Angela is passionate about using technology to enable Texans with disabilities to meet their educational, vocational, and personal potential.

 She is a speech language pathologist and assistive technology specialist with over 30 years’ experience in assistive technology with an emphasis in augmentative and alternative communication (AAC).  

She is Certified in Clinical Competence by the American Speech Language and Hearing Association. Angela obtained her Bachelor of Science in Education and Theater from Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, Texas, and her Master’s degree in Communication Disorders from the University of Houston. 

She is currently the Director of the Texas Technology Access Program (TTAP) at the Texas Center for Disability Studies, University of Texas. 

 Dr. Acosta is a dedicated and experienced educator with 26 years of experience. Over the course of her career, She has spent 20 years in the classroom, teaching students from 3rd grade through high school, with a strong focus on Reading and Language Arts in the upper elementary grades. Her deep understanding of curriculum and instruction is further enriched by three years as an instructional coach and three years as an assistant principal. 

She's passionate about fostering student success through high-quality instruction, collaborative leadership, and a commitment to continuous school improvement. 

Christina serves as Director of Coaching for Emergent Tree Education, providing strategic leadership to support high-quality implementation of MTSS frameworks in schools across the nation. Based in Austin, Texas, she partners with organizational leaders to strengthen behavior systems and improve outcomes for educators and students. Christina’s work is driven by a deep commitment to serve others in schools and the community, making the world a better place. 

Gaby Hernandez earned her Bachelor’s degree from the University of Texas at Austin and her Master’s in Communication Sciences and Disorders from Texas State University. She worked for eight years as a bilingual school-based Speech-Language Pathologist in Austin, including serving as regional lead SLP for a charter network supporting 10 campuses from Pre-K through 12th grade.

Gaby now works as an AAC Consultant at PRC-Saltillo, where she is passionate about empowering AAC users and the families and educators who support them. She holds the Certificate of Clinical Competence from American Speech-Language-Hearing Association and is licensed to practice in Texas. She is a salaried employee-owner of PRC-Saltillo.

Giovianne L. Washington,MSW, CTCM is a native of San Francisco, California and currently serves as the Project Coordinator for the Texas A&M University San Antonio, Alamo Bridges Program. As the Project Coordinator, his role entails handling daily project implementation, overseeing funding allocation, monitoring timelines and compliance, and serving as the primary contact and liaison for community partnerships.

With over 25 years of experience, Giovianne has worked in various positions involving program management, contract administration, workforce development and quality assurance roles within the Health & Human Services profession. Giovianne received both his Bachelor's of Arts and Master of Social Work degrees in Social Work from California State University, Sacramento. His seminary training includes study at Christian Family Church International (CFCI) Bible Institute of Johannesburg, South Africa, graduating with a bachelor's degree in Practical Christian Ministry.

In 2014, Giovianne was elected as Chairman of the Clergy Community Advisory Board (CCAB). The CCAB is a local chapter of the statewide Advisory Committee for Promoting Adoption of Minority Children (ACPAMC). As set forth in the Texas Administrative Code, recommendations from this Advisory Committee to DFPS are to promote the adoption and provision of services to minority children. In 2017, Giovianne was elected Chairman of the Bexar County Technical Advisory Committee for Persons with Disabilities (TACPD). The TACPD serves as a link between citizens with disabilities and Bexar County Commissioner Court. The committee provides assistance to offices and departments to ensure equal accessibility to opportunities in employment, facilities, services, and programs. 

Lindsey Gabel earned her undergraduate degree in Special Education from Texas A&M University. She went on to complete a master’s degree in Counseling and Development, with a concentration in School Counseling and Clinical Mental Health. Lindsey began her career as a K-5 self-contained classroom teacher in Texas, where she supported students through individualized instruction and differentiated learning strategies. She now serves as a Customer Success Manager at Everway, where she partners with district leaders across Texas to implement Everway solutions. In this role, Lindsey supports schools in driving student outcomes, strengthening educator capacity, and ensuring long-term program success. 

