Gail Ewell is the Executive Director for Hope Technology School. Prior to her Directorship, she served as the Program Coordinator and Educational Strategist for Hope Technology Group Computer Lab. She brings both professional and personal experience with special needs and inclusive environments to our school. Having two children with special needs allows her to influence the program from both a parental and professional perspective.

In 1998, she created an Exceptional Children's Program worldwide, a non-profit project which empowers families through specialized classes and inclusion services for children with special needs, parent support groups, community conferences, as well as inclusive sports programs. The Bay Area community conferences deemed Special Education Expositions (S.E.E. Conferences) have been a focal point for parents and professionals to network while receiving updates on the latest advances in education and medicine.

Gail graduated from Northeastern University in 1983 with a degree in Education and an emphasis in Human Services. She brings over 10 years experience in Human Services, working with children and adults and has been a keynote speaker to diverse audiences nationally and around the world. She is also a member of Cure Autism Now (C.A.N.).

John Taliaferro serves as the Regular Education Director for the Hope Technology School. He has over twenty years of experience in elementary education as a teacher and administrator. During his career, he has written curriculum for use in the elementary classroom in math and history as well as taught in a center for gifted education as a math and science teacher. He has taught both traditional classes in a regular classroom setting and multi-grade combination classes in an open setting. The combined classes provided services for gifted and talented students as well as those in the special education program.

John received his Master's Degree in 1986 from Virginia Polytechnic University in elementary administration. He received his BS in Biology from Abilene Christian College. John was trained as a fellow in the Northern Virginia Writing Project as a teacher of writing and has led workshops for teachers in writing. He has taught computer programming classes for elementary students in BASIC and LOGO. John also has teaching experience with middle school and high school students in summer school programs. He is proud to be a part of the HTS program.

Tracey Howell has a Bachelor's Degree in Psychology from Princeton University. After graduation she taught math, biology, chemistry and general science to secondary school students. She was recognized as one of the new up and coming teachers and given a fellowship to Columbia University for their Master's Program in Curriculum. She worked for Teach for America, a non-profit group that matched Ivy-League graduates with inner-city schools for a two-year commitment to teach.

Her love for children and her own experience as a mother of a special needs child has led her to help establish support services for families. She has assisted in organizing conferences and support group meetings for parents as well as developing programs to support special needs children in class situations outside school. She is bringing a variety of experience to the program.

Prior to dedicating herself to Hope Technology School, Sharon had 9 years of experience working for non-profit organizations. Her extensive qualifications include administrative senior management positions and experience working with children and families. As Program Manager of HTS, Sharon creates an infrastructure that allows the school to grow and impact more and more students each year.

Sharon holds a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Radford University. Also, being the mother of two of our students, she brings a unique perspective to the direction of the program. She is always looking for ways that the program can best serve each student.

Sandra Burke has been working with children and adults with communication difficulties for many years. She has worked in several settings, such as home health care, assistive living facilities, special day classes, public and private schools, and university clinics.

She received her Master of Science degree in Communicative Disorders with an emphasis in Speech and Language Pathology from San Francisco State University in 2005. She finished her clinical fellowship year in September 2006 at Hope Technology School. Sandra is a licensed speech-language pathologist, has her national certification through the America Speech-Language Hearing Association (ASHA), and obtained a California Credential in Clinical Rehabilitative Services. Prior to graduate school, Sandra studied Special Education and Linguistics at San Francisco State University.

She has been trained in ABA (Applied Behavior Analysis), Integrated Play Group therapy, Links to Language, Tomatis Auditory Re-Education Therapy, Feeding Therapy, and Facilitated Communication. She is very excited to be working at school that focuses on full-inclusion.

Howard has taught at the Hope Technology School since its inception in 2001. Since then he has been nominated to the "Who's Who Among Americas Teachers" for three consecutive years.

He has a Masters Degree in Mild-to-Moderate Special Education and a teaching credential in Mild-to-Moderate Special Education from San Francisco State University. He also holds a Bachelor's degree in Child Development, with a minor in Music, from California State University, Sacramento.

During his 13 years of working in Early Childhood Education, he has worked as a Head Teacher, Site Supervisor, and as a case manager for various county agencies.

Through the use technologies such as student video projects, Howard's has brought another dimension to the classroom. Howard Kiyuna is a cornerstone in Hope Technology School's foundation.With his "make-it-happen" attitude, creative teaching, and broad range of talents, Howard is an asset to our staff at Hope Technology School.

Christine Jones has been working with children of all abilities in various settings for over 10 years. She has been working for Hope Technology School since 2002.

After receiving her Bachelors of Arts degree in Liberal Studies from San Francisco State University, she continued her studies to pursue a graduate degree. Christine received her Master's degree in Mild-Moderate Disabilities in May 2005. In September of that same year, she completed coursework and training for a certificate in Educational Therapy, enabling her to assess and provide intervention for students with learning disabilities.

