Transformational Author - Educator - Leader
(845) 936-9196 • jallamby@720connects.org
PHILOSOPHY A solution-oriented transformational leader with 27+ years of demonstrative experience as a Special Educator impassioned with ensuring the social, emotional, and academic progression of all children via fostering a school culture that honors, respects, and supports all school community stake-holders, students and their families
EDUCATION
EdD, Building Leadership - Principal’s Institute Bank Street College of Education - The Graduate School, Magna Cum Laude (May 2005)
MS, Special Education - Bank Street College of Education - The Graduate School, Magna Cum Laude (May 2005) Publication “A Special Place” Library of Congress 1995
Bachelor of Arts, Sociology - The City University of New York The City College of Liberal Arts and Science, Cum Laude (September 1998)
PROFESSIONAL
Harry S. Truman High School – Bronx, NY – (Academics, Career, and Essential Skills) ACES program, Special Education grade 10 through 12 (Fall 2016 – Fall 2021)
Worked as an ACES Special Educator, in the Bronx, NY, Ms. Allamby created 720Connects, a Work-Based Learning Classroom Initiative with for 10, 11, and 12th grade intellectually disabled students
Partnered with NYC Department of Education, TJX Marshals retailer, World Vision, OPWDD and ACCESS VR. Employer engagement was vital to ensure that job locations were inclusive and open to hiring her students upon graduation.
ACES students were equipped with the imperative soft skills, i.e. communication, time management, and teamwork needed to enter and succeed in the workforce. and technical skills (industry-specific training or certifications)
Educated employers about the benefits of hiring individuals with disabilities, as well as providing the resources they needed, lead to better employment outcomes for Ms. Allamby's higher functioning students.
Required all stakeholders, work together to develop solutions that met the needs and preferences of her ACES students to ensure their lived experiences and insights were incorporated in the development of their career options.
Designed in person and virtual employment co-design processes that involved multiple phases focused on collaboration, ideation, prototyping, testing, and refining solutions
Founded 720Connects, Inc. to provide work-based learning initiatives for students with intellectual disabilities to minimize employment displacement Our organization creates a supportive environment to enhance every workforce development experience and partners with businesses that are passionate about providing a myriad of employment options that are of great interest to our members.
Improved employment outcomes for individuals with disabilities via developing a holistic approach that included job placement, training programs, and employer engagement.
Addressed challenges that individuals with intellectual disabilities faced in the workforce via facilitating and managing the development and implementation of a new workforce program that provided employment training for quality careers, i.e. Technology, Culinary, Vocational (Construction Assistant, Electrician Assistant, Mechanical Assistant,) Educator Assistant, Administrative Assistant, Remodeling/ Interior Design Assistant, Fashion Designer, Brand Manager/Marketing Assistant, Product Production, Medical Assistant, and Veterinary Tech Assistant
Ensured long-term success for individuals with disabilities in the workforce, lifelong support for working adults with intellectual disabilities. Our organization prides itself on its commitment to maintain job retention and Lifestyle Boutique wrap around services for its members.
Supervised Workforce Development Teams in grades 9 & 10 focusing on the importance of providing our members with secure meaningful employment.
Worked collectively to ensure a supportive, inclusive work environment for ACES classrooms, weekly professional developments were facilitated for ACES teachers, paraprofessionals and supporting staff
Facilitated and managed the recruitment of retail businesses in the Baychester Mall in Coop-City area to establish workforce development partnerships
Facilitated and managed the recruitment of banks in the Baychester Mall in Coop-City area to establish student accounts and budgeting materials
Facilitated and managed the compensation for 45 ACES students working collectively with the Department of Education TOP compensation program ensuring fair compensation for hours worked and expertise provided.
Facilitated and managed accessibility accommodations and access to relevant wraparound support services to address the mental and emotional well being of graduating ACES students
Facilitated and managed a fully accessible meeting space with necessary accommodations for in person and virtual participation. Supported and implemented three cohorts to conduct research that explained how existing employer/employee workforce development relations would function and retain succession.
Participated in discussions that provided opportunities for cohorts to share their experience and thoughts, to solicit input and feedback from a wider group of people with disabilities, and employers.
Designed a writing comprehensive program mapping out the implementation of an ACES programs operational plan. Plan Included key items i.e. staffing, itemized budget including potential funds from other sources, target job placement, wage and other outcomes and locations of accessible sites where services will be offered.
Collected and reported data on key performance indicators i.e employee retention ratios of ACES graduates
Partnered with agencies like Goodwill, OPWDD and ACCESS Vocational Rehabilitation Services to increase employment placements tailored to the needs of our members with intellectual disabilities.
