LAKSHMI BALASUBRAMANIAN

Lecturer & Sr. Researcher, Stanford University

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).

MATTHEW LINDNER

Director of Educational Services, Hillsborough City School District

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CHIARA PERRY

Assistant Director, California Collaborative for Inclusive Practices

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. 

LACOSTA BROWNING

School Counselor, Ocean Grove Charter School

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.

HILLARY MILLER

Educational Leader & Co-Founder, Solving Fun, LLC

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.

VICTORIA TREVOR

Head of School, Athena Academy

Ms. Victoria Trevor brings over two decades of leadership experience in education to her role at Athena Academy. Before joining Athena, she served as the Head of Lower School at Episcopal Day School in San Mateo and has a strong background in both teaching and administration. With degrees in geography and education, Ms. Victoria has taught students across a wide range of age groups in both England and the United States, enriching every community she has been a part of. Deeply committed to empowering neurodiverse learners, Ms. Victoria is especially passionate about dyslexia education and creating learning environments that build confidence through hands-on, project-based learning. Her approach is grounded in the belief that when students engage in meaningful, real-world experiences, their strengths can truly shine.

Outside of school, Ms. Victoria enjoys cinema, travel, dining out, swimming, and long walks. She also practices yoga and is a passionate Liverpool Football Club supporter, but her favorite role is being a devoted mother.

PIPER JOSEPH

Elementary Classroom Teacher, Palo Alto Unified School District

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 NIELSEN

Director of Learning Services, Helios School

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.

CHRISTINA ARROYO

School Principal, Fremont Unified School District

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