Ashford University Online Teaching Learning and Leading in the 21 st century EDU:650 September 9, 2014

 My name is Dawnita  I was born and raised in Kansas.  I am twice married, to the same man; we were recently remarried at Disney World this summer!  I have 3 boys: Easton (13), Wesley (12),and Brighton (15 months). I also have an adopted daughter named Ashley (19).

 We love to travel (we have visited 44 states!).  I enjoy tutoring Children with special needs.  We love to play board games and taking walks As a family.

As a child, I attended a variety of schools; I rarely attended one school for the whole school year, this greatly affected my learning and desire to learn. I attended Public school until my Freshman year, when I asked to attended a private Christian school. I dropped out of school when I was 16, got married and started working. I did not return to school until I was 29 years old! Clipart

When I was a freshman, my English teacher noticed that I was struggling, and I was far behind. She actually took the time to teach me the basics, which I had never caught onto, due to the fact that I was bounced around from school to school. clipart

My children were diagnosed with Autism I started working with them to overcome challenges that they were facing. I started tutoring developmentally delayed children. I started speaking at a support group for parents who have children with autism. I went back to school so that I could earn a degree that would allow me to work with children to overcome challenges they face. Clipart

I want to teach children and help them overcome some of the many challenges that children with autism face. I am quick thinking, creative, and have been told I have the patience of a saint! I think these are all important to have when working with children. I believe that I can make a difference in children’s lives and help them to progress to levels that they never thought possible. Clipart

 I worked as a private tutor for 5 years.  I have worked with children with a multitude of learning disabilities and developmental delays.  I currently work for a day center for adults with disabilities.  I currently work with a child as an in-home direct support professional.  I develop and maintain behavior plans for use in the home, as well as perform personal care, create educational opportunities, perform daily physical therapy, and provide mobility opportunities.

 I would like a career as an family educator.  I have a desire to work with children who have disabilities and behavior disorders.  My goal is to work with families who have young children with disabilities. I’d like have the opporitunity to inform and educate them so that they may understand their child’s disability, and then teach them how to best help their child learn and grow.  An early intervention program like “child Start” would be an ideal place for me to start this career. Clipart

I believe that a Master’s degree in education will show future employers that I am serious about education, and about educating others. I want to strive to do all that I can to learn to be someone who is able t o really help people to understand what they are being taught. I believe that this degree will give me the knowledge that I need to learn to be a quality teacher, one that will succeed in teaching both children and their families. Clipart

A treatment method or an educational method that will work for one child may not work for another child. The one common denominator for all of the young children is that early intervention does work, and it seems to improve the prognosis. -Temple Grandin-