Monterey County Office of Education Professional Learning Catalog

AmeriCorps Section





Expanded Learning Section















Early Care and Education



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Early Care and Education





Meet the Educational
Services Team

Caryn Lewis Photo of Person
Assistant Superintendent
[email protected] Areas of speciality:
831-755-0383 (office) ● Improvement Science
Methodologies
@pk12innovation ● Communities of Practice
● Innovative Leadership
Operating from core principles that everything we do must Models
generate a positive impact on the success of all students, ● Deeper Learning
the Educational Services team is dedicated to growing the Competencies and
collective capacity of the Monterey County educators who Program Development
lead this vital work every day. Our shared purpose is to
engage in collaborative partnerships and develop dynamic
instructional systems in order to accelerate learning and
maximize opportunities for all of our youth. Recognizing the
diverse needs of our learning communities across the
region, we are committed to supporting schools and
districts with innovative programs and services to ensure
equitable solutions for college and career readiness. Our
goal is to provide you with extraordinary service and
ongoing support to develop rigorous academic pathways
that cultivate deeper learning competencies.

Michelle Ramirez Photo of Person
Senior Director
[email protected]
831-755-0388 (office)
559-259-6559 (cell)

Michelle Ramirez has been in education for more than 24 Areas of speciality:
years, serving as an elementary classroom teacher, grade ● LCAP Support
level coach, elementary school principal, director of LCAP, ● Multi-Tiered Systems of
Student Services, State and Federal Programs and Early Support
Learning, and is currently the Senior Director of ● Professional Learning
Educational Services in Monterey County. Networks
● Leadership Supports
Michelle collaborates with districts in their work with the
Local Control Accountability Plans to create the best
conditions for positive student outcomes. Michelle brings to
MCOE the love of learning, a strong will to serve the
community, a passion for the arts, and extensive work on
comprehensive balanced literacy.
.

David Dobrowski
Director of Data, Research and Partnerships
[email protected]
831-784-4189

David Dobrowski brings a rich experience in data analysis and Areas of speciality:
evaluation including R, data visualizations and facilitated ● Data analysis
outcomes discussions. His work supports using assessments, ● Program evaluation
data and information to make decisions that improve outcomes ● Data Visualization
and reduce inequities. He previously worked for the County of ● https://github.com/dobrowski
Santa Cruz’s Human Services Department where he supported
divisions including Family and Children’s Services, Adults and
Long Term Care, and Employment and Benefits. Prior to that he
worked at First 5 Monterey County where he supported schools
and nonprofits throughout Monterey County that work with
families with young children. He has lived in Monterey County
since 2003. He received his Master’s of Public Administration
from the Middlebury Institute of International Studies.

Alicia Diaz-Infante
Student Data Analyst
[email protected]
831-755-0833

Alicia Diaz-Infante has been with the Ed Services team for over

three years, working collaboratively with various program leads

to help support the districts and personnel that serve the

students of Monterey County. As one of two people in the

Research and Data (RAD) team, her works supports the efforts

to improve learning and support students in achieving success.

With a background in Sociology, her mindset keeps her data Areas of speciality:
analysis focused on the story that the numbers and data are ● Data analysis

telling without forgetting the bigger picture and the important

inclusion of social-emotional well-being. As a native of Salinas

she is committed to the growth of her community and being

able to serve it as a whole.

Dora Ann Salazar Photo of Person
Director, Language & Literacy
[email protected]
831-755-6435 (office)

Dora Salazar has been in education for more than 30 years. Areas of speciality:
She has been an administrator for 20 years and 15 of those ● ELA/ELD Framework
years were as a school site principal. She currently serves ● BeGLAD Certification
Monterey County as a representative for the Bilingual ● ELAC/DELAC Training
Coordinators Network at the California Department of ● Immigrant/Refugee
Education as well as in the Region 5 Community of Practice Students
for the CA English Learner Roadmap. She is a co-leader of ● CA English Learner
the Monterey County Bright Futures Goal 3 Advisory group. Roadmap

Dora is passionate about ensuring equitable instructional
opportunities for English learners to thrive. She is dedicated to
creating networks, collaboration and professional learning
opportunities for educators who impact student learning,
including parents, who are a child’s first teacher.

