Navigating Special Education and Empowering Young Minds with Doris Cerda

In this episode, Craig Randall interviews Doris Cerda, a second-year Pre-K teacher specializing in working with children on the autism spectrum. Doris shares her journey from initially enlisting as a pre-nursing major to discovering her passion for teaching at the Boys and Girls Club, leading to her current role. Teaching in a high-need, Title I school in suburban Reno, Doris emphasizes the importance of establishing trust and routines in her classroom to cater to her students' specific needs. SShe highlights her strategies for building relationships, language development, and teaching routines to her autistic students, including the use of visual schedules, hands-on guidance, and consistent, patient modeling.Doris also discusses the significance of collaboration with aides and specialists, utilizing data tracking for IEP goals, and continuously adapting her teaching methods to ensure the holistic development of her students. 00:59 Doris Cerda's Journey into Teaching04:04 The Impact of High Expectations and Persistence06:01 Strategies for Building Routines and Relationships09:06 Consistency and Adaptability in Classroom Management16:34 Embracing Collaboration, Reflection, and Growth Mindset22:07 The Importance of Data in Tailoring Student Learning