrepancy reports, Non-Identified students, annual reviews, spec education transportation, reporting (including IEP), French Inclusion
- Liaise with Trillium Demonstration school for student acceptance and demission
- Managed project timelines for successful completion, ensuring milestones were met and deadlines were adhered to.
- Conducted comprehensive research on literacy resources to inform strategic planning for Tier 3 interventions board wide
- Enhanced team communication by implementing monthly team meetings and weekly update emails.
- Developed a Guide to Special Education for Families and Caregivers
- Resolved issues through active listening and open-ended questioning, escalating major problems to supervisor
Special Education Resource Teacher
Peel District School Board
09.2017 - 06.2023
- Coordinated with school teams to modify curriculum materials, ensuring accessibility for all learners in an inclusive setting.
- Maintained accurate records of student performance, attendance, and IEP objectives to ensure compliance with Ministry regulations
- Participated in multidisciplinary team meetings to discuss students'' needs, share insights, and develop effective intervention plans aligned with their unique strengths and challenges
- led system-wide professional development on the Student Review Process and collaborated with staff, families, and community services to build a shared transformative vision based on high expectations for all learners
- addressed systemic barriers and empowered staff on meeting the need of all our students, including those students who have historically and currently marginalized
- facilitated ISSP Networks for Family of Schools to communicate system processes and priorities
- collaborated on a writing team of the new Student Review Process to identify and eliminate barriers and past oppressive practices
- supported schools with the implementation fo the 'right to read' inquiry recommendations and led staff to improve student literacy achievement
- built capacity by leading teachers to reflect on own biases when reviewing student profiles
- Participated in multidisciplinary team meetings to discuss students'' needs, share insights, and develop effective intervention plans aligned with their unique strengths and challenge
- worked alongside the Assistive Technology dept to ensure the allocation of SEA equipment to students with special education needs
School Success Literacy and Numeracy Coach
Peel District School Board
09.2014 - 06.2017
- Identified areas in need of improvement and implemented solutions.
- Promoted continuous learning within the organization by sharing best practices and lessons learned from various facilitation experiences.
- Increased participant engagement by incorporating interactive activities and group discussions into sessions.
- Delivered high-quality training sessions, ensuring participants developed a thorough understanding of the subject matter.
- Fostered an inclusive learning environment by addressing diverse needs and adapting facilitation techniques as needed.
- Enhanced program effectiveness by collaborating with colleagues to review and revise curriculum content regularly.
- Provided constructive feedback to participants during debriefing sessions, fostering personal growth and skill development.
- Conducted post-event evaluations to gather feedback and implement improvements for future sessions.
- Enhanced team productivity by leading engaging training sessions focused on effective literacy and numeracy strategies
- facilitated school-wide development that aligned with Literacy/numeracy goals
Acting Vice-Principal
Peel District School Board
01.2014 - 06.2014
- Served as an approachable liaison between administration, faculty, parents, and students to ensure effective communication and cooperation within the school community.
- Met with parents to discuss student performance and behavioral issues.
- Monitored academic progress of all students through regular review of assessment data to identify trends and potential areas of growth or concern.
- Led meetings to convey policy changes, gather information, and assess employee thoughts.
- Collaborated with teachers to develop curriculum improvements, resulting in increased student engagement and achievement.
- Monitored student behavior and enforced discipline policies.
- Promoted a safe learning environment by enforcing school policies, addressing bullying issues promptly, and conducting regular safety drills.
- Planned and implemented professional development programs.
- Acted as principal for day-to-day running of school as well as key decision making.
Guidance / In-School Support Program Lead Teacher
Peel District School Board
09.2008 - 06.2014
- Established positive relationships with parents through regular communication regarding student progress, collaborating on strategies for academic success at home and school.
- Maintained patience and level-headedness in diverse situations to support student development and personal growth.
- Developed and implemented differentiated instruction strategies to accommodate diverse learning styles, resulting in increased student engagement and success.
- Planned and implemented different daily activities to enhance overall development and growth of every student.
- Communicated frequently with parents about student growth and progress, recommending at-home reinforcement to support struggling students.
- Worked one-on-one with students and student teachers to increase overall classroom success.
- Implemented assessment tools that monitored student progress throughout the year, allowing for targeted interventions when needed to close achievement gaps.
- Used data-driven decision-making processes to analyze student performance trends and adjust instructional practices accordingly, leading to improved outcomes.
- Organized field trips that enriched classroom learning experiences by connecting students with real-world applications of course concepts.
- Conducted ongoing assessments to monitor student progress and inform instructional adjustments.
- Communicated frequently with parents, students, and faculty to provide feedback and discuss instructional strategies.
- Created and developed lesson plans to meet students' academic needs.
- Modified lessons and curriculum to accommodate diverse learners by using strategies such as peer-assisted learning and group work.
Education
Teacher Training Certificate
Medaille College
USABachelor of Arts -
University of Toronto
Toronto, ONSkills
- Multitasking and organization
- Work Planning and Prioritization
- Relationship building
- MS office
- MS TEAMs
- Excel
- Power Point
- Google Applications
- Project coordination
- Schedule coordination
- Clear communication
- Team collaboration
- Adaptability and flexibility
- Verbal and written communication
- Goal setting
Certification
Ontario College of Teachers
Special Education Specialist
Guidance Specialist
Principal Qualifications
Timeline
Co-ordinator of Elementary Special Education
Peel District School Board
09.2023 - Current
Special Education Resource Teacher
Peel District School Board
09.2017 - 06.2023
School Success Literacy and Numeracy Coach
Peel District School Board
09.2014 - 06.2017
Acting Vice-Principal
Peel District School Board
01.2014 - 06.2014
Guidance / In-School Support Program Lead Teacher
Peel District School Board
09.2008 - 06.2014
Teacher Training Certificate
Medaille College
Bachelor of Arts -
University of Toronto
Similar Profiles
Nikki BortolottoNikki Bortolotto
Teaching Practicum Grades 1-5 at Huntington Ridge Public School, Peel District School BoardTeaching Practicum Grades 1-5 at Huntington Ridge Public School, Peel District School Board
Milena PingolMilena Pingol
Special Needs Educational Assistant at Peel District School BoardSpecial Needs Educational Assistant at Peel District School Board
Alyssa VerreAlyssa Verre
Grade 7/8 Long Term Occasional Teacher at Peel District School BoardGrade 7/8 Long Term Occasional Teacher at Peel District School Board
Madena CunninghamMadena Cunningham
Special Education and Elementary Education Teacher at Charlotte Mecklenburg SchoolsSpecial Education and Elementary Education Teacher at Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools
Cobie AllinsonCobie Allinson
Head of Special Education Services (HOSES), ECDP Manager/Co-Ordinator/Teacher, Acting Principal & Deputy Principal at Lowood State SchoolHead of Special Education Services (HOSES), ECDP Manager/Co-Ordinator/Teacher, Acting Principal & Deputy Principal at Lowood State School