Sonja Biggs Educational Services, Inc.
Creating Education and Accessibility for All Students
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Curriculum Vitae
Curriculum Vitae
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EDUCATION
EDUCATION
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Ph.D, Education (Advanced K-12),
Capella University, Minneapolis, MN
Emphasis: Advanced K-12 Teaching
Dissertation: Parent Involvement, an Integral Part of the Early Learning Experience for Blind Children: A Qualitative Study of the Mother’s Experience
Certification Courses for CTEL Authorization
Brandman University, Online, CA
Certification Courses for Special Education-TVI/COMS
Stephen F. Austin University, Nacagdoches, TX
Certification Courses for Multiple Subject Elementary Teaching
Walla Walla University, College Place, WA
MA, School Counseling and Guidance
Loma Linda University, Riverside, CA
BA, Religion
Weimar College, Weimar, CA
2014
2015
2005
2001
1989
1986
CERTIFICATIONS
CERTIFICATIONS
WashingtonState Teaching Credential 1990-Present
Walla Walla College, College Place, WA
Endorsements: Teacher of the Blind & Visually Impaired,
Orientation & Mobility Specialist, Psychology 4-12, Elementary K-8
CaliforniaState Multiple Subject Credential 2009-Present
CaliforniaState Education Specialist Visual Impairments 2010-Present
California Rehabilitation Specialist for Orientation & Mobility 2011-Present
California CTEL Authorization 2015
NAD Seventh-day Adventist Professional Credential 1990-Present
Elementary, Special Ed, School Counseling, Religion
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WashingtonState Teaching Credential
Walla Walla College, College Place, WA
Endorsements: Teacher of the Blind & Visually Impaired,
Orientation & Mobility Specialist, Psychology 4-12, Elementary K-8
CaliforniaState Multiple Subject Credential
CaliforniaState Education Specialist Visual Impairments
California Rehabilitation Specialist for Orientation & Mobility
California CTEL Authorization
NAD Seventh-day Adventist Professional Credential
Elementary, Special Ed, School Counseling, Religion
1990-Present
2009-Present
2010-Present
2011-Present
2015
1990-Present
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
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Teacher of the Visually Impaired (TVI)
Certified Orientation & Mobility Specialist (COMS)
Sonja Biggs Educational Services,Inc., Gilroy, CA
2008-Present
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CEO, managing an educational contracting agency with a rapid growth rate. Work closely with admin team to reach company goals. Curriculum writing, on-line course room teacher, teleteaching. Responsible for teaching all components of the Expanded Core Curriculum which includes compensatory or functional academic skills, including communication modes such as Braille reading and writing, social interaction skills, independent living skills, recreation and leisure skills, career education, use of assistive technology, and visual efficiency skills. Travel to several different schools serving both multiply impaired and vision impaired only. Multiple impairments include deafblind, autism, cerebral palsy, and many syndromes; all with some kind of blindness or low vision associated with it. Writing and managing IEP goals for vision impairment. Lead teacher managing the entire VI program for San Benito County Office of Education Special Education Department w/ caseload of 25 VI and 20 O&M, braillist, other VI teachers and O&M specialists, VI Assistant, and several para-educators. Met regularly with SBCOE Special Education Director and participated in all SBCOE Department Meetings. Met bi-weekly with administrators, assisted with transition of VI program from San Benito High School District to San Benito County Office of Education. Provide VI & O&M services to students in multiple districts throughout California. Mentored special education VI student teachers and intern teachers through San Francisco State University and California State University LA. Past member of the CA Transition Council for people with disabilities. Past member of Junior Blind of America’s Transition Council. Chair of the CAOMS Conference Committee held bi-annually for six years in Monterey, CA. President of N-CAOMS for two years. Provide Independent Evaluations for school districts throughout the state of CA upon their request for vision and orientation & mobility evaluations. Mentor teachers in serving VI students throughout the state of CA upon request.
Teacher of the Visually Impaired (TVI)
Certified Orientation & Mobility Specialist (COMS)
Vista Center for the Blind & Visually Impaired, Palo Alto, CA
Teacher of the Visually Impaired (TVI)
Certified Orientation & Mobility Specialist (COMS)
Vista Center for the Blind & Visually Impaired, Palo Alto, CA
Responsible for teaching all components of the Expanded Core Curriculum which includes compensatory or functional academic skills, including communication modes such as Braille reading and writing, social interaction skills, independent living skills, recreation and leisure skills, career education, use of assistive technology, and visual efficiency skills. Travel to several different schools serving both multiply impaired and vision impaired only. Multiple impairments include autism, cerebral palsy, and many syndromes; all with some kind of blindness or low vision associated with it. Writing and managing IEP goals for vision impairment. Running the entire VI program for San Benito County w/ caseload of 36, braillist, VI Assistant, and several para-educators. Meet bi-weekly with administrators, assisting with transition of VI program from San BenitoHighSchool District to San BenitoCounty Office of Education. Mentoring a special education VI student teacher through San FranciscoStateUniversity. Writing curriculum for Summer School VI program that includes social skills, cooking skills, and cleaning/organization skills to help districts fulfill those components of the Expanded Core Curriculum. Helped organize the Braille Challenge hosted by Vista every other year. Member of the CA Transition Council for people with disabilities.