Edi Porter
Educational Specialist, Language & Literacy
[email protected]
831-755-0304 (office)

@adoptedelf

Edi Porter has been in education for more than 25 years in many Areas of Speciality:
capacities - elementary classroom teacher, Reading Recovery ● Language and Literacy
teacher, Induction mentor, university master teacher, Instructional Development and
Coach, and District TOSA. Integration
● CA English Learner
Collaboration is a core value in the work Edi has done in education Roadmap
for the last 25 years. She looks forward to partnering with Monterey ● ELA/ELD Framework
County teachers to enhance elementary schools students' learning ● BeGLAD Certified
and achievement in language and literacy. ● Instructional Coaching

“Alone we can do so little; together we can do so
much.”

- Helen Keller

Jennifer Elemen, Ed.D.
Educational Administrator, Language &
Literacy, History-Social Science-Civics
[email protected]
831-784-4154 (office) @ElGovEcon

Jennifer Elemen, Ed.D. serves Monterey County and Region 5 as Areas of speciality:
leader of the CLIC (Content, Literacy, Inquiry, and Citizenship) ● ELA/ELD Framework
Project, Constitution Project, “We Count, We Rise” Census 2020 ● BeGLAD Certification
Project, History-Social Science Subcommittee Representative of ● History-Social Science
the Curriculum and Instruction Steering Committee (CISC) of the Framework & CLIC
California County Superintendents Educational Services ● College, Career, and
Association (CCSESA), and is Central Area Vice President of the Civic Life (C3) Framework
California Council for the Social Studies (CCSS). Jennifer is a ● English Learner
BeGLAD (Guided Language Acquisition Design) Certified Agency Roadmap Teacher
Trainer and on the CISC ELA/ELD Subcommittee. She facilitates Toolkits
educators’ professional learning with a focus on access and ● Project Based Blended
equity. She supports educators and students to develop culturally Learning
and linguistically responsive learning opportunities; build
school-community partnerships; and achieve deeper learning
competencies for college, career, civic life readiness and social
justice.

Rod Garcia Photo of Person
Computer Science and Digital Learning
Coordinator II
[email protected]
(831)-755-0300 Ext. 371
(831)233-4411 (Cell)

Rod Garcia is a former elementary school teacher and lifelong Areas of speciality:
science enthusiast. He has helped to develop and implement ● Transitions to Distance
science programs for our local communities, as well as, Learning
transition schools to 21st Century learning environments. With ● Educational Technology
the onset of increasingly digitized learning environments and ● Computer Science
opportunities, Rod is focused on innovating educational Implementation
practices to prepare our students for the future. As part of the ● Virtual Coaching
STEAM Team for MCOE Ed Services, Rod’s main focus is ● Equity and Access in CS
centered around supporting schools in their efforts to build and Technology
Computer Science (CS) programs , transition to Distance ● CA K12 CS Standards
Learning, and promote equitable practices in a digital space
for all K-12 students.

Denise Green Photo of Person
Educational Administrator, Mathematics
[email protected]
831-784-4113 (office)

Denise Green is the Educational Administrator of Areas of speciality:
Mathematics, in the Educational Services Department, and as ● Mathematics Framework
such she strives to support districts and schools to ensure ● Standards for Mathematical
students gain a rigorous math education in Monterey County. Practice
Denise aspires to empower all students in math class and to ● Equity and Access in
instill the belief that each and every student is good at math. Mathematics
She believes collaborative efforts are necessary to transform ● Implicit Bias in Mathematics
the way we understand and envision math teaching and ● Learning Walks
learning and more importantly to ensure student success and ● Instructional Coaching
narrow access, expectation, and achievement gaps. Denise is ● Math Success for All
honored to support efforts to give all students equitable (Modules to support Student
access to rigorous and engaging experiences in mathematics with Disabilities in Math)
from early years through post secondary.

Will Franzell Photo of Person
Educational Administrator, Science
[email protected]
831-784-4147 (office)

As an Educational Administrator at MCOE, Will is Areas of specialty:
responsible for facilitating Science Professional Learning ● Next Generation Science
Opportunities with TK-12th grade educators and Standards
administrators in Monterey County. He is available to meet ● Curriculum Review and
with your team throughout the school year to provide Adoption Support
support with the Next Generation Science Standards build ● Equity and Access in
capacity at your sites. His skills include designing, Science
developing, and implementing workshops aligned to the ● Instructional Coaching
NGSS while approaching this work with a combined lens of ● Environmental Principles
empathy and equity. Will looks forward to working with your and Concepts
team in order to foster creative confidence through
innovation, collaborations, and deeper learning
experiences. Contact Will to help transform your school
communities so all students have access and support to be
successful in college, career, and life.

