Special Education

Autism Alert

Pacifica School District is committed to nurturing and supporting each child as they develop their strengths and build on each success as we eliminate barriers that prohibit equal educational access.

Vision for Special Education

We believe in our students – respecting, valuing, and building on the individual strengths and differences of each student. Through high-quality instruction and strong partnerships with families, we instill a life-long love of learning providing students with the tools to form meaningful relationships and to become successful, independent, and thriving members of the community.

Guiding Principles

Working in partnership with students and families creates opportunities for connections that nurture our students and enrich our community.

• Pacifica School District personnel recognize the valuable contributions families, other agencies, and providers make to the team’s understanding of the whole child.

• Families are welcomed and respected as knowledgeable and essential members of the team.

• We build individual education plans based on each student’s strengths, interests, and preferences.

• We strive to improve community understanding of differences in learning, behavior, and communication.

• By creating and supporting opportunities for mutual understanding, we foster connections among students and ensure that school and the larger community is safe and welcoming.

Educating the whole child prepares our students to follow their own paths and fulfill their hopes and dreams.

• We foster students’ understanding of their strengths and their needs so they can become skillful self-advocates.

• We recognize the importance of providing instruction in life skills and social skills as a means of enhancing students’ ability to reach their academic potential and achieve success after they leave school.

• Pacifica School District believes that students do best when included with the general population to the greatest extent possible.

Acting with integrity ensures the best interests of the child are paramount.

• Pacifica School District personnel respect students’ confidentiality. We share information only with members of a student’s education team and we adhere to practices designed to protect privacy.

• Pacifica School District personnel honor the expertise of all members of the education team.

• We believe all members of a student’s team are working in the best interests of the child.

• We communicate openly and honestly, and are respectful of team members’ time.

• We are committed to meeting our obligations to our students and their families under special education law.

Special Education Parent Advisory Committee (SEPAC)

The Special Education Parent Advisory Committee strives to support high quality special education programs, serve as a resource to Pacifica families of children with special needs and increase awareness and inclusiveness in the educational environment and beyond.

District Contacts

Special Ed. Admin:  Ray Avila                      650 738-6627              ravila@pacificasd.org

Principal Rep:           Tom Stafford                 650 738-6660              tstafford@pacificasd.org

Teacher Rep:            Betsy Bartlett                 650 738-6670              bbartlett@pacificasd.org

Board Rep:               Richard Faust                

Parent Representatives per Site/Program

(please feel free to contact these parent reps with questions/concerns/support)

Cabrillo

Michelle Ash                                                   650 303-9809              cabrillosepac@pacificasd.org

Anne Allec                                                         650-444-9560             

Ingrid B. Lacy M.S.

Anne Allec                                                      650 444-9560              iblsepac@pacificasd.org

Specialized Placements

Ginger Jones                                                   650 355-4383              npssepac@pacificasd.org

Kalimah Salahuddin                                         415 216-7138             

Ocean Shore

Teri Voorhes                                                   650 738-6997              oceanshoresepac@pacificasd.org

Sally Levy Albert                                               415-533-8922             

Ortega

Louise Southwick                                           650 355-1325              ortegasepac@pacificasd.org

Nicole Ortega 

LMEC/SDC Classes

Heather Burns                                                 415-713-2371              lindamarsepac@pacificasd.org

Sunset Ridge

Louise Southwick                                           650-355-1325              sunsetridgesepac@pacificasd.org

Nicole Ortega

Vallemar

Christine Schwartz                                          650-994-6354              vallemarsepac@pacificasd.org

Lynn Anderson

SEPAC meetings are held the last Tuesday of each month at Pacifica School District office.

Also, check out our Yahoo group at PSD-SEPAC@yahoogroups.com