Presenters

Jocelyn Alvarez

I have worked for six years with foundational learning (life skills). I have supported all levels of foundations from severe and profound to emergent. Over the years I have worked as a substitute, paraprofessional, teacher and coach. In my role as teacher I have gained experience and knowledge in schedule making and maintenance. I am currently working on my graduate degree to be able to better serve my campus and the community.

Allison Billes

Allison is currently a Teacher of Students with Visual Impairments in Round Rock ISD working with a variety of students. She attended Florida State University and received her B.S. in Visual Impairments Education well as her M.S. in Curriculum and Instruction for Orientation and Mobility. Prior to working in Round Rock ISD, Allison has spent time at Texas School for the Blind and Criss Cole Rehabilitation Center. Allison enjoys exploring how to utilize assistive technology with low tech solutions and other mediums, like braille, to provide students with opportunities for greater exploration and understanding.

Rebecca Bloxham

Rebecca Bloxham worked as an Essential Academics (Life Skills) teacher for approximately 10 years, then became an Essential Academics Specialist at the district level. She provided training and support to teachers in the Essential Academics settings and intervention recommendations for student specific programming. Rebecca is now a Special Education Coordinator, overseeing all sped programs in her current district. Her passion is to provide targeted instruction that leads to student independence and gives ALL students a voice.

Rebekah Bolls

I have seven years teaching experience working with special education and behavior supports. I have worked as a paraprofessional, teacher, behavior specialist and PBIS coordinator. Over the past seven years I have managed schedules for campus staff, program paras and behavior teams. I am currently working on my graduate degree to continue to support MTSS on a district-wide level.

Debbie Braungart

Debbie is an experienced educator and has been working in the field of Special Education for over 20 years. Although she currently works as a life skills teacher for grades K-2, Debbie has experience from early childhood to adulthood. Debbie earned her B.A. in Psychology from The University of Texas at Austin in 2002. She recently obtained her M.S. in Early Childhood Education in 2020, and her M.Ed. in Special Education in 2021 and will be pursuing her BCBA starting in the fall of 2021. Debbie’s hobbies include crafts, baking and billiards.

Erica Cairns

Erica Cairns is a teacher of students with visual impairments (TSVI) who began working with children who are blind and visually impaired in 2003 in the Chicago suburbs. She received her M.A. in Special Education: Visual Impairment in 2008. Erica moved to Texas in 2013 and spent seven years working as an itinerant TVI in the Austin area before. She is now an education specialist for visual impairment at Education Servie Center Region 13.

Robbin Clark

Robbin Clark is an Expanded Core enthusiast! She currently serves as the Expanded Core Curriculum Coordinator at the Utah School for the Deaf and Blind and is the camp director for Camp Abilities Utah, a one-week developmental sport camp for children with visual impairments. Prior to her current work, she worked seven years as the vision rehabilitation therapist in the Children’s Services division at BESB in Connecticut. Other past professional roles include: teacher for deafblind children, an early intervention therapist for children with vision impairments and director for various programs of students with vision impairments. Robbin offers professional expertise, tips, and resources to parents and educators on her blog The Independent Little Bee, adifferentkindofvision.blogspot.com, and on her 9MoreThanCore social media accounts (IG, Facebook, Twitter). She collaborates with a number of schools for the blind to effectively train staff in Expanded Core instruction and is often invited to be a keynote speaker in workshops and symposiums. Personally, Robbin has been active in the vision impairment community since her youth: living and working with her mother who has total vision loss provided the foundation for her life’s passion. Her credentials include a vision rehabilitation therapist graduate degree from the University of Arkansas, Little Rock and a graduate endorsement in curriculum & instruction from Walden University.

Monique Coleman

Monique is a TVI, scholar, and activist. She has over 20 years of experience teaching blind and visually impaired (BVI) children and youth of all abilities, from early intervention through high school. She is president of VISTAS Education Partners and coordinator of the National Homework Hotline for Blind & Visually Impaired Students. Monique is a doctoral candidate at Rutgers University. Her research interests include intersectionality, asset-based pedagogies, and educational equity. She is co-author of “Cultural Diversity in Children’s Braille Books,” Journal of Visual Impairment and Blindness (Forthcoming). Monique is a community organizer and serves on the Board of Education.

Courtney Forman

I am currently the lead TSVI with Round Rock ISD, where I have been serving students with visual impairments for the past four years. Prior to that, I served as a teacher in a self-contained LID classroom. I have a passion for creative, inclusive practices that will encourage independence and positive socialization. I love to find new sources of information to further my own knowledge as well!

Nichole Kertis

Nichole Kertis Barton is an occupational therapist with over 20 years of pediatric and school-based experience. Additionally, she is a graduate of the Assistive Technology Applications Certificate Program (ATACP) from California State University at Northridge. She is currently the Education Specialist for Related Services and Assistive Technology at ESC Region 13. Nichole presents regionally and at statewide conferences on topics related to best practices in assistive technology and in school-based therapy services.