Rachel Collins is a certified Teacher of the Deaf/Hard of Hearing and Teacher of Students with Visual Impairments. She holds a Master's degree in the Education of the Deaf/Hard of hearing and a graduate certificate in Deafblind Education. With over 25 years of experience, Rachel has worked in a variety of settings, including self-contained classrooms, residential programs, and itinerant services, supporting students who are deaf/hard of hearing, blind/low vision, and/or deafblind. She served as a district Deafblind Specialist and now holds her current position as Deafblind Education Consultant with the Texas Deafblind Project. 

Sarah Mossberger is a certified Teacher of Students with Visual Impairments (TVI) and recently earned certification as a Teacher of the Deaf/Hard of Hearing (TDHH). She holds a Master's degree in Special Education and a graduate certificate in Deafblind Education. Sarah's experience includes roles as a special education classroom teacher in both a behavior management unit and as a specialized instruction teacher. She later became an itinerant TVI and served as a district Deafblind Specialist. In 2023, Sarah joined the TSBVI Deafblind Outreach team. 

Sierra Herbort is an Account Executive at Everway (formerly n2y and Texthelp) based in Austin, Texas. Previously a Certified Child Life Specialist at Texas Children’s Hospital and Dell Children’s Medical Center, she supported children with autism and other developmental delays in understanding, communicating about, and coping with medical procedures, new diagnoses, hospitalization, and therapies. She led committees advocating for the rights of patients with disabilities, wrote grants to support this population of patients, and led hospital-wide trainings on developmentally appropriate best practices. Now, Sierra leverages her experience to help school districts optimize curriculum implementation, high-quality data collection, and special education funding. A proud UT Austin and Texas state grad, Sierra loved Austin so much she never left -- you can find her camping at Bastrop State Park, playing sand volleyball at Aussie's, or doing the crossword at Epoch most weekends.

Stacy Morgan is the co-founder of Emergent Tree Education, an organization partnering with school districts across Texas and beyond to strengthen MTSS-Behavior through practical, scalable support. She began her career as a high school special education teacher and went on to serve as a Behavior Support Teacher, District Behavior Specialist, and Special Education Coordinator—building deep expertise at every level of implementation.

Stacy holds a Master’s degree in Educational Psychology from Texas A&M University and earned her Behavior Coach Endorsement through Region 13 Education Service Center. She has been an invited speaker at numerous state and national conferences. She also served for many years as President of the Texas Association of Behavior Specialists, reflecting her commitment to advancing the field.

Through her work, Stacy helps districts move from isolated efforts to aligned, system-wide practices that drive meaningful outcomes for students. 

Stephanie Graham,M.Ed is the Bobcat RISE Program Specialist focusing on employment.  She graduated from Texas State University in 2014 with her degree in interdisciplinary studies and obtained her masters in special education in 2018 from Grand Canyon University.  Her experience has been in the K-8th resource/inclusion setting as well as self-contained.   Since joining Bobcat RISE in September 2024 as the Program Specialist for Employment, Stephanie has worked on building 20+ micro-internships and/or job-shadowing partnerships.  She is also developing curriculum for employment classes that Bobcat RISE students participate in each semester.  

Stephanie’s areas of expertise include assistive technology use in the classroom and work place, implementing and teaching others about accommodations in the classroom and workplace, and collaborating with professionals from varying fields to meet the student’s support, educational, and employment needs. 

Tiffany Ng-Gray, M.A. has over 10 years of K-12 special education experience. She spent 7 years as a self-contained classroom teacher, where she worked directly with students requiring comprehensive supports. From there, she transitioned out of the classroom as an Inclusion Specialist, where she focused on creating inclusive educational environments for all students. Within Bobcat RISE, Tiffany has been working on establishing an advising protocol and consulting with professors to provide accommodations and modifications for our students.   

Rachel Ulmer is the Special Education Coordinator for New Braunfels ISD and brings 20 years of experience in special education serving students, families, and educators across a variety of settings. Rachel is a proud graduate of Texas A&M University (Whoop!), where she earned her Bachelor’s degree in Education before completing her Master’s in Curriculum and Instruction.

Throughout her career, Rachel has served as a life skills teacher, resource/inclusion teacher, behavior teacher, behavior specialist, and district leader. These experiences have shaped her expertise in behavior systems, inclusive practices, as well as her passion for creating sustainable systems that support both students and educators.

