Destanee Cruz
SPECIAL EDUCATOR
915.304.6573
DestaneeCruz05@gmail.com
11607 Pellicano 1717
El Paso, TX 79936
CERTIFICATIONS
STATE OF TEXAS
-Special Education (EC-12)
-Generalist 4-8 core subjects
(Pending)
-ESL Supplemental (pending)
EDUCATION
The University of Texas at
El Paso
El Paso, TX | August ’14-
May ‘19
BACHELORS IN
INTERDISCIPLINARY
STUDIES
Concentration in
Special Education
Concentration GPA: 4.0
Cumulative GPA: 3.37
Profile
My name is Destanee Cruz, and I am certified to
teach Special Education (EC-12). I am currently aiming to
complete my certifications for Generalist 4-8 and the ESL
supplemental.
I may not always be the most experienced teacher
in a school, but rest assured I will be one of the most
passionate, loving, creative teachers that there is. I believe
that having an effective learning environment, starts with
having genuine relationships with the students around you.
There are those students that will be the hardest to love
and to teach; however, those are the ones that need to
be taught and loved the hardest. As a teacher, I know
that I should never stop learning and striving to grow more
and more every day. I look forward to gaining more
knowledge from whomever I work with, to better the
education of the students around me.
Student Teaching and Field Experience
SPECIAL EDUCATION STUDENT TEACHER 6-8 Resource
room/co-teach| John Drugan School Pk-8
January 2019 – May 2019 | El Paso, TX
 Designed clear, well-organized sequential lessons
that reflect best practice aligned with the
standards, while making it appropriate for diverse
learners.
 Differentiated instruction for learners in content,
process, products, and the learning
environment.
 Used formal and informal methods to measure
student progress.
 Connected with students in order to create an
effective learning environment where there is
trust and respect.
AWARDS
DEANS LIST AWARD
Department of Education
2017-2019
OUTSTANDING MEMBER
AWARD
Texas State Teachers
Association 2019
PROFESSIONAL
AFFILIATIONS
Texas State Teachers
Association
February 2019-Present
EXPERTISE/SKILLS
 Whole Class / Small Group
Instruction
 Creative Lesson Planning
 Classroom Management
 Guided Reading
 Technology Integration
 Student Assessment
 Cooperative Instruction
 Differentiation for ELLs and
students with diverse
disabilities
 Parent-Teacher
Communication
 PBIS
Professional Experience (continued)
 Gained experience in seventh and eighth grade
co-teach classrooms, including subjects in math,
science, ELAR, and social studies.
 Participated in ARD meetings
 Gained instruction in how to write out IEP’s
 Implemented classroom management
techniques.
 Worked one on one with students in the co-teach
setting when extra scaffolding was needed.
 Taught Small Groups for students requiring extra
attention for certain content standards.
 Participated in professional development sessions
regarding how to integrate the ELPS into
instruction.
 Was able to observe and learn the Process for
TELPAS testing.
 Was able to determine what manipulatives
needed to be use for ELL students when working
in content areas such as history, math, science
and English.
MIDDLE SCHOOL AVID TUTOR | WILLIAM SLIDER MIDDLE
SCHOOL
October. 2017 - December 2018 | El Paso, TX
 Organized and let tutorial groups among 6th, 7th,
and 8th grade students. Leading them to figure out
questions of confusion in all subject matters,
specifically in math and Science.
 Helped teach students effective organizational
skills using Binders, and Agendas.
 Led Socratic seminars, challenging students to
think and speak using higher level critical thinking
questions.
 Differentiated instruction for ELLs and sped
students by implementing scaffolding techniques
and accommodations on their IEPS and 504’s.
 Created team building activities for students to
interact and engage with one another.
TECHNICAL SKILLS
 Near pod
 Google Classroom
 Pear Deck
 ClassDojo
 Hyperdocs
 Kahoot
 IxL
 Prodigy
PROFESSIONAL
DEVELOPEMENT
Leading the Way in Parent and
Family Engagement
TSTA-AE Professional
Development Session-Chris
Shade
April, 2019
How to effectively involve
parents and families in the
education of their child.
Teaching Would Be easy if it
wasn’t for the Students.
TSTA-AE Professional
Development Sessions
April, 2019
How the brain works, why
your brain is causing you
problems in the classroom,
and how to use strategies to
deal with stress in and out of
the classroom.
Techy Tools to Differentiate
Instruction from ELL’s to Gifted
Students.
The University of Texas at El Paso
TSTA-AE Professional
Development Sessions
April, 2019
Was Able to explore valuable
technology resources to take
differentiation to the next level.
Other Related Experience
Youth Leader, Abundant Living Faith Center
SUMMER 2014-2018 | El Paso, TX
 Led youth group discussions with teenagers ages
13-18.
 Chaperoned 300 students on various youth
mission trips.
 Developed volunteer training sessions.
 Led and trained upcoming volunteers.
 Organized and worked recruitment tables and
sign up tables for events.
 Worked and communicated with Parents when
they were signing up their child for missions trips.
Customer Service Experience, CHICK-FIL-A
September 2014-2016 | El Paso, Texas
 Presented excellent customer service for
customers to ensure that they had the best
experience possible when visiting our store.
 Worked alongside team members efficiently
and effectively to get our job done.
 Was able to work in a high paced environment
while maintaining calmness.
 Maintained flexibility, when asked to perform
multiple tasks.
Professional References
Melissa Nunn Belinda Vasquez
Former Avid Supervisor Cooperating teacher for
William Slider Middle School student teaching
915.433.9427 John Drugan pk-8
Mnunn01@sisd.net 915.929.9867
bvasqu@sisd.net
Sandra Sanchez Adalberto Garcia
Field Supervisor Principal
John Drugan School
915.490.1037 915.937.6800
slsanchez6@utep.edu agarci10@sisd.net