Get to know Amanda Lynch
Early life....
Amanda was born in Lancaster, California. Lancaster is a city located in North Los Angeles County. Amanda lived in Palmdale, California (neighboring city to Lancaster) her whole life until she attended college.
Education....
Amanda completed her general education courses and received her AA degree in Behavioral Science from Antelope Valley Community College in 2010. After receiving her AA degree, Amanda transferred to California State University at Northridge (CSUN) to obtain her bachelors degree. In 2013, Amanda received her bachelors degree in Liberal Studies with an emphasis in Literacy. While a junior at CSUN, Amanda was accepted into the Intergrated Teacher Education Program (ITEP) which allowed her to obtain her bachelors degree and her teaching credential at the same time. Amanda recieved her Mild-Moderate Special Education teaching credential. Finally, Amanda is working on her Masters degree in Learning Design and Technology from the University of Southern California (USC), and she is expected to graduate in 2018.
Professional Experience...
After graduating from CSUN with her bachelors and teaching credential, Amanda stayed with her college job as a behaviorist. She worked with developmentally disabled individuals and provided independent living assistance. She worked as a supportive living specialist for three and a half years in total. About a year after she graduated, she decided to pursue her true passion which is to become a special education teacher. Amanda applied to Five Keys Charter School as a Special Education Teaching Assistant, and got the job. She currently still works for Five Keys Charter, and has been working there for over four years.
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Five Keys Charter School is the first high school of it's kind to operate inside adult county jails throughout California. Amanda works in the Los Angeles region and is one of three Special Education Teachers throughout Los Angeles. Inside Los Angeles County jails, Amanda works with the 18-22 year old males with active IEPs. Within the community sites, Amanda is in charge of three sites, two are considered youth sites, and the last one is a traditional adult site. The youth sites are located in Boyle Heights (city between Downtown LA and East LA) and Hollywood (LGBT Center), and the students ages range from 15-22. The traditional site is located in Lancaster and the students ages range from 18-22.
Professional Goals...
In the future, Amanda would like to:
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* Develop curriculum that can be easily used by every student, special education or traditional, by providing curriculum to teachers with multiple ideas on how to differentiate instruction.
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* Create a program and/or plan that will allow for full inclusion of all students of all backgrounds. Overall, Amanda would love to get rid of the segregated special education classroom setting for learning disabled.
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* Finally, Amanda would like to, one day, conduct research about the relationship between special education students and gang involvement/high level crimes.
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