Making It Better: The Role of SELPA in Dispute Resolution and Prevention

This segment is entitled, “Making It Better:  The Role of SELPA in Dispute Resolution and Prevention,” and it features three very talented individuals each with a wealth of experience.  

Katie Castruita - Katie is the proud parent of two teenage children, one of whom has an eligibility of autism and requires special education services.  She resides in Redlands within San Bernardino County.  She has been a member of the East Valley SELPA Community Advisory Committee for the past five years and is currently the Chair and has also worked as a special education paraprofessional.  Katie brings the parent perspective to our conversation through the lens of a parent who pursued due process and experienced the benefits of alternative dispute resolution. 

Cali Binks - Cali has been the superintendent of the Yucaipa-Calimesa Joint Unified School District since 2013.  Yucaipa-Calimesa JUSD is a mid-to-small sized school district on the east end of San Bernardino County.  Prior to leading Yucaipa-Calimesa, Cali served as the superintendent of a large, urban, diverse school district.  Cali began her career in education as a special education teacher.  She has experienced the positive outcomes that result from a district and SELPA embracing and using alternative dispute resolution (ADR) in working together with families of students with disabilities.

Dr. Patty Metheny - Patty has served as the Chief Administrative Officer of the East Valley SELPA in San Bernardino County for the past 7 years.  Prior to leading East Valley SELPA, Patty served for as a district special education director and spent many years as a teacher and school psychologist.  Patty believes that ADR practices offer a respectful, trusting and meaningful way to resolve differences and engage others in challenging conversations.  She is a recognized leader in ADR, serving as the Chair of the State SELPA ADR Committee and the Chair-elect of the State SELPA Association.

 Of possible interest:

· Center for Parent Information and Resources
This hub of information is funded by the Office for Special Education Programs.  

· Family Resource Centers Network of California
Supports families of children with disabilities, special healthcare needs, and those at risk by ensuring the continuance, expansion, promotion, and quality of Family Resource Centers.  

· CADRE Website
Funded by the Office of Special Education Programs at the US Department of Education to serve as the National Center on Dispute Resolution in Special Education. 

· ADRCal Website
A resource directory that provides information and resources for special educators, parents, Local Educational Agencies (LEAs), Special Education Local Plan Areas (SELPAs), and districts across California. 

· Better Than Court: Using Alternative Dispute Resolution Grants in Special Education
Sharon Cavallaro, Ed.D of the Napa County Office of Education and Patty Metheny, Ed.D of the SELPA Administrators of California Alternative Dispute Resolution Committee, 2018.

· Pepperdine Straus Institute – An internationally-recognized for law-school-based conflict resolution and for over a decade and ranked among the nation's best programs by U.S. News and World Report. 

Visit the SELPA Administrators of California at www.selpa.info and check out our ADR and Parent pages.  Like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/SELPAStrong  <