Lisa Stafford

Adjudicated Title II and Title XVI disability claims for the Social Security Administration (SSA) by reviewing a claimant's adaptive functioning and medical records to determine if the claimant's impairment met the SSA's medical listing as a disability. Communicated daily with claimants, medical providers, and legal representatives to gather information, and consulted with physicians to make timely and accurate benefit decisions for Texas Disability Determinations Services (DDS).

● Synthesized each claimant's medical, academic, and social history to formulate a rationale for my decision. Elucidated the reasons why a claimant might have difficulty completing certain vocational tasks and indicated the type of jobs, if any, the claimant was able to perform successfully.

Assisted maternity home residents--both mothers with a young baby and those expecting a child--in managing household tasks, maintaining employment, and monitoring their health. Transported residents to appointments, listened to their concerns and supported sound decision-making, and modeled appropriate parenting interactions.

As part of School Health Program, independently compiled and edited weekly e-newsletter (Friday Beat) to inform school health professionals of training opportunities, funding sources, and research related to 10 components of the Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child (WSCC) model. Readership doubled during my tenure.

● Collaborated with DSHS Librarian and State Nurse Consultant to create School Nurse Notes (SNN), a quarterly publication providing up-to-date research, resources, and best practices on topics for which school nurses need more information. Integrated commentary from the Texas Board of Nursing into each SNN issue.

● Revised Research and Recommendations (R & R) documents drafted by the Texas School Health Advisory Committee (TSHAC) on selected topics so that school districts can easily utilize this information and incorporate the R & R into local wellness policies.

Served as Grade 6 lead on Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC) test construction team, item-development lead at Grades 7 and 8 for Illinois Standards and Achievement Test (ISAT), and co-lead for Illinois Alternate Assessment (IAA) reading program at Grades 3 - 8 and 11.

● Developed passage sets by conducting passage and art searches, determining readabilities, modifying public domain text, and writing items. Provided feedback and guidance to those trained to deliver passage and item sets according to client specifications.

● Collaborated with educators by facilitating a data review meeting, item-writing workshop, content reviews, and test construction meetings; revisited educator feedback as needed during development.

● As member of PARCC scoring validation team, ensured that complex technology-enhanced items were accessible to all students and scored as intended by performing checks using item's XML coding and approved scoring rules.

● Managed item pool to select and construct first operational PARCC tests, including Accommodated Forms and field test sets, as well as sample tests for online use to inform educators / parents of changes needed to measure Common Core State Standards.

Served as primary contact for all aspects of test development for Reading at grades 3 - 5 as member of Special Education Assessments Team, coordinating test construction and revising ancillary materials (manuals, answer documents) for each test administration.

● Created tests appropriate for students with disabilities by regularly facilitating meetings with educators internally and externally to revise or delete items from bank for statistical reasons.

● Co-produced Student Assessment Division Newsletter, informing staff of changes and initiatives within division to create cohesion.

● Co-coordinated use of Braille materials at all grades in Math, Science, and Social Studies so each item on Braille test was appropriate and presented fairly and that test administrators could be prepared in advance of testing with regard to special procedures.

● Served on Accommodations Task Force, responding to hundreds of testing requests from district personnel. Met with task force regularly to establish accommodations policies and to revise Accommodations Manual.

● Fielded calls / emails from parents and other stakeholders regarding state and federal legislation impacting testing program. Developed correspondence explaining implications of such laws and regulatory guidance.