Employment History:
Reading Teacher, Lafayette Parish School System, La. (1982-1986); Fifth-Grade Teacher, Peace Corps, Micronesia (1974-1976)

Published Works:

Public Speaking Experience:

Why She is an Expert:
I consider myself to be an expert in children with learning disabilities in the area of mathematics, and children with emotional and behavior problems.

Best Advice:
You must really have a heart for the students and meet their entire needs — academic, social and behavioral.

Passionate about:
I like to exercise. I love traveling and spending time with my friends. I also love tennis, racquetball and any sports.

Biography Excerpt:
A strong love for teaching and her belief that she was meant to instruct children with special needs prompted Ms. Alexander to enter the field. “I always had big love for children,” she states as she recalls her time as a babysitter and camp counselor. A transformational event in her life occurred when she entered the Peace Corps. It was the 1970s and she traversed to a foreign land - Micronesia – where she enriched students for three months while living with them on a school campus. In order to reach the children, she had to learn to speak a different language. “We had interpreters and a language course to bridge the gap,” she remembers.

     

Cambridge Who's Who: What is the most rewarding aspect of your career?  
MS. ANN A ALEXANDER :  When the kids finally get the concept you are teaching, such as math; when they learn how to read; or when they come back after they haven’t seen me in 10 years and tell me that I’ve made a difference in their life.

What is your greatest professional accomplishment to date?
Teaching children at the school in Micronesia during my stint in the Peace Corps.

What is the most difficult obstacle or challenge you have faced in pursuit of your goals?
When some of the emotionally disturbed children would ‘go off’ or ‘get out of hand,’ it was hard to get them refocused because they really didn’t have substantial thinking or coping skills. Then, the parents would come and they would blame me for him or her going off and [the parents] wouldn’t have any coping skills. You have to overcome the environment; also, the parents’ lack of social skills. It’s very hard not to [judge them as parents]. For example, right now it’s very cold and some kids are here in shorts and they don’t have coats. I’ve purchased many coats for the kids, and I have a hard time when the parents let them go out like that.