Tara Winters

Background

About Tara Winters

Experienced Special Educator & Reading Specialist with a demonstrated history of success working with students from a young age into adulthood. Skills include extensive work in various secondary education settings teaching literacy skills including decoding, encoding, fluency & comprehension through multisensory, language-based instruction; executive function & academic skills; educational technology supports; social & pragmatics skills; and, social-emotional education. Extensive work in special education curriculum development & facilitation; instructional strategies & learning tools; department coordination & planning; and, mentoring & training new staff. I have served on our educator Professional Development Committee for the last ten years, both planning and providing targeted PD for para-educators, educators, learning specialists, and counseling staff. I have also offered workshops in Executive Functioning; Morphology and Vocabulary Instruction; Written Expression; and, Assistive Technology to staff, parents, and students. I am driven by a desire to maximize learners' potential and increase their confidence so they transition these skills to real-world settings. Master of Education degree focused in Special Education and Literacy from Westfield State University with SEI endorsement. Business of Science degree in Telecommunications Management with a focus on Marketing & a minor in Italian Language & Culture from Ithaca College with a semester abroad in Firenze, Italy via Wells College. Extensive graduate work in education including toward Reading Specialist certification, K-12. Additional certifications in Moderate Disabilities & Business Education grades 5-12. I am always seeking professional development opportunities to learn, grow, & improve my practice. Certified in 2020 as a PEERS® Provider from the PEERS® Clinic at the Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior at UCLA. I provide coaching, instruction, & support to adolescent and young adult learners and their families in literacy, social skills, self-reliance & executive function, in-person and via tele-therapy. In 2023, I became certified in Youth Mental Health First Aid. I am also trained in de-escalation Crisis Intervention and recertify each year. Available for consultation services, coaching, and instruction. Before moving to a career in education, I spent seven years working in advertising, marketing, media buying, and account management at the local and national levels. I am an avid 30-year vegetarian yogi who loves traveling and exploring the world for a better tomorrow!