RAFA NUNEZ

Elementary Advisor, Cesar Chavez Elementary School, SFUSD

Rafa (as most people know him) is an incredible guy, who goes beyond his duties. The most incredible thing he's done for our family and many families was creating a skateboard club for children who were misbehaving at school. When a teacher told him that some children were damaging the benches and the school ramp with their skateboards, instead of reprimanding the kids he started skating with them. That was the first step to create the club, where he and other teachers collected skateboards and ramps for kids on the mission to skate. The amazing thing is that the club was open to anyone who wanted to join. I remember the club from years ago when a classmate of my eldest daughter who had multiple disabilities joined the club, when I saw him skating it brought tears to my eyes. He did pass away and the club was named after him (Johan Barrios Skateboard Club).

Years later when my daughter Alejandra who has a mild form of CP, is non-verbal and has epilepsy said she wanted to join, I was scared, and honestly did not wanted her to join the club, I thought it was too challenging for her and that she may broke a bone or get hurt, but I remembered the little guy who had joined the club years ago, and how happy he looked skating; I decided to let my daughter try, and it's been an incredible experience for her. Rafa has created an amazing inclusive environment where you can last expect it. In the club you can clearly see the diversity, and the inclusion. I have seen other kids with other disabilities and some physical challenges join, and be welcomed. My daughter has been part of the club for 3 years, and she's always looking forward for Thursday afternoon, where she can challenge herself and be part of something she loves doing.

A.P GIANNINI MIDDLE SCHOOL Special Education Team

Tesha Henderson,Special Ed Teacher, Emily Vrabel, Special Ed Teacher, Bobby Wong, Special Ed Teacher, Lauren Page, Special Ed Teacher and Miranda Chen, Para educator

The APG special education team - Tesha, Emily, Bobby, Lauren and Miranda have been amazing and very supportive to my son and our special education students during distance learning. Right after the school closure in Mar, before the distance learning started, Tesha and team reached out and worked with my son and his classmates for cooking and movement classes - yoga and dance every week via zoom. The school closure has been significantly impacted on my son but every time he sees his friends, his para and teachers on Zoom cooking & movement classes, I see his face lighting up with big smiles. My son also received direct instructions from this team via zoom or google meet every week. We also received pre-recorded videos and assignments via google classrooms.

My son's para Miranda bought a laptop prior to the district providing a chrome book to para since she really wanted to participate in supporting my son during distance learning. Even though the para offered minutes were significantly reduced in PWN, Miranda always reached out and was always available to support my son in zoom classes and support him with reading and google classroom assignments. Thanks to Tesha, Emily and team, my son and our 8th grade students were able to celebrate virtual graduation, award ceremonies and year end dance party via zoom. Tesha also reached out to the high school team and made sure we met for transition IEP so the new team understands my son's needs, strength, skills and interest. The dedication, care and work ethic from my son's school team was exceptional. They go above and beyond to support my son and our special ed families through distance learning during this challenging time.

LOERA ROMNEY

Education Reporter, KALW

The Community Advisory Committee for Special Education presents KALW Education Reporter Lee Romney with this honor for her award-winning reporting on the systemic inequities that have hampered African American students with learning differences and dyslexia. The 2019 Learning While Black: The Fight for Equity in San Francisco Schools series sparked a community forum at the African American Cultural Center in San Francisco hosted by the CAC and AAPAC with 200 attendees including SFUSD administrators, parents, special education advocates, and community leaders. It also led to Lee, one of the subjects of her stories, Darryl Lester, and members of the SFUSD AAPAC & CAC being invited to the 2019 fall convention of the California Association of School Psychologists. Lee’s recent reporting has addressed the topic of dyslexia, explaining the learning disability, the advocacy by Decoding Dyslexia CA that led to California’s Dyslexia Guidelines for public schools, and how most districts are still falling short when it comes to screening, assessment and curriculum. Low-income families of color are particularly hard hit, the piece notes. The second part of the series follows the five-year fight of an African American grandmother from Oakland to get two of her grandkids assessed for dyslexia. As we learn about her struggle, the piece underscores the civil rights implications of unidentified and unmediated dyslexia in Black students in particular. 

PEGGY HUBER

Therapist at Oakes Children's Center

Peggy this year has gone above and beyond to insure all her clients had the services they needed.  When we went into shelter in place  all ERHMS services shut down.  Peggy was very concerned and reached out and made efforts to get these services turned back on right away.  She has also looked out for my son during this difficult time making herself available to my son when he needed her, not just on the schedule.  Her first goal has always been supporting my son and has worried about administrative issues second.  And finally when a red flag came up at the center she immediately reached out to make sure my son had services and that he did not fall through the cracks.  I know that her dedication that was shown to my son is how she handled all her clients.  She is kind, caring, and a great therapist who deserves to be recognized.

JOE GOYOS

Educational Program Director at Support for Families of Children with Disabilities

Joe is being nominated for this award for his many years of advocating for students with disabilities. I first got to know Joe when my son was in early elementary school and we were trying to figure out the IEP process. His IEP workshops were so eye opening and later when things went south he helped connect me with a resource specialist who helped me advocate and protect my students educational rights. Since that time, I have had the pleasure of working with Joe on multiple projects. We have planned parent seminars and workshops and special events to advance inclusion and disability education in SFUSD and the community. For the last five years I’ve had the pleasure of working with him on the Support for Families Information Resource Fair. Joe has led this enormous event for the last 10 years. The event is made up of approximately 30 parent education workshops, 100 exhibitors, 100 volunteers and staff members and 500 attendees. It is an incredible free community event that provides, support, education, inclusion and community for parents of children with disabilities. We wish Joe well in his new city and new job. Myself and many San Francisco families will miss him and his advocacy.

SABRINA JAMES

Special Ed Teacher, Aptos Middle School

Sabrina has amazing Skills with special education kids. She goes above and beyond to support her students and is a great case manager for IEP students. She really knows her stuff.