I am excited to start this course. I am in my 10th year of teaching this school year and in my 6th year in resource. I am currently pursuing my masters in education leadership. I have been married for 12 years this year and have two sons (10 and 7). My youngest that you will see on the left side with my husband has level 3 Autism. He was diagnosed 3 years ago and my husband and I have been really grown into the view of the world through his eyes. I am excited for this course as my aspirations to learn more about Autism always have room for growing. Raising an Autistic child is our purpose and we love it everyday, even the difficult days. :) As you can see, we are a Disney family and love going to Disney at least twice a year!

I am a Certified Speech-Language Pathology Assistant (C-SLPA), and I am currently pursuing my Master’s in Clinical Speech-Language Pathology at NAU! I am working as an SLPA in Scottsdale, Arizona while completing the program & I will be graduating in just over a year! I have several children with Autism on my caseload, and I am excited to continue learning new ways to support the them - both inside the therapy room and out! I absolutely love this field and I am looking forward to growing my skills to better serve the students I work with.

Outside of school and work, I enjoy reading, spending time outdoors, hanging out with family and friends, and traveling. Here’s a picture of me (pink headband) with my family in Copenhagen, Denmark last October! Looking forward to this class with all of you :)

My Name is Sophia Griffin and I am a 22 year-old special education assistant at a very small school in rural Arizona. We have two non-verbal students whom I'm hoping to gain a better understanding of, while also learning how to ensure they are happy and ready to learn!

My name is Demaurice Basile, but I go by Dem. I am a Speech Language Pathologist in Paradise Valley Unified School District. I currently work at a special education preschool and a Level D behavioral school that serves students from kindergarten through twelfth grade with emotional and behavioral disabilities. I work primarily with children on the autism spectrum in my preschool program. I was born and raised in Phoenix and completed my undergraduate degree at Northern Arizona University and my graduate degree at Midwestern University. I have been an SLP for eight years and feel incredibly grateful to love what I do and to work alongside so many dedicated professionals. I live with my husband and our three year old son. At this stage of life, most of my time is spent keeping myself and my toddler alive, but I still enjoy long walks through TJ Maxx and browsing Zillow for houses I will never be able to afford. Lately, I have also developed a greater interest in cooking and enjoy preparing meals for my family during the week.

Professionally, I’m passionate about education and helping students grow both academically and personally. I enjoy collaborating with others and learning new strategies to support student success. Outside of work, I love spending time outdoors, exploring new restaurants, and relaxing with my family and friends.

I’m really looking forward to getting to know everyone in this class and learning from each of your experiences and perspectives throughout the semester!

My name is Jessica. I graduated from ASU with a degree in Applied Biological Sciences. My whole life I thought I was going to be a vet...but when I actually tried working in the vet field, I knew it wasn't for me. I currently work as an instructional assistant at an elementary school in Mesa, Arizona. I don't know if I want to become a teacher or a SLP/SLPA, as I am considering both fields. I am taking this class not only as a professional development requirement, but also as a way to learn more about autism and what career I would fit in to.

Right now, I work as a Speech-Language Therapist (not quite a pathologist yet!) at an elementary school in a small border town in the Imperial Valley of California. I have a caseload of 65+ kiddos, and I truly love working with each of them. The paperwork isn’t always my favorite part, but my kids constantly remind me why I chose this field and keep me motivated every day.

Outside of work, I enjoy hiking, fishing, and hunting, antiquing, and pretty much anything outside! I also enjoy volunteering at my church, where I help out in a class for kiddos with special needs, it’s such a meaningful experience for me.

My passion for this field started early. I grew up in and out of classrooms since my mom was a special education teacher, and I loved being around that environment then, and I still love it now.

My name is Miguel, and I have been teaching in Phoenix for the past 20 years. I spent 17 of those years teaching 8th grade and am currently teaching 6th grade. Prior to my teaching career, I worked in Parks and Recreation in the Washington, D.C. area, supporting school-aged child care programs for several years.

I hold a B.A. in History from George Mason University and an M.Ed. in Secondary Education from Arizona State University. Throughout my career, I have worked in Title I schools, primarily serving immigrant communities and students from low socioeconomic backgrounds.

More recently, I have developed a strong interest in education reform. I have had the opportunity to meet with legislators and lobbyists to share my perspective as a classroom teacher and contribute to ongoing policy conversations.

I’m excited to be taking graduate-level courses again in a field I’ve long been connected to, but am now exploring more deeply.

Outside of work, I’m a big Disney fan and try to visit at least once a year. I also love swimming and spending time at the beach whenever I can. Family is really important to me—my husband and I are adjusting to having three adult children who now have homes and lives of their own, and we’re enjoying our role as grandparents to two wonderful grandkids.

At home, my cat Chloe keeps me company—especially during my swim time, when she’s busy bird-watching nearby.

Looking forward to learning with all of you!