Rachel has presented at the Emergent Tree MTSS-Behavior Conference Exchange in both 2024 and 2025 and regularly provides training for teachers, administrators, and district staff. Her work focuses on building sustainable behavior supports and improving systems to create meaningful outcomes for students and schools alike.

Marge Walsh, an Occupational Therapist with 40 years of school-based practice,

has made significant contributions to the field. She was honored as the New Jersey Occupational Therapist of the Year in Pediatric Practice and co-authored best practice guidelines for school-based related services. 

Marge was a pioneer in fostering collaborative relationships between therapists and educators, promoting innovative and inclusive approaches to support their students’ learning. Her expertise extends to early intervention, sensory processing, assistive technology, and delivering over 150 professional presentations.

Diya Datta is the Program Director for Lifelong Learning with Friends (LLwF) UT San Antonio Branch. She is also a Neuroscience PhD student at UTSA studying auditory hypersensitivity in Fragile X Syndrome. Diya has been associated with LLwF since 2021 and have been teaching classes to adults with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD) since 2025. 

MBA, 

Apple Education Account Executive

M.A.

Apple Leadership and Learning Executive

Allegra Montemayor, Ph.D. is a Consultant for Autism at Education Service Center, Region 20.  She began her career as a special education teacher in 2008, where she first recognized the growing need for stronger supports for students with autism and the educators who serve them. Since then, her work has focused on building educator capacity through practical, evidence-based strategies that can be implemented across classroom and roles. Dr. Montemayor has extensive experience supporting teachers, paraprofessionals, and administrators in behavior support, ABA-aligned practices, inclusive instruction, and systems-level implementation. She is passionate about translating research into real-world applications and empowering educators to respond to student needs with clarity, confidence, and compassion.

Amy Strauch is currently the Component Director of Special Education and School Support Services at the Education Service Center, Region 20 located in San Antonio, TX.   She is a Licensed School Psychologist and currently leads programs at ESC-20 that include Special Education, School Health, School Safety, School Counseling, and Mental Health.   With over 20 years in the field of special education, Amy has experience as a practicing campus-based practitioner, an Evaluation Consultant, a Special Education Liaison, and a Special Education Coordinator.      

Amanda Real is a Licensed School Psychology and a Nationally Certified School Psychologist with 15 years of experience in public education. She began her career as a school-based school psychologist and later served as a behavior specialist, coordinator, and director of special education services at the district level. Regionally, she has supported districts as the Child Find Consultant at Education Service Center, Region 20 in San Antonio. Following her work as an independent consultant, Amanda now serves as the School Psychology Program Manager for ESC Region 20, where she leads initiatives to strengthen school psychology services and workforce capacity across the state.

Anna is a dedicated CTE Consultant specializing in helping Local Education Agencies (LEAs) bridge the gap between policy and practice. With a focus on maximizing student outcomes, she provides high-impact staff training and hands-on technical assistance tailored to the unique needs of each district. By delivering real-time TEA updates and strategic guidance, Anna ensures that programs remain compliant, competitive, and focused on preparing students for high-wage, high-demand careers. 

Dr. Cindi Bowling is a behavior expert with a Ph.D. in Industrial and Organizational Psychology with over 20 years of experience in the special education field. A specialist in PBIS and discipline data analysis, Dr. Bowling currently focuses on coaching school leadership teams to implement effective MTSS-B frameworks. Their work is defined by a commitment to data-informed decision-making and the belief that behavioral health is the foundation of academic success.

Dante Chavarria is an Education Consultant in the area of Behavior and Discipline at ESC-20. He received his bachelor’s degree in psychology and his master’s degree in education. Dante has worked as a Teacher and Behavior Specialist in Special Education in Edgewood ISD, South San ISD and San Antonio ISD. Dante supports LEAs through professional development and implementation supports in the area behavior and discipline.

Diana Glass is an Early Childhood Special Education (ECSE) consultant at Education Service Center, Region 20 in San Antonio, Texas.  Diana's career began as a classroom teacher, where she taught Pre-K to 1st grade, as well as 3rd grade, and developed a deep passion for supporting the early development of young learners. Now, Diana focuses on helping fellow educators enhance their knowledge and skill set, providing them with the tools and strategies needed to make meaningful impacts in their classrooms. 

