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Director of State and Federal Programs
Director of State and Federal Programs
Dr. Margaret Sedor
Dr. Margaret A. Sedor, NCSP, is a School Psychologist and serves as the District Suicide Prevention and Wellbeing Coordinator within the Sweetwater Union High School District. She is Adjunct Faculty in the Department of Counseling and School Psychology at San Diego State University. Over the past 20 years, Dr. Sedor has provided leadership in the areas of mental health and wellbeing at the county, state and national level. Currently, she serves on the NASP School Safety and Crisis Response Committee, the CASP Legislation Committee, CASP Mental Health Committee, and the California Department of Education Social Emotional Learning Task Force. As a nationally recognized presenter, Dr. Sedor provides training in MTSS, mental health and wellbeing, social emotional learning, restorative practices, crisis response, and suicide prevention, intervention, and postvention.
2. Jesus L. Ulloa-Higuera
Technology and school (Eng/Spa)SUHSDDr. Jesus L. Ulloa-Higuera is the principal of SUHSD newest school; Launch Virtual Academy. Dr. Ulloa has over 22 years of experience in public secondary education in multiple roles; instructional assistant, bilingual (Spanish) math, science, career technical education teacher, robotics coach, assistant principal, district administrator, and school principal. Dr. Ulloa is an electrical engineer with a master’s degree in business administration, a master’s degree in educational leadership and a doctorate in organizational leadership with an emphasis in STEM education. On Dr. Ulloa’s own words “As an Engineer, I have witnessed the marvels of math, science, and technology. As an educator, I have witnessed the power of caring, empowerment, and motivation. I firmly believe in the ability education has to transform students’ lives. I have seen it, I have lived it!”
Mrs. Cruz is a teacher on special assignment at the SUHSD Compliance and Title IX Office. She was previously a science teacher and has created many programs focused on promoting a positive learning environment for students. Mr. Hughes is our Chief Compliance Officer that oversees our district’s compliance and Title IX related issues and investigations. He has also served in our schools as a Principal, AP, and sports coach for many years.
6. Dr. Morgan Appel
College and Career Readiness (Eng)UC San DiegoMorgan Appel is Assistant Dean for Education and Community Outreach at UC San Diego Extension, overseeing a diverse portfolio, extending PK - post retirement. Aligned with this role, he serves in an instructional capacity at both UC San Diego and UC Irvine, including courses in arts integration; gifted and talented-education; cultural and socioeconomic diversity and community building; education policy adult learning; technology in education; among others.
7. Abner Luna
College and Career Readiness (Spa)Southwestern CollegeAbner Luna is an Outreach Technician at Southwestern College who places a high value on providing good service to students. Abner supports new, current, and returning students by answering their questions and connecting them with the programs and services they need and are offered at Southwestern College. Abner works closely on a program that gives high school students the opportunity to get an early start in college. Abner is also an upcoming graduate of Southwestern College. Next month, Abner will graduate from Southwestern College earning 7 college-accredited degree certificates. Abner will be transferring to San Diego State University to get his license as an Elementary Bilingual Teacher. Abner wants to be a bilingual teacher to help students develop and strengthen their skills in both languages.
8. Michelle Sturm-Gonzalez
Special Education Secondary Transitions (Eng)SUHSDMichelle Sturm-Gonzalez is currently the Director of Special Services in Sweetwater Union High School District. Prior to being in this position, she served as Coordinator for Special Education in the county office of education, Program Manager of College, Career and Community Readiness and a special education teacher at Montgomery High School. She is the parent of four children, all attended Sweetwater Union High School District, with her partner Rogelio. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, writing, traveling and playing games with family.
Lisa Burgess, M.Ed, M.A., Mother, Grandmother and ELD teacher and Advocateformer MCS, Director EL Services K-12, former SUHSD EL Curriculum Specialist and TOSA, 2011-20192014 SDCOE Recipient Leadership In Biliteracy Award 2010 US-UK Distinguished Fulbright in Teaching Research Fellow
Marisol Higareda is an Assistant Principal at Otay Ranch High School. Ms. Higareda learned the value of parents as partners in their children’s education not only during her 12 years of being a classroom teacher but also during her role as Coordinator of Integrated Services at Chula Vista High School. In that role, Ms. Higareda successfully established a thriving Parent Center at CVHS and through her efforts increased parent engagement and participation by 300%.
Marisol Higareda is an Assistant Principal at Otay Ranch High School. Ms. Higareda learned the value of parents as partners in their children’s education not only during her 12 years of being a classroom teacher but also during her role as Coordinator of Integrated Services at Chula Vista High School. In that role, Ms. Higareda successfully established a thriving Parent Center at CVHS and through her efforts increased parent engagement and participation by 300%.
