Brenda
Harris Avance
(M) 214-402-1583; brenda.avance@gmail.com
Education/Certification
M.
Ed. Educational
Administration, Lamar University , Beaumont ,
TX
BS Vocational Home
Economics, Harding University , Searcy ,
AR
Superintendent
Certificate Texas
Standard
Principal (EC-12) Texas
Teacher
Certificate Secondary Generic Special Education (Grades
06-12) - Life, Texas
Secondary Home Economics Grades (06-12) - Life,
Texas
Vocational Home Economics Grades (06-12) -
Life, Texas
Passed
Early Childhood EXCET #7081083, 06/13/1992
Administrative
and Leadership Experience
Vocational
Adjustment Coordinator/Administrator, Transition Learning
Center
Garland
Independent School District, Garland, TX, 2004-present
- Supervised three/four job coaches
who work directly with the adult students in our program
- Worked with adult students (18 to 22
years old) to help them find and retain paid employment in the community,
and helped them access adult services
- Built and maintained good relationships with district
administrators, 7 high schools’ teachers and staff, parents, community employers
and adult service providers (e.g., Dallas Area Rapid Transit, Texas Department
of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services, Social Security Administration, Texas
Workforce, Region 10 Education Service Center) in the Garland ISD communities
and the
- Hosted, participated in and advised the Garland Area
Community Service Providers Network and the Garland Independent School District
Special Education Business Advisory Council
- Incorporated the
- Evaluated and piloted the new on-line
system for goals and objectives with technology personnel in
Administrative
Internship (Lamar University ), Cooperative
Behavior Center ,
Garland Independent School District
- Incorporated activities to enhance
knowledge and understanding of the nine principal competencies
- Maintained a good working
relationship with all stakeholders, communicated effectively to promote
the success of all students and promoted the district’s vision that all
students can learn
- Evaluated self and others with
meaningful observations and assessments to enhance knowledge and
understanding of the nine principal competencies
Special
Education Specialist, PLATO Knowledge Transfer Team, Garland Independent
School District
- Prepared
and presented summer trainings and staff developments during the school
year for district employees
- Aligned, implemented and developed the district Alternative Assessment customized
curriculum in PLATO courseware for TAKS preparation.
- Designed
and implemented classes, group and individualized assignments in PLATO
courseware for special education teachers at high schools and middle
schools across the district
- Maintained and supported PLATO courseware used
for students at the Meeting and Catering Service Office at
In-Home
Training Specialist, Special Education, Garland Independent
School District
- Developed and maintained positive
relationships with students, parents, classroom teachers, and in-home
training supervisor
- Followed
- Presented and participated in
professional development trainings and workshops for continuous
improvement and growth in knowledge base of the autism spectrum
Master
Technology Trainer, South Garland High School ,
Garland Independent School District
- Prepared and presented group staff
development sessions and individualized sessions of training in several
areas of need (e.g., Interclass, Gradebook, GroupWise, Inspirations, Mapper,
PCC administration, TRO/PLATO)
- Attended technology meeting with
other district master technology trainers, evaluated and trained on updates
needs
- Designed and conducted surveys to
find out teacher skills and needs in technology and subsequently prepared
trainings in those areas and collaborated with the other trainers on my
campus to make sure all staff needs were met
Vocational
Adjustment Coordinator, South Garland High School ,
Garland Independent School District
- Conducted individual transition
plans with every student with special needs at
- Supervised one job coach and
coordinated with the part-time vocational adjustment coordinator to
facilitate student transition services, job employment and vocational
class work
- Maintained a good relationship with
regular vocational teachers, helped their students with special needs
access their programs, assisted students in finding paid employment, and job
