The Team

Erin Michelle Myers, MEd

Education Management Competencies

Program Design, Implementation & Evaluation
Grant Writing and Reporting
Arts/Nature Project-Based Instruction
IEP Plan Writing, Tracking, and Progress Reporting

Extensive Battery of Assessments
SubstantiallySeparate/ASD Classrooms & Push-in / Pull-out / Co-Teaching
Team and Volunteer Coordination
Participatory Action Research

PIPE DREAMS YOUTH & FAMILIES, Springfield, MA 2019-Present Founding Director, The Unwritten School Strategic development and launch of a collectively managed community-based school for neurodiverse children in response to the lapse in educational services during the COVID-19 pandemic of 2019-2021. Unwritten School focused on accessibility to low-income students with neurological, racial, and cultural identity markers. Provided experiential, animal-assisted, and inquiry-based education based on grade-level MA and national common core standards blended with targeted special education supports. Adapted existing IEPs to the Unwritten School format with wrap-around input. Tracked progress using a combination of traditional and standards-based assessment methods. Coordinated supportive services: OT, PT, Speech, and Reading. Implemented robust pandemic “learning-loss recuperation” plan. Executed monitoring, evaluation, and reporting on the effectiveness of program approaches. Advocate / Consultant Provided advocacy for youth and their families to integrate them in the IEP process at their schools. Provide families support in making educational decisions on behalf of their children with Autism. Collaborations: DDS, Multicultural Community Services, Springfield College, Boston Children’s Harvard Learning Disabilities Program, ECEC, Disability Law Center, WMa Homeschoolers, Oak Meadow Curriculum Clearing House, Black Apple Collective, Integrity Martial Arts, Weldon Rehab.

BRICK HOUSE COMMUNITY RESOURCE CENTER 2010 - 2014 Programs Director Conducted assessment and led process of aligning capacity with programming. Increased grant-income by $15,000/yr. Developed program monitoring and evaluation plan. Coordinated a community-based education and family support program. Engaged local immigrant families.

WARANKA GR, Guinaw Rails, Senegal, West Africa, 2008-Present Project Director Oversaw all aspects of youth-led documentary/participatory action research (PAR) project in intensively collaborative bi-lingual international environment (French);

APT ASSOCIATES, Boston, MA2018 Bilingual Assessor Collected data used to evaluate the performance of public schools, HeadStart, and other Early Childhood education institutions under a federal grant. Assessed pre-k and k students enrolled under the grant at entry into the programs and again 9 - 24 months later.

MAY CENTER SCHOOL, West Springfield, MA 2018-2019 Instructor /Case Manager Provided intensive ABA behavioral support and discrete trial training for receptive and expressive communication skills and academic content for students aged 7-9. Trained student in use of AAC communication device (student was nonverbal) and PECS. Ran all academic, PT, OT, Speech, and behavior programs daily. Trained children and in the use of the PECS and AED devices for functional communication. Provided life skills training - feeding, toileting, functional communication, hygiene, etc Ensured safety of children with aggressive and self-injurious behaviors. Collected, analyzed, and updated data, including monthly graphs of progress on every skill and report to classroom teacher and team to recommend updates to programming. Set targets and prompt levels based on data collected. Wrote weekly and trimester progress reports.

AVANZA BEHAVIORAL SOLUTIONS, LLC Westfield, MA 2024 to present Behavior Therapist Offer in-home behavioral therapy, distress tolerance training, and functional communication support to primary school age children, including food desensitization therapy and social engagement support in public.

APPLIED ABC, South Hadley, MA 2024 to present Behavior Therapist Offered in-home and in-school behavioral therapy, distress tolerance training and functional communication support to a teen with Autism Spectrum Disorder Level 3. Arranged for youth to perform music at nursing homes and participate in community events involving his interests that would leverage his talents to give him a sense of connection and self-efficacy.

