Advocacy
Greater Minneapolis-St. Paul Area
- Current
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- School Board, Director at ISD 279 Osseo Area Schools
- Member at Osseo District 279 Parent Legislative Network
- Advocacy-Grassroots Action Alert Member at Arc Greater Twin Cities
- Advocate for Legislative Calls to Action at Autism Society of Minnesota
- Past
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- Co-Chair at District 279 Parent Legislative Network
- Middle School Teacher at Robbinsdale Community Schools
- Elementary Counselor at Urbandale Community Schools
- Early Intervention Specialist/Teacher Early Head Start/Head Start at Drake University
- Teacher at Waterloo Community Schools
- Education
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- Drake University
- University of Northern Iowa
- South Hamilton Community Schools
- Trainings and Certifications
- Connections
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44
connections
- Industry
- Public Policy
- Websites
Laura Cottington’s Summary
Educator, parent, advocate for children, youth, and families who have children or family members with developmental disabilities like Autism.
Educator and advocate for educational funding and bills at the legislative level.
Laura Cottington’s Specialties:
Education, Computer Publishing of Newsletters for Non-Profits and other communication, Small volume archival of pictures and documentation for organizations in book format, Adobe Photoshop, Microsoft Publisher
Laura Cottington’s Experience
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School Board, Director
ISD 279 Osseo Area Schools
(Public Policy industry)
2009 — Present (less than a year)
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Member
Osseo District 279 Parent Legislative Network
(Primary/Secondary Education industry)
March 2008 — Present (1 year 9 months)
Advocating for legislation that supports quality education in Minnesota public schools, with a focus on issues specific to District 279.
As Co-Chair of the steering group, known as the Parent Legislative Team, our charge is to organize events and opportunities to further educate the network and community on school funding. We will provide annual Legislative Report Cards, Legislative Forums during election years, along with other opportunities for educating the public.
During the legislative session, we will provide our extended Parent Legislative Network with weekly Legislative Updates from the capital, along with "Calls to Action" which require phone calls, letters and visits to our legislators on issues we are advocating for. We develop our platform for each legislative session by December of each year.
Those wishing to be a part of our Parent Legislative Network, can sign up at OsseoPLN@gmail.com to be on our email "Call to Action" list. -
Advocacy-Grassroots Action Alert Member
Arc Greater Twin Cities
(Civic & Social Organization industry)
June 2005 — Present (4 years 6 months)
Legislative networking with our state leaders which includes advocating for issues related to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families the opportunity to realize their goals of where and how they live, learn, work and play. Advocacy includes housing, education, work and health care to name a few.
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Advocate for Legislative Calls to Action
Autism Society of Minnesota
(Individual & Family Services industry)
June 2005 — Present (4 years 6 months)
The Autism Society of Minnesota works with individuals, families, organizations and agencies to assist and enhance those with Autism. The AuSM focusses on education support, collaboration, and advocacy.
Advocates reach out to legislation, schools, individuals, and community groups...
...To inform and educate families, professionals, and the community about autism spectrum disorders and promising interventions that meet individual needs.
...To advocate for appropriate services and rights for people with ASD and their families.
...To support families and individuals through services and relationships. -
Co-Chair
District 279 Parent Legislative Network
(Public Policy industry)
February 2008 — January 2009 (1 year )
Advocating for legislation that supports quality education in Minnesota public schools, with a focus on issues specific to District 279.
As Co-Chair of the steering group, known as the Parent Legislative Team, our charge is to organize events and opportunities to further educate the network and community on school funding. We will provide annual Legislative Report Cards, Legislative Forums during election years, along with other opportunities for educating the public.
During the legislative session, we will provide our extended Parent Legislative Network with weekly Legislative Updates from the capital, along with "Calls to Action" which require phone calls, letters and visits to our legislators on issues we are advocating for. We develop our platform for each legislative session by December of each year.