Daria Stone (she/her/hers) is currently a Resource Teacher for East Hills Academy, a public school in Sweetwater that has 100% of its students receiving special education services. Daria has been a public-school teacher for nearly 18 years in both the elementary and secondary settings. Daria has also taught at non-public schools, private pre-schools, and her own non-profit education enrichment program. Daria is currently a caregiver for an older sister with Prader-Willi Syndrome; a homeschooling parent of two high-school aged children with Autism Spectrum Disorder Levels 1 and 2; and a parent of an elementary aged transgender/non-binary child attending public school. Daria has her B.A. in Biology, M.A. in Special Education.
11. Sarah Vaughan
Sexual and Reproductive Health (Eng)San Ysidro Health- English materials
- Materiales en español
Sarah Vaughan has been working in the fields of Public Health and Social Services for 10 years. She holds a BS in Public Health and a Master of Public Health from San Diego State University and National University, respectively. Sarah’s professional background is primarily in adolescent sexual and reproductive health education/promotion with a focus in administration and program development. She also has experience in case management, substance use disorder programming, transitional housing programming and Transition Age Youth services. Sarah supervises the Peer Health Advocate Program, School-based Health Education, Adolescent Community Engagement and Reach Out and Read a pediatric early literacy program and is passionate about ensuring young people know how to make the best choices for themselves and their future.
12. Cindy Cipriani & Adam Gordon
Fentanyl and Juvenile Smuggling: The Facts Every Parent Needs to Know (Eng)Office of the U.S. Attorney, Southern District of CaliforniaCindy Cipriani, Senior Management Counsel & Director of Community Engagement for the U.S. Attorney’s office in the Southern District of California, develops partnerships and programs that take a creative, holistic approach to crime prevention and community resilience. She co-chairs San Diego’s Prescription Drug Abuse Task Force, a multi-disciplinary opioid coalition that works across sectors to raise awareness and end the vicious cycle of addiction and overdose deaths. Ms. Cipriani also serves as Chair of the San Diego Anti-Hate Crimes Coalition and leads the Juvenile Smuggling Prevention team, a collaboration that received an Attorney General’s award as an Outstanding Contribution to Community Partnerships for Public Safety. In addition, she has organized numerous events and efforts to address targeted violence and hate incidents, earning ADL’s Sherwood Prize for community engagement work combatting hate. Ms. Cipriani obtained a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism at The Ohio State University and held staff positions in the Ohio Legislature and the U.S. House of Representatives. She received her law degree from Georgetown Law Center and litigated for nearly a decade at Gray Cary Ware & Freidenrich (now DLA Piper) before becoming an Assistant United States Attorney in 1999. Ms. Cipriani has since held several senior management positions, including Deputy Chief of the Civil Division, Executive Assistant U.S. Attorney and First Assistant U.S. Attorney.
Adam Gordon is an Assistant United States Attorney who serves as the office’s Criminal Division Opioid Coordinator. Previously he worked as a Deputy District Attorney in San Diego County. In his current position, he is responsible for his coordinating law enforcement efforts to prosecute cases involving the distribution of drugs resulting in death.
5. Lori Van Orden
Safety/Gun Violence PreventionBe SMART for Kids Parent Education Campaign (Eng)- English Materials
- Materiales en español
Lori Van Orden is a retired teacher who became involved with the Gun Violence Prevention movement five years ago. She has been a presenter for the Be SMART for Kids program since 2018. Be SMART is a national campaign from Moms Demand Action to educate adults about the importance of secure storage of firearms and about the importance of asking about guns in the homes where children are visiting, to prevent unintentional shootings, domestic violence, homicide and firearm suicide.
13. Louie Zumstein, Autumn Sannwald & Corina Schultz
Parenting Through Strengths(SUHSD)Corina Schultz is a Targeted Resource Teacher at Montgomery High School with 16 years in education. Corina has taught special education for 13 years. Mrs. Schultz has been with Sweetwater Union High School since July of 2018 . Corina was born and raised in the Imperial Valley, class of 1999, from Southwest High School (El Centro). Corina has used the Strengths-Based Parenting with her daughter and highly recommends it. Top five Strengths: Adaptability, Empathy, Arranger, Belief, and Developer. Autumn Sannwald is a Special Education teacher at Montgomery High School. This is her fourth year in the district and 7th in education. Autumn values strengths in her profession and at home. She is passionate about Strengths work at MOH and is looking forward to spreading the word about Strengths as an asset in all aspects of life! Autumn is a proud Mom of a 2 ½ year old. Top 5 Strengths: Input, Ideation, Empathy, Learner, and Relator. Mr. Zumstein is the Principal of Montgomery High School and a Gallup Strengths Certified Coach. He has been in education and with the Sweetwater Union High School District for 27 years after graduating from Chula Vista High School and SDSU. Married with 5 children who have all attended SUHSD schools. Top 5 Strengths: Relator, Belief, Connectedness, Responsibility, and Activator.
