Stacey T. Lillard
SAN LEANDRO,CA
Summary
Dynamic leader with extensive experience in special education, notably at Castro Valley Unified School District. Expert in IEP management and compliance oversight, fostering effective parent partnerships and conflict resolution. Proven track record in policy development and special education budgeting, driving successful outcomes for diverse student populations.
Overview
29
29
years of professional experience
Work History
Director, Special Education
Castro Valley Unified School District
Castro Valley
07.2023 - Current
- Ensures and oversees student Individualized Education Programs (IEP)’s along with adherence to timelines and compliance.
- Systematizes processes and procedures to maximize efficiency and cohesiveness across the special education department.
- Coordinates and responds to all due process filings, special education complaints and provides corrective action guidance to staff.
- Works closely with legal counsel to evaluate cases and seeks to mitigate loss and defend the districts against costly lawsuits.
- Provides overall guidance and efficiency of the special education program by maintaining guidance through regular communication and meetings with staff, special education newsletters and memos with important matters that require specific attention or action.
- Builds and sustains effective parent partnerships and relationships to yield effective student outcomes. Demonstrates success with diffusing parental conflict through successful resolution with minimal fiscal impact.
- Created a special education policy and procedures manual for staff to access and utilize for consistent and ongoing guidance.
- Provides efficient oversight to a large department and provides guidance and to support staff throughout the department with complex student matters and disputes relative to placement, IEP and assessment outcomes, behavior needs and navigating complex cases.
- Other priorities include monitoring the special education budget, determining staffing allocations for certificated and classified support staff, and supporting the recruitment, hiring, and staff retention process through the provision of various and ongoing guidance and support.
Coordinator, Special Education and Student Services
Milpitas Unified School District
07.2020 - 06.2023
- Provided leadership and oversight on compliance, IEP processes including meeting timelines and change of placement, facilitated multiple contentious meetings while supporting parents and team members to obtain alignment on student centered outcomes.
- Oversight with student disciplinary procedures for students with IEP’s, created and conducted professional development for all SPED teachers and related service providers, on a variety of topics including: IEP Best Practices, Planning for a Successful School Year, Determining the LRE, Conflict Resolution, Goal Writing, Navigating SEIS, Culturally Responsive Teaching, Assessment Data and Developing Defensible IEP’s, Classroom Management for Staff and Students, Virtual Assessments and Overview for New SPED Staff.
- Facilitated and supported new SPED staff by designing a monthly training series for new SPED staff, training for support staff (Para-educators), and general staff development and guidance for site teams on various processes for both SPED and non-SPED students.
- Provided guidance and supervision of the nurses, Home and Hospital Program, planned and coordinated district health vision and dental screenings, while completing all reports and procedures for Medi-Cal Billing by updating and maintaining quarterly reports and monitoring SMAA Survey responses.
- Facilitated meetings, evaluated and supervised Psychologists, Occupational and Physical Therapists and Adaptive Physical Education Specialist, Program Managers, and clerical support staff.
- Served as the Administrator for the Post-Secondary program on the district site by providing instructional oversight, conducting various investigations, responding to parent concerns while working to enhance and unify the district’s Community Based Programs to implement sequential progression from middle school to Post-Secondary by establishing a cohort of shared activities, excursions, parent meetings throughout the school year.
- Provided supervision of the district Workability program, and participated in a variety of meetings for Directors at the district, county and SELPA levels on various initiatives such as COVID procedures and graduation pathways.
- Responded to all district complaints from the California Department of Education and Office of Civil Rights and responded to various concerns reported by parents, site administrators, colleagues, teachers, managers and support staff as needed.
Principal, Special Education
Santa Clara County Office of Education
San Jose, California
07.2016 - 07.2020
- Responsible for providing administrative leadership to students, staff and parents.
- I oversee and support the daily operations in various county programs within the purview of my supervision.
- I work with districts to determine student placements in various county classrooms under the purview of my supervision.
- During my tenure with the SCCOE, I have overseen classrooms which comprise students with Autism, Intellectual Disabilities, Medically Fragile populations, as well as students under the Basic category, which may involve any combination of disabilities in the moderate to severe range.
- I guide my department through data driven decision making, and prioritizing the goal of serving students within the least restrictive environment.
- I closely monitor the change of placement process by ensuring all services within the existing setting has been implemented with fidelity.
- I oversee our department’s budget by prioritizing necessities, scrutinizing staff requests for additional pay by strategically identifying methods to maximize the work day in an effort to prevent unnecessary spending.
- I monitor the use of title one materials, staffing ratios in classrooms and professional development opportunities for staff.
- I require case managers to implement a fade plan when additional staff support is requested to support behavioral challenges.
