Ken, Social Skills Development Teacher
For the past 9 years, Ken Downing has been Center Point School’s Social Skills Development Teacher. Center Point School is an Oregon Department of Education registered private alternative school which offers academic services in a therapeutic environment for middle and high school aged youth with emotional, neurological, developmental, and/or behavioral challenges.
Ken received his degree in Behavioral Psychology with a minor in Philosophy and a 2-year music studies diploma with guitar emphasis from Utah State University in 1990. He can be seen using his guitar to teach during class, which has been engaging for youth.
After college, Ken worked as the Director of Independence Development Services in a long-term care facility in Utah. Working with a broad range of clients, his objective was to develop self-care skills for residents who had lost or had never developed those skills. Later, Ken spent nine years teaching skills of daily living to teens with behavioral challenges in a residential program in Utah.
Additionally, he spent several years working as an Intensive Behavioral Intervention (IBI) specialist in Idaho utilizing behavioral modification techniques to replace maladaptive behaviors and increase life skills of children with autism. The focus of Ken’s career has been the improvement of quality of life through the development of skills of independence.
The staff at Center Point School are committed to using best practices combined with creativity to foster an environment that motivates students and encourages individual growth. Teaching occurs with the individual student in mind as well as the group which promotes generalization of skills across environments.
Why did you want to become a teacher?
“Behavioral Psychology and Education are very similar in that they are both outcome oriented. For me, the desired outcome is to help students improve their quality of life, to help them find their way to becoming happier and more self-actualized people. I view beneficial knowledge and the development of healthy patterns of behavior as a direct path toward that outcome.” - Ken Downing
Thank you Ken, for all that you do for our students at Center Point.
Hear from Ken about why he loves the work he does at Center Point School