Kelly Mertens, M.Ed, C.A.G.S

Kelly Mertens has worked in special education for over twenty years. She is currently a Supervisor of Special Education for Danvers Public Schools. Previous to this position, she was a Special Education Administrator for Stoneham Public Schools and Lexington Public Schools. Kelly is also an adjunct faculty member at Boston University (where she focuses on student teacher programs that include teachers at the Landmark School in Beverly), Salem State University and a consultant for multiple districts across the state and a myriad of collaboratives. Kelly was a special education teacher at both the middle and high school level.
Kelly earned her Bachelor’s degree from Union College, a Master’s degree in Special Education from Salem State University and a C.A.G.S. in School Leadership and Administration from American International College. Kelly and her husband live in Lynnfield with their two children.
Kelly is an approved independent PDP provider through the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education in Massachusetts. PDP #2016007
Kelly holds the following licenses:
Superintendent
Administrator of Special Education, All Levels
Principal/Assistant Principal, levels PK-6, 5-8, 9-12
Teacher of Moderate Disabilities, levels PK-5, 5-8, 9-12
SEI Endorsed
Kelly can contract with other specialized providers if needed for student specific cases. These include certified reading tutors, PK teaching staff and therapists.
Kelly earned her Bachelor’s degree from Union College, a Master’s degree in Special Education from Salem State University and a C.A.G.S. in School Leadership and Administration from American International College. Kelly and her husband live in Lynnfield with their two children.
Kelly is an approved independent PDP provider through the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education in Massachusetts. PDP #2016007
Kelly holds the following licenses:
Superintendent
Administrator of Special Education, All Levels
Principal/Assistant Principal, levels PK-6, 5-8, 9-12
Teacher of Moderate Disabilities, levels PK-5, 5-8, 9-12
SEI Endorsed
Kelly can contract with other specialized providers if needed for student specific cases. These include certified reading tutors, PK teaching staff and therapists.
Relevant Professional Experiences
Professional Development Facilitator- Topics Include: Implications of Disabilities in the Classroom, Specially Designed Instruction, IEP Bootcamp, Progress Monitoring, Making Sense of Assessments, Inclusive Practices, Universal Design for Learning, Co-Teaching, Executive Functioning, Community Involvement, Transition, Instructional Assistant Strategies, IEP Development, Goal Writing, Civil Rights, Learning Disabilities, Special Education Laws and Practices, Collaboration and Creating Accessible Curriculum.
Roundtable Facilitator at EDCO Collaborative 2016-present
Course Developer: Unpacking Special Education
Course Instructor: Data Driven Instruction, Reading and Disabilities, Psycho-Assessment and Evaluations
Professional Development facilitator of Lexington Public School's Language Learning Program
Course Facilitator, Educational Development Center: Improving Math Learning for Students with Disabilities.
Moodle Course Developer: “Accessibility: Creating Curriculum for All Students”.
District Mentor Presenter: Successful Parent Interactions; Navigating IEP Processes and Communicating Progress.
Special Education Study Group Participant: Goals and objectives Course Manual.
Mathematics Study Group Participant: Breaking Down Barriers for All Students.
