Carissa LaGasca
Roseville,CA
Summary
Dynamic educator with 20+ years' experience with a strong background in facilitating improvement plans and training educators. Specialized in data-driven decision-making, leading to measurable increases in compliance and student achievement across diverse educational settings.
Overview
21
21
years of professional experience
Work History
Education Programs Consultant
California Department of Education, SpEd
Sacramento, CA
06.2022 - Current
- Led and conducted special education compliance monitoring activities for 125 LEAs annually, resulting in 100% completion of state-mandated reviews within required timelines.
- Provided targeted technical assistance to LEAs, supporting the development and implementation of Compliance and Improvement Monitoring (CIM) plans.
- Prepared and facilitated over 50 on-site and virtual meetings with principals, superintendents, and special education staff, ensuring effective improvement plan implementation.
- Developed and delivered presentations and training at local, county, and regional levels, increasing participant understanding of special education requirements.
- Served as a technical expert on special education and related services, responding to hundreds of inquiries annually, and providing guidance that improved procedural accuracy and compliance for diverse stakeholders statewide.
- Researched current educational issues and federal/state requirements, contributing to the refinement of monitoring practices, and supporting annual updates to unit guidance, tools, and training resources.
- Maintained comprehensive knowledge of legislation and national trends, ensuring monitoring activities and LEA technical assistance remained aligned with all IDEA and California Education Code requirements.
- Traveled statewide to conduct reviews and provide onsite support, completing improvement plan facilitation.
Elementary School Teacher
San Juan Unified School District
Sacramento, CA
06.2018 - 05.2022
- Served as a master teacher at a Title I school with 70% low-income and 40% English learner (EL) student populations, leading instructional improvement and modeling effective strategies for colleagues.
- Implemented high-quality English Language Development (ELD) instruction aligned with current research and state standards, contributing to measurable language proficiency gains across EL student groups.
- Maintained organized record-keeping systems, and produced accurate, timely reports to support data-driven instructional planning and compliance with school and district requirements.
- Served as an elected union representative, collaborating with 100+ colleagues to evaluate policy effectiveness, provide input on workplace conditions, and support communication between staff and administration.
- Completed 20+ professional development programs, applying new strategies that contributed to a 40% improvement in student achievement across monitored instructional areas.
Elementary School Teacher
Dublin Unified School District
Dublin, CA
06.2008 - 05.2018
- Served 3 years as Lead Teacher for a team of six, facilitating weekly collaborative meetings focused on assessment data, intervention planning, and enrichment strategies.
- Appointed by district administration to design and launch a new Transitional Kindergarten (TK) curriculum, contributing to a 30% increase in program enrollment within the first year.
- Led School Site Council meetings by analyzing and synthesizing multiple measures of student data to identify trends and instructional needs, informing targeted action plans for improved student outcomes.
- Served 2 years as a mentor teacher, supporting new teachers and teachers in training with curriculum implementation, instructional planning, and professional growth.
- Delivered hands-on training and technical assistance to new educators on curriculum development and classroom practices, improving instructional quality across the grade level.
- Designed and delivered high-engagement professional development aligned with adult learning principles; presented at schoolwide planning workshops for instructional staff.
Elementary School Teacher
Washington Unified School District
West Sacramento, California
06.2005 - 05.2008
- Led a cross-functional team of colleagues in developing the Single Plan for Student Achievement (SPSA), including drafting measurable objectives, aligning resources, and coordinating schoolwide input.
- Designed and administered a comprehensive assessment questionnaire used to collect schoolwide data for SPSA development, improving the accuracy of needs assessment and goal alignment.
- Authored the language for three schoolwide goals and achieved an 85% completion rate of SPSA goals by year’s end.
- Collaborated with the Special Education department to integrate specialized instructional techniques into the general education curriculum, leading to a 60% increase in student achievement for targeted student groups.
- Worked closely with the PTA, administration, and district partners to prepare engaging community events.
Education
Master of Arts - Education
University of California, Davis
Davis, CA06-2006
California Multiple Subject Teaching Credential -
California State University, Sacramento
Sacramento, CA06-2006
Bachelor of Arts - Liberal Studies
California State University, Sacramento
Sacramento, CA01-2005
California Administrative Services Credential -
University of Laverne
La Verne, CASkills
- Google Certified Educator
- Certification: Crisis Intervention Training
- PLC (Professional Learning Communities)
- Restorative justice
- PBIS (Positive Behavioral Intervention Strategies)
- MTSS (Multi-Tiered System of Supports)
- Special education compliance
- Policy development
- Curriculum implementation
- Instructional coaching
Timeline
Education Programs Consultant
California Department of Education, SpEd
06.2022 - Current
Elementary School Teacher
San Juan Unified School District
06.2018 - 05.2022
Elementary School Teacher
Dublin Unified School District
06.2008 - 05.2018
Elementary School Teacher
Washington Unified School District
06.2005 - 05.2008
Master of Arts - Education
University of California, Davis
California Multiple Subject Teaching Credential -
California State University, Sacramento
Bachelor of Arts - Liberal Studies
California State University, Sacramento
California Administrative Services Credential -
University of Laverne