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Our Partners
Benay Loftus, Program Administrator, Antelope Valley SELPA
Benay Loftus is the Antelope Valley SELPA Program Administrator and received both her Masters’ Degrees in Psychology and Educational Leadership in 1993 and 2003 respectively from California State University Northridge. She began her career with the Lancaster School District as a school psychologist. She spent nine years in that position becoming an administrator in Lancaster School District in 2002. Benay spent eleven more years with the Lancaster School District as a special education and early childhood administrator prior to becoming the SELPA administrator in 2013, where she provides support to the ten member districts of the Antelope Valley SELPA. She serves on the Executive Board of the SELPA Administrators of California and represents the organization as liaison with the Association of California School Administrators (ACSA). Additionally, she currently serves as the Greater Los Angeles Area SELPAs (GLAAS) co-chair for the Non-Public Schools Rate Reconsideration Committee.
Debra Rondeau, Assistive Technology Specialist, Antelope Valley SELPA
Debra Rondeau, is an Assistive Technology Specialist for the Antelope Valley SELPA. She started her career as a Multiple Subject Teacher and then moved into Special Education as an Adaptive PE Teacher. Developing a passion for students with special needs, she worked as an Orthopedic Impairment Specialist assisting students in physically accessing their educational environment before transitioning into the role as an Assistive Technology Specialist. As the SELPA Assistive Technology Specialist, Mrs. Rondeau supports member districts, organizes professional development in the areas of AT/AAC, conducts difficult AT Assessments, oversees low incidence equipment, and collaborates with districts in improving practices and outcomes for students with disabilities in the areas of Universal Design and Assistive Technology.
Marci Zeppegno, Program Manager, Humboldt County Office of Education
Marci Zeppegno is a Program Manager for Prevention and Intervention Services at the Humboldt County Office of Education. In this role she supports districts in school climate transformation work. She is a trainer and coach in Universal Design for Learning (UDL), a certified trainer with the International Institute of Restorative Practices (IIRP), a trainer and coach in PBIS, and a Region 1 Lead and certified coach for CA MTSS. Prior to this position she was an education specialist for over twenty years working with students in preschool up through high school. She received her M.Ed. at Cal Poly Humboldt.
Jaime Tate-Symons, Executive Director, North Inland SELPA
Jaime Tate-Symons is the Executive Director of the North Inland SELPA (NISER). Throughout her career, she has threaded her passion of Assistive Technology in her educational background and in her work supporting students, parents, and schools/districts. Her first work in the AT field involved the development of a writing lab for her middle school students who were English Language Learners with disabilities where she incorporated a grant funded assistive technology software suite to remove barriers and increase opportunities for inclusion. Jaime is honored to be part of the statewide wide efforts in both AT and AAC.
Audrey Weed, Coordinator, North Inland SELPA
Audrey Weed M.A., CCC-SLP, is a coordinator for the North Inland Special Education Region (NISER) SELPA. She started her career as an Augmentative and Alternative Communication/Assistive Technology (AAC/AT) specialist and has cultivated a passion for developing teams who can confidently use assistive technologies with their students. As the SELPA coordinator, Ms. Weed supports AAC/AT teams, coordinates alternative dispute resolution processes, organizes professional development, and collaborates with districts in improving practices and outcomes for students with disabilities.
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Jennifer Hicks, Associate Superintendent of Educational Services, Placer County Office of Education
Jennifer Hicks is the Associate Superintendent of Educational Services for the Placer County Office of Education. Ms. Hicks oversees the Early Learning, Equity Innovation and Support, and Leadership and Learning Collaborative departments at PCOE. Ms. Hicks holds a BA in Liberal Studies from CSU, Sacramento and an MS in Educational Leadership from Walden University. She successfully integrates a framework for improvement and implementation science into professional learning, coaching and leadership practices. She designs and implements programs and services that promote research-based school improvement practices and serves the diverse needs of students. Ms. Hicks is a WestEd Equity Accelerator Fellow and has a passion for ensuring equity and creating sustainable systems change.
Kathryn Ferreira, Executive Director of Equity, Innovation, and Support
As the Executive Director of Equity, Innovation and Support at Placer County Office of Education, Kathryn Ferreira’s role includes working with districts on Differentiated Assistance, state and federal programs, and Curriculum and Instruction. Prior to joining the COE, Kathryn was a Principal, Vice Principal, instructional coach, professional development provider, and teacher. Her experience at school sites targeted building sustainable systems for MTSS, supporting the whole child, providing instructional leadership, and building capacity through effective Professional Learning Communities. Her school reform approach focused on the system, including creative and systematic approaches to addressing the needs of underserved and marginalized students.
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