Executive Director
Executive Director
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Director of Development
Children’s Museum of Walla Walla, Walla Walla, WA
2007-2008
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Responsibilities included administration, human resources, grant writing, fund raising, exhibit development and construction, presenting to organizations, networking, event planning, community involvement, marketing, working with a non-profit board of directors, and teaching workshops in science, history, and culture for children ages 6-12.
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Teacher of the Visually Impaired (TVI)
Certified Orientation & Mobility Specialist (COMS)
Eden’s Gate Academy, Dixe, WA
2006-2008
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Responsible for teaching all components of the Expanded Core Curriculum which includes compensatory or functional academic skills, including communication modes such as Braille reading and writing, social interaction skills, independent living skills, recreation and leisure skills, career education, use of assistive technology, and visual efficiency skills. Travel extensively to 2 different school districts to serve K-12 students both multiply impaired and visually impaired only. Multiple impairments include autism, downs syndrome, cerebral palsy, many syndromes; all with some kind of blindness or low vision associated with it. Writing and managing IEP goals for vision impairment. Billing districts, marketing, website management.
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Teacher of the Visually Impaired (TVI)
Certified Orientation & Mobility Specialist (COMS)
ESD 123, Pasco, WA
2003 - 2006
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Responsible for teaching all components of the Expanded Core Curriculum which includes compensatory or functional academic skills, including communication modes such as Braille reading and writing, social interaction skills, independent living skills, recreation and leisure skills, career education, use of assistive technology, and visual efficiency skills. Travel extensively to 12 different school districts both multiply impaired and vision impaired only. Multiple impairments include autism, downs syndrome, cerebral palsy, many syndromes; all with some kind of blindness or low vision associated with it. Writing and managing IEP goals for vision impairment.
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Director, Eden’s Gate Academy
On-line school for families who homeschool, Dixie, WA
2002 - 2008
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Job responsibilities included counseling & teaching parents, writing curriculum, writing evaluations and progress reports for homeschooling families; helping parents understand their children’s learning styles and designing the curriculum and choosing materials that met their children’s specific needs and interests. Teach on-line courses to students enrolled when requested. It also involves the managing, budgeting, business planning, and marketing of the Academy.
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Adjunct Faculty – Education Department
Blue Mountain Community College, Milton-Freewater, OR
2002 – 2004
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Responsible for teaching HD100 College Survival and Success. This is the first course for all incoming students just out of high school and returning older adults. It teaches all components of survival and success in the college environment including topics such as: Learning Styles, Note Taking, Critical Reading, Writing Skills, Test Taking Skills, Relationship Skills, Communication Skills, Money Management, Stress Management, Self Awareness, Health and Fitness, Time Management, Writing Resumes, Personal Responsibility, Interviewing Skills, and Organization Skills.
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Visiting Professor – School of Theology
Walla Walla College, College Place, WA
2000 – 2001
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Job responsibilities included writing syllabi for courses taught, teaching freshman and sophomore college Bible classes such as Adventist Belief and Practice, Fundamentals of Christian Faith, Sermon on the Mount, Ministry of Jesus, and Gender & Generational Ministry, attended educational and theological conferences, graded papers, submitted student grades for transcripts. Used on-line grade management program. Designed classroom projects implementing the different learning styles.
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Elementary Teacher Grades 1 & 2 Combination
Spokane Jr. Academy, Spokane, WA
1990 – 1995
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Job responsibilities included teaching all subjects except music to a 1 & 2 Grade combination classroom for four years, including grading, P/T Conferences, using unit studies and thematic teaching methods with a combination of study, work, and service included. Designed educational activities implementing different learning styles and multiple intelligence theory.
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Elementary Teacher Grades 1-8 Combination
Rocky Mountain Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, Denver, CO
1989 – 1990
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Job responsibilities included teaching all subjects including music to all eight grades in two combination classrooms. My first year I had 10 students and the second year I had 16 students with no classroom aides and serviced three special needs students. Utilized learning centers and implemented techniques from multiple intelligence theory.
RELATED EXPERIENCE or OTHER CATEGORY OF PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
RELATED EXPERIENCE or OTHER CATEGORY OF PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
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Educational Counselor
Moore Academy, Camas, WA
1997 – 2003
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Job responsibilities included counseling & teaching parents, writing curriculum, writing evaluations and progress reports for homeschooling families; helping parents understand their children’s learning styles and designing the curriculum and choosing materials that met their children’s specific needs and interests.
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School Counselor Internship
Elementary: Banning Unified School District, Banning, California
High School: Rialto Alternative School for Pregnant Teens
1989
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Job responsibilities included truancy, group and individual counseling, career guidance, taught classes in self-esteem building.
