Wings Learning Center: Wing's Team

Karen Kaplan BS/MS - Executive Director -Karen Kaplan has over 30 years of experience in the field of Autism Spectrum Disorders and developmental learning challenges. She possesses a credential in speech and hearing as well as an administrative credential. Her roles as Head of School and Executive Director of schools for students with special needs have given her a wide base of knowledge and experience. Karen works as a private consultant with family resource centers, parents, public and private schools, colleges and universities that support the needs of Autism Spectrum Disorders and similar learning differences. She is the founder of the Autism Lecture Series and The ASD Resource & Exposition at Dominican University in San Rafael, California. She participates on the San Francisco/Marin Autism Taskforce and is the chair of the Autism Housing Committee. She is on the Marin Autism Collaborative Steering Committee and chairs the Educational Sub-committee.

Cara Grant M.S.- OTR - Clinical Director - Cara earned her BS at the University of Wisconsin, and MS in Nutrition and Counseling Health Psychology at Batyr University in Seattle. Her interests are in the social and emotional development of children with autism encompassing the development of social skills to regulatory capacities. Cara's goal is to use her skills as a family therapist helping families find balance and health.

Laxmi Ghale - Education Program Coordinator - Laxmi has been working with special needs children for the past four years. She is earning a degree in early child education from Canada College. Her interests fall in the areas of behavior management and implementation of different communication strategies.

Bethany DeJulio - Operations Manager - Bethany is fluent in American Sign Language, and has previously worked with deaf special needs children as well as in the classroom of Wings Learning Center. She enjoys watching the students' of Wings thrive and make progress while supporting the operations of the school.

Alma Solis B.A. - Lead Teacher - Alma received her Bachelor’s Degree in Liberal Studies with an emphasis in Psychology from San Francisco State University. She has prior experience working with elementary through high school aged students with various disabilities. Alma obtained her Level I Education Specialist Teaching Credential through Sacrament State and is currently working on her Level II credential.

Helen Pham B.A. - Co-Teacher -Helen received her Bachelors Degree from San Francisco State University in Liberal Studies with an emphasis in Psychology. She has worked with children with autism and developmental disabilities from pre-school to high school age. Her future goal is to obtain a combination credentials in multi-subject and special education at SFSU and to pursue a Master's in Special Education.

Julie Adams B.A.- Instructional Assistant - Julie received her Bachelor's degree from Oberlin College in philosophy. She has worked with people with people with disabilities of all ages ranging from young children to adults in group homes. In the future she plans to pursuer her Master's degree in Speech & Language Pathology.

Marigrace Padilla B.A. - Lead Teacher - Marigrace received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from San Diego State University. Prior to working at Wings, she worked with elementary school students with emotional disturbance and various disabilities. She is currently earning her Masters in Special Education and Level 1 credential with moderate/severe emphasis from Notre Dame de Namur University.

Emily Rede B.A. – Instructional Assistant – Emily received her B.A. in Communication Science and Disorders from Chico State University. Her experience ranges from working with children to adults in the ASD field and with other developmental disabilities. Previous experiences include ABA therapy, 1:1 instruction in a special education class, supported living for adults, and working in a school for behavior based challenges. She enjoys working in the ASD field and plans on pursing a Masters Degree in Education.

Hyemin (Min) Kwak M.S.-Lead Teacher - Min received her Masters in Special Education from San Francisco State University. She is interested in developing a computer software program for young children with Autism. She was the 2007 recipient of Distinguished Student Award at SFSU.

Jamie Hashimoto B.A.- Co-Teacher - Jamie received her B.A. in Psychology and minor in Applied Developmental Psychology from UCLA. She has varied experiences with young children as an infant/toddler caregiver, YMCA program instructor, camp counselor, and volunteering with local family shelters.

Crystal Gines B.A.- Instructional Assistant - Crystal has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communicative Disorders with an emphasis in Speech and Language Pathology and a minor in Special Education from San Francisco State University. She has worked with children with autism and other developmental disabilities. Crystal plans to pursue a master's degree in Speech and Language Pathology.

Alicia Newell B.A.- Lead Teacher- Alicia specializes in utilizing Applied Behavior Analysis methodologies to address severe problems behaviors, in addition to conducting functional behavior assessments and implementing positive behavior interventions. Alicia has worked in the special education field for the past 10 years and loves helping kids be successful in the least restrictive environment. Alicia’s experience includes working in non-public schools, after school home programs and weekend recreation programs. Alicia received a B.A in Sociology from Sonoma State and a level two teaching credential from Sacramento State.

