Michelle Herndon

12634 East Bates Circle, Aurora, Colorado 80014

(720) 535-4308 / michelleherndon16@gmail.com

Caring professional adept at fostering positive, productive relationships with young adults and their families in an
expeditionary project based educational setting

Professional Experience

6th grade Math Teacher - North Middle School Health Sciences and Technology Campus ​August 2017 - Present
Aurora Public Schools - Aurora, Co
● Teaching 6th grade math in a high needs school: 42.2% English Language Learners, 84.9% Free and Reduced
Lunch and 94.2% minority students
● Building a community of inquiry and risk taking within my classroom by actively having students share their
thinking and exploring mathematical thinking
● Utilizing activities and projects to create an inquiry and hands on learning environment
● Working on a multidisciplinary content team to support students academically, socially and emotionally by
identifying their strengths and developing individualized educational plans for students
● Developed a social group with counseling to support the emotional needs of students
● Supported arts through participating in concerts
● Facilitating an after school math hour to provide mathematical support to students
● Differentiating for English Language Learners through scaffolding and small group instruction in order to
increase their understanding of mathematical concepts
● Used new curriculum on iPads - developed graphic organizers, sentence frames and sentence starters to support
students learning.

Boettcher Teacher Residency 6th grade math - Aurora Hills Middle School ​August 2016 - May 2017
Boettcher Teacher Residency - Denver, CO
● Building a math community of inquiry and risk taking within my classroom by actively having students share
their thinking and exploring mathematical concepts
● Developed a service learning project for all 300 6​th​ graders related to a Colorado Math Standard in order to
connect their learning to the local and global community
● Developed a unit lesson that was cross content to support the school’s international month
● Utilizing Google Classroom to support students through technology that resulted in learning how to incorporate
technology in mathematics
● Co-facilitating No Place for Hate group

Child Life Specialist/Therapeutic Recreation May 2007 – June 2016

Children’s Hospital Colorado - Aurora, CO
● Developed and implemented individualized therapy plans to help sick children of all ages understand and cope
with medical treatment;
● Managed professional development program, recruiting, interviewing and supervising interns and practicum
students;
● Organized and led classroom training, family camps, group tours, social events, and peer support groups to
address the psychosocial needs of patients and their families;
● Secured resources to enhance therapeutic programs, including $10,000 donation for psychosocial needs and
equipment;
● Liaised with multidisciplinary hospital teams and a variety of community resources to ensure seamless support
for the whole child.

Itinerant Paraprofessional for Special Education October 2005 – May 2007

Denver Public Schools - Denver, CO
● Served K-12 special needs students, providing direct classroom aid and tailoring personalized recommendations
for environmental modifications and additional support.

 
 

Education

Masters of Education with CLD endorsement ​December 2017

Boettcher Teacher Residency - Adams State University

Bachelor of Science, Therapeutic Recreation August 2005

University of Northern Colorado - Greeley, CO

Bachelor of Arts, Sociology and Human Services December 2000

Fort Lewis College - Durango, CO

Professional Certifications

CLD endorsement Teacher Licenses Elementary ​expected Summer 2018

Teacher Licenses Elementary ​Fall 2017

Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist ​2006 - 2016

National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification

Certified Child Life Specialist ​2006 - 2016

Child Life Council

Publications and Presentations

Presented “Therapeutic Recreation and Child Life in Children’s Hospital” to therapeutic recreational students at Metro
State College in Aurora, CO (2008 and 2009)

Authored “The Challenging Road – Helping Teens Care for their Children” in American Therapeutic Recreation
Association Newsletter (2009)

Presented “The Challenging Road – Caring for Their Children” at the annual American Therapeutic Recreation
Association Conference in Minneapolis, MN (2009)

Presented “Supporting Pediatric Patients Through Preparation and Supportive Language” to pediatric nurses at Valley
View Hospital in Denver, CO (2010)

Presented “Supporting Pediatric Patients and Decreasing Trauma through Preparation and Supportive Language” to
Psychology and Psychiatric Fellows at Children’s Hospital Colorado in Aurora, CO (2010)

Presented “Decreasing the Trauma of Trauma: Helping Children Cope with Medical Experiences” to medical team and
staff at the Colorado Refugee Wellness Center Supporting Pediatric Patients and Families in Aurora, CO (2015)

Service

● Soccer Coach, grades 1-8, various location Colorado (1997, 1998, 1999, 2004, 2006, 2007)
● Volunteer Counselor, Rape Intervention Team/Child Assault Prevention Program, Durango, CO (1998-2000)
● Prevention Peer Educator and Resident Assistant, Fort Lewis College, Durango, CO (1996-1999)
● Parks and Recreation Therapeutic Recreation Student, Denver, CO (2004)
● Volunteer, Child Life Department, Phoenix Children’s Hospital, Phoenix, AZ (2001-2002)
● Volunteer Counselor, Diabetic Camp for Youth, Prescott, AZ (2002)
● Volunteer, Migrant Health Clinic, Wickenburg AZ (2001)
● Member, HIV/AIDS Policy Committee, Fort Lewis College, Durango, CO (1998)