Jodi Guarnieri Introduction

Hi my name is Jodi Guarnieri.  I am currently enrolled in the school licensure program at YSU.  This is the last class I need to take to complete my licensure.  I graduated with a BSN degree from BGSU in 1981.  I worked for many years in a PICU and NICU both full time and PRN while raising 3 children.  I worked as a school nurse in Warren City Schools for 8 years.  I am currently working as the District Nurse for Mathews Local Schools.  I am the only nurse in a district of approximately 825 students and cover 3 buildings. I feel like I spend much of my day traveling.  Some of the many job responsibilities I have in the district are; conducting diabetic, medication, and blood borne pathogen teaching to the staff.  I am also involved in the development and planning of 504 plans for students.  I also conduct vision and hearing, immunization surveillance and attend to all the first aid and medical concerns of the students. 


I truly love all the aspects of being a school nurse. This past summer I did my school nurse practicum at Fairhaven School.  I enjoyed working with all the special needs children and was very interested in all their programs they offered, particularly their extensive Early Intervention Program.  I am both excited, apprehensive and a bit intimidated about taking this class. I am very comfortable with Nursing classes but this will be a little challenging.  Most everyone in this class are teachers and have experience to draw from. My other classes were all on blackboard which I finally got used to navigating.  I will just look at this as another learning experience.

Introduction- Jamie Diemert

Hello my name is Jamie Diemert and I am a 2014 graduate of YSU. I live in Youngstown with my long term boyfriend and our 5 sons ranging in ages 19 to 2. I graduated with my bachelors in Early Childhood Education and am currently working as a kindergarten teacher at Horizon Science Academy in Youngstown. I found my love for special education first when I was working for a company that provided home health for mentally disabled adults. I worked there for many years and then I went to work for Youngstown City Schools and was placed in an Autistic preschool where I worked for 3 years. After this placement I decided working in the educational system is what I wanted to make a career out of.

It took me several years to graduate because of motherhood and life but after graduation I was hired as an intervention specialist tutor. I was instantly in love with the work that intervention specialist did. This is when I decided that I was not finished my education, while I love my job now I want the information, experiences, and flexibility to work with students that are identified and not yet identified with disabilities. I am excited to start this new journey and have a great support system of family and friends to help me through it.

Introduction - Cynthia Rocco

I am from Hudson, Ohio.  I am seeking a School Nurse License.  I graduated with a BSN from Kent State in the mid 90's.  I am currently in my second year as a district nurse in a public school with 5000 students.  I have 9+ schools that I supervise and 11 direct reports (4 LPN's and 7 medical assistants).  While I am seeking a School Nurse License, my passion and heart is with students with special needs and chronic illnesses.  I have 2 classes left before I get my license.  I think this class will be both challenging and rewarding for me.  Challenging in the fact I am not a special education teacher and I am intimidated by the entirely online component - but rewarding because I love the content.  Most of my classes have been with a small cohort and only minimally online.  

Introduction - Amanda Johnson

Hey!!! My name is Amanda. I am from Philadelphia, PA. I played soccer for YSU from 2010-2013. I graduated in the Spring from YSU with my Intervention Specialist with Mild/ Moderate and Early Childhood licensure. I am also pursuing a Master of Science in Education: Special Education- Autism and Related Disabilities Option with Licensure Moderate/Intense. I am a Graduate Assistant for the Counseling, Special Education, and Psychology department and my adviser is Dr. Gongola. She is soon to have a baby so I currently am 'floating' around the department with helping hands. I have taken two online classes before - both were English/Writing classes. I have never worked on blogger but I enjoy that it is attached to my gmail! Can't wait to journey through the masters program with all of you. May we have a successful semester!

Introduction-Trisha Amato

      Hi! My name is Trish, I grew up in Calcutta, Ohio, but have been in the Poland area for the last ten years. I am doing the Intervention specialist with the autism and other disabilities certification. I am presently employed at General Motors on the assembly line. I am looking forward to getting back into the field of special education. I have taken many courses online and have been very successful. I enjoy being able to work at my own pace and not being required to report to a classroom. 

Introduction- Courtney Ronghi

Hello Everyone! I am very excited to get started. I am from Niles. I graduated with my Bachelor of Science in Education- Intervention Specialist with Mild/ Moderate licensure in Spring 2013. I am pursuing a Master of Science in Education: Special Education- Autism and Related Disabilities Option with Licensure Moderate/ Intense. I am currently in my third year teaching at Warren City Schools. I am an Intervention Specialist for the K-2 cross categorical classroom at the Jefferson building. I have students with severe cognitive disabilities. These students are with me for most of the day. My responsibilities include teaching Reading and Math aligning to students' IEP goals/objectives, teaching nonacademic skills like following an object schedule, and managing classroom educational aides. I have never taken an online course or online training. This is my first time!

Blog Post #1 - Introduce Yourself! DrMKDove

Blog Post #1 - Introduce Yourself! - DrMKDove

In the field Post [Post Title] - type Introduction - and your first and last name.

Then, compose your introduction.  Components should include: where you are from; identify your graduate program area; state your present position and briefly describe your professional work/responsibilities; and, please share if you have previously taken an online undergraduate/graduate course and/or online training. 

Thank you in advance for posting your introduction!  Candidates must make their initial blog post on or before Wednesday, August 26, 2015 (5 PM) followed by two more additional entries to other candidates' introductory posts by Friday, August 28, 2015 (5 PM).

This initial Blog Post #1 should be fairly short. 
For future blog posts - please note that we are restricted to 4,096 characters for our Blog entries.  For example a Tweet is limited to 140 characters.  An easy way to calculate how many characters/letters you have written for your Blog entry is to go to
http://www.lettercount.com/
and copy and past your Blog entry in their form - and it will automatically calculate how many characters are contained in your Blog response - before you try to copy and past on the SPED 6900 Blog.

Lastly, if you have any questions about SPED 6900 - please send me an email [DrMKDove@gmail.com].  I welcome candidates' questions.