Special Education

My mother and my aunt were both teachers for most of my life. My mother is still an educator. My aunt has transitioned from teaching to academic advising in higher education. I saw firsthand the joy that teaching gave them, this led to my personal interest in education. I started working with children, as a camp counselor in the summer while in high school and for two summers during college. While I was in college, during the school year, I worked as an aide, at an afterschool program.

I am the longest tenured teacher in the district’s Autism Program. During my time as an Autism Program teacher, I have managed and trained classroom staff in the components of Applied Behavior Analysis specifically using the methodology of Verbal Behavior. I created an Autism Program manual, with other Autism Program staff members, that was a key component to program uniformity as the Autism program was expanded. I have worked collaboratively with occupational therapists, physical therapists, speech language pathologists, and Board Certificated Behavior Analysts to create individualized classroom programs for my students and have also been asked to consult to develop programs for complex students in other classrooms.

I always seek to create a positive and comfortable classroom environment for all of my students and demonstrate interest in getting to know each of my students individually. I pride myself as being a lifelong learner who continuously modifies my classroom lessons to fit the needs of my students to optimize their learning.

I have enjoyed my professional journey thus far and am looking forward to completing my doctorate degree.

Child Development Associate

Mrs. De La Roca has been a nurturing and highly motivated CDA at School No. 51. Mrs. De La Roca understands what Confucius meant when he said, “Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life.”  She wakes up every morning excited to go to work.  She looks forward to helping her students, and she is grateful for the opportunity to do it every day. Mrs. De La Roca is certainly a lifelong learner as she always expresses her desire to learn. She learns to improve her expertise, as well as to better serve her students. Not only is she someone her students can rely on, but her co-workers also know that they can always depend on her.  Mrs. De La Roca is an exceptional CDA, and an extraordinary person because of her kindness, generosity, and compassion to everyone around her.