Cathy Cranson Photo of Person
Director, Special Projects, Teacher
Induction, ACEIT
[email protected]
831-784-4155 (office)
831-594-8577 (cell)

Cathy has worked for MCOE since 2008 and has spent her Areas of speciality:
entire educational career in Monterey County. Among her ● Teacher Induction
various responsibilities, she is the director of the MCOE ● Professional Learning
Teacher Induction Program and has built online trainings of Networks (PLN)
current state and district initiatives to help deepen new ● LCAP
teachers’ understandings of the needs of students in ● Multi-Tiered Systems of
Monterey County. As the Director of Special Projects, Cathy Support (MTSS)
has had the opportunity to work with teachers, site and ● Aspiring Classified
district administrators to align their work. She is a firm Employees into Teaching
believer in supporting, serving, and leading Monterey (ACEIT)
county educators in order to meet the needs of ALL ● Local Solutions Grant for
students. As a former Special Education teacher, equity SPED teachers
and access is crucial. ALL truly means ALL to Cathy!

Esther Rubio Photo of Person
Program Coordinator II
[email protected]
831-755-0843 (office)

Esther brings over 30 years of experience in program Areas of speciality:
development, management, stakeholder collaboration, and ● PBIS
budgeting. Her goal is to support schools with developing ● Multi-Tiered
systems that ensure ALL students have access to the highest Systems of
quality education. Support (MTSS)
● Social-Emotional
Esther trains school staff on how to improve their school Learning
climate by implementing Positive Behavioral Interventions and ● Youth Mental
Supports (PBIS) and Multi-Tiered Systems of Supports Health First Aid
(MTSS). Esther works collaboratively with many community ● Early Learning
partners to ensure school systems include, culturally
appropriate practices, parent engagement, social emotional
learning and student voice. She also coordinates the county
team of Youth Mental Health First Aid instructors who provide
training on how to respond to youth in crisis.

“Transforming the culture of schools and communities”

Alicia Gregory Photo of Person
Program Coordinator I, AmeriCorps

[email protected]

831-755-0375 (Office)

Alicia coordinates the AmeriCorps program at MCOE, which serves
elementary schools throughout the Monterey County, providing them with
Literacy Tutors. AmeriCorps members serve an 11-month term of service
and receive professional development and literacy training. Members from
the program are set on a teaching pathway and are provided networking
opportunities and resources to assist them in reaching their goals.

Alicia has worked in Youth Development for the past ten years in Northern Skills:
California with local non-profits and school districts. She is a graduate from
CSU Monterey Bay and an AmeriCorps Alumni. Alicia served two full terms ● Youth Development
with an AmeriCorps program called Public Allies, where she worked with ● Program Development
underserved girls in low-income areas, partnering them with women in ● Recruitment & Community
STEM mentors, and worked to build the Bay Area AmeriCorps Alumni
network. Before working at Monterey County Office of Education, Alicia Outreach
worked at Hartnell College with the Continuing Education Department. She ● Leadership Development
worked with the Salinas Valley Adult Education Consortium, where she ● Volunteer Management
collaborated with Adult Schools throughout the Salinas Valley, to provide ● Service Event Planning
education and career resources to community members. Alicia is ● State Grant Management
passionate about education and creating equity within the educational
system so that all students can achieve. & Reporting

Irma C. Lopez Photo of Person
Recruitment and Retention Specialist,
AmeriCorps
[email protected]
831-512-1387 (Office)

Irma joins us from The First Tee of Monterey County (TFTMC), where she Areas of speciality:
● Program Development
was the Members Services Coordinator. She has experience working with ● Youth Development
Monterey County school districts through partnerships with The First Tee, and ● Recruitment Specialist
supervised a staff team of 15-25. In earlier work, Irma worked with Alisal ● Volunteer Coordinator
Union School District as an Outreach Coordinator and then as a Family ● Community Outreach
Services Specialist supporting students, families, and schools in many ● Networking Specialist
different ways. ● Youth Mentor
● Communications
Additionally, as a long time Salinas local, Irma brings strength in networking ● Fundraising
and connections across the county. She is dedicated to youth and
community service. Irma is serving as Hartnell College Board of Trustee for
District 4, and as a Board Member for the Ernie Camacho Educational
Foundation. She is also a volunteer of TFTMC, Gonzalez Youth Guardians
and the National Steinbeck Center. Irma has done so much within the
community, that she was a recipient of Salinas’ “City of Champions”
commendation award.

