Randyll Goodnight

I currently have a Postgraduate Professional License in Virginia and am endorsed in Special Education General Curriculum K-12, and in Biology. I am in the process of applying for a North Carolina license. I have an extensive background, both academic and professional, in biology and chemistry. I worked for many years in research laboratories at UCLA studying cardiac physiology, and at Georgetown University studying recovery of function after central nervous system injury. My love of science and the practical experience I gained while working in those two highly respected research institutes using cutting edge technology are a unique and valuable background for a science teacher. Experiences with my son, who received special services for low-vision throughout his public school education, taught me the value of special education and how it can help a student with special needs pursue academic excellence. I decided that combining science and special education into my teaching career would be a great way to encourage student interest and competence in science and to make a positive contribution to any school district.

I have been teaching for the past 5 years in The Inova Kellar School, a private therapeutic day school in the Northern Virginia area serving students in grades three through 12 who have been identified as eligible for special education services. The program is designed to meet the needs of students with emotional and/or learning disabilities who may also have social, behavioral, or health-related issues that significantly interfere with their ability to learn. The majority of the students are referred and placed by their local school jurisdiction. Each teacher works as a team with a therapeutic counselor to support both the educational and emotional needs of their homeroom students.

At Kellar, I taught middle school science and math, and high school biology, chemistry, and algebra. I learned how to address both the educational and emotional needs of my students and to ensure that appropriate teaching strategies were used in acknowledgment of their individual learning styles, IEP goals, and the Virginia Standards of Learning. I worked hard to improve student access to digital learning. I introduced the use of WebQuests and integrating multimedia, such as iPads and Podcasts, into daily lessons.