Welcome to the 2025-26 school year! We are thrilled to welcome our new staff members to our Special Education Department!

New Teachers:

Jorje Aguirre, Mira Costa High School

Elliott Estes, Mira Costa High School

Julia McKane, Mira Costa High School

Stephanie Bonette, Manhattan Beach Middle School

Kenny Juge, Manhattan Beach Middle School and Robinson Elementary School

Lauren Richards, Manhattan Beach Middle School

Cynthia Milhorn, Grand View Elementary School

Victoria Borgerding, Pacific Elementary School

Anna Beth Scott-Proctor, Robinson Elementary School

New Adapted PE Teacher:

Julian Catania, Elementary Schools and Manhattan Beach Middle School

New Occupational Therapist:

Sarah Krenik, Meadows and Pacific Elementary School

New Behavior Intervention Specialist:

Rachel Kumaar, Pennekamp and Meadows Elementary School

New School Psychologist: 

Sarah Ramirez, Pennekamp Elementary and Mira Costa High School

New Speech and Language Pathologist:

Ben Rose, Manhattan Beach Middle School

Contracted Speech & Language Pathologists:

Analisa Church, Pacific Elementary School

Haley Moser, Mira Costa High School

Coretta Talbert, Pennekamp and Grand View Elementary School

Nia Webster, Manhattan Beach Preschool and Manhattan Beach Middle School

Contracted Speech & Language Pathology Assistants:

Elizabeth Gutierrez, Pacific Elementary School

Crysti Hunt, Meadows and Pennekamp Elementary School

New Special Education Teacher Academy

For the second year, the Special Education Department administrators have scheduled a series of professional development meetings with our new certificated teachers. During these meetings, we meet to review Department/SELPA procedures that may be new to staff. Additionally, our coordinators routinely communicate with our new teachers and providers.

Our 2025-26 Special Education Advisory Committee (SEAC) Site Representatives and Community Advisory Council (CAC) can be found here. 

Our SEAC meeting format has been revised. This year, Mira Costa High School, Manhattan Beach Middle School, and our Preschool will each host three school-based SEAC meetings.

These school-based SEAC meetings will be open to parents who have children at the school site with an IEP.

At the elementary level, we will be holding three SEAC meetings, open to parents who have children with an IEP in our elementary schools.

Dates for the specific site-based meetings will be distributed soon. In addition, all SEAC Site Representatives will also meet four times:

October 30, 2025
December 18, 2025
February 19, 2026
April 30, 2026

Introduction to IEPs-Part 1: We welcome all families with a child who is currently being assessed for special education to join us. This is a recurring presentation that will review the assessment process, the initial IEP meeting, and answer any questions. All presentations will take place at the District Office from 9:00 to 10:00 a.m.

Dates:

September 26, 2025
October 31, 2025
December 12, 2025
January 23, 2026
March 6, 2026
April 17, 2026
May 29, 2026

Introductions to IEPs-Part 2: We welcome all families with a child who has an IEP to join us. This is a recurring presentation where we will dive deeper into the IEP process. Topics include special education eligibility criteria, IEP goals, progress reports, accommodations, services, and IEP notes. All presentations will take place at the District Office from 9:00 to 10:00 a.m.

Dates:

October 10, 2025
March 20, 2026

This year, the SELPA CAC awards will be held on April 23, 2026, location TBD. If you plan to attend and support our award winners this year, please mark your calendars.

2024-2025 CAC Award Winners

Our Special Education Coordinators will be holding office hours. These office hours will allow for an additional way parents can communicate with coordinators and help address questions/concerns regarding their child’s IEP.

Special Education Coordinator (elementary), Sam Hucker, will have office hours for elementary families:

December 4, 2025, from 9:00-11:00 a.m.

February 4, 2026, from 12:00-2:00 p.m.

April 28, 2026, from 1:00-3:00 p.m.

Sign up here (for all days)

Special Education Coordinator (secondary), Allison Desfor, will have office hours for secondary families:

December 5, 2025, from 9:00-11:00 a.m.

March 12, 2026, from 12:00-2:00 p.m.

June 3, 2026, from 11:30-1:30 p.m.

Sign up here (for all days)