Hillary McInerny B.A.- Co-Teacher- Hillary completed her undergraduate degree at UC Berkeley and obtained her Level I Education Specialist Teaching Credential in Moderate/Severe Disabilities at Cal State Fullerton in June 2005. She is currently completing her Level II Teaching Credential at San Francisco State University. Before joining Wings, Hillary worked as a Special Day Class Teacher in the public school district.

Naomi Takeda B.A. - Instructional Assistant- Naomi received her bachelor’s degree from California State University Sacramento in Liberal Studies. She is currently studying towards a Masters of Science in Special Education and Preliminary Level 1 Education Specialist Credential: Moderate/Severe Disabilities with CLAD Certificate at National University. Naomi grew up with her brother who is severely affected by autism and his many friends. This experience motivated Naomi to pursue a career in Special Education.

Pei-Chi (Angie) Kuo M.S.- Lead Teacher - Angie received her Masters in Education from Western Oregon University, and a Bachelors in Social Work from Chinese Culture University. She left her home-land to pursue higher education opportunities that would support her passion for teaching and learning about different cultures.

Leslie Gardner B.A.- Co-Teacher - Leslie earned her Bachelors of Arts in Child Development at UC San Diego. She substitute taught in many special day classrooms before she was a 1:1 behavior technician for a mainstreamed child. She is currently studying speech and language pathology and has plans to apply for a graduate program.

Stephen Daigle B.A. - Instructional Assistant - Stephen received his
Bachelor's degree in psychology from the University of Rhode Island. He has worked with children of all ages and adults in psychiatric hospitals, behavioral schools, and group homes for the past six years. In the future he plans to get his Master's degree in business and eventually open his own group home for children with special needs.

Jenee Van Hofwegen OTR- Occupational Therapist -Jenee earned her undergraduate degree in Psychology at Calvin College. She received a maters degree in occupational therapy from Samuel Merritt College. Jenee has spent the majority of her career working as a school based occupational therapist for school districts in the Bay Area. In this role she was able to work with children of all ages and backgrounds. She has taken a particular interest in the development of fine-motor and printing skills.

Lindsay Walker OTR- Occupational Therapist - Lindsay got her bachelor's in neuroscience from William and Mary in 2005. She considered a career in research, but decided she would rather spend her career working with children with special needs after volunteering at a preschool for children with developmental disabilities. After two years as a behavior therapist for children with autism, she decided that occupational therapy was a better fit for her career goals. She completed her M.A. in occupational therapy from University of Southern California in 2009. In her spare time, she enjoys playing in a local flute choir, hiking, and playing Rhythm Heaven on Nintendo DS.

Roe Kizeik B.A.- Play and Social Skills Facilitator- Roe graduated from Catholic University of America in Washington DC where she earned a Bachelor of Music. She went on to perform musicals all over the country until a little girl with autism influenced her career path. She worked with Chana for two years in her home implementing the Son-Rise program.

Jackie Pambid B.A.- Speech Language Pathology Aide -Jackie received her Bachelor's of Arts in Communicative Disorders with an emphasis in
Speech and Language Pathology from San Francisco State University. She also currently works as a caregiver for toddlers and preschoolers in the Bay Area. Jackie plans to pursue a graduate degree in Speech and Language Pathology.

Beth Robinson B.A.- Music Therapist -Beth is a board certified music therapist who has been working with children with special needs for over ten years and has had a private practice in the Bay Area for five years. She graduated from the University of Kansas City, Missouri Conservatory.

Safa Rashtchy-President Sen. Liz Figueroa (Ret.) Irma E. Velasquez — Secretary Phil Shemanski - Treasurer

Manuela Seitz Hipkins MS CCCSLP— Speech & Language Pathologist* Deborah Hayden, M.A., CCC-SLP - Creator of PROMPT Method Ann Parker M.D. - Developmental Pediatrician Ginny Ritchey Ph. D.— Child Psychologist* Adriana L. Schuler Ph.D. - Professor at San Francisco State University Danielle Sutton Ph.D. Clinical Researcher Amy Wetherby, Ph.D., CCC-SLP Jody Winzelberg, M.A. - Audiologist Pamela Wolfberg Ph.D. - Creator of Integrated Play Groups*