coached students at work locations
- Developed and maintained good
relationships with community businesses as an employment consultant and
job search specialist
- Integrated technology use into the vocational
preparation classes, prepared resumes, completed on-line applications, accessed
Texas Workforce Commission employment services, and established student
email in a secure internet school site
Teaching
Experience
High
School Resource Teacher, South Garland High School ,
Garland Independent School District
- Integrated technology use into the
classroom curriculum in campus based special education resource classes for students with
special needs
- Maintained and audited the special
education department data
- Maintained a positive classroom
environment and individualized curriculum for students with special needs
as they worked and met their own goals and objectives
- Maintained relationships with and
collaborated with supervisors, general education teachers, special education
teachers, and coaches and helped all students succeed
Substitute
Teacher, High Schools and Elementary Schools, Garland Independent School
District, Garland, TX 1997
- Implemented teacher lesson plans
effectively and followed policies and procedures of the district, schools
and classrooms
- Maintained good relationships with campus
administrators, teachers, secretaries, and other staff on a variety of campuses
throughout the district
- Incorporated knowledge about the
district’s vision, goals, and cultural makeup which created flexibility
and effectiveness at different campuses, and also in general education,
special education and vocational classes
Cafeteria
Manager, Part-time Physical Education Teacher, Basketball/Volleyball/Tennis/Cheerleader
Coach and Substitute, Dallas Christian School, Mesquite, TX 1992-1997
- Owned and managed a personal
business that ran the cafeteria for the elementary, middle school and high
school for a year. Employed eight staff members and was offered the
contract for the next year.
- Maintained good relationships with
campus administrators, teachers, secretaries, and other staff on all three
campuses and followed policies and procedures of the school, classrooms
and extra-curricular activities
- Evaluated the specific instructional
needs of the students for physical education and developed a curriculum to
fit their needs
- Created successful athletic programs
in 8th grade girls basketball for 2 years, 7th grade
volleyball for 3 years, 7th and 8th grade boys and
girls tennis for 5 years and supervised a variety of cheerleader groups
(e.g., 7th, 8th grade, junior varsity, varsity) and
coordinated all the groups for 3 of the 5 years
Substitute
Teacher, Dallas Independent School District
- Implemented teacher lesson plans
effectively and followed policies and procedures of the district, schools
and classrooms
- Incorporated knowledge about the
vision, goals, and cultural makeup of the district which helped me be
flexible and effective at different campuses and in general education,
special education and vocational classes
- Maintained good relationships with
assistant administrators I had worked with at H. Grady Spruce, other
campus administrators, teachers, secretaries, and other staff on a variety
of campuses throughout the district
Vocational
Home Economics Teacher, H. Grady Spruce High School, Dallas Independent School
District, Dallas, TX, 1977-1980
- Designed and developed lesson plans
and generated tests for the curriculum in 5 subjects (e.g., home economics
1, home economics 2, home economics 3, child development 2, family living
- Integrated a variety of teaching
methods and instructional strategies, created a positive classroom climate
to generate student interest and helped all students learn
- Maintained good relationships with
campus administrators, teachers, secretaries, and other staff to foster
teamwork to help all students learn
Additional
Training/Professional Development
“Non
Violent Crisis Intervention Training (NVCI)”, Garland , TX
“Professional
Development and Appraisal System,” Education
Service Center
Region 10 Richardson , TX
October, 2008
“Instructional
Leadership Development,” Education Service Center
Region 10, Richardson , TX
“Life
Strategies Workshop for the Special Needs Family”, Dallas , TX
“Podcasting”,
Garland Independent
School District Technology, Garland , TX
