Special Needs

Belinda Dunnick Karge, PhD, is a professor in the doctoral studies program at Concordia University Irvine and a professor emeritus at California State University, Fullerton. She has also served as a K–12 teacher and administrator.

Tania Amerson is executive director of exceptional education for the Bartow County School System where she cultivates a professional learning community culture. With 30 years of experience in special education, she’s served as a teacher, instructional coach, and administrator.

Cara Shores is coordinator of exceptional education in Bartow County Schools, a Model Professional Learning Communities at Work® district. She works with K–12 educators and students with IEPs, coordinates professional learning, oversees multitiered systems of supports, and is an instructional coach.

Joshua Depoe, EdD, is the principal at Benton Elementary in the Neosho School District in Southwest Missouri. During his 17 years as an educator, he has also served as a classroom teacher and an assistant principal. His work has focused on ensuring all students achieve at high levels.

Hillary Woest is a presenter, staff developer, and practitioner with over 24 years of experience in public education. She specializes in supporting Professional Learning Communities at Work® and Response to Intervention at Work™ in schools by helping them assess, refine, and optimize current systems of support for special populations and challenging demographics.

Amanda Boyer, EdD, currently serves as the director of special services in the Neosho School District in southwest Missouri. She has over 18 years of experience in various roles, including special education teacher, early childhood director, early interventionist and behavior specialist.

Matthew Rhoads, EdD, is an expert and innovator in educational technology and instructional strategy integration within online, blended, and traditional classroom settings. With a background in special education, he co-teaches regularly while coaching teachers and presenting professional development.

When teams commit to collaborating to ensure high levels of learning for ALL students, a key critical step is to examine personal and systemic beliefs, policies, and practices to build a school and district culture where systems align. Focused on closing the gaps for students with identified needs, this session, designed for leaders of both general and special educators, provides an overview of the core concepts and associated practices to collaboratively support all learners and bring this vision to life.

Victoria Francis, MEd, EdS, spent over 40 years teaching high school across Idaho, New Mexico, and Hawaii. Her work inspired a passion for working with “underdog” students—those who others felt had poor future prospects.

Yvonna Graham, MEd, is a literacy advocate and founder of Mumbling Marmot Tutoring in Durango, Colorado. Specializing in dyslexia intervention and research-based reading instruction, she authored Dyslexia Tool Kit: What to Do When Phonics Isn’t Enough, Expanded Edition.