Erika Guerrero is a dedicated advocate and educational leader currently serving as a Special Education Statewide Liaison. With a career spanning over 20 years, they specialize in bridging the gap between complex policy and classroom-level implementation to ensure all students have access to high-quality inclusive programming.

Before stepping into the liaison role, Erika served as an Inclusive Practices Consultant, where they coached districts on creating equitable learning environments. The foundation of their expertise lies in 17 years of classroom experience as a former special education teacher and CTE teacher with a focus on post-secondary outcomes. Erika played a pivotal role in Texas's inclusive landscape by partnering with the Special Olympics to spearhead the Unified Champion Schools programming. This initiative focuses on fostering school climates of acceptance through inclusive sports, youth leadership, and school-wide engagement.

Looking ahead, Erika aims to scale these inclusive frameworks statewide, leveraging data-driven insights and collaborative partnerships to ensure equitable outcomes are a standard reality for every learner in Texas.

Evelyn Crespo is an educator with over 15 years of experience supporting students, families, and school communities across San Antonio. She is currently the  Program Manager for Head Start in the Early Childhood Education Component  and previously served as a Project AWARE Consultant at Education Service Center, Region 20, leading professional development and district-level consultation focused on mental health awareness, resiliency, and trauma-informed practices in K–12 education.

A former classroom teacher, RTI Facilitator, and school counselor at the elementary, middle, and high school levels, Evelyn brings a comprehensive understanding of academic intervention, school counseling, and educator wellness. She is committed to creating safe, supportive environments where students feel empowered to learn and thrive.

Evelyn holds a Master’s degree in School Counseling from Lamar University and is certified in School Counseling and Principal EC–12, Special Education, and ESL.

With over 25 years of experience dedicated to transforming outcomes for students, Goldie Tappan is a  Dyslexia and Related Disorders Consultant at Education Service Center, Region 20.  Her perspective is unique, built on a career that includes both teaching general/special education and specialized roles as a Certified Academic Language Therapist (CALT) and Educational Diagnostician. Goldie previously directed a major district's dyslexia program before moving into her current role as a Dyslexia and Related Disorder Consultant. She is a Qualified Instructor who passionately focuses on empowering educators, ensuring they have the tools and knowledge to correctly identify, assess, and provide effective, life-changing support for students with learning differences.

Gracee Condor, MA, NCSP, is the Special Education Evaluation Consultant at ESC-Region 20. She holds degrees from Texas Lutheran University and Trinity University. With over 14 years of experience as a Nationally Certified School Psychologist, Gracee brings extensive expertise in districtwide evaluation operations, ARD facilitation, and IEP development. She has served as a districtwide leader in psychological services and evaluation compliance, most recently overseeing Child Find operations for early childhood and private/homeschool programs. Gracee is passionate about bridging the gap between evaluation and impactful student support through legally sound, collaborative practices.

Kelly-Anne Carroll, an Inclusive Practices Consultant at ESC Region 20, brings two decades of experience in special education to her role. Her extensive background includes working in diverse educational settings such as resource rooms, co-teaching environments, content mastery programs, redirection support, behavior management, self-contained classrooms, and district-wide consulting. Currently, Kelly-Anne focuses on empowering educators to develop and implement highly rigorous learning environments that ensure meaningful access for all students. 

Kimberly Baumgardner brings 26 years of dedicated experience to the field of special education. Her career began in Waco ISD as a special education teacher, where she served in inclusion, resource, and co-teaching roles across elementary, middle, and high school levels. Kimberly has worked at the Education Service Center, Region 20 for 16 years, serving six years as a special education curriculum specialist and four years as a Family Engagement Consultant before stepping into her current role.

Now in her seventh year as a Statewide Special Education Liaison, Kimberly partners with LEA and campus leaders to drive systemic change for students with disabilities. Her work centers on a data-driven, continuous improvement model, empowering teams to move beyond surface-level issues to address root causes. Kimberly helps LEAs identify specific needs and create sustainable improvement plans that emphasize internal accountability. She strives to connect Texas educators with the targeted resources and strategic support necessary to close achievement gaps and ensure meaningful outcomes for students receiving special education services. 