Designed and Implemented differentiated instruction to support IEP goals in ELA, Writing, Mathematics, Science and Social Studies for ACES students grades 9 through 12
Designed course assessments in ELA and Mathematics for ACES students grades 9 through 12
Organized and supervised monthly excursions for ACES students grades 9 through 12
PS 64 Pura Belpre – Bronx, NY – Special Education Teacher BIL/ICT grade 4 & Lead Teacher grades K-6 (Fall 2012 – Spring 2016)
Provided opportunities for the observation and recording of multiple instructional strategies in ELA, Math and Social Studies in a Bilingual-ICT setting
Facilitated professional development design and assessment authenticity
Organized & hosted instructional walks, modeled best practices and engaged colleagues and administrators in discussions that supported common language and understanding of what quality teaching looks, sounds, and feels like in cooperative classrooms
Encouraged collegiality among peers through actionable feedback for teachers and staff developers to ensure the classroom instruction was assessment driven and supported the visual, auditory and kinesthetic learning styles of students
Supported teachers with real world application via creating and facilitating Common Core aligned mathematical games and projects that encourage teacher/student analysis, investigation, understanding, skill fluency, and the transfer of concepts that support independent student performance across the grades
Designed and implemented a “Collaborative Learning Laboratory” pilot program via designing and facilitating of my Science - Technology - ELA - Art and Mathematics (STEAM) curriculum to assist teachers grades K through 5 with mastering the components of the Charlotte Danielson’s Framework researched based rubric to become highly effective educators
Lead-Teacher-Role-Professional Development Academic Coach
Developed and created materials for grade K through 5 classroom teachers to encourage a curriculum integrated social emotional student management system
Utilized the online tracking of formative assessments to best support the progression of informed instruction and the gradual release of teacher responsibility over time
Collaborated with mentees to provide SETSS to students in grades three and four and facilitated SESIS training workshops.
Created and maintained formative assessments for ELL Students and Students with Disabilities
Supervised a staff of eleven classroom teachers to ensure instructional operations improved academic growth for students that attended the After-school Enrichment Program during the 2013-2014 Calendar School year
United Federation of Teachers Chapter Leader (Fall 2013 – Spring 2015)
Head of the Consultation Committee - collaborate with administration to restore teacher dignity and respect
Member of the Professional Development Committee – support efforts to improve student achievement
Member of the School Leadership Team – developed a framework to engage parents and families
Mosaic Preparatory Academy –New York, Special Education Teacher – Self Contained Grades 3 through 5 (Fall 2010- Spring 2012)
Created and facilitated Literacy and Mathematics instruction that supported the visual, auditory and kinesthetic learning styles of a homogenous group of students. Provided academic support to first year teachers and supervised on paraprofessional
Adult Alternative Learning Complex – New York, NY General Educator District 79 – per session Adult - GED (Fall 2010 - Spring 2011)
Created and facilitated Literacy and Mathematics instruction that engaged adult learners in Real World application to encourage inquiry. Supported the individual concerns of adult learners via providing resources for employment, housing and counseling opportunities
PS/MS 57 James Weldon Johnson Academy – New York, NY Special Education Teacher – Self Contained and ICT Grades K through 8 (Fall 2004- Spring 2010)
Created and facilitated project-based differentiated instruction that supported student inquiry and imagination. Developed and facilitated a peer mediation and behavior intervention curriculum that supported the social emotional needs of students and fostered camaraderie and solidarity via implementing poetry and music into the daily schedule. Organized and facilitated professional development in Literacy, Mathematics, Social Studies and Science. Supervised Instructional Rounds, meals, and dismissal
Designed and implemented a middle school schedule to ensure successful transitions for mainstreaming middle school and self-contained students
Served as a student/parent liaison, providing high school placement assistance to at risk eighth grade students through the timely management of high school applications and open house scheduling
Mentored three first year teachers and provided instructional support via modeling lessons, establishing and maintaining a schedule for classroom inter-visitations, provided instructional and observation feedback conferencing. Provided classroom management support, curriculum planning and development, and IEP training
Created, developed and facilitated an integrated mathematics and literacy curriculum for grades K/1, 5/6 and 7/8. Provided collegial classroom inter-visitation for teachers in grades Pre-K through 8
Collaborated with colleagues to provide academic intervention services (AIS), for at risk students via implementing the Foundations/Wilson Reading Programs. Supervised one classroom teacher and one paraprofessional
Vice president of the School Leadership Team (2004 -2005)
PS 126 – New York, NY Lead Special Educator, ICT Class Grades 1/2 (Fall 2001- Spring 2004)
Academic instruction consisted of a rigorous concentration in Literacy and Mathematics. Student guiding reading groups were developed according to DRA reading levels and maintained via the implementation of running records, teacher/student conferencing and parental feedback. Students practiced fluency strategies one to one and in small groups for reading and math via created game intervention. Exploratory mathematics instruction encouraged inquiry in number sense, problem solving, algebra, statistics and geometry. Supervised three paraprofessionals
Central Park East 2 Elementary – New York, NY Head Teacher General Education Grades 5 - 6 (Fall 2000- Spring 2001)
Created and facilitated a project-based curriculum that integrated Literacy, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, Art and Music
CS 133 Fred R. Moore – New York, NY Writing Teacher Grades PreK-6 (Fall 1999- Spring 2000)
Created, developed and facilitated a writing curriculum that supported student academic/social/emotional growth via genre/media analysis, play writing, acting, dance and theater set production
TECHNOLOGY& DIGITAL LEARNING
Fluent in Google Workspace, Classroom, Applied Digital Learning Platform, Khan Academy & Read-Works
Microsoft Word, Excel Spreadsheets Smart Board/Promethean Board, Website, & Logo Development
Google Search Engine - TikTok, Instagram, Fanbase, Youtube
REFERENCES
Ms. Candace, Willie Former Assistant Principal - Harry S. Truman High School (Academics, Career, and Essential Skills) ACES program, (718) 710-2601 (Fall 2016 - Fall 2021)
Mrs. Andrea Clarke, Director of ACES Programs New York City Department of Education Division of Specialized Instruction and Student Support, Long Island City, NY 11101, Contact: (347) 563-1849 aclarke10@schools.nyc.gov
Ms. Cynthia Hudson, Founder/CEO of Hudson Solutions Center, Bronx NY 347-470-2170