Lakshmi is a Lecturer and Researcher in the field of special education at the Graduate School of Education at Stanford University. She completed her Ph.D. in Special Education at the joint doctoral program at the University of California, Berkeley with San Francisco State University in May 2021. Lakshmi is the recipient of the Walter J Gores Award, Stanford University's highest award for excellence in teaching. Prior to joining Stanford, Lakshmi worked as a special education teacher and inclusion specialist in a large public school district for 14 years. During this time, she spearheaded the design and implementation of inclusive education programs at the school district in grades K-12. Additionally she has worked as a professional development facilitator nationally and internationally on a variety of topics related to inclusive education and Universal Design for Learning (UDL).

Dedicated to fostering life-long learning through research-based learning methodologies, I am a learning designer with 25 years+ of experience in education. I hold a Masters from Northwestern University in Learning Sciences and have experience in the design and authorship of professional development (preK-20), classroom teaching (K-5), curriculum design, user-centered design, and technology development. My work has encompassed online, blended, and f2f learning. Enhancing and transforming learning for students of all types and ages are a priority.

Tiffany is a Certified Educational Therapist, the current Director of Learning Services, and Literacy Specialist at Helios School in Sunnyvale. Tiffany has worked at Helios since 2020, and enjoys supporting the 2E population in small group settings. Tiffany started working in education as a high school math teacher in Los Angeles. After moving to the Bay Area in 2012, she worked at an Educational Therapy office in Campbell while pursuing her certificate and masters degree in Educational Therapy. While she enjoyed her one-on-one work with students in an office setting, she felt compelled to work with students on a larger scale and decided to start working in schools. When not working, Tiffany enjoys spending time with her husband and two kids. As a family they enjoy playing sports, watching movies, and traveling.

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Teri has dedicated over 30 years to elementary education, fostering safe and enriching learning environments for students. As President of the Palo Alto Educators Association for 13 years, she has championed educators' rights and advocated for policies that support teachers and the students they serve. With a master’s degree in Elementary Education from the University of Connecticut, Teri has combined academic expertise with hands-on experience, developing professional development courses to empower fellow educators. Her passion for lifelong learning extends to her students, colleagues, and herself, rooted in the belief that growth and education define who we are. Throughout her career, Teri has worked to ensure children’s success while supporting educators’ rights, creating environments where both can thrive. Her work reflects a deep commitment to the transformative power of education and continuous growth for all.

Dr. Jennifer Madigan is a professor in the Connie Lurie College of Education at San Jose State University. She also worked for University of Hawaii as an Assistant Professor in Special Education. Prior to entering higher education, she spent 13 years working in special education and inclusive classrooms throughout the bay area. Her field work includes consultant work with school district leaders in effective research based practices in teacher induction and co teaching. Her publications include articles in Principal Leadership, Multiple Voices, Advances in Gender and Education, The National Journal of Urban Education and Practice, Journal for Teaching and Learning in Diverse Settings, and Teaching Exceptional Children. Her book, Mentorship of Special Educators, published by Corwin Press, was widely used in professional development nationally. Dr. Madigan has worked internationally with the Kingdom of Cambodia Ministry of Education and the World Academy for the Advancement of Women based in China and Nigeria.

Chiara W. Perry, Ed. S., is a passionate educator with a wealth of knowledge, skills, and experiences in special education that spans over 25 years in PK-12 schools. Her work includes developing quality inclusive programs through various instructional and administrative roles. Her tenure in education settings are rooted in inclusive practices, co-teaching, and growth mindsets, which play an instrumental role in co-developing and piloting full inclusion programs.  Her areas of expertise are inclusive education, culturally relevant/sustaining pedagogy, teaching reading, hands on teaching strategies, UDL, social emotional learning, understanding the functions of behavior,  multi-tiered systems of support, special education compliance, equity and data analysis. 

Compassionate and culturally sensitive counselor. Highly skilled at providing academic, social and emotional support through a problem solving approach. Experienced at working with students with specialized needs such as learning disabilities, homelessness and frequent adjustments. Interested in continuing professional develop by supporting the young adult population in the community college or university system to maximize their educational experience.

Dr. Hillary McKibben Miller, a parent of two young adults, is an experienced educator with over 20 years in PK-12 education. She has served in various roles, from teacher to administrator, consistently prioritizing strength-based approaches to meet the diverse needs of individual and small groups of students. Passionate about fostering positive school cultures and inclusive practices, Dr. Miller earned her PhD in Curriculum and Instruction to deepen her commitment to equitable learning opportunities for all. In 2020, she co-founded Solving Fun, a company dedicated to nurturing creativity, critical thinking, and collaboration through puzzles and games.

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