Katherine Batts

With over 20 years of dedicated experience in the field of special needs, I have had the privilege of working closely with individuals with a variety of disabilities, providing tailored support to enhance their quality of life. For eight years, I served as an Assisted Family Living Provider for an adult male with disabilities, where I focused on fostering independence, safety, and personal development. My work as a Special Education Teacher spans over a decade, during which I have developed specialized programs and strategies to support students with autism and communication deficits, ensuring they receive the individualized attention and resources needed to thrive in educational settings.

In addition to my professional roles, I have been actively involved in volunteer work with Special Olympics, where I have coached multiple sports, helping athletes develop both athletic and personal skills. I have also had the honor of running the state local aquatic event, creating an inclusive and supportive environment for participants. Throughout my career, I have remained passionate about advocating for and empowering individuals with special needs, always striving to create opportunities for growth, connection, and achievement.

• Ability to communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing; ability to communicate well with school personnel, students, and parents.
• Demonstrate functional knowledge of computers and all aspects of the Microsoft Office Professional software programs.
• Ability to work independently, meet deadlines and accomplish specific tasks as requested.
• Demonstrate strong content knowledge.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships as necessitated by work assignment.
• Ability to maintain order and discipline in a classroom.
• Ability to constantly monitor the safety and well-being of students.
• Comply with confidentiality requirements in local, state and federal policies and statutes.
• Physical ability (able to exert up to 20 pounds of force occasionally) and dexterity to perform the duties and responsibilities of the job.
• Develop and write individual education plans for k-5 students using current county program ECATS.
• Set up, organize and run meetings for annual reviews, re-evaluations, new evals, and transition to middle school meetings.
• Maintain records and keep MOD I and MOD II files up to date and organized.

CPI - Crisis Prevention Intervention

• Non-restrictive interventions are preferred:
CPI emphasizes using non-restrictive approaches like verbal de-escalation, active listening, and maintaining a supportive stance before resorting to restrictive measures.

• Training is required:
To use restrictive interventions, individuals must undergo specialized CPI training. This training teaches how to safely and effectively de-escalate crises and use restrictive interventions only when absolutely necessary.

• Safety is paramount:
The primary goal of restrictive interventions is to protect the safety of the individual exhibiting risky behavior, as well as others around them.