Andratesha Fritzgerald, Ed.S is the author of Antiracism and Universal Design for Learning: Building Expressways to Success (CAST, 2020), winner of a Benjamin Franklin Award from the Independent Book Publishers Association. She has served extensively in education as a teacher, curriculum specialist, administrator, and director. As an international speaker, presenter, and facilitator, Fritzgerald exhibits an audacious perseverance that calls organizations to evolve into inclusive antiracist safe zones for all learners. Andratesha is a book nerd, Jeopardy enthusiast and imagination expert who loves writing and dreaming out loud with her husband, two children and committed educators who believe in academic success for all. She is the founder of Building Blocks of Brilliance Educational Consulting Firm. For more information, go to www.buildingblocksofbrilliance.com and @FritzTesha on Twitter.

Hello, I am Teresa Burnett and my stage name is DJ B Diamond. I love people, music, and dancing. That's why I'm following my dream of being a DJ. Having Down syndrome has not stopped me from being a confident and very capable adult. Plus, I am supported by my wonderful family. I’ve been a DJ for four years and have performed at over 75 events. In my eyes, everyone is equal and included no matter who they are or where they come from. My goal is to find ways to help the homeless. I also aspire to be an actress/model. I was recently hired for my first actress role as a voice-over character on a foreign-language TV series. One quirky fact about me is I am a Foodie! You can also check me out and follow me on Instagram @djbdiamond7

Dr. Patty Metheny is a long-time special educator having worked as a teacher, school psychologist and special education administrator over the past 37 years.  Since 2015, Dr. Metheny has been the Administrator for the East Valley SELPA and is currently a member of Executive Team for the SELPA Administrators Association of California as well as the Co-Chair for the Association’s Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Committee.  Dr. Metheny earned her Ed.D. in Organizational Leadership from the University of La Verne, her M.A. from Azusa Pacific University, and her B.A. from the University of California, Riverside. Her dissertation focused on identifying alternatives to special education due process for inclusion in IDEA. Dr. Metheny is a strong proponent of ADR practices and developing strong family-school relationships. Her expertise and interests include parent education, early childhood education, Multi-Tiered System of Supports, inclusive education, assessment practices, and special education compliance/policies and procedures.

Jennifer Brooksby is a Program Manager for Regional Services with the East Valley SELPA.  A Speech-Language Pathologist by training, Jennifer has 19 years of experience working with individuals with communication related disabilities.  Her work in the SELPA supports member districts and parents in resolving conflicts that arise through the IEP process in a manner that preserves the relationship and promotes student growth and success.  In addition to her work in dispute resolution, Jennifer is a leader in the SELPA on compliance best practices to meet the varied needs of students with disabilities.  Jennifer earned a Master’s in Speech-Language Pathology from Idaho State University and a Bachelor’s in Audiology Speech-Language Pathology from Brigham Young University, Provo. Her areas of interest in special education include early childhood education, inclusive practices, ADR to preserve relationships between families and districts, compliance, and data management.

Jim Stolze is the Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources in the Yucaipa-Calimesa Joint Unified School District, where he has been an educator for over thirty years.  He served six years as the district’s special education and student services director.  In that role, he focused on key initiatives such as inclusion, IDEA best practices, social-emotional learning (SEL), and alternative dispute resolution (ADR).  Prior to district level leadership, he served as a principal in the district at both the elementary and secondary levels leading his schools to a number of prestigious awards.  Having taught as a middle school social studies and English teacher, Mr. Stolze was a strong advocate for project-based/problem-based learning.  Mr. Stolze is a graduate of UC San Diego, where he earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in history, and UCLA where he earned his teaching credential and Master of Arts in Education.

Cherina Betters is the Chief of Equity and Access for San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools and also serves as an adjunct professor in the Teacher Education Credential Program for the College of Education at CSUSB. A lifelong learner, she has been in the field of K-12 education for 18 years in the capacity of teacher and administrator serving the students, families and communities of San Bernardino and Riverside Counties in Southern California. Dr. Betters has always viewed education as the means to overcome. The first in her family to graduate from college, Dr. Betters has a deep appreciation for education and the educational process. Dr. Betters is committed to advocating for students and educational excellence through equity. Dr. Betters is the proud parent of 6 children and one grandchild.

Matt Bogdanow is the Director of Education and co-founder of Everyday Arts, a Los Angeles-based non-profit that supports neurodiverse students in achieving their goals through inclusive arts integration. He is a Berklee College of Music graduate, summa cum laude, as well as a graduate of the Community-Word Project Teaching Artist Training and Internship Program. Mr. Bogdanow has delivered guest lectures on the intersecting fields of special education and the arts at University of California, Loyola Marymount University, and Otis College of Art and Design, and is the author of “The Backbone of Drumming; A Systematic Approach to Learning the Drumset.” As a world-renowned musician and educator, he ensures that Everyday Arts workshops have space for both noise and (sometimes excruciatingly long) silence.

