Parent Liaisons

Parent Resources:

Click the link to access "Parent Resources for Special Education": 
https://padlet.com/malindafurtado/s8co43zadttmejyh
Haga clic en el enlace para accesar "Recursos de Educación Especial para los Padres":  
https://padlet.com/malindafurtado/g1jta2dytgj34l5w
Outreach & Mentoring to Parents of Children (ages 0-3) with Disabilities: 
We connect Bright Start families to Community Resources and provide Support Groups, Parent Education, and transition-planning guidance when children turn 3 years of age.

Liaison Support for School-Age Children: 

We provide parent-to-parent mentoring by gathering information to understand a child's disability, its effects at school & home, and parents' concerns. Often, we make home visits and observe students in their school environment.

Bilingual Parent Education & Training:
We aim to increase parents' knowledge of the special education process, their rights under IDEA, the IEP/504 document, effective communication, and other topics of interest to parents by providing trainings and materials in Spanish and English.

Promote Parent Involvement in Special Education:

We help prepare parents for IEP, 504, and other meetings by explaining specific terminology, documenting concerns, explaining evaluations, and communicating with the school.  We know that careful preparation ahead of time can prevent many problems later.

Attend & Participate in IEPs & Other Meetings:

We serve as a neutral party to resolve parents' concerns through access of information & compromise on both sides.  We are not "advocates" hired to work solely on behalf of parents, because it is our job to look at both sides of the situation. Our job is to look at all relevant information presented by parents and the school and make sure the needs of the child are met. We do this by modeling appropriate participation & communication and helping the team stay focused on the student.

Foster a Positive Outcome Between Parents and School Personnel:
We work to establish a collaborative and positive working environment in order to ensure a Free & Appropriate Public Education for students with disabilities.  For a student's needs to be met at school, it is imperative that parents and schools maintain a harmonious, working relationship and above all, this is what we strive to create.

Staff

Malinda Furtado
Parent / School Liaison Coordinator
(559) 730-2910 ext. 5125
malinda.furtado@tcoe.org

Stephanie Caldera
Bright Start Parent/School Liaison
(559) 740-4321 ext. 6528
scaldera@tcoe.org
Jessica Ceja
Parent/School Liaison
(559) 730-2910 ext. 5155
jessica.ceja@tcoe.org
Joy Voita
Parent/School Liaison
(559) 260-6146
joyv@tcoe.org