Jocel Ibañez-Lazarito is an educator specializing in Autism, behavior management, and staff professional development. She graduated with honors from St. Mary’s College’s Master of Arts in Teaching Leadership, prior to working as the SELPA Program Coordinator at Lawndale Elementary School District. She has taught students with special needs for 15 years and was nominated Teacher of the Year in 2011. Jocel was featured in an article by the East Bay Times in August 2017. A conference presenter and Edtalk speaker, mentor and coach to colleagues and to parents of individuals with disabilities, and voice to the special needs population on social media, Jocel is a strong proponent of evidence-based, inclusive education.