April C. Carter-Till
Kiln,MS
Summary
Passionate professional who has 12 years of experience working with families with children, and with infants, toddlers, elementary-aged children, and adolescents in a variety of settings including therapeutic, educational, and family capacity support roles. This includes management, training, and complex care coordination experience and also experience directly working with children 0-21 with a variety of needs, behavioral expressions, mental health needs, physical health needs, and educational needs.
Overview
15
15
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Presenter
Autism and Neurodiversity Conference
01.2023
- Invited by Dr
- Mark Yeager to present regarding accessibility to an audience of80+ professionals who work with individuals with disabilities across the lifespan
TEEAM Parent Education Opportunity
01.2022
- Invited by Crystal Ponder Phillips and Dr
- Mark Yeager to discuss autism spectrum conditions to invited parents and community members
Autism Transitions Conference
01.2022
- Invited by Pam Keith Dollar to participate in panel discussions for an audience of60+ child professionals regarding the experience of disability
Haley Rose Gunter Autism Conference
01.2018
- Invited by State PTI Director Pam Keith Dollar to speak with others on the experience of living with (and parenting/serving children with) autism and related developmental disabilities
- Navigating Autistic Life: Our Journey Together, co-sponsored by Canopy Children’s Solutions
Service Coordinator Coach (Lead)
First Steps Early Intervention Program
04.2022 - Current
- Coordinate intake, documentation, evaluation/assessment, assess family need, draft and maintain individualized family service plans, and provide ongoing developmental and related support for families with a child with a developmental delay or disability while providing ongoing training to other coordinators in the three coastal counties
- Built a training manual to train coordinators across the State
- IDEA Part C
Administrator of the Autism and Related Development Disabilities support Group-Gulf Coast
01.2013 - Current
- Offer advice, guidance, support, education, and advocacy voice currently on a voluntary basis to MS Gulf Coast families who are impacted by developmental or learning disabilities
- Previously worked one-on-one with families on all aspects of development, especially during the process of assessment, as well as long-term support, resource location, service provision, parenting education, crafting behavior plans, devising family-specific interventions, and introducing appropriate research-based interventional strategies
- Currently administrate a group of approximately1,000 members, including parents and providers
- Maintain a space where resources are shared by providers and families across Mississippi to support child and family well-being.
SpEd Lead Instructor and Curriculum Specialist
Gulf Coast Education Solutions
01.2019 - 04.2022
- In a multi-age, multi-ability private setting working with children with complex developmental, learning, emotional, or behavioral needs.
- This program was initiated, built, and piloted by me and is still ongoing
- Included purchasing, building differentiated curriculum, classroom management, engaging in multidisciplinary team support to meet goals, program administration, program lead
- Fostered a nurtured, welcoming, and collaborative learning environment for children with extensive needs and educational trauma
- Utilized a variety of innovative and evidence based practices to promote student engagement, to encourage project-based learning and confidence, to improve academic/social/educational/well-being outcomes, and to maximize each student's unique potential
Teacher's Assistant
Hancock North Central Elementary HCSD
01.2018 - 01.2019
- Assisted and mentored under an experienced elementary teacher, providing instructional support, Tier II and Tier III intervention, and positive student engagement
- 1st grade
Homeschool Co-op Instruction
01.2015 - 01.2017
- Participated in the area Home Education Cooperative for the NELA region
- Assisted parents in building standards mastery content lists, tutored students from1-3rd grade in mathematics and elementary science, chaperoned field trips
Computer Lab Instructor and Interventionist
North Bay Elementary School, BWSD
01.2014 - 01.2015
- Delivered school-wide student enrichment and instruction using technology
USM Autism Demonstration Project School
01.2011 - 01.2014
- Involved in observation and training opportunities regarding research-based education and intervention practices to be utilized in an assortment of professions assisting children with an autism spectrum disorder, sensory processing disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or verbal learning disorder
- Headed the Parent Information Network (PIN) for parents of students attending the USMADP.
MS Flex assistant to the director
Hope Haven Children's Services
01.2010 - 01.2013
- Tasked with client intake and assessment, short- to medium-term case management for at-risk families and families working on reunification with children in State custody, foster family recruitment and development, community education outreach/fairs, family financial management, and client-resource connection
- I also managed the Hope Haven website, social media, composed blurbs and flyers for dispersal via local media, and assisted in fundraiser event development
- I was also point-of-contact for the Transitional Scholarship Program and aided on a number of other projects including the Hancock County Economic Development Revitalization Board's Health and Wellness Council.
Education
Education - Elementary Education and SpEd endorsement
William Carey University
Biloxi, MS01.2020
Bachelor of Science - Child and Family Studies
University of Southern Mississippi
Long Beach/Hattiesburg, MS12-2012
Bachelor of Arts - Child Development/Family Relations
University of Southern Missisissippi
Long Beach, MS And Hattiesburg, MS12.2012
Transfer Requirements - Psychology, Sociology
Pearl River Community College
Poplarville, MS01.2008
Skills
- Notetaking, record keeping, service log, and maintaining MITI documentation database
- Screen, Assess, Build Support plans for children from birth to 21 with a range of educational and developmental needs, including giftedness and disability
- Screening and development of support plans for children with sensory impairments
- Individual Family Service Plans, Individual Education Plans, Instructional Plans in multidisciplinary settings utilizing evidence-based planning and practice
- Build organizational training capacity
- Oral, Written, Professional, and relational skills
- Coordinate, mentor, lead, train, manage agency and interagency stakeholders to meet goals and support infant, toddler, child, and adolescent needs
- Direct work with children from birth to age 21 in educational, therapeutic, crisis management and support roles
- State, Federal, and Regional compliance operations under IDEA
- Relationships with local resources, agencies, and organizations that support infants, toddlers, and children
Words to Describe Me
- Warm
- Attentive
- Detail-oriented
- Analytical
- Problem-Solver
- Mentor/coach
- Life-long learner
- Experienced
Certification
Infant Mental Health Family Specialist Endorsement, Mississippi Alliance for Infant Mental Health, 2024-2025
Timeline
Presenter
Autism and Neurodiversity Conference
01.2023
Service Coordinator Coach (Lead)
First Steps Early Intervention Program
04.2022 - Current
TEEAM Parent Education Opportunity
01.2022
Autism Transitions Conference
01.2022
SpEd Lead Instructor and Curriculum Specialist
Gulf Coast Education Solutions
01.2019 - 04.2022
Haley Rose Gunter Autism Conference
01.2018
Teacher's Assistant
Hancock North Central Elementary HCSD
01.2018 - 01.2019
Homeschool Co-op Instruction
01.2015 - 01.2017
Computer Lab Instructor and Interventionist
North Bay Elementary School, BWSD
01.2014 - 01.2015
Administrator of the Autism and Related Development Disabilities support Group-Gulf Coast
01.2013 - Current
USM Autism Demonstration Project School
01.2011 - 01.2014
MS Flex assistant to the director
Hope Haven Children's Services
01.2010 - 01.2013
Education - Elementary Education and SpEd endorsement
William Carey University
Bachelor of Science - Child and Family Studies
University of Southern Mississippi
Bachelor of Arts - Child Development/Family Relations
University of Southern Missisissippi
Transfer Requirements - Psychology, Sociology
Pearl River Community College
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