Noemy Hernandez is an accomplished choreographer, artistic director, and arts administrator. Noemy holds a B.F.A. in Dance-choreography, 2 minors in Theater and Management, and a Certificate in Arts Management from the University of California, Irvine. Noemy lived in NYC, working as a teaching artist, dancer/choreographer, and Artistic Director before returning to her hometown of Los Angeles. Noemy served as full-time Managing Director of Calpulli Mexican Dance Company. Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival, The Brooklyn Philharmonic, the Kingdom of Bahrain, and the New York Metropolitan Museum have presented her artistic work, among many others. Noemy advances Everyday Art’s mission and strategic direction and brings sweet treats to staff meetings.

Megan serves as an Inclusive Practices Teacher on Special Assignment in the Poway Unified School District, in San Diego. She supports educators, paraprofessionals, and administrators in advancing inclusive instruction for students with disabilities, in TK-12th grades. Prior to this position, Megan led a special education program for students identified with Autism Spectrum Disorders and facilitated their inclusion in general education courses at Del Norte High School in the Poway Unified School District. During her tenure at Del Norte, Megan was recognized as the 2017 California Teacher of the Year and a finalist for National Teacher of the Year, for her work in advancing inclusive education for students with significant disabilities. In 2021, she was appointed by Governor Newsom to serve as a Commissioner for the Commission on Teacher Credentialing. Megan is also the co-author of two books: The Inclusion Toolbox and ParaEducate.

Trenace Sevilla is currently serving as a Curriculum and Instruction Teacher On Special Assignment in the Poway Unified School District and supports educators and administrators in accessing and implementing general education instruction. She supports curriculum and instruction across all subject and content areas in grades TK-5, across 28 elementary school sites. She brings more than 20 years of classroom, reading intervention, lesson design and staff development experience to sites to engage ALL learners.

Jamie LaFuze has been an educator for 14 years with a career that spans elementary, secondary and district level positions.  As a classroom teacher, Jamie focused her efforts on meeting the needs of all learners and creating lifelong readers.  She is currently an English Language Program Coordinator where she supports the needs of multilingual students and advocates for their assets to be celebrated.  Outside of education, Jamie is most often drinking coffee while her three rambunctious boys run cirlces around her.

Amy Fousek is currently a Technology & Innovation Coach with Poway Unified School District, where she provides on-site coaching and professional development around innovative instructional practices and blended learning. She is a CORE certified trainer and a member of Education Reimagined. Amy has presented at several regional and national conferences including Teach to Lead, ASU GSV, CUE, ISTE, and ASCD. She was part of the opening staff at Design39Campus, a learner-centered design thinking school in Poway Unified that was featured by Edutopia. With over 15 years of classroom experience and delivering professional development, Amy is passionate about leveraging technology to redefine student learning and building teacher capacity. Follow her on Twitter @amfousek_ed.

Laura Snow is a Teacher on Special Assignment supporting Inclusive Practices in the Poway Unified School District. Prior to this position, Laura initiated and supported inclusive education for elementary students with autism spectrum disorders who had previously been receiving special education services in a segregated classroom setting. This work led to her being recognized as a Poway Unified School District Teacher of the Year in 2020. She received her Master’s Degree in Special Education from the University of San Diego. Laura has been supporting a variety of learners in home based and school programs for 19 years. Laura is passionate about coaching and empowering educators to expand their toolkits to create learning environments where all students can thrive.

Kimberlie serves as an Executive Director II in the Poway Unified School District, in San Diego, CA. She works with school leaders, teachers, and staff in providing exceptional learning experiences for all students. She is passionate about creating conditions where schools are joyful, resilient and equitable places of learning.  Kimberlie has also had the privilege of being a TK-5 school principal and teacher in the Poway District and served as a District and School Improvement Director at the San Diego County Office of Education. 

Dr. Zhanna Preston has been a school administrator for over 23 years. She is a passionate advocate for equity and inclusion of students with disabilities. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Moscow, Russia, where she learned how educational systems that ignore learning and physical differences negatively impact not only schools, but the entire society. Today Dr. Preston collaborates with parents, staff, students, and community members to offer effective special education programs and inclusive opportunities for students of all ages. Dr. Preston has been nominated twice as the Murrieta Valley Unified School District’s Certificated Employee of the Year and continues to build cutting-edge special education programs.

Brandi Heise has been teaching for thirteen years, seven of which were spent inspiring Murrieta Valley Unified School District students, parents, and staff. Her entire family consists of passionate Broncos, including her husband (a Vista Murrieta High School teacher) and three children, students at the same high school. She quickly realized that the Murrieta Valley Unified School District would be a perfect home for the implementation of the peer mentoring program she studied as part of her master’s program. It took five years to get the program off the ground in collaboration with supportive district and site administrators, teachers, students, and parents who all contributed to the program’s success.

