Getting to Know Us - SPED

PB-SPED Program Faculty & Staff

Shawna Ortogero

Dr. Shawna Ortogero Program Advisor

The PB-SPED advisor’s primary role is to guide candidates through the program. The advisor makes decisions to address individual candidates’ situations and needs and is an important resource for candidates. Candidates must maintain regular communication with the advisor and let the advisor know right away if they have questions, special requests, or problems that may impact their program.

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Heather smiling

Heather Rogers-Rodrigues Placement Coordinator

The placement coordinator supports all program candidates in matters related to field placement requirements towards teacher licensure. The placement coordinator supports candidates by finding appropriate field placements and classroom mentors across all islands. In addition, for candidates who are already employed in school settings, the placement coordinator reviews all placements on a case-by-case basis to ensure the position aligns with the level and specialization area being sought for licensure.

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Instructors and Field Supervisors

Rachelle Reed Assistant Professor

"...I realized I'm a huge fan of the underdogs"

Robin Dazzeo Instructor

"As a graduate of the program, I can speak to my experiences. This program not only gave me the academic rigor needed to be prepared to teach and provide support as a care coordinator, but also the support needed to be open to meeting the academic, social, and emotional needs of all students."

Kevin Wilkins Cohort Coordinator and Instructor

"I’m excited to lend my passion and enthusiasm to a program that has been carefully designed to be deeply engaging, dynamic, and truly rewarding for candidates."

MUSE Mentors

The MUSE Mentor program is designed to provide high quality, individualized support to unlicensed special education “emergency hire” teachers enrolled in the Post Baccalaureate in Special Education program at UH Mānoa. PB-SPED candidates who are employed as PreK-12 Special Education teachers may be allowed to complete their field experience requirements in their own classroom (“in place”). This type of placement differs from a traditional field placement, as an “in place” teacher does not have the benefit of daily modeling and support of a cooperating teacher. This support is a critical component of the practicum experiences included in the Special Education program. Therefore, candidates will be assigned a MUSE Mentor while enrolled in the PB-SPED program. Once approved to complete field experiences in their own classroom, details of the MUSE Mentor program will be provided.

Please visit our MUSE website to learn more:

https://coe.hawaii.edu/sped/muse-mentors/

Cherrie Aiona MUSE Mentor

"Enjoy this time of new experiences and learning. There will be ups and downs, learn from them and continue to move forward. You will be on a thrilling roller coaster and not a merry-go-round, so buckle in and enjoy the ride."

Steve Klein MUSE Mentor

"Taking an emergency hire position is like being thrown in the water to learn how to swim, depending on what type of prior knowledge a teacher candidate takes with them into the classroom, but the experience is invaluable, in many ways."

Nancy Gorman MUSE Mentor

"Be patient with yourself, you just might know more than you think you do! It might not be easy, but it will be worth it if you stick with it while you continue to grow and learn."

Award Winning Alumni

Shildmyer photo

Michael Shildmyer Recognized in Extraordinary Educators campaign

"His passion for his students is immeasurable, and his innate ability to make all his students love learning and strive to do their best is incredible! Despite the challenges of distance learning, his students have continued to thrive under his guidance." - Aileen Soma, MUSE mentor

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Odo

Kari Odo 2019 Milken Educators of Hawai'i Teacher of Promise Recipient

"The program is built well as it guided me from being a student, to a student-teacher, to a teacher who can stand on my own and guide my own learning in the field."

Kari Odo's Profile

SPEDucator Project Recipients

The SPEDucator Project is made up of Hawaii DOE special education teachers, who were selected by educational leaders for their passion, ingenuity, and excellence in the field of special education based on recommendations from the teacher’s administrator, colleague, and student’s parent. This inaugural project was initiated as a collaboration between the Hawaii Department of Education and UH Mānoa’s College of Education, Department of Special Education and was further funded and supported by the Governor’s GEER Grant from 2020-2022.

These “SPEDucators” advocate for equity to better serve special education students, parents, and our communities. Four UHM PBSPED alumni were selected to be a part of this project.

Michelle Lim PBSPED Mild/Moderate, 2018-2020 and MEd SPED, Leadership & Research 2020-2022 Cohort

“Being a SPEDucator means that I can be a voice for all dedicated SPEDucators in Hawaiʻi and help to make a difference in the field of special education.”

Evelyn Gamez PBSPED Severe/Autism, 2015-2017 and MEd SPED, BCBA-Track (2017-2019) Cohort

"I hope to make a difference in the field of special education by bringing awareness to the capabilities of each of my students. I want everyone at my school to know that students with special education services can lead successful and love-filled lives."

Kristel Brogdon PBSPED Mild/Moderate 6-12, 2015-2017 Cohort

“I wish I had ‘Someone Special’ when I was in school, and I strive to be that person for my students every single time I step onto campus.”

Pamela Walencewicz PBSPED Mild/Moderate, 2016-2018 Cohort

"UH was willing to pay for me to attend this program in exchange for three years of teaching in a DOE school. This was too good to pass up!"

Meet more of our Amazing Students and Alumni!

Rochelle Agonoy PBSPED Mild/Moderate, 2022-2023 Cohort

“Everyone in this program is extremely supportive and wants to see you succeed. It may be intimidating at first, but I'm so thankful that I took a chance on myself and applied.”

Haruka Hopper PBSPED Severe/Autism PreK-3, 2020-2022 Cohort

"I want to support students in finding their voices to express themselves and create an accepting environment where all students' strengths are seen and voices are heard."

Maricar Velasco PBSPED Mild/Moderate K-6, 2020-2022 Cohort

"I want to support students in finding their voices to express themselves and create an accepting environment where all students' strengths are seen and voices are heard."

Shay Chun PBSPED Mild/Moderate, 2019-2021 Cohort

“… teaching and learning alongside the students with disabilities is my passion. I continuously enjoy the challenge of discovering and implementing new strategies to support my students to reach their educational and socio-emotional goals.”

Joseph Menor Jr PBSPED Severe/Autism, 2018-2020 Cohort

“I would recommend the emergency hire route to others in the program if you are organized, manage time wisely, are proactive, and are able to ask for help when you need it.“

Georgianna Hashimoto PBSPED Mild/Moderate, 2017-2019 Cohort

“It is worth it all to validate your skills as a teacher and to know you can make a difference.”

Rachel Bell PBSPED Mild/Moderate, 2015-2017 Cohort

“I am an advocate for early intervention when it comes to children who need special education because I really believe helping them as early as possible can make the biggest difference in their school careers and beyond.”

Kailina Lewis PBSPED Mild/Moderate, 2015-2017 Cohort

"It was pivotal that I could work and go to school, and this program made that a reality."

Eric Stinton PBSPED Mild/Moderate, 2011-2013 Cohort

“I’ve really enjoyed SPED for a lot of reasons. It’s a truly student-first approach to education, and the students are by far the best part of the job.”