Fall is here, and we are continuing to settle into a new school year! We are excited to continue introducing the wonderful people who make up The Wolf School community! Today, get to know Claudia Martinez, who is joining our team as a Teacher Assistant. We are thrilled to welcome Claudia to Wolf and look forward to sharing more about her with you!
1. Can you briefly tell us about your background?
Throughout high school and my college years, I volunteered and completed student teaching experiences at my former elementary school where I supported special education classrooms in kindergarten, fifth grade, and a multilevel self-contained classroom. These experiences helped me discover my passion for working with students with unique learning needs. I soon obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of Rhode Island, which led me to a position as an Associate Behavioral Therapist in early childhood. In this role, I primarily worked with children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, helping them develop effective communication skills and find appropriate ways to communicate their needs with caregivers and other adults. Although I gained valuable experience in behavioral therapy, I soon realized that my true passion was working in an educational setting. This led me to my role as a Behavioral and Academic Support Aide in a Transitional Learning Classroom at Blackstone Valley Prep Elementary School. In this position, I supported students who needed additional assistance with academics, self-regulation, and social-emotional development. I also worked with those students during scheduled blocks in their general education classrooms, helping them navigate academic tasks and social-emotional challenges. During my time in this role, I spent the first half of the year supporting students in K-2nd grade before transitioning to support students in 2-4th grade. These experiences have allowed me to work with students across many different developmental and academic levels and have strengthened my passion for helping students grow, build confidence, and succeed both academically and socially.
2. What motivated you to want to work in a school setting?
My experience working with children in both educational and behavioral settings has definitely shaped my motivation in wanting to work in a school setting. Working in a school setting has shown me how rewarding it is to help students navigate life both in school and out of school, overcome challenges, build their confidence, and most importantly, recognize their own abilities. While I enjoyed working in behavioral therapy, I often found myself drawn to the education setting as I wanted to be more involved in students’ everyday learning and development. My biggest passion is helping support students not only academically, but socially and emotionally, along with helping them develop the skills they need to become as independent and successful as possible. This could also possibly stem from my pursuit of becoming an Occupational Therapy Assistant. I truly value the opportunity to collaborate with others, such as teachers, OTs, SLPs, Social Workers, other professionals, and most importantly, families, to find the best strategies to support each individual student. But I would have to say my biggest motivation is knowing that even the smallest progress can make the biggest differences in a student’s confidence and overall success. Additionally, I want to continue being someone who encourages students, advocates for the student’s needs and family’s needs, and continue to help students feel supported and capable in the classroom.
3. What is the most rewarding part of working with Complex Learners?
The most rewarding part of working with Complex Learners is seeing their growth as time passes and seeing their unique personalities shine through. I love being able to learn all the different things that work best for each student and finding ways to best help them feel successful, confident in their abilities, and most importantly, understood. Every student brings their own unique views to the classroom, which makes it such a special place to be in. Seeing students accomplish things they once struggled with is such a rewarding feeling that it reminds me why I love what I do and why I want to become an OTA, to better support students in becoming as successful as possible.
4. What is your favorite part about working at Wolf so far?
So far, my favorite part about working at Wolf is seeing how every student is set up for success in every classroom. Each student is provided the support and given the tools they need to be successful both in and out of school. I also love being in a community that works cohesively with one another and that recognizes that every student learns differently and works to help each student grow academically, socially, and emotionally. The Wolf School is a great environment to be in, as everyone has the same goal, which is to help the students succeed and provide the support they need to make that possible.
5. What is your favorite fall activity?
My favorite fall activity is getting cozy and watching movies with my husband and golden retriever in matching pajamas!
Welcome to Wolf, Claudia! Your kindness and enthusiasm towards your work are already making you an incredible addition to our school. We’re thrilled to have you!
To learn more about other Wolf Staff, read some of our past We Are Wolf interviews!