Relevant Trainings
Urban Collaborative National Conferences - Florida, Illinois
Conference for Exceptional Children - Indiana
Learning Differences Conference, Harvard University
Adult Learning Theory, Ellie Drago-Severson
High Expectations Teaching, Research for Better Teaching
Supervision and Evaluation, Teachers 21 (familiar with baseline edge and teachpoint)
Rejected IEPs: To Settle or Not to Settle, EDCO
Metrowest Literacy Symposium, EDCO
Best Practices for Identifying and Addressing School Refusal and Truancy
Legal Issues in Educating Students with Disabilities
Reflective Leadership Course
Safe Schools Program for LGBTQ YOUTH, DESE
Coping with Loss, Maria Trozzi
IEP Development: Writing Measurable Goals and Benchmarks, EDCO
Behavioral Health Conference, EDCO/Northshore Consortium
Transition Assessments, DESE
Student Self Determination, DESE
Mostly Special Ed with a Touch of 504
EDCO Roundtables for Sped Team Chairs/Admin
Kurzweil Assistive Tech Training
Preventing Teen Relationship Abuse, Dept. of Public Health, MA
Olweus Bullying Prevention Program
Restraint Training, Crisis Prevention Intervention
Community Service Learning Advanced Workshop
Wechsler Individual Achievement Test
Six Traits Writing Program
Introduction to Moodle
MCAS Alternate Assessment
Additional Coursework
Universal Design, Gordon College
Universal Design for Learning Course I and II, UMass Boston, DESE
Generalist Transition Planning, UMass Boston, DESE
Successful Co-Teaching Strategies: Increasing Inclusion Effectiveness, BER
Affirming Human Differences for Equity and Inclusion, Endicott College
Skillful Teaching: Using Data Day to Day, Framingham State College
Brain Based Teaching: Differentiated Instruction in the Classroom, Dr. Judy Willis
Middle School Math Accessibility Workshop, EDC
Working Successfully with Difficult and Disruptive Students: Strategies that Work, BER
Professional Development Facilitator- Topics Include: Implications of Disabilities in the Classroom, Specially Designed Instruction, IEP Bootcamp, Progress Monitoring, Making Sense of Assessments, Inclusive Practices, Universal Design for Learning, Co-Teaching, Executive Functioning, Community Involvement, Transition, Instructional Assistant Strategies, IEP Development, Goal Writing, Civil Rights, Learning Disabilities, Special Education Laws and Practices, Collaboration and Creating Accessible Curriculum.
Roundtable Facilitator at EDCO Collaborative 2016-present
Course Developer: Unpacking Special Education
Course Instructor: Data Driven Instruction, Reading and Disabilities, Psycho-Assessment and Evaluations
Professional Development facilitator of Lexington Public School's Language Learning Program
Course Facilitator, Educational Development Center: Improving Math Learning for Students with Disabilities.
Moodle Course Developer: “Accessibility: Creating Curriculum for All Students”.
District Mentor Presenter: Successful Parent Interactions; Navigating IEP Processes and Communicating Progress.
Special Education Study Group Participant: Goals and objectives Course Manual.
Mathematics Study Group Participant: Breaking Down Barriers for All Students.
Relevant Trainings
Urban Collaborative National Conferences - Florida, Illinois
Conference for Exceptional Children - Indiana
Learning Differences Conference, Harvard University
Adult Learning Theory, Ellie Drago-Severson
High Expectations Teaching, Research for Better Teaching
Supervision and Evaluation, Teachers 21 (familiar with baseline edge and teachpoint)
Rejected IEPs: To Settle or Not to Settle, EDCO
Metrowest Literacy Symposium, EDCO
Best Practices for Identifying and Addressing School Refusal and Truancy
Legal Issues in Educating Students with Disabilities
Reflective Leadership Course
Safe Schools Program for LGBTQ YOUTH, DESE
Coping with Loss, Maria Trozzi
IEP Development: Writing Measurable Goals and Benchmarks, EDCO
Behavioral Health Conference, EDCO/Northshore Consortium
Transition Assessments, DESE
Student Self Determination, DESE
Mostly Special Ed with a Touch of 504
EDCO Roundtables for Sped Team Chairs/Admin
Kurzweil Assistive Tech Training
Preventing Teen Relationship Abuse, Dept. of Public Health, MA
Olweus Bullying Prevention Program
Restraint Training, Crisis Prevention Intervention
Community Service Learning Advanced Workshop
Wechsler Individual Achievement Test
Six Traits Writing Program
Introduction to Moodle
MCAS Alternate Assessment
Additional Coursework
Universal Design, Gordon College
Universal Design for Learning Course I and II, UMass Boston, DESE
Generalist Transition Planning, UMass Boston, DESE
Successful Co-Teaching Strategies: Increasing Inclusion Effectiveness, BER
Affirming Human Differences for Equity and Inclusion, Endicott College
Skillful Teaching: Using Data Day to Day, Framingham State College
Brain Based Teaching: Differentiated Instruction in the Classroom, Dr. Judy Willis
Middle School Math Accessibility Workshop, EDC
Working Successfully with Difficult and Disruptive Students: Strategies that Work, BER