JESSICA WOLLEN

PROFILE:
➢ Areas of specialty include: Special Education, Learning Resources, Sexual Health Education, Social Studies and Planning.
➢ Certified as a Sexual Health Educator by Options for Sexual Health.
➢ Designed and delivered sexual health curriculum at Crofton House Senior School for three consecutive years.
➢ 16 years of experience working with children and youth with varied abilities.
➢ Excellent leadership, communication, and group facilitation skills.
➢ A creative, non-judgmental, and passionate approach to work.

TEACHING EXPERIENCE

Parent Coaching
Shift Education Vancouver, BC September 2012 - present

• Delivering ongoing workshops for parent of children with and without developmental delays, focusing on life skills, boundary setting, personal safety, healthy relationships, technology and sexual health education.
• Provide “Askable Adult” training for parents of children with Downs Syndrome through the Developmental Disabilities Association and Vancouver based Community Centres.
• Coaching national parent group (children and youth with special needs) about sexual health safety, bullying, and self-esteem.
• Delivering “Best Practice Sexual Health Teaching Methods” at the upcoming New Teachers Conference hosted by the BC Teachers Federation in March 2013.

Planning Teacher and Sexual Health Educator
Crofton House Senior School, Vancouver, BC September 2008 – 2011

• Solicited Student Work Experience Placements, and arranged, managed, and provided career coaching for students throughout work placements.
• Supported Students in Learning Resources with organization, time management, and study skills.
• Delivered an innovative and differentiated Health Career and Education (HCE) and Planning curriculum to students in grades 8 -11.
• Developed a comprehensive Sexual Health Program and delivered the curriculum to all Senior School Students.

Teaching Practicum
New Westminster Secondary, New Westminster, BC January 2009 – April 2009

• Delivered innovative and differentiated lessons for Social Studies 9 & 10 and Physical Education 9 &10.
• Supported students by: adapting lesson plans, following IEP’s, and working in collaboration with student teams.
• Implemented Sexual Health instruction and dialogue in Planning 10.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Special Projects Coordinator
Children of the Street Society, Coquitlam, BC July 2007 – August 2008

Partners in Prevention Project
• Researched, designed, and delivered an Aboriginal sensitivity training program to youth educators.
• Coordinated Province-wide sexual exploitation prevention education program.
• Mediated culturally-based negotiations with Aboriginal leaders, regarding project deliverables.

Child and Youth Sexual Exploitation Prevention Tourism Campaign
• Implemented the research team for the Child and Youth Sexual Exploitation Prevention Tourism Campaign that resulted in the Predator Watch Public Service Announcement on TV and Online.
• Recruited main campaign sponsor, Rethink Communications, for media-based advertising campaign.
• Organized, presented, and chaired campaign meetings at the Deputy Solicitor General’s Office.

Community Action Team Coordinator & Youth Against Sexual Exploitation Group Leader
• Developed Tri-City based youth group, Youth Against Sexual Exploitation (YASE). Supported goal setting and guided the group in the planning and delivery of an Internet Safety & Health Education symposium.
• Chaired and collaborated with Tri-Cities Community Action Team (CAT), comprised of staff from the Tri-Cities School Districts, Fraser Health Authority, and Tri-Cities Social Services. Responsible for providing youth-based education.

Camp Founder & Director
Camp Experience Your Dreams, Sunshine Coast, BC March 2001 – June 2005

• Conceptualized, planned, and directed a weeklong residential camp for four consecutive summers.
• Recruited, trained, and supervised 35 volunteer staff members.
• Oversaw the care and supervision of 75 campers. Supported youth with severe behavioural challenges to achieve full integration in camp programs.

Child Care Relief Worker
Yew Transitions House, Sunshine Coast, BC June 2001 – January 2002

• Supported and provided counseling for children and youth in residential transition house and participated in staff debriefing.
• Worked with children with mental, physical, and behavioural challenges including: ADHD, FASD, and Autism Spectrum Disorder.

EDUCATION & CAREER DEVELOPMENT

Bachelor of Education & Minor in Learning Disabilities
Simon Fraser University, 2009
Bachelor of Arts - Cultural Anthropology
Simon Fraser University, 2006
Sexual Health Certificate
Options For Sexual Health
Trained in client-centered support for reproductive and sexual health issues, 2010

• Education: Undergraduate degree
• School: Bachelor of Anthropology Bachelor of Education with a Minor in Learning Disabilities