Angel Rocha is the Lead Student Success Coordinator at San Diego State University (SDSU) and is a San Diego local from the Southbay Area. He graduated from Chula Vista High School and attended SDSU for his Bachelors and Masters degrees. Angel is a first generation scholar and grew up in a bilingual low income household. He struggled with Imposter Syndrome and faced financial challenges while at SDSU, and is now passionate about providing resources and support for students from his community and all local students. He currently oversees outreach efforts for the Compact for Success program, and also manages the Compact Scholars program at SDSU.
1.Dr. Margaret Sedor
Mental Health/Wellbeing (Eng)SUHSDDr. Margaret A. Sedor, NCSP, is a School Psychologist and serves as the District Suicide Prevention and Wellbeing Coordinator within the Sweetwater Union High School District. She is Adjunct Faculty in the Department of Counseling and School Psychology at San Diego State University. Over the past 20 years, Dr. Sedor has provided leadership in the areas of mental health and wellbeing at the county, state and national level. Currently, she serves on the NASP School Safety and Crisis Response Committee, the CASP Legislation Committee, CASP Mental Health Committee, and the California Department of Education Social Emotional Learning Task Force. As a nationally recognized presenter, Dr. Sedor provides training in MTSS, mental health and wellbeing, social emotional learning, restorative practices, crisis response, and suicide prevention, intervention, and postvention.
2. Anali Rosales Garces
Nutrition (Eng)San Diego CountyAnali holds a Bachelor of Science in Health Science, with an emphasis in Public Health. She currently works as a CalFresh Healthy Living Specialist for the Office of Equitable Communities, within the Department of Homeless Solutions and Equitable Communities. As a CalFresh Healthy Living Specialist, she provides nutrition education classes in various settings throughout Central and South regions of the county. She loves working with the community as seeing healthy communities is something that brings her joy. Anali’s work in schools includes nutrition education classes or series that include food demonstrations, school wellness events, and tabling events for all ages! She loves being able to teach nutrition classes as she knows how crucial it is for the community to have equitable access to healthy foods and nutrition education. On the weekends, Anali loves to explore new places with her two black and white Siberian Huskies
4. Nadia Kean-Ayub
LGBTQ (Eng)Rainbow SpacesNadia Kean-Ayub is the Executive Director of Rainbow Spaces, a non-profit committed to creating inclusive spaces for LGBTQ+ youth. With 7 years in familial support in the LGBTQ+ community, Nadia’s goal is to ensure that every Queer child has the opportunity to not only survive, but thrive, through equity minded support.
Daria Stone (she/her/hers) is currently a Resource Teacher for East Hills Academy, a public school in Sweetwater that has 100% of its students receiving special education services. Daria has been a public-school teacher for nearly 18 years in both the elementary and secondary settings. Daria has also taught at non-public schools, private pre-schools, and her own non-profit education enrichment program. Daria is currently a caregiver for an older sister with Prader-Willi Syndrome; a homeschooling parent of two high-school aged children with Autism Spectrum Disorder Levels 1 and 2; and a parent of an elementary aged transgender/non-binary child attending public school. Daria has her B.A. in Biology, M.A. in Special Education.Josh Griffith (he/him/his) is a School Psychologist with SUHSD at East Hills Academy, a public school in Sweetwater that has 100% of its students receiving special education services; Josh is also the School Psychologist for students in Nonpublic Schools. Josh is passionate about supporting all students and ensuring that LGBTQ+ students feel safe, accepted, and empowered. Josh earned his Bachelors in Sociology from UC Santa Barbara and earned his Master's in Education and Education Specialist (Ed.S) degree in School Psychology from San Diego State University and is a Nationally Certified School Psychologist (NCSP).
11. Katy Randall
Human Trafficking (Eng)3Strands Global FoundationKaty Randall is an Education Director for 3Strands Global Foundation for their PROTECT program in San Diego. She began her journey towards combating human trafficking in Amsterdam where she worked among victims in the infamous Red-Light District. In San Diego, she worked as an advocate for those experiencing homelessness and at-risk of being exploited before joining 3Strands. She has her Masters in Global Development and Justice from Multnomah University.
12. Kristina Josafat
Empowered Self-Advocacy (Eng)SUHSDKristina Josafat is a veteran special educator who is passionate and 'real' about topics related to special education. A district resource teacher, she specializes in the successful transition from school to adulthood, particularly for those with invisible disabilities. Join her session to find out which topic takes center stage in the transition process and how you can help your student get there.
Resource Fair at the QUAD and Virtual Access to Resources
Resource Fair at the QUAD and Virtual Access to Resources
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