- I support the SCCOE by serving as a role model by modeling the adherence to contractual guidelines, policies, code of ethics and general expectations of the department, such as the implementation of the PBIS model.
- In terms of instructional leadership, I monitor the timelines and implementation of student individualized educational plans, use of Unique curriculum, related learning activities and community-based education.
Coordinator, School Psychologist
San Joaquin County Office of Education
Stockton, California
07.2010 - 06.2016
- I completed my school psychologist internship with SJCOE during the 2008-2009 school year.
- Conducting psycho-educational evaluations, monitoring student progress, administering, analyzing and interpreting student data.
- Responsible for delivering student evaluation data within mandated time restrictions to school staff and parents during Individualized Education Plan meetings; and for identifying areas of need and eligibility for special education along with other team members.
- I have significant experience in conducting evaluations for students with emotional and behavioral needs, Specific Learning Disabilities, Autism, Preschool evaluations and Deaf and Hard of Hearing students.
- Implement Curriculum Based Therapy during small group activities for students experiencing significant emotional and behavioral challenges.
- Participate in Student Study Team meetings while monitoring the progress of pre-referral intervention data and strategies.
- Implement and deliver various staff training presentations.
- Attend various professional growth and enrichment trainings.
School Psychologist
Solano County Office of Education
Fairfield, California
07.2008 - 06.2010
- Conducted psycho-educational evaluations for severely handicapped students, students transitioning to adulthood enrolled in county programs.
- Provided counseling support and IEP advocacy and monitoring to students residing in the Solano County Juvenile Detention Facility.
- Developed and monitored the implementation of Behavioral Intervention Plans for various students in need of structured behavioral intervention systems.
Case Manager
Regional Center of the East Bay
Concord, California
09.2001 - 06.2008
- Responsible for managing caseload of children and adolescents with various disabilities including Intellectual Disabilities, Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Down Syndrome, Epilepsy and various specialized health care needs.
- I was responsible for completing Individual Program Plans and Annual Reports for all clients as well as providing various support and services such as respite, day care and recreational activities to all clients as needed.
President of Business Operations
Budget Data Mailing Services
Oakland, California
01.1997 - 08.2001
- Responsible for supervising business operations to ensure that projects were completed accurately and on prior to the deadline.
- Developed and monitored staff schedules based on employee expertise, availability and interest.
- Maintained an active communication system with clients to ensure complex directions were orchestrated successfully.
- Delivered instructions to and maintained frequent contact with project manager to ensure attentiveness to client needs and particular details based on each project.
- Managed the company budget, completed invoicing and accounts receivable/payable and staff payroll.
Education
Clear Credential - School Administration
Santa Clara County Office of Education LEAP Program
06-2018
Administrative Services Credential-Preliminary Credential -
Teachers College San Joaquin
01.2015
Master of Arts Degree - Education; and PPS Credential School Psychology
Alliant International University
San Francisco, California01.2007
Bachelor of Arts - Psychology and Minor in Human Biology
California East Bay Hayward University
Hayward, California01.1998
Skills
- IEP management
- Compliance oversight
- Policy development
- Special education budgeting
- Staff recruitment
- Conflict resolution
References
- Norma del Rio, former Special Education Director, Santa Clara County Office of Education, 619-807-4304
- Sharon Spivack, Special Education Director, Antioch Unified School District, 408-348-2348
- Raquel Kusoniki, Directory of Elementary Education, Milpitas Unified School District, 925-786-0626
- Michele Sherer, Program Manager for Inclusion, Milpitas Unified School District, 831-262-2972
- Alajendrina Anaya, School Psychologist, Solano County Office of Education, 707-718-8515
- Gloria Hernandez, School Psychologist, Stockton Unified School District, 209-613-8092
- Shirley Obioma, Supervisor, Regional Center of the East Bay, 925-864-4183
Contact - Phone
510-364-6591, 209-914-2724
Timeline
Director, Special Education
Castro Valley Unified School District
07.2023 - Current
Coordinator, Special Education and Student Services
Milpitas Unified School District
07.2020 - 06.2023
Principal, Special Education
Santa Clara County Office of Education
07.2016 - 07.2020
Coordinator, School Psychologist
San Joaquin County Office of Education
07.2010 - 06.2016
School Psychologist
Solano County Office of Education
07.2008 - 06.2010
Case Manager
Regional Center of the East Bay
09.2001 - 06.2008
President of Business Operations
Budget Data Mailing Services
01.1997 - 08.2001
Clear Credential - School Administration
Santa Clara County Office of Education LEAP Program
Administrative Services Credential-Preliminary Credential -
Teachers College San Joaquin
Master of Arts Degree - Education; and PPS Credential School Psychology
Alliant International University
Bachelor of Arts - Psychology and Minor in Human Biology
California East Bay Hayward University