THOMAS R.

BENNETT
9633 UPTON RD,BLOOMINGTON, MN 55431
C-612-991-6260 sobek74@gmail.com

Professional Overview
Passionate educator seeking a teaching or leadership position in special education with
expertise in teaching students with disabilities, special education law, classroom management,
educational advocacy, collaborative decision making at a district level, policy making,
operational oversight, family and community engagement and relationship building.

Teaching Experience
Early Childhood Education Substitute Teacher 09/2011 to 06/2012
Independent School District 271 Bloomington, Minnesota
Worked as a substitute teacher in the district's preschool and early childhood and family
education programs.
Special Education Teacher 07/2003 to 06/2011
Independent School District 191 Burnsville, Minnesota
Taught special education in various classroom settings and buildings throughout the
district:
Setting IV EBD Program at Vale Educational Center. Taught life skills class to high school
students.
Setting III EBD Program at Edward Neill Elementary School. Taught K-6th grade students.
Resource Room Teacher at Vista View Elementary School, Harriet Bishop Elementary
School and Eagle Ridge Jr. High School working with K-9 setting I and II special education
students.
Responsibilities include: classroom instruction and lesson plan development,
management of paraprofessionals, classroom management, development of IEPs, initial
evaluations/ reevaluations, Behavioral Intervention plans, Functional Behavior
Assessments, collaboration with IEP teams, administrators, parents and general
education teachers.
Special Education Teacher 08/2001 to 06/2003
Albuquerque Public Schools Albuquerque, New Mexico
Co-taught as the special education teacher in a full inclusion 3 rd and 4th grade class
room.

Other Experience
Director of Special Education Intern 08/2016 to 07/2017
Independent School District 283 St. Louis Park, Minnesota
In working with the director of special services and both special education supervisors, I
learned about the operations and management of the special education department
of a diverse suburban public school district. In addition to the 280 hours spent in St.
Louis Park, I also spent 40 hours in ISD 287 to learn more about an intermediate district.

School Board Member

01/2014 to Current
Independent School District 271 Bloomington, Minnesota
 Thomasmembers
One of seven elected school board r. BENNETTworking
Page 2 as the governing body of the
school district. Responsibilities include: developing policy to ensure the proper care,
management and control of district affairs, providing operational oversight of the
management of the school districts, working to build community partners to support the
school district, engaging with the community to strengthen school district, and
supporting the mission of educating all students to reach their full potential.
Councilor, Tutor 06/1999 to 06/2003
Albuquerque Public Schools Title I Homeless Project Albuquerque, New Mexico
Worked with elementary and middle school students that were identified as homeless in
an after school and summer program which was designed to provide educational
enrichment, positive role models, experiential education, relationship building, and
nutrition.

Education
Minnesota State University at Mankato Edina, Minnesota
2017 E d S p e c i a l i s t D e g re e i n Educational Leadership, Director of Special Education
University of New Mexico A l b u q u e rq u e , N e w M ex i c o
2002 Master of Arts in Special Education
2001 Bachelor of Science in Special Education and Elementary Education

Teaching Licenses
Minnesota 2003-Present File Number 409299
Elementary Education (1-6)
Special Education (K-12)
Emotional Behavior Disorders
Learning Disabilities

Mild to Moderate Mentally HDCP

New Mexico 2000-2005
Elementary Education (K-5)
Special Education (K-12)

References
Les Fujitake
Superintendent ISD 271
Phone:952-681-6401
Email: lfujitake@isd271.org

Tami Reynolds
Director of Special Services ISD 283
Phone: 952-928-6068
Email: reynolds.tami@slpschools.org

Eric Melby
Assistant Superintendent ISD 271
952-681-6400
Email: emelby@isd271.org

Jennifer ONeill-Mager
Special Education Supervisor ISD191
Phone: 952-707-2639
Email: joneillmager@isd191.org