My journey began working as a Special Education Teacher at Seneca Family of Agencies teaching middle school. After my first year of teaching, I realized that I had a special bond with students who had experienced severe trauma and marginalization and that is where my passion for special education began. In my nine years of teaching there, some of my responsibilities included: managing IEP files and documents to maintain compliance with Special Education Law, maintaining effective classroom management and discipline and creating engaging lessons for students in a variety of academic abilities, generating and incorporating learning strategies for students with learning disabilities, collaborating with school administrators, parents, and outside providers in designing and implementing individualized education plans for students, engaging in conflict resolution with students and creating a safe place for students to be themselves. Throughout these nine years, I worked with a diverse range of emotional, physical and cultural backgrounds in one of the most highly restrictive educational settings that exist and it shaped who I am today and the lens I bring into this work.

 

In addition to teaching, I am also a lifelong learner. I received my bachelor’s degree in Child and Adolescent Development from SFSU, my Master’s degree in Special Education from CSUS and my Doctorate in Special Education/Disability Studies from USF. 

 

I have dedicated my life to serving and supporting one of the largest groups of marginalized students and I look forward to continuing that work at OSA.