Special Education

At Aspire Public Schools, we serve all children. We provide a comprehensive Special Education program with specialized academic instruction and supports, and a range of all related services.  We believe all children have the right to be part of the whole school community. Aspire’s priority is to coordinate and integrate all components of the instructional program to ensure ALL students receive what they need to make progress.

Aspire’s Special Education delivery will support all students in the Least Restrictive Environment through inclusive practices in collaboration with families, communities, and school site teams within the core program to address the unique needs of diverse learners.

Families: We want Aspire families to feel empowered to be active participants in their child’s education journey.

Parents are  engaged throughout their child’s Individual Education Plan (IEP) process. To best serve all of our families, Aspire Public Schools has a highly accessible and responsive Special Education across our 4 regions and 40 schools.

In our Secondary Program, a collaborative effort between College Guidance Counselors and Special Education Post-Secondary Transition Planning ensures students are prepared for

appropriate choices for continued learning, career planning, and/or independent living.

Aspire prides itself on our highly-qualified special educators serving students with Mild/Moderate and Moderate/Severe disabilities across our 40 schools in California and Tennessee.

Teammates: As a Special Education teammate at Aspire, you are part of a Professional Learning Community with role-alike peers across your region, which includes dedicated opportunities for professional development and professional growth.

Aspire special educators are supported in a variety of methods: Education Specialists: Teacher Residency Program in partnership with University of Pacific; Supervised Teacher or Professional Internships; New Teacher Induction; Related Service Providers and Education Specialists: Coaching Support, Regional Special Education Professional Development and ongoing professional growth opportunities.

Depending on location, Aspire schools are members of one of the following:

• California El Dorado County Office of Ed Charter SELPA
• Los Angeles Unified School District SELPA
• Tennessee Achievement School District

Information regarding each Aspire school’s Child Find, Student Study Team (SST), or Response to Intervention (RtI) process may be found on our individual school pages.

Special Education Contact Information:

Lisa Freccero, Senior Director of Special Education

Aspire Bay Area Region
Elizabeth Blevins, Regional Director of Special Education
Carol Cardona, Special Education Administrative Assistant

Central Valley Region
Meghann Cazale, Regional Director of Special Education
Silvia Escalera Perez, Special Education Administrative Assistant

Los Angeles Region
Rebecca Burton, Regional Director of Special Education
Evonda Bullard, Special Education Administrative Assistant

Memphis Region
Josh Getty, Regional Director of Special Education
Jade Coleman, Special Education Administrative Assistant