Hello, I am Teresa Burnett and my stage name is DJ B Diamond. I love people, music, and dancing. That's why I'm following my dream of being a DJ. Having Down syndrome has not stopped me from being a confident and very capable adult. Plus, I am supported by my wonderful family. I’ve been a DJ for four years and have performed at over 75 events. In my eyes, everyone is equal and included no matter who they are or where they come from. My goal is to find ways to help the homeless. I also aspire to be an actress/model. I was recently hired for my first actress role as a voice-over character on a foreign-language TV series. One quirky fact about me is I am a Foodie! You can also check me out and follow me on Instagram @djbdiamond7.

Tim Villegas is director of communications at MCIE, a nonprofit that envisions a society where neighborhood schools welcome all learners and create the foundation for inclusive communities. He is the founder of Think Inclusive, MCIE's blog and podcast. Throughout his 16-year career as a special education teacher, Tim advocated for including students with significant disabilities in general education classrooms. He continues his work with MCIE to empower schools and districts to move toward inclusive practices for each and every learner.

Alisha Crowe is a TK teacher at CHIME Charter Elementary School in Woodland Hills, CA.  She has been teaching for twelve years and her grade-level experience includes preschool ages 4 months to 4 years, TK, 1st, 2nd, and 4th.  Alisha graduated from College Of the Canyons in 2008 with AA Degrees in both UC Transfer Studies as well as Early Childhood Education, in 2010 from CSUN with a BA in Liberal Studies, and in 2011 from CSUB with her Multiple Subject Credential.

Adie Buchinsky is a Special Education teacher and Teacher on Special Assignment at CHIME Charter School. She has been teaching for 15 years and has worked in preschool and TK-7th grades. Adie also teaches pre-service teachers at California State University - Northridge. She holds a BA in Human Development from Brown University, MAT in Elementary Education and MA in Teaching Students with Special Needs from American University and New York University, and holds a National Board Certification. Adie was the founding special education teacher in CHIME's TK program 7 years ago.

Shannon is an Improvement Facilitator with the SELPA System Improvement Leads Project. She is passionate about increasing inclusive practices and working with educators to improve outcomes for all students. She has worked in the educational field for over 20 years in various roles. She has earned a Master’s degree in Special Education as well as holding multiple teaching and administrative credentials. She has worked as a general education teacher, special education teacher, and Program Specialist. In her current role, she hopes to continue to provide educators with the tools necessary to successfully include all students through the use of high leverage practices, data use and governance, and continuous improvement methodologies.

Ashley MacGavin has worked in the field of special education for over 10 years and currently serves in the role of Improvement Facilitator at Riverside County SELPA in Perris, CA working with the System Improvement Leads Grant. She holds a Master’s Degree in Education and credentialing including an Administrative Services Credential, Education Specialist Credential in Mild/Moderate and Moderate Severe Disabilities, and Multiple Subject Teaching Credential with an Authorization in Mathematics. Increased graduation rates and improved post secondary outcomes for students with disabilities is a passion for Ashley.

In 1998, Torrie Dunlap found her life's purpose when she taught a theater class for children that included a boy with Down syndrome. Kids Included Together helped her create a successful theater experience for this student and changed her worldview. She joined the KIT staff in 2003 and, in 2012, became KIT's Chief Executive Officer. In its 25-year history, KIT has brought disability inclusion to more than 741 programs, teaching more than 130,000 teachers and childcare providers in all 50 states and 15 countries. Torrie is a nationally recognized leader in the inclusion movement, delivering keynotes and training around the United States, Canada, and Europe. She's been published in various media channels, including textbooks, professional journals, trade magazines, and digital media. In October 2014, she delivered her TEDx talk, "Isn't it a Pity, The Real Problem with Special Needs.”

Alissa sets the research agenda at KIT, develops evaluation activities, and implements data systems. She has a BA in Psychology and an MS in Child and Family Development. She has facilitated research projects in university settings related to parent-child interactions, theory of mind, educator training, early intervention, and inclusion in school age programs. She also has direct experience as an early childhood educator, behavioral therapist, counselor, disabilities specialist, in-home therapy clinician, and data and planning director. She specializes in developing policies, training, and practice guides that support inclusion in early childhood and youth settings.

Andratesha Fritzgerald, Ed.S is the author of Antiracism and Universal Design for Learning: Building Expressways to Success (CAST, 2020), winner of a Benjamin Franklin Award from the Independent Book Publishers Association. She has served extensively in education as a teacher, curriculum specialist, administrator, and director. As an international speaker, presenter, and facilitator, Fritzgerald exhibits an audacious perseverance that calls organizations to evolve into inclusive antiracist safe zones for all learners. Andratesha is a book nerd, Jeopardy enthusiast and imagination expert who loves writing and dreaming out loud with her husband, two children and committed educators who believe in academic success for all. She is the founder of Building Blocks of Brilliance Educational Consulting Firm. For more information, go to www.buildingblocksofbrilliance.com and @FritzTesha on Twitter