Monica Kurtz

Monica is a Behavior Specialist at Region 13. Her background includes over 10 years of experience in early childhood education, as well as 15 years at the Texas School for the Deaf working with students from Kindergarten to adult-learners who are deaf and also have additional disabilities. Her work at Region 13 includes supporting and coaching behavior teachers and programs, supporting the PREPARE curriculum, and working with educators to support individual students. Monica has a master’s degree in education, focusing on trauma and resiliency in curriculum. She is passionate about working with educators in understanding the effects of childhood trauma and how to build resiliency and student coping skills.

Heidi Lersch

Co-developed and taught healthy relationships curriculum for students with IDD. Job coach for students with disabilities in a transition program. Education team lead at residential day program. Family Crisis Center Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence Prevention Educator. Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) volunteer (children with disabilities).

Justin McCullick

Justin McCullick is an Adapted Physical Education specialist at Region10 Education Service Center in Richardson Texas. Justin has been teaching physical education and adapted physical education for 8 years. He has presented at conferences and webinars across the country addressing the importance of quality physical education, fitness, and recreation opportunities for individuals with disabilities.

Chris Nikic

Chris Nikic is the first person with Down syndrome to complete an Ironman-a grueling 140.6-mile race.

Phuong Palafox

Phuong Lien Palafox, MS, CCC-SLP, is a Vietnamese-Chinese bilingual speech-language pathologist, author and advocate. Currently, her time is spent serving clients and their families, SLPs and educators across the United States. Her work has been featured in various publications including the American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology and content for the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. With a foundation of evidence-based and human-centered practices, she is continually invested in Cultural Responsiveness, Advocacy, Narrative-Based Interventions and the Mental Health of Educators. She is the author of The Heartbeat of Speech-Language Pathology. Attendees leave her presentations and storytelling reflecting, refueled and re-engaged in their meaningful work. You can find more information at www.phuonglienpalafox.com.

Brenna Ramos

First year ECSE teacher but 12+ years in personal experience in visuals and how they are absolute magic! USMC Veteran, Autism Mom. I have pulled from my personal experience of complex communication delays, processing delays and Autism bringing the magic to my classroom and the families that I serve!

Daniel Rigney

Daniel Rigney, CCC-SLP is an Education Specialist at Region 13. He received his M.A. in Communication Sciences and Disorders from UT Austin and has over a decade of experience working students in Special Education in a variety of roles. As part of Region 13’s Low Incidence Disabilities team, Daniel provides direct instructional support for educators who teach students with significant cognitive disabilities. He also provides in-person and digital educational experiences, and facilitates Region 13’s AU/DD Specialist Network.

Lisa Rukovena

Lisa Rukovena, CCC/SLP is the Education Specialist for Speech-Language Pathology and Bilingual Special Education at the Education Service Center, Region 13. After receiving her M.A. in Communication Sciences and Disorders from UT Austin, Lisa entered the public schools as a campus-based SLP and later took on an administrative role. Her primary professional goal is to afford students of all origins and abilities the power that accompanies self-expression.

Jennifer Russell

Jennifer Russell has been serving students with disabilities for over 15 years in a range of settings including early childhood, self-contained, resource, inclusion, co-teaching, and private instruction in both New York City and Austin. Jennifer is currently an ECSE Education Specialist at Region 13.

Dr. Melinda Schwartz, Ed.D.

Dr. Melinda Schwartz has been an educator for over 30 years. Melinda has a masters in early childhood education and a doctorate in educational leadership. She has served as a teacher in multiple grades, Pre-K-5; an instructional specialist for grades K-6; an elementary curriculum coordinator; and an elementary principal. Melinda is thankful that her present position as a learning services educator with ORIGO Education allows her to continue to pursue her passion for helping educators do their best work every day.

Dreena Tischler

I am a self-contained Life Skills teacher for K-2nd grade; my typical class makeup is largely students with Autism. I have a passion for teaching exceptional students and am truly grateful to be in my "dream job."

Maryteresa Tracy

Maryteresa Tracy is an Early Childhood specialist at Region 13. She began a public school, specialized preschool program for children with Autism in the Boston area- where she remained until moving to Austin, Texas, becoming a full-time ECSE teacher. She left the classroom to work as a ECSE Behavior Specialist in Austin, TX for nine years before joining the Region 13 in 2009.

Jim Walsh

Jim Walsh graduated from the University of Texas School of Law in 1975. In 1983, he was one of the three lawyers who founded the firm now known as Walsh Gallegos Treviño Russo & Kyle P.C. From the beginning the focus of the firm was on serving public schools—helping the people who help the kids.

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