Mara Wold, M.P.A. Areas of speciality:
Regional Lead, Region 5 Expanded Learning ● Program Design &
Organizational Systems
Serving 240+ ASES/21CCLC funded before, after school & Thinking
summer programs in Monterey, San Benito, Santa Clara and ● Program Compliance &
Santa Cruz Counties Quality Improvement
● Collaborative Networks
[email protected] ● TK-12 Integration/STEAM
408-313-6059 (cell)

Mara brings over 20 years experience in program development,
management, stakeholder collaboration, and project-based curricula
design. Her greatest passion is that all students have access to the
highest quality expanded learning experiences that promote wonder,
exploration, skill building and a child’s healthy development.

Mara directs the provision of support services to the region’s LEA
grantees and partners with a focus on increasing cohesion between in
school and out-of-school time. Needs-driven support efforts focus on
building staff capacity and leadership through Communities of Practice
and 1-1 consultation. Mara leads the Region 5 STEAM Hub for
Expanded Learning and greater Region 5 STEAM Ecosystem. She
serves on the CDE Expanded Learning Division’s Strategic Design
Team in addition to numerous statewide and local advisory committees.

Lety Gomez Gong Areas of speciality:
Manager, Region 5 Expanded Learning ● Program Development &
Management
Serving 240+ ASES/21CCLC funded before, after school & ● Capacity Building
summer programs in Monterey, San Benito, Santa Clara and ● Quality Improvement
Santa Cruz Counties ● Active and Engaged
Learning
[email protected] ● Social Emotional Learning
831-237-0053 (office)
www.region5afterschool.org

For more than 20 years, Lety Gomez Gong has worked in management
within the non-profit educational sector. She has dedicated her career to
increasing the quality of services and support to prepare students for
college, career and life.

Throughout her career she has been involved in local and statewide
collaboratives and partnerships to increase programming and services in
Inclusion, Students with Special Needs, Social Emotional Learning,
Summer Learning, Prevention/Intervention in Drug/Alcohol & Violence
Prevention, School Climate, Mental Health and more.

She is a capacity builder and provides coaching, consultation, training,
mentoring, facilitation and brokering of services. She is the lead in
coordinating the Leadership Institute and also coordinates the ReV Up
Conference that brings 600+ educators and experts to learn and share
promising practices.

Roberto Núñez, Ed.D. Photo of Person
Director of Leadership Development
[email protected] Areas of speciality:
831-512-1376 (office) ● School Systems
● All things Equity
Dr. Núñez is a K-12 Administrator and Educator, having served over ● Cultural Proficiency
20 years as a high school, middle school, and elementary school ● Transformative
principal. Roberto most recently served six years opening up the new Leadership
Monte Bella Elementary, in the Alisal Union School District, and lead ● Administor Induction,
the effort of making the school a California Distinguished Gold Mentoring, and Support
Ribbon School within the first three years of existence.

As the Director of Leadership Development at the MCOE, he is
leading and developing the new Transformative Leadership Center at
the county level. Dr. Núñez has presented on the topics of Cultural
Proficiency and Transformative Leadership throughout the last
several years, most recently co-presenting at CABE 2019 in Long
Beach, CA and at CALSA Mentor-Protégé in March 2019, also in
Long Beach. Dr. Núñez has walked the talk of being a transformative
leader. He advocates for students of color having more access to an
21st Century education system, closing of the achievement gap,
disrupting the school-to-prison pipeline, and is all in for equity.

Juan Mendoza-Romero, Ed.D. Photo of Person
College & Career Readiness Administrator
[email protected]
831-755-6466 (office)

Dr. Mendoza-Romero has been a school counselor and school
administrator for more than 24 years. He has been an elementary
and middle school counselor, a high school academic/college/career
counselor and adult/continuation school counselor. He has also
been a K-12 school administrator, District administrator, college and
university instructor, and a private college advisor.

