Ashley R.

Martin
Brooklyn, NY, 11234, USA
Tel.: 347-236-5601
Email: [email protected]

To Whom It May Concern,

I am writing to express my interest in the Special Education Teacher position at PS 197. I have been working in the
field of Special Education for the past ten years, and I am confident that my skills and experience make me an ideal
candidate for this position. I currently have a Special Education Internship Certificate and am currently working on
obtaining my Special Education Teacher Initial License for grades 1-6 at Brooklyn College at the City University of
New York. I also have a TESOL/TESL/TEFL certification from Oxford Seminars and I graduated from Brooklyn
College at the City University of New York with a Bachelors in English.

In my previous role as a Special Education Substitute Teacher, I worked closely with students with a variety of
disabilities, including Autism and learning disabilities. I developed and implemented Individualized Education Plans
(IEPs), provided academic and behavioral support, and collaborated with parents and other professionals. Through
my work, I have developed skills in classroom management and working with students with various educational
needs. I also worked as a Family Worker for the Department of Education, where I assisted the School Psychologist
and the School Based Support Team, handled internal and external calls, assisted teachers in the lunchroom and
classrooms, and served as a liaison between parents, students, and the school. This work helped me to improve my
knowledge of SESIS (Special Education Student Information System) and IEPs (Individualized Educational
Program).

I am confident that I would be a valuable addition to your team because of my experience in building relationships
with students and parents. My unique skill set includes interpersonal skills that allow me to be patient and
supportive, while also being meticulous and detail-oriented. In my current role, I use critical thinking skills and
problem-solving strategies on a daily basis. It is important to me to use my skills to support the success of everyone
around me. One of the experiences that helped me develop my leadership skills was when I was Vice President and
then President of the Dominican Student Movement (M.E.Do) at Brooklyn College. In this role, I led a team that
planned and executed exciting and inclusive events for the student body. This taught me how to motivate people to
work together to achieve a common goal.

I have daily interactions with parents to discuss their children's needs and ensure that they are met. I have created
opportunities for myself to work with children during lunch and in the classroom to gain more real-world experience.
Additionally, I visit different classrooms to study different teaching styles used by the educators in my building.
Working with students aged 3 to 15 has taught me the level of patience required to properly engage and differentiate
in order to make each lesson accessible to every learner. I work with students individually and in groups to cater to
their individual needs and ensure that the lesson is conducted correctly. I have the patience to work one-on-one or in
a group setting to ensure that all students understand the concepts they need to achieve their goals. I have also
developed strong organizational and time management skills. I am able to keep track of multiple tasks and deadlines
simultaneously, and I am always prepared for class. I am also a team player and enjoy working collaboratively with
other educators and staff.

I am a passionate and dedicated teacher who is committed to helping all students succeed. I am confident that I have
the skills and experience to be an asset to your team. I am eager to learn more about the Special Education Teacher
position at PS 197 and discuss how my qualifications can meet your needs. Thank you for your time and
consideration.

Sincerely,
 ASHLEY R. MARTIN
Brooklyn, NY 11234
[email protected]
347-236-5601

EDUCATION: Masters of Education in Special Education 1-6

Eligible for Special Education 1-6 Initial Certification
CUNY Brooklyn College
Anticipated Date of Graduation: June 2024
Bachelor of Arts in English June 2014
Minor: Political Science and Africana Studies
CUNY Brooklyn College
Advanced High School Regents Diploma June 2006
Edward R Murrow High School

EMPLOYMENT:
Department of Education/PS 197
Special Education Teacher Sept 2023-Present
● Provide small group and individual instruction to students ranging from third grade to fifth
grade.
● Coordinate with psychologists, parents, and multidisciplinary teams to ensure safe learning
environments and identify appropriate resources for students.
● Collaborate with classroom teachers and academic teams to develop an empathetic learning
environment.
● Manage students’ behavior while developing and teaching behavioral strategies to support
students’ self-control
● SESIS trained.
● Track, monitor, and evaluate student performance and tailor lesson plans to individual
strengths and weaknesses to improve academic performance.

Substitute Teacher Oct 2019-June 2023

 Collaborated with regular teachers in developing long-term plans for struggling students, as
well as designing new activities to enhance learning engagement of students.
 Fulfilled short-term and long-term substitute teaching assignments for all subjects in 3K-8 th

grade age groups.

 Designed and implemented lesson plans that increased student engagement.
 Adhered to strict school policies and procedures regarding students with disciplinary issues.
 SESIS knowledgeable.

Family Worker April 2013-Sept

2019
 Maintained consistent weekly and bi-weekly appointments for School Psychologists, Social
Workers and Teachers.
 Assisted Psychologist with parents' concerns and student documents.
 Helped develop and manage Individual Education Plans (IEPs) and all related
documents.
 Liaison between parents, students, and schools resulting in improved behavior
habits for students.
Shop Steward-Union Representative April 2016-Sept 2019
 Trained and developed new employees; represented union employees and guidelines in
regards to such matters as discipline, grievance, calculation of overtime hours and labor
relations.
 Worked with my superiors in helping to counsel and mediate for my fellow co-workers.
 Excellent written communication skills.
 Good interpersonal and oral communication skills.

Midwood Compass After-School/Summer Camp Oct 2015-June 2018

Co-Head Teacher
 Developed and implemented lesson plans and daily activities focused on Core Curriculum
Math and Language Arts, reading, grammar, spelling.
 Provided individual teaching to motivate and instill enthusiasm for learning.
 Differentiated instruction and tiered assignments for different student levels.
 Designed and organized the classroom by coordinating clear and consistent rules.
 Motivated students to learn by providing hands-on, fun activities.

Think & Co Advanced Tutoring Center Sept 2018-March 2020

Tutor
● Work one on one with students with Common Core ELA and Math concepts
● Break down complex problems to individual learning levels
● Analyze student comprehension and prepared goals
● Give students quizzes and assessed progress
● Help students build continuously increasing knowledge

Blessed Sacraments Religious Education Sept 2010-June 2022

Religion Teacher
● Ability to conduct classes on various topics related to religion
● Develop strategies to work with students of different ages
● Motivate students and create awareness about the different religious faiths
● Capable to organize and supervise group discussions on various topics related to religion
practices in class

Gap, Inc. July 2011-April 2013

Sales Associate/Head Cashier
● Opened credit accounts
● Assisted guests with checkout
● Assisted managers with displays of all current and upcoming merchandise
● Aided guests to help process everyday transactions and inquiries

Louis Baez, P.E.P.C. Feb 2010-April 2013

Clerical Aide
● Filed documents, answered incoming calls, and handled mail/email correspondence.
●Provided clerical support to other staff members
● Maintained a neat and organized working environment

SKILLS:
SESIS
45 WPM
Microsoft (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
Language- Intermediate in Spanish
ACTIVITIES:
Foster with local animal rescues
Tutor (Grades 1-5)
Dog Walker