A country girl at heart, Kimberly finds her greatest balance enjoying time outside in nature, planting flowers and gardening while also managing to keep up with her two teenage daughters. 

Lisa Kirby is a Special Education Coordinator at ESC-20, supporting LEAs through professional development, compliance guidance, system improvements, and implementation support to enhance student outcomes. With over 29 years in education, she has served as a statewide liaison, curriculum consultant, campus coordinator, district staff developer, ARD facilitator, and both a general and special education teacher. Lisa’s leadership is grounded in building strong relationships, fostering a growth mindset, and maintaining a solution-oriented approach.  

Megan Lozano is an expert practitioner and literacy advocate currently serving as a Special Education Statewide Liaison. As a Licensed Dyslexia Therapist and Certified Academic Language Therapist-Qualified Instructor (CALT-QI), she specializes in closing foundational literacy gaps and supporting secondary educators in the implementation of evidence-based intervention.

Prior to her current liaison role, Megan served as a Dyslexia and Related Disorders Consultant at Education Service Center Region 20. Her expertise is built upon a diverse professional background, including roles as an Educational Diagnostician, RTI Coach, and classroom teacher. Megan is a champion for secondary learners, focusing her efforts on equipping middle and high school teachers with the tools necessary to navigate the complexities of adolescent literacy. She is deeply committed to helping older students maximize their unique strengths and develop the self-advocacy skills required to build lifelong resilience and academic confidence.

As a liaison, Megan leverages her deep clinical literacy expertise to help special education directors build compliance systems that are both regulatory sound and instructionally powerful, rooted in her unwavering belief that literacy transforms lives and serves as a catalyst for student independence.

Robert L. Higle is a dedicated educator and leader with 19 years of experience in the field of education. In his current role as a Consultant for Certifications and New Teacher Support Programs at Education Service Center Region 20, Robert leverages his extensive background to prepare and guide the next generation of educators. He is committed to strengthening fellow educators with the tools and strategies necessary to create meaningful impacts in their classrooms and across their campus they serve.

Sarah Cave is an Early Childhood Special Education (ECSE) consultant at Education Service Center, Region 20 in San Antonio, Texas. For over 40 years, she has served the early childhood community as a passionate advocate for all young children and their families, with a focus on inclusive practices. Her professional experience includes teaching Prekindergarten, Kindergarten, 1st and 4th  grade, piloting an innovative school based program for young children with Autism, serving as an ECSE program specialist, National Board appraiser and 10 years at ESC-20. She remains committed to learning and advocacy.

Sam Gonzalez is an Education Consultant, in the area of Special Education-Transition at ESC-20. He has his BS in Psychology and a Master of Arts in Education . Sam has presented at the Texas Transition Conference, DCDT,  Inclusion Works, Special Education Academy conferences and was a keynote for TAVAC. He is passionate about the transition process and helping students and adults who have disabilities be successful after they leave high school.  Sam is an advocate, for students and adults with disabilities and deeply committed to championing diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility for all individuals.

Shelly Bybee, M.A., is the Deaf Education Consultant for the Education Service Center, Region 20, which serves the San Antonio and greater San Antonio area of Texas. She provides support to educational teams who work with students who are deaf or hard of hearing.

Abigail Beadle is an adjunct with Education Service Center Region 20 and a former Director of Curriculum and Instruction in Texas. With over a decade of classroom experience and five years in district leadership, she brings a strong understanding of both instruction and systems.

She partners with educators and leaders to translate research-based practices into clear, actionable strategies that can be implemented immediately. Her work focuses on instructional alignment, coaching practices, and effective use of high-quality instructional materials.

Abigail is known for making complex ideas practical and helping educators move from understanding to execution in ways that impact student learning.

Karen brings over 22 years of experience in education, including more than 20 years dedicated to Special Education. Her extensive background spans roles in district and campus administration, as well as positions such as Special Education Facilitator, Interpreter, Co-Teacher, and Elementary EB Coordinator/Trainer. 

Throughout her career, Karen has demonstrated a versatile approach to supporting both the academic and social development of students. She is passionate about fostering an environment where teachers feel supported and confident in guiding students with special needs toward success.