Romeka L.

Karam
EDUCATION
University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA
Post Graduate Masters of Teaching (PGMT), Elementary Education (K-6), Special Education (K-12), 2014

Union College, Lincoln, NE

Bachelor of Arts in Communications, w/emphasis in Journalism, 2002
Graduated Cum Laude (GPA: 3.7)

Interlingue Language System, Rome, Italy

TEFL Certified Instructor, 2009

HONORS AND AWARDS

Barbara Labrecque Corbin Scholarship, 2014, University of Virginia

Teachers of Promise Institute, 2014, University of Virginia
Deans List, 1998-2002, Union College
Warner Brothers Entertainment Scholarship, 2000-2001, Union College

TEACHING EXPERIENCE
Trevilians Elementary, Louisa County, VA
Special Education Teacher (Grades 3 & 5)

08/2014 to 05/2015

Greenbrier Elementary School, Charlottesville, VA

Instructional Assistant, Special Education (Grades 1, 2, & 3)

12/2013 to 06/2014

Student Teacher, Special Education (Grades K, 3, & 4)

10/2013 to 12/2013

Burnley Moran Elementary School, Charlottesville, VA

Student Teacher, General Education, Kindergarten

8/2013 to 10/2013

Special education case manager for 21 students (13 third graders and 8 fifth graders)
Responsible for writing, implementing, and documenting 21 Individual Education Programs (IEPs) as well as tracking
IEP goals for seven additional 5th graders
Collaborated with third and fifth grade teachers (teams of three teachers per grade and Instructional Assistants) in order
to provide appropriate differentiated instruction and implement various co-teaching models (eg. push-in, pull-out,
small group, whole group)
Implemented the Voyager Sopris LearningTM direct instruction reading curriculum, Read Well, including differentiated
lesson plans to 8 third grade students reading below grade level
Administered and supervised Virginia Standards of Learning (SOL) examinations while meeting appropriate IEP
accommodations
Created new third grade class rotation schedule when team departmentalized
Participated in extra-curricular school activities (eg. Trunk-or-Treat, Game Night, Talent Show, etc.)

Provided support to various students with Emotional Behavioral Disabilities

Collaborated with classroom teachers on differentiating instruction to meet the needs of each student
Worked in a 1:1 setting, as well as within the students classroom with a student who has exhibited critical needs

Planned and implemented lessons for small group instruction based on IEP goals
Worked with a diverse student population to include students with specific learning disabilities and other health
impairments
Collaborated with teachers to provide appropriate instruction to meet the needs of each student (eg. push-in, pull-out,
small group, whole group)
Contributed to parent-teacher conferences and IEP meetings

Planned and implemented lessons for whole classroom and small group instruction

 Worked with a diverse student population to include students with reading levels from pre-school to second grade
Contributed to parent-teacher conferences and communicated to parents through the daily communication binder
Participated in after school activities such as Back to School Night

Virginia Institute of Autism (VIA), Charlottesville, VA

Behavior Specialist Intern

5/2013 to 7/2013

Charlottesville Area Riding Therapy (CART), Crozet, VA

Volunteer

5/2013 to 7/2013

Cale Elementary School, Charlottesville, VA

Elementary School Tutor

1/2013 to 5/2013

Greer Elementary School, Charlottesville, VA (General Education Classroom)

Murray High School, Charlottesville, VA (Special Education Resource Room)
Student Practicum Experience

9/2012 to 5/2013

Trained in theories of applied behavior analysis (ABA) and implemented learners behavioral support plans and
individualized educational programs using appropriate ABA standards
Conducted over 150 hours of 1:1 and 2:1 instructional sessions
Collected data on progress of students using VIAs protocols

Implemented ABA style interventions in a horse therapy center while working with children and adults with multiple
disabilities (autism, learning disabilities, spina bifida, hearing/speech/visual impairments, and cognitive deficits)

Planned and implemented weekly 60 minute instructional 1:1 sessions for a first grade student reading below grade
level
Tracked semester-long progress resulting in student reading on appropriate grade level
Implemented tutoring strategies including repeated readings, running records, word work, sentence writing and
introducing new reading material

Taught math and reading small group lessons in a general education kindergarten classroom
Taught one-on-one math, geography, and English lessons in high school resource room
Developed teaching resources and provided daily individualized student support

Private Tutoring, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

Tutor

8/2011 to 5/2012

Tutored local Emirati high school girl in history, developing her comprehension of English language concepts and
American history topics

ADDITIONAL EXPERIENCE
SABIS Management Services, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Senior Administrator: Communications Manager

6/2009 to 7/2012

Gannett Company, INC. (Parent company of USA TODAY and Army Times Publishing Company)
USA TODAY, McLean, VA
Senior Circulation Account Manager
2/2006 to 01/2009
USA TODAY, McLean, VA
Circulation Account Manager

2/2005 to 2/2006

Army Times Publishing Company, Springfield, VA

National Sales Administrative Assistant

12/2003 to 2/2005

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Designing Performance-Based Assessments to Meet the New State Requirements, presented by Dr. Dan Mulligan,
February 2015

 The Mathematics Diet: An Instructional Framework for Effective Instruction (Grades Pre K 5), presented by Alisha
Demchak and Dr. Kateri Thunder, November 2014
Supporting Word Identification Skills for Struggling Readers (Grades K-3), presented by Dr. Susan Thacker-Gwaltney,
November 2014
Member of Council for Exceptional Children, 2012 to Present
Dealing with Difficult Behaviors, presented by the Virginia Education Association, 2012
Creating a Positive Learning Environment in your Classroom, presented by SABIS, 2010
American Sign Language (ASL) Introduction, 2007