SPEAKERS & HANDOUTS
Embedded Files
** Handouts will be available closer to the conference date.**
Keynote Speaker
Keynote Speaker
Morgan van Diepen
Morgan van Diepen
Morgan is a BCBA with more than 15 years of experience working with neurodivergent learners, their families and teachers. As the co-founder of ABA Visualized, she has self-published a collection of books that rank at the top of “Behavioral Disorders in Special Ed.” and “Parenting Books on Children with Disabilities” categories. She has presented at respected conferences and designed custom trainings for clinical organizations and school districts. She continues to act as an advocate for making behavior expertise more approachable.
Dr. Brynn Biggs
Dr. Brynn Biggs
Owner of Beyond Barriers Consulting
Dr. Brynn V. Biggs focuses her research on promoting equity in access for individuals with disabilities. Her areas of interest include special education and career and technical education, 18+ transition programs, and professional collaborative practices. With over a decade of experience in Texas public schools, Brynn has served in various roles such as secondary special education teacher, transition specialist, and 18+ Programs Instructional Coach. Beyond her school roles, Brynn contributes to district-level, state-level, and national-level professional development, covering a range of topics related to transition and career and technical education. Outside the professional realm, Brynn collaborates with multiple agencies in her local and state community and has been involved in serving on the boards of community partnership groups.
Sarah Kay Brent
Sarah Kay Brent
Education Specialist – Special Education Instructional Coach – Region 16
With 20 years of experience in education, Sarah Kay Brent is a champion for high-quality instruction that reaches every student. Her background spans Special Education, 1st-grade classrooms, literacy coaching, and intervention, giving her a unique, 360-degree view of student achievement.
Sarah is a specialist in leveraging High-Quality Instructional Materials (HQIM) through the framework of Universal Design for Learning (UDL), ensuring that core curriculum is built for the widest possible range of learner needs from the start.
In her current role as a Special Education Instructional Coach, Sarah focuses on system-wide coherence, bridging the gap between general and special education programs. By supporting teachers within tiered instructional frameworks and guiding the implementation of specialized curricula, she works to ensure that specialized support is a seamless extension of rigorous grade-level learning.
Sarah is a specialist in leveraging High-Quality Instructional Materials (HQIM) through the framework of Universal Design for Learning (UDL), ensuring that core curriculum is built for the widest possible range of learner needs from the start.
In her current role as a Special Education Instructional Coach, Sarah focuses on system-wide coherence, bridging the gap between general and special education programs. By supporting teachers within tiered instructional frameworks and guiding the implementation of specialized curricula, she works to ensure that specialized support is a seamless extension of rigorous grade-level learning.
Landon Brown
Landon Brown
Academic & Clinical Instructor, Department of Speech & Hearing Sciences
West Texas A & M University
Landon Brown, M.S., CCC-SLP is a current speech-language pathologist and instructor in the WTAMU Department of Speech & Hearing Sciences. He has 10 years of experience supporting autistic children and their families in clinical practice.
Landon’s work focuses on family-centered care, autism support, and AAC. He is especially passionate about helping families and professionals apply evidence-based practices in ways that are respectful, collaborative, and sustainable in real-life contexts.
Landon’s work focuses on family-centered care, autism support, and AAC. He is especially passionate about helping families and professionals apply evidence-based practices in ways that are respectful, collaborative, and sustainable in real-life contexts.
Dr. Nancy Coffey
Dr. Nancy Coffey
School Psychologist, Education Specialist - Autism, Transition,
and School Psychologist – Region 17
Nancy Coffey PhD is the Region 17 Education Specialist for Autism, Transition, and School Psychology Cohort. Prior to working at Region 17, Nancy worked for a Special Education Co-op as School Psychologist and Early Childhood Intervention. Nancy received both her Master’s in Educational Psychology and Doctorate in Educational Psychology from Texas Tech University.
Dr. Christina Gushanas
Dr. Christina Gushanas
Assistant Professor of Special Education and Director of the Garrett Center –
Sam Houston State University
Dr. Christina M. Gushanas is an Assistant Professor of Special Education and Director of the Garrett Center on Transition and Disability Studies at Sam Houston State University. Her work focuses on secondary transition, 18+ services, and improving post-school outcomes for students with disabilities through evidence-based practices, systems alignment, and community partnerships. Dr. Gushanas has extensive experience supporting school districts across Texas in designing and implementing individualized transition services that meet federal and state requirements while responding to local context. She has led and collaborated on multiple federally and state-funded initiatives focused on transition, autism, and rural service delivery.
Dr. Gushanas regularly provides professional development to educators, administrators, and community partners on effective transition planning and programming.
Dr. Gushanas regularly provides professional development to educators, administrators, and community partners on effective transition planning and programming.
Christina Hairgrove
Christina Hairgrove
Education Specialist – Gifted & Talented – Region 16
Christina Hairgrove serves as the Gifted and Talented Specialist and Regional Testing Coordinator for ESC Region 16, bringing 14 years of dedicated experience to the field. By bridging the gap between assessment policy and specialized instruction, she advocates for a "whole child" approach that prioritizes the individual behind the scores and labels.
Driven by a deep appreciation for clear procedures and the "why" behind student performance, Christina views social-emotional learning as an essential mechanism for removing the "speedbumps" that often hinder twice-exceptional learners. My passion is giving students tools to transform the learning environment into a space where every student has the confidence to dream big and reach their full potential.
Driven by a deep appreciation for clear procedures and the "why" behind student performance, Christina views social-emotional learning as an essential mechanism for removing the "speedbumps" that often hinder twice-exceptional learners. My passion is giving students tools to transform the learning environment into a space where every student has the confidence to dream big and reach their full potential.
NaTasha Hubbard
NaTasha Hubbard
Special Education Teacher – Dumas ISD
NaTasha Hubbard has worked in the field of special education since 2009 and is currently in her 17th year of teaching as a Kindergarten/1st grade Alternative Curriculum Classroom (ACC) teacher for Dumas ISD. She supports students with diverse learning needs, including those with significant cognitive disabilities and complex communication needs. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Special Education and a master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction with a focus on Special Education from West Texas A&M University. She is passionate about creating engaging, structured learning environments that promote communication, independence, and meaningful participation. Her classroom motto, “Let your light shine,” reflects her belief that every student has something valuable to offer.
Dr. Layne Pethick
Dr. Layne Pethick
Behavior and Autism Consultant – Region 10
Hi, I’m Layne Pethick, a Brain Nerd with a Passport, which basically means I spend my life trying to figure out why humans do what they do (and occasionally laughing at how weird our brains can be). By day, I serve as a Behavior and Autism Spectrum Disorders Master Consultant for the state of Texas, and by night, I’m usually buried in brain research, questioning screen time, behavior, learning, trauma, mental health, and whatever fascinating neuroscience rabbit hole shows up next. Over the past 30+ years, I’ve worn many hats, teacher, administrator, professor, trainer, and have shared this work everywhere from the U.S. to Mexico, China, Canada, Vietnam, and others. My mission is simple: make brain science practical, make support more human, and make sure we leave with better strategies… and at least a few good laughs along the way.
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