“BEH
– Review 360 Training”, Garland Independent School District
Technology, Garland , TX
December,
2009
“Office
2007: Access Basics”, Garland Independent School District
Technology, Garland , TX
“PLATO
Web Learning Network (PWLN): Basic Skills”, Garland
Independent School
District Technology, Garland ,
TX
“Non
Violent Crisis Intervention Training (NVCI),” Garland , TX
“LEGAL
– Special Education Connection,” Garland
Independent School
District Technology, Garland ,
TX
January, 2009
“Travel
Training Strategies for Students with Special Needs”, Garland
Independent School
District , Garland
TX,
October, 2008
“EduGence”,
Garland Independent
School District , Garland , TX
“Cardiopulmonary
Resuscitation/Automated External Defibrillator Training,” Garland , TX
“Achieve
Texas ”, Region 10, Richardson , TX
“PLATO-PWLN”,
Garland Independent
School District , Garland , TX
“Desktop-Access
II”, Garland Independent
School District , Garland , TX
“Desktop-Access
I”, Garland Independent
School District , Garland , TX
“Travel
Training,” Easter Seals, Austin ,
TX
“Evaluation-TAKS”,
Garland Independent
School District Technology, Garland , TX
“Career
and Technology Education and Special Education—Facts and Strategies” Region 10,
Richardson , TX
March,
2006
“Garland Oracle”, Garland
Independent School
District , Garland ,
TX
“Desktop-Excel
II”, Garland Independent
School District , Garland , TX
OSHA
Course 501, OSHA General Industry Outreach Trainer, Southwest Education Center,
Mesquite, TX,
June 2005
“Desktop-PowerPoint
I & II”, Garland Independent School District ,
Garland , TX
“Introduction
to Project Management”, Garland Independent School District ,
Garland , TX
“Board
Maker Software”, Region 10, Richardson ,
TX
“MS
Excel Fundamentals”, online, Garland Independent School District ,
Garland , TX
“PC
Technology Course”, ITT Technical Institute, Richardson , TX
“GISD
Tech Train Studies”, Garland Independent School District ,
Garland , TX
“A
Layout of Tomorrow’s Technology”, Richland
College , Dallas , TX
“Networking:
The Cisco Way Richland College ,
Dallas , TX
“Web
Page Design Using Front Page 2000”, Garland Independent School District,
Garland, TX, May 2001
“MS
Front Page”, Richland College , Dallas ,
TX
“Digital
Imaging Technology”, Eastfield College , Mesquite ,
TX
“Assistive
Technology - What Does the Law Say and Legal Issues to Consider?” Infomart, Dallas , TX
December
1999
“Assistive
Technology – Adaptive Computer Access” Infomart, Dallas , TX
“Technology
Bootcamp”, Garland Independent School District ,
Garland , TX
Presentations
Avance,
B (2008, June). Trinity Railway Express
Training Presentation for Garland Independent School District ,
Garland , Dallas
Avance,
B (2007, June). Dallas Area Rapid Transit Training Presentation
for Garland Independent
School District , Garland ,
Dallas , Richardson ,
TX
Avance,
B (2006-2008, Jan-June), PLATO Knowledge Transfer Team trainings, Garland Independent
School District , Garland , TX
Avance,
B (2006- 2008, Aug-Dec), PLATO Knowledge Transfer Team trainings, Garland Independent
School District , Garland , TX
Avance,
B (2005, April), Garland Independent School District
PLATO Knowledge Transfer Team Presentation at Association Supervision and
Curriculum Development 2005 Annual Convention in Orlando , FL
Avance,
B (2004), PLATO Behavior Adjustment teachers’ training, Garland
Independent School
District , Garland ,
TX
Grants/Honors
Graduated
magna cum laude, Lamar University , Beaumont ,
TX
Avance,
B (2009, Fall), Garland Independent school District BEST Foundation Grant $400
Avance,
B, (2007, Spring), Garland
Independent School
District
Graduated
cum laude, Harding University , Searcy ,
AR
Professional
Affiliations/Committee Member
Garland
Kiwanis 2011-2012
National
Association of Professional Women, 2009-2012
Association
for Supervision and Curriculum Development, 2000-2012
Association
of Texas
Garland
Independent School District Special Education Business Advisory Council,
2001-2010, treasurer,
Parent
Teacher Association, Dallas
Christian School
State
Developed Alternative Assessment II; Math Instructional Levels 6-8 Item Data
Review Committee Member, Austin ,
TX
Parent
Teacher Association, South Garland High School, 1997-2004
MATH
TAAS TASKFORCE, South Garland High School, 1998-2000
KAPPA
DELTA PI, 1975-1979
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