Dr. Mendoza-Romero is dedicated to help students and families Areas of speciality:
navigate the college going process in order to increase the number ● Transcript evaluation
of students continuing their education beyond high school. Dr. ● Credit recovery (From GED to
mendoza is also the author of My personal university advisor: The BA)
complete guide for university-bound students. The book was written ● A-G evaluation
to give students more personal and individualized assistance to ● Development of elementary and
achieve their goal of attending a university. secondary college and career
programs
● California Dashboard (College
and Career Indicator)
● Design, develop, and implement
a college going culture

Laurie Ramirez, Ph.D. Areas of speciality:
Early Learning Manager, Early Childhood ● Child Development
Education ● Community
[email protected] Partnerships
831-784-4141 (office) ● Setting up
equitable learning
Laurie comes to MCOE with an interesting variety of both educational and systems
community outreach experience. Prior to entering graduate school, Laurie ● Early Childhood
worked as an adult teacher at a welfare-to-work program, assisting students Inclusion Programs
with GED prep, English classes, as well as a community outreach worker
connecting students with needed services.

Laurie holds a Masters and Ph.D. in Education from U.C. Berkeley. Her
graduate work findings reaffirmed her beliefs that high expectations both at
home and in schools, along with educational support systems that take into
account the unique personalities of the student population are critical for
student success.

Laurie believes that only by having the multi-faceted components of
children’s lives all work in unison can a child truly thrive. Laurie is excited to
work alongside the MCOE community as well as community partners and
stakeholders to build improved early childhood systems in Monterey
County.

Eliza Gomez Areas of speciality:
Program Coordinator II, QRIS ● Program Development
[email protected] ● Early Literacy
831-783-5289 (office) ● Child Development
831-809-9177 (cell) ● 40 Developmental Assets
● Abriendo
Eliza's life's work is centered on ensuring ALL children have access Puertas/Opening Doors
to high-quality early childhood programs that are developmentally
and culturally appropriate. She leads to evokes high-quality early
childhood education practices grounded in research. Her grassroots
background and life long learner journey give her a wealth of
experience and knowledge as a strategic partner in coming together
collectively for positive outcomes.

For more than 25 years, Eliza has extensive experience in the early
childhood education field and has devoted her career to working with
preschool professionals by providing coaching to the ECE
community. As well as implementing a myriad of preschool services
and family literacy programs. Eliza’s experiences include being a
school readiness program director, site supervisor for a child
development program. Eliza is a pioneer in being the first mentor in
Monterey County for the California Early Childhood Education Mentor
Program.

Megan Matteoni Areas of speciality:
Program Coordinator, QRIS ● CA Regional Anchor:
[email protected]
831.755.0300 x407 ECERS-R &
FCCERS-R
With over 20 years of experience teaching and supporting ● CLASS Observer:
preschool environments, Megan has also conducted PreK, Toddler, Infant
assessments of early learning programs and coached educators ● Loose Parts
and directors in best practices. Megan is a certificated Early ● Emergent Curriculum
Childhood Education teacher with a Master’s in Child
Development and a Program Director permit.

Her philosophy is rooted in constructivism and believes in
utilizing children’s interests and abilities to promote a cohesive
community within the classroom. Her research interests lie in
the social emotional and cognitive importance of play and
movement. She has worked within preschools dedicated to
intentional teaching practices through emergent curriculum, and
has supported children on the spectrum building on their social
emotional skills through play.

Gelacio Gonzalez, IFECMH-P Areas of speciality:
Early Learning Program Specialist ● CLASS Master Coach
[email protected] ● ECERS-R & FCCERS-R
831.755.0300 ext. 086 (Main)
Reliable Assessor
Gelacio Gonzalez has over a decade of working with the ● CLASS Pre-K & Toddler
special needs and early childhood profile. Gelacio holds a
B.A. in Early Childhood Education with a specialty in Assessor & Trainer of
Trauma, as well as a a Site Supervisor Permit from the Trainers
Commission on Teacher Credentialing. His unique blend of ● ASQ.3 & ASQ-SE.2 Trainer
expertise allows him to create and provide services that are of Trainers
holistically designed, taking into account the multitude of ● TALLK DLL Certified Coach
factors that affect the well-being of our children, educators,
and families.

Gelacio is an Endorsed Infant-Family Childhood Mental
Health Practitioner by the California Center Infant-Family
Childhood Mental Health, and believes it is imperative to
address the social-emotional needs of children in order to
build strong education foundation for their educational
success.