Those wishing to be a part of our Parent Legislative Network, can sign up at OsseoPLN@gmail.com to be on our email "Call to Action" list. -
Middle School Teacher
Robbinsdale Community Schools
(Primary/Secondary Education industry)
2000 — 2005 (5 years )
Teacher and program coordinator of a school-within-a-school alternative education classroom. Students were in grades 6-8 and all subjects were taught. The program was entitled "WINGS" which stood for Working Innovatively Now for Graduation Success. The premise was to catch students earlier than the typical high school setting where alternative education usually starts, and to prepare students to go back to the mainstream by high school with school success.
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Elementary Counselor
Urbandale Community Schools
(Education Management industry)
1998 — 2000 (2 years )
Provided classroom guidance to two elementary buildings that served 520 children. Conducted small group counseling. Rendered individual counseling to students referred by students, staff and families. Facilitated 504 meetings. Participated in Building Assistance Teams. Chaired Respect/Character Counts Committee. Provide parenting resources to families and local PTA. Facilitated site based/shared decision-making processes. Trained as a Cognitive Coach and Training Facilitator to help with site based decisions and evaluation of staff.
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Early Intervention Specialist/Teacher Early Head Start/Head Start
Drake University
(Educational Institution; Higher Education industry)
1993 — 1998 (5 years )
Early Intervention Specialist (Drake University Early Head Start 1996-1998) Provided services to pregnant women and families with children birth to age three.Home visit families in a family-centered approach. Conducted infant and toddler developmental assessments for early intervention. Promoted health and nutrition education to families. Assisted families with social services, family goal planning, and child care. Facilitated parent meetings. Conducted monthly parent and child interactions/education.Provided child development activities during home visits. Recruited and enrolled families for the program.
Head Start/Pre-K Teacher (Des Moines Public/Drake University 1993-1996) Utilized Primary Program and Reggio approach in a child centered manner. Home visits were completed with a minimum of two per family per year. Home interaction activities were provided to families weekly. Fostered nutrition and health practices through curriculum and home newsletters. Created monthly newsletters for family resources and education. Supervised a team including teacher assistant, a social worker and nurse. -
Teacher
Waterloo Community Schools
(Education Management industry)
1991 — 1993 (2 years )
Teacher at Grant/Bridgeway Elementary School.
K-5th grade computer science. Taught keyboarding, word processing skills, and math and science applications to grades Kindergarten through fifth. Acquired and employed new hardware and software programs with federal grant money. Networked computer lab and classroom computers. Integrated Hyperstudio with classroom science and social studies projects for fourth and fifth grades. Provided quarterly in-service presentations to teachers and staff on current computer technology
Reading Resource Teacher
Administered Whole Language lessons to grades first through fifth. Reinforced Writer’s Workshop. Provided reading and language arts enrichment activities. Utilized cooperative learning and the use of critical thinking skills.
Laura Cottington’s Education
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Drake University
MA , Education , 1996 — 1998
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University of Northern Iowa
Double BA , Elementary Ed/Early Childhood Ed , 1988 — 1991
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South Hamilton Community Schools
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Trainings and Certifications
- Activities and Societies:
- Quality Infant Caregiving/Syracuse University, NY
National Zero-to-Three Training Institute, Washington, D.C.
Early Head Start Training Institute, Washington, D.C.
Healthy Pregnancies/Healthy Babies-American Red Cross
Des Moines, IA
Beyond Diversity/Glenn Singleton- District 287,Plymouth, MN
Additional Information
Laura Cottington’s Websites:
Laura Cottington’s Interests:
School funding, Special Education, Equity in Education
Laura Cottington’s Groups:
Minnesota School Board Association, National School Board Association, African American Action Council, Cross Winds Methodist Church, Disciples of Christ Upper Midwest Youth Council,
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Drake University Alumni (2,000+) -
University of Northern Iowa Network
Laura Cottington’s Contact Settings
Interested In:
- career opportunities
- consulting offers
- new ventures
- expertise requests
- reference requests
- getting back in touch
