Kara MacLean MSED, BCBA, LABA
North Grafton
Summary
Experienced educator and behavior analyst specializing in severe special education, focusing on behavior reduction and prosocial skill development. Proven ability to design individualized behavior management plans and provide effective staff training. Strong communication and rapport building skills with families and stakeholders, complemented by exceptional organizational capabilities.
Overview
13
13
years of professional experience
Work History
Senior Lead Teacher/Coordinator Public School Services
The New England Center for Children
Southborough
01.2013 - Current
- Responsible for all aspects of communication and contact with families
- Primary liaison between NECC and the district along with the clinical supervisor
- Lead clinician responsible for staff training, behavior guidelines and clinical programming
- Responsible for all assessments, IEP development, clinic meetings and reevaluations
- Advocates for student needs and communicates/coordinates with all stakeholders (i.e., specialty services, home services, parents, district admin, general ed. teachers, other special educators, van companies, office staff, cafeteria staff, library staff, transition coordinator, DDS etc.)
- Team chair for all meetings regarding the student
- Develops creative solutions for skill acquisition program modification and remediation
- Development of excellent rapport with district administrators, parents and other stakeholders
- Represents NECC and NECC’s values to the district, showcasing state-of-the-art programming
- Enrolls students in inclusion electives, sets up community outings, community vocational opportunities as well as in school vocational opportunities
- Works with families from a diverse range of backgrounds and cultures
- Supervises challenging clinical cases and maintains staff and student safety
- Completes 688 referrals to DDS and prepares students for transition to adult programs
- Creates daily schedules and coordinates staffing for after school activities
- Conducts MCAS-Alt assessments
- Creation and implementation of group lessons and activities
Education Coordinator
The New England Center for Children
05.2016 - 06.2019
- Licensed teacher for residentially placed students on the autism spectrum ages 9-18.
- Organized assessment processes for student progress tracking.
- Supported implementation of behavior management strategies
- Evaluated instructional materials for educational effectiveness and relevance.
- Collaborated with interdisciplinary teams to address student needs effectively.
- Developed and implemented instructional programs.
- Coached teachers to improve instructional practices through professional development, modeling instructional strategies and feedback.
Residential Coordinator
The New England Center for Children
05.2015 - 05.2016
- Coordinated daily residential activities for individuals with autism and developmental disabilities.
- Developed and implemented individualized care plans for residents' unique needs.
- Trained and mentored staff on best practices in behavioral support techniques.
- Collaborated with families to ensure effective communication and support strategies.
- Managed scheduling and logistics for resident appointments and activities.
- Maintained compliance with health and safety regulations in residential settings.
- Advocated for residents' rights and needs within the community and organization.
- Responded promptly to any emergency situations that arose within the facility.
- Collaborated with other departments to coordinate services such as medical care, education, and vocational training programs.
- Coordinated events for the purpose of providing socialization opportunities for residents.
- Managed a budget for residence hall activities, ensuring efficient use of funds.
Education
Post-master’s specialization program -
Western New England University (NECC Collaboration Program)
Springfield, MA06.2018
Master of Science - Education
Simmons College (NECC Collaboration Program)
Boston, MA05.2016
Bachelor of Arts - Psychology, Biology
Clark University
Worcester, MA01.2013
Skills
- IEP development
- Assessment coordination
- Behavioral support techniques
- Staff training and mentoring
- Clinical programming
- Family engagement
- Creative problem solving
- Time management
- Crisis management
- Program evaluation
- Interdisciplinary collaboration
- Key decision making
- Staff development
Certifications Awards Presentations
- Go The Distance Award, Algonquin Regional High School, 05/24
- Employee of the Month, 2014, 2016
- Presented at poster session, Berkshire Association for Behavior Analysis (BABAT), 2018, Assessment and Treatment of Trichotillomania
Licensure Certifications
- Board Certified Behavior Analyst
- Licensed Applied Behavior Analyst (MA)
- Professional Licensure, Teacher of Students with Severe Disabilities, Levels: All
- SEI Endorsed for teaching of ELLs
Timeline
Education Coordinator
The New England Center for Children
05.2016 - 06.2019
Residential Coordinator
The New England Center for Children
05.2015 - 05.2016
Senior Lead Teacher/Coordinator Public School Services
The New England Center for Children
01.2013 - Current
Post-master’s specialization program -
Western New England University (NECC Collaboration Program)
Master of Science - Education
Simmons College (NECC Collaboration Program)
Bachelor of Arts - Psychology, Biology
Clark University