Special Education Department
(925) 682-8000
Mildred D. Browne, Ed.D., Assistant Superintendent
Pupil Services & Special Education
Special Education Administrators
Dr. Mildred D. Browne ext. 4047
Christian Patz ext. 4070
Bryan Cassin ext. 4192
Hilary Shen ext. 4297
Carolyn Patton ext. 4187
Lorien Quirk ext. 4164
Administrator Support:
Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR), Non-Public Schools (NPS), Non-Public Agencies (NPA) Bryan Cassin
Speech & Language Services, APE, Occupational & Physical Therapy (OT/PT), Vision, and
Assistive Technology/ Deaf & Hard of Hearing Christian Patz
Behaviorist Program Manager & Preschool Assessment Center, Robert Shearer Pre-K Program Lorien Quirk
Parent Liaison Hilary Shen
SDC, Specialized Health Care, Resource Program, Special Education Transportation Carolyn Patton
Office Support:
Administrative Asst. to Dr. Browne Christine Wilburn, ext. 4048
Administrative Secretary to Dr. Browne Josie Sardea, ext. 4066
Designated Instruction, Services & Resource Susan Kline, ext. 4059
Fiscal Analyst Tara Ashoo, ext. 4037
Management Information Services (MIS) Jackie Glass, ext. 4053
Special Day Classes & Centers Susan Kline, ext. 4059
Special Education Transportation Secretary Janis Howe, ext. 4057
Program Specialists:
Danielle Beecham ext. 4505
Samantha Espinosa (925) 798-1299 / (925) 765-2843
Melody Royal ext. 4186 or (925)348-1760
Hunt Lin ext. 4030
Open ext. 4189
Berry Murray ext. 4294
Site Support:
Behavior Management Specialists Jennifer Carvalho, ext. 4216
Lorien Quirk, ext. 4196
Michael Kullman, (707) 315-4658
Occupational Therapists: Billy Torrez, (925) 768-2222
Zahra Pierce, ext. 7725
Lesley Windham, ext. 7267
Special Education Alternative Programs:
Alliance In-House Mental Health (925) 687-0374
Bridge Transition Program (925) 798-1299
Mt. Diablo Mental Health Enhanced Class (925) 682-4030
Pleasant Hill In-House Mental Health (925) 256-0791
Riverview In-House Mental Health (925) 458-3216
Sunrise In-House Mental Health (925) 687-0202
Special Education Centers:
Audiology (925) 685-1962
Pre-K Assessment/Gregory Gardens (925) 825-0144
Robert R. Shearer Preschool (925) 685-1960
Shadelands Center (925) 685-3533
Sunrise School (925) 687-0202
Administrative Services . . . Who Ya Gonna Call?
Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Bryan Cassin, ext. 4192
§ Compliance Re: Referrals, Placements, Assessment. Identification
§ Parent Requests for Mediation/Due Process
§ Records Related to Mediation/Due Process
Assistive Technology Christian Patz, ext. 4070
Behavior Department
§ Autism Task Force Coordinator ext. 4164
§ Behavioral Observation, Consultation, & Requests/Assignments ext. 4164
§ Behavior & Classroom Management Trainings ext 4164
§ Support for Autism Programs Lorien Quirk, ext. 4196 or Jennifer Carvalho, ext. 4216
§ Pro-ACT Trainer/Coordinator Jennifer Carvalho, ext. 4216
Bridge/Workability/TPP Programs Samantha Espinosa (798-1299/603-1487)
§ Staffing, Training, Student Transition & Placements
Extended School Year (ESY) Samantha Espinosa 798-1299
§ ESY Staff Training and ESY Student Placements
Full-Time/Special Day Classes (SDC)
§ 1:1 & Extra Classroom Assistant Packets Carolyn Patton, ext. 4187
§ Change of Placement (Must Have Packets) Carolyn Patton, ext. 4187
§ Full-Time Purchases, Reimbursements & Budget Issues Susan Kline, ext. 4059
§ Full-Time Staff Timesheets Susan Kline, ext. 4059
§ New Full Time Student Placements Carolyn Patton, ext. 4187
§ Special Education Transportation and Parent Reimbursement Janis Howe, ext. 4057
§ Requests for Substitute Nurses/Health Assistants Susan Kline, ext. 4059
§ Special Education Staff Development Carolyn Patton, ext. 4187
Non-Public Schools (NPS) Bryan Cassin, ext. 4192
§ Day Treatment/Residential Settings For Student Placement
§ NPS Parent Reimbursements
§ NPS Transportation
§ Requests for Services/Placements Involving Outside Agencies
Parent Liaison Hilary Shen, ext. 4297
§ ADR, Compliance Complaints, Due Process, Mediation
§ Celebration of Success/You Make A Difference Events
§ Community Advisory Committee (CAC) & CAC Blog Cmte.
§ IEPs – Preparation and Facilitation
§ Individual’s With Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)
§ Neutral Support For Parents & Staff
§ Parent Advisory Committee (PAC)
§ Parent Resource/Education Program & Center
§ Procedural Safeguards & Parental Rights
§ Special Edition
Program Specialists
Program Specialists provide support and assistance to Special Education teachers and to school site administrators (as assigned) in the delivery and management of Special Education programs. Program Specialists’ phone numbers listed above. Please contact the listed Program Specialist regarding the following programs:
§ AB3632 Hunt Lin, ext. 4030
§ Bridge Samantha Espinosa, (925) 798-1299
§ CMA Testing
§ DD Council Hilary Shen, ext. 4297
§ ESY (Extended School Year) Samantha Espinosa (925) 798-1299
§ Mental Health Collaboratives Hunt Lin, ext. 4030
§ Transition Task Force Hilary Shen, ext. 4297
§ Triage Team Hunt Lin/Connie Cushing, ext. 4030
§ Workability Samantha Espinosa, (925) 603-1487
Resource and Related Services Department (DIS/Resource)
§ Assistive Tech./Alternative Augmentative Communication (AAC) Christian Patz, ext. 4070
§ Deaf & Hearing Impaired Program Christian Patz, ext. 4070
§ Interpreters/Translations Susan Kline, ext. 4059
§ Monthly Caseload Count & Routing Sheets Susan Kline, ext. 4059
§ New Resource Student Placements Carolyn Patton, ext. 4187
§ Resource Purchases, Reimbursements & Budget Issues Susan Kline, ext. 4059
§ Special Ed Adaptive Physical Ed (Placements, Staff, Trng., Evals.) Christian Patz, ext. 4070
§ Special Ed Robt. Shearer Pre-School Program Carolyn Patton, ext. 4187
§ Speech Pathology (Placements, Staffing, Training & Evaluations) Christian Patz, ext. 4070
§ Student Placements & IEPs for the P.S. Assessment Center ext. 4164
§ Vision Program (Placements, Staffing, Training & Evaluations) Christian Patz, ext. 4070