My name is Elija Collum and I am a Center-Based Autism (CBA) teacher!
This is my third year at Boltz Middle School, and my second year as a teacher. Before becoming a teacher, I worked as a paraprofessional for 4 years and have worked with students with special needs for 8 years. I attended PSD schools for most of my childhood and graduated from Poudre High School in 2014. I went on to play women's soccer at Otero Junior College and graduated with my Associates in Education in 2017. I hold a Bachelors degree in Special Education-Educational Studies and will graduate this May with a Masters in Special Education. Obviously, I love Special Education!
When I am not working with students (my absolute favorite thing to do) I am spending time with my husband, family, and two Great Pyrenees puppies, Maggie and Marley. I also coach the Boltz Middle School girls soccer team in the spring. I enjoy reading, building Legos, and swimming. I'm excited to have your students this year!
The Center-Based Autism program serves students with extensive autism needs. We work on targeted literacy, math, social skills, and functional skills in our classroom and students attend science, social studies, and electives with their same aged peers. Our students are supported 100% of their day by either a teacher or paraprofessional under the supervision of a teacher.
This is the second year in a row I will be offering the Project Unify class. This class brings same aged peers of differing abilities into the CBA classroom. Students work together on inclusive practices, partner and group work, social skills, community access, and planning school events like our Project Unify Staff-Student basketball game.