HILLTOWN COOPERATIVE CHARTER SCHOOL, Easthampton, MA 2022-2023 Middle School Special Education Teacher Offered direct academic and behavioral support to Middle School students with learning disabilities, communication disorders, and social-emotional conditions, both in the general education setting, and through pull-out services. Dxs included: Emotional Disorders, Body Dysmorphic Syndrome, Dyslexia, Dysgraphia, Dyscalculia, Specific LD in Reading, Writing, and Math; ASD, ADHD, and Social-Emotional Disorders. Tracked progress toward goals and objectives, jointly determined at participatory IEP meetings.. Involved students in inquiry-based projects to reinforce skills from class and illustrate their application in real-life settings. Push-in services provided in Math and Writing. Pull-out services across subject areas.

UMASS AMHERST Amherst, MA Project Assistant, Public Health Photovoice Taught Photovoice methodology and led focus groups, stakeholder analyses, and strategic planning sessions with youth members of Public Health Club at a SciTech High School (Springfield, MA); transcribed and translated focus group recordings (Spanish to English) Project Assistant, Digital Storytelling Project at CARE Center in Springfield Worked with same professor to train young mothers at the CARE Center in Springfield to develop digital stories about their experiences and lessons learned

MAY CENTER. West Springfield, MA. Bilingual Behavior Specialist Provided in-home receptive and expressive communication and social functioning support

NOTRE DAME SCHOOL, Managua, Nicaragua 2002-2006 Middle School Literature and Language Arts Taught Academic English to students preparing to enter English-only university level programs. Special Education Teacher BD/ED/LD, grades k-2 and 4-6 Wrap-around substantially separate classroom instruction and behavior management for at-risk children dual (diagnoses SE/LD) in Special Education charter school.

UMASS AMHERST Amherst, MA 2007-2009 Teaching Assistant, Introduction to International Education Planned and led classes and activities focused on unpacking the history of colonization-globalization and its effects on education traditions, cultures, and economies across the globe Project Assistant, Public Health Photovoice Taught Photovoice methodology and led focus groups, stakeholder analyses, and strategic planning sessions with youth members of Public Health Club at a SciTech High School (Springfield, MA); transcribed and translated focus group recordings (Spanish to English) Project Assistant, Digital Storytelling Project at CARE Center in Springfield Worked with same professor to train young mothers at the CARE Center in Springfield to develop digital stories about their experiences and lessons learned

CISAS & FE y ALEGRIA, Managua, Nicaragua 2002 – 2003 Advocacy / Training Consultant Trained teachers and psychologists on use of theater for psycho-social healing with at-risk youth. Designed and facilitated effective 3-day workshops for 70 youth participants representing 8 regions, producing AIDS awareness plays to be performed throughout the nation.

MORE GARDENS! COALITION, NYC 1997 – 1998 Outreach Coordinator Organized a city-wide outreach campaign composed of volunteers to visit community gardeners across the city, inform them of the auction and offer both moral, material, and laboral support to continue gardening throughout the auction process. Lent solidarity in the form of networking gardeners with supportive agencies, such as Green Thumb, Puerto Rican Legal Defense Fund, and Harmony Gardens. Solidarity Leader and Media Liaison Performed information distribution and civil manifestations on behalf of the gardens.

CHERRY TREE ASSOCIATION, South Bronx, NYC 1997 – 1998 Children’s Community Gardening Coordinator Designed and ran a community gardening program for local youth in public green spaces in the South Bronx, NY. Coordinated with families and local officials to give children recognition for their work and permanent status for their garden, United We Stand. Assistant Puppet Street Theater Coordinator Built garden-related street-theater-size puppets and trained youth to write and perform public plays to advocate for the permanent status of community gardens in NYC. Performed at both formal and informal venues, handing out youth-made zines and other advocacy-related literature.

PUERTO RICAN LEGAL DEFENSE FUND, NYC 1997 – 1998 Youth Data Collection Coordinator Organized a city-wide data collection campaign composed of youth volunteers to visit community gardeners across the city and collect important data about their gardens, including plant species, number of adults and children accessing the gardens, activities hosted, butterfly and beneficial insect information, and historical data on the sites.

The Team

Educational Program Development, Management, and Evaluation

Work With At-Risk and Neurodiverse Youth

Environmental and Other Advocacy