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AWARDS
2012 NCAER Educator of the Year
2012 Special Recognition Award by San Benito County Office of Education Board of Directors
PROFESSIONAL & COMMUNITY ASSOCIATIONS
AER (Association for Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired)
CAPVI/NAPVI (California Association of Parents of Children with Visual Impairments & National Association of Parents of Children with Visual Impairments)
National Federation of the Blind
Silicon Valley Council of the Blind a Chapter of the California Council of the Blind
CTEBVI (California Transcribers and Educators for the Blind & Visually Impaired
CEC (Council for Exceptional C
South Bay Musical Theatre
Lyric Theatre of San Jose
CA Transition Council for People with Disabilities
CAOMS (California Orientation & Mobility Specialists)
Magical Bridge Playground Advisory Committee
Mentor Teacher for San Francisco State University VI Teacher Preparation Program
PROFESSIONAL PRESENTATIONS & POSITIONS
2017 Northern CAOMS Conference Chair
2017 President-Elect, Northern CAOMS
2016-Present Board Member, Northern California AER
2013 Presenter, CAOMS Conference, Monterey, CA
2011 Presenter, SFSU VI Teacher Preparation Program Class
2010 Presenter, SFSU VI Teacher Preparation Program Class
2009 to Present LCA Teleconference: TVI/COMS & Parent Participant
2007 Blue Mountain Association for the Education of Young Children (BMAEYC)
Presenter, “Recipes for Learning” on how to teach pre-literacy skills to young learners
2000 NAD Teacher’s Convention, Dallas, TX
Presenter, “Hands-on Learning”
Presenter, “Using Puppets in the Classroom”
1992 NPUC Teacher’s Convention, Walla Walla, WA
Presenter, “Hands-on Learning”
Presenter, “Using Puppets in the Classroom”
Presenter, “Incorporating Service Learning in School”
1991 Teacher’s of English Convention, Spokane, WA
Presenter, “Teaching the Elements of Literature to Elementary Children”
1991-2001 Primary Sabbath School Leader
1996-2005 Presenter for Kids Connection Workshops for the Upper Columbia Conference
of Seventh-day Adventists, Spokane, WA
RELATED COURSES & WORKSHOPS
Grantsmanship: A course in writing successful grants
Top Ten Secrets for Writing Effective Grant Proposals
Theory and Development of Multiple Intelligences
Technology Strategies for Brain-Based Learning
Curriculum Development
Multiple Impairments Vision Impairments
Special Education Administration
Orientation and Mobility
Instructional Strategies in Vision Impairment
Visually Impaired Technology
Intellectual Development and Learning Styles Across the Lifespan
Learning Theory and the Educational Process
The Future Educational Institutions
Educational Philosophy and Changes
Teaching and Learning with Diverse Populations
Classroom Assessment in Education
Learning Theory and the Educational Process
The Future of Educational Institutions: Topics and Trends
The Politics of K-12 Education
Instructional Strategies for the Virtual Teacher
Administration and Leadership of Distance Education Programs
Cortical Vision Impairment by Dr. Christine Roman-Lantzy
CVI: Catching Kids Who Fall Between the Cracks by Amanda Hall-Lueck, Ph.D., William V. Good, M.D., and Pia Hoenig, O.D.
Autism & Visual Impairment, California School for the Blind, Lowenfeld & Atkinson Symposium
Voice, Diversity, Equity, and Social Justice in Education
Theory of Language Structure and Acquisition
English Language Literacy Development
Content Based Instruction for Linguistic Minorities
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
2017-Present NCAOMS President
2011-2014 CAOMS Conference Committee Chair
2011-Present Magical Bridge Playground Advisory Committee for children with visual impairments
2009-Present California Transition Council for People with Disabilities
2000-Present Association for Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind (AER)
2009-Present National Federation of the Blind
2009-Present American Council of the Blind
2008-2010 Association of Children’s Museums
2009 Foundation Fighting Blindness Bay Area Vision Walk
2009-Present Hollister Lion’s Club
2007- 2008 Ambassador for the Walla Walla Chamber of Commerce
2001-2008 Ft. Walla Walla Museum Living History Interpreter & Kid’s Camp Volunteer
2001-2008 4-H Leader & Parent Helper
2001-2002 PTSO Secretary Dixie Elementary School and Scholastic Book Fair Chairperson
2000-2003 Blue Mountain Homeschool Association Leadership Team
2000-2002 Blue Mountain Homeschool Association Field Trip Coordinator
2001-2002 Ft. Walla Walla Museum Leadership Team
2001-2003 Kirkman House Museum Board Member
2000-2002 Awana Assistant at Trinity Baptist Church: Puppets and Story Telling
1993-Present Foundation Fighting Blindness
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INTERESTS AND ACTIVITIES
Puppets, clowning, drama, theater, art, crafts, gardening, sewing, writing, hiking, outdoor activities, health, exercise, creating ways to make learning fun for children, riding horses, biking, family, community involvement
REFERENCES
Available upon request.
ONLINE COURSEROOM PLATFORMS
- Blackboard
- Adobe Connect
- Moodle
- Wikkis