Label

Lark Barker

Decoding Dyslexia Ontario
Special Education Teacher and passionate advocate
canada, ontario, toronto
advocacy, educator
advocacy, literacy
dysgraphia, dyslexia

Summary

Lark is an Special Education Teacher and Parent Advocate in Toronto. She became a dyslexia advocate after her youngest son was diagnosed with dyslexia and her family struggled to get him the support he desperately needed. She became president of Decoding Dyslexia Ontario in 2018.

Raised in a teaching family, Lark’s career spans over 20 years, two countries and two provinces, with a focus on education as a social justice issue. Some of her experiences include teaching in a northern Manitoba indigenous community, urban high school students in the youth justice system and special programs for middle school students dealing with mental health challenges.

She currently works in Toronto District School Board, North America’s 3rd largest, as a Special Education Resource Teacher (SERT) in an inner-city school that serves a diverse group of learners with 900 students from grades JK-8.

Qualifications

Education

  • The University of Winnipeg, Bachelor of Arts (Hons.), 2000
  • The University of Winnipeg, Bachelor of Education, 2001

Certifications

  • Special Education Specialist, Queens University, The Ontario College of Teachers, 2014
  • Certified Structured Literacy Classroom Teacher (CERI); November 2019- November 2022 (CERI ID#: EI80437)
  • Barton Certified Tutor [Levels 1-3]; February 2019
  • Introduction to DataWise: A Collaborative Process to Improve Learning & Teaching Certificate Course, Harvard University, July 2020
  • Google Certified Educator, Level 1; 22July2021-22July2024

Training & Professional Development

  • Orton-Gillingham Foundations & Associate Level Trainee, 2018, AOGPE Fellow: Liisa Freure; (100 hour associate level practicum completed in August 2020)
  • Orton-Gillingham Classroom Level Training, 2018

Professional Memberships/ Associations

  • Member of Modernization In Measurement Advisory Panel Education Quality and Accountability Office., a government agency that contributes to the quality and accountability of Ontario’s publicly funded education system for K-12 and post-secondary institutions.
  • The Ontario College of Teachers | Member | February 2008- Current

Professional Experience

LEADERSHIP ROLES

Elementary Literacy Department Chair | Toronto District School Board (Section 23 Programs) | Toronto, ON | 2012-2015

  • supported and assisted colleagues in implementing literacy programs (utilizing technology) to best meet student needs
  • supported colleagues in meeting department goals in implementing Nelson Literacy & TDSB MSIC modules programming in Language classes
  • fulfilled administrative duties; collecting student data, writing department annual learning plans, planning staff professional development, supporting IEP development and providing support for Ministry of Education internal monitoring led monthly team meetings regarding literacy instruction and incorporating activities from the Literacy & Numeracy secretariat

K- 12 School Vice-Principal | Grand Rapids School (Frontier School Division) | Grand Rapids, Manitoba | 2005-2007

Collaborated with the Principal and Band Council in creating and implementing Department of Education programs and protocols in an Indigenous community. Also:

  • responsible for the all school board and ministry documentation (i.e., yearly school plans, school improvement plans, school safety plans, timetables/scheduling, etc)
  • worked closely with resource staff, implementing IEPs, with identified students with exceptionalities (i.e., ASD, ODD)
  • developed professional development to support staff meet student needs and inclusion education model
  • reduced suspension and expulsion rates by over 50% and helped increase the graduation rate by over 30%
  • increased parental and Band Council support and involvement in the school, creating an ‘Elders Room’, andhosting community educational nights (Math Bingo, Open Library
    Night)

TEACHER ROLES

K-8 Special Education Resource Teacher (SERT) | Duke of Connaught Jr & Sr Public School | September 2021- Current
Grade 7/8 Special Education Teacher | DA Morrison Senior Public School | September 2018- 2021

  • taught/teach remedial Math and English to learners with diagnosed learning disabilities
  • strong understanding of student exceptionalities and relevant programming to meet their needs ( i.e. IEP development, evidence based approaches, educational
    goals/programming, CRRP)
  • collaborate with a team teachers to support identified students in their classrooms. This includes creating a timetable to meet with staff & students while also helping build strong
    inclusive teaching materials following Universal Design of Learning
  • Provide academic support with digital manipulatives and a variety of e-learning activities

Toronto District School Board Section 23 Programs | September 2012- June 2018

Teaching in Section 23 Programs, fostered a strong partnership with East Metro Youth Services to help better meet the needs of under-serviced minors in special programming

  • worked alongside students with a variety of psychiatric, emotional and behavioural difficulties (i.e. depression, anxiety, OCD, ASD, ODD)
  • skilled in the use of a variety of diagnostic assessments for both literacy and numeracy (i.e. DRA, CASI, Flynt-Cooter, WFAS, Leaps & Bounds)
  • extensive experience with special education procedures and documentations including IEPs and SAP system; IPRCs; and student transition within and outside the TDSB
  • collaborated with agency staff (through team meetings) and students’ family to meet developmental, social and emotional needs of students
  • teaching areas: grades 4-8 English, Special Education, Geography, History

High School Special Education Teacher | LTO Contract Toronto District School Board (Section 23 Programs) | Toronto, ON | June 2011-2012, July 2016

Teaching in Section 23 Programs, collaborated with local agencies (Delisle Youth Services & Blue Jays Lodge) and provincial ministries to help better meet the needs of under-serviced minors

  • nurtured an environment that fostered safety and growth for at-risk students with dual diagnosis and differing learning abilities (ie. depression, anxiety)
  • utilized a variety of learning and behaviour based strategies to enhance student success (i.e. Gardiner’s Multiple Intelligences, ABC Charts in Cognitive Behaviour Therapy)
  • taught curriculum and life skills through creative and fun activities that were meaningful to students (i.e., cooking club, quilt patch sewing, volunteering with local soup kitchens)
  • developed programming utilizing a multi-faceted approach to learning and 21st century technology; i.e. Read & Write Gold, Dragon Naturally Speaking, SMARTboards, Promethean
    Board
  • worked closely with school administration to foster student achievement results; specifically in areas of guidance, assessment and the creation of IEPs
  • teaching areas: grades 9-12, English, Special Education, History, Phys. Ed & Health

High School English & History Teacher | Grand Rapids School (Frontier School Division) | Grand Rapids, Manitoba | 2004-2005

  • created engaging lesson plans and work with community members in accessing & implementing culturally responsive and relevant pedagogy
  • worked closely with resource staff, implementing IEPs, with identified students with exceptionalities (FASD, ASD, ODD) and substance issues
  • teaching areas: grades 11 &12 academic English & History

High School English as a Foreign Language (EFL) & History Teacher | ITESM Campus | Culiacan, Mexico | 2001-2004

  • in a private school environment, taught high English language learning and History utilizing integrative technology (LMS- Lotus Notes, Blackboard)
  • collaborated with Ph.D candidates from the University of Maastricht (The Netherlands) on the creation and implementation of problem-based learning (PBL) in compulsory curricula
  • with a colleague, wrote and developed English learning-based curriculum projects at the high school and university levels
  • teaching areas: grades 9-11 English as Foreign Language, Bi-cultural programming

Credits

Papers, Workshops & Webinars Presented

Ontario Human Rights Commission’s ‘Right To Read’ Inquiry, Microsoft, Dyslexia DeCoded, Oct 2020

  • Discussing the collaboration between organizations & parents in advocacy & advocating with our local Human Rights Commission

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