In the Spring of 2006, Christine received her special education credential in Mild-Moderate Disabilities. In addition to these accomplishments, Christine has also received training in Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA), Facilitated Communication (FC), and Tribes - a program that promotes inclusion in the classroom. Christine finds great joy in working with students and seeing them grow and change.

Gina Kiyuna has been in the field of education since 1994. In her early career, Gina worked with a diverse population in an elementary school of an inner-city school district where she educated typical first and third grade students many of whom were bilingual. She then entered the field of deaf education where she taught deaf/hard-of-hearing students in various junior high, elementary and early intervention classrooms using American Sign Language (ASL), Total Communication (using SEE), and an Oral/Aural approach. In addition to teaching this specialized group of students, Gina also has experience working with children who have speech and language delays (not related to hearing loss), and children who have autism/PDD.

Gina has been trained in ABA (applied behavioral analysis, TEACCH, Facilitated Communication (FC), and in facilitating Integrated Play Groups. She has also been through a number of trainings and workshops for GEMS (Great Explorations in Math and Science), the California Reading and Literacy Project, and Tribes (fostering classroom community and inclusion).

Gina earned her Bachelor's degree in Anthropology from the University of California at Berkeley in 1991. She holds two California credentials: a regular education multiple subject CLAD (Cross-Cultural Language Academic Development) credential, as well as a special education communication-handicapped credential, with an emphasis in deaf education. In 1999, Gina received her Master's degree in Special Education, with an emphasis in deaf education from San Francisco State University.

Gina also serves as Hope Technology School's Full-Inclusion Specialist. Having a dual credential, as well as teaching experience in both regular and special education enables her to provide consultations for classroom accommodations and curricular modifications that support both the special needs child and the classroom teacher. Gina thrives on teaching and seeing the students grow, and is especially excited to be collaborating with such a talented staff.

Kim Murray serves as our 3rd/4th grade teacher at HTS She joined our staff in 2005. Kim studied Art at the University of Hawaii and received her Bachelor of Arts Degree in 1995. She went on to earn her Elementary Teaching Certificate in Regular Education.

After completing the program, she began teaching Visually Impaired students at a middle school while simultaneously enrolled in a state funded program training teachers in the area of Mild-to-Moderate Disabilities in Special Education. As a result, the State of Hawaii awarded her a Special Education Endorsement for her Teaching Certificate. She has also taught in the special day class setting in Hawaii and California for grades three through five. Kim is comfortable working with a range of students' needs and abilities.

Amy has been working in the field of education since 1994. She has experience teaching preschool through 3rd grades and is certified to teach through the 8th grade. Amy brings much experience in reading instruction and assessment to HTS, and was involved in the California Reading and Literature Project.

Amy continually expands her knowledge of reading/writing instruction for young children through professional development workshops and conferences. Amy has also added to her experience with children with special needs by volunteering in an inclusive soccer program. She is also trained in Integrated Play Groups, and she has served as a mentor teacher for student teachers in the credential program.

Amy earned her Bachelor of Arts in Child Development with a minor in Psychology from California State University at Chico. She holds a multiple subject CLAD (Cross-Cultural Language Academic Development) credential that she earned at California State University at Sacramento.

Bob earned his Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Portland State University. Prior to coming to the Kindergarten and 1st grade at Hope Technology School in 2002, Bob's experience teaching had been in 3rd through 5th grade at New Vistas Christian School in Martinez, CA. New Vistas specializes in working with children with Specific Language Disabilities. Bob is trained and certified to teach the Slingerland Method, which is a sequential, simultaneous, multi-sensory approach to teaching language arts.

Bob's vision and experience in working with individual children integrates perfectly into the inclusion program at HTS. He is constantly on the lookout for the ways that each child can grow and learn, and how he can help them to meet their full potential.

Jynette has been working at the Hope Technology School since the summer of 2004. She began as a para-educator while working to complete the credential program through California State University, Fresno. She has worked with children of all capacities since 1997; she has experience teaching pre-school through 2nd grade. Jynette also has experience in the public school system, non-profit organizations, as well as working with individual families.

In addition to her experience working at Hope Technology School, Jynette has volunteered for organizations and individuals to enrich the lives of children. She volunteers for a non-profit soccer program, and has worked one-on-one with children with special needs in both school and home settings. She has volunteered as a storyteller for public schools, and has also hosted track and field clinics for students of ages 8 through adult. She takes pleasure in working with children to help them succeed to the best of their ability.

Jynette earned her Bachelor of Arts in Child Development and multiple subject CLAD (Cross-Cultural Language Academic Development) credential from California State University at Fresno.

Laura Garcia has been working as a teacher in the Preschool Program since 2005. She has been directing the Hope Technology preschool program since 2006. She began working with both neurotypical children and children with special needs in 1998. Laura is receiving her Bachelor's degree in Child and Adolescent Development with an emphasis in 'The Young Child and Families' at San Francisco State University. She has earned all of her Early Childhood Education units. Her experience includes teaching in after-school programs and working one on one with children with special needs. She has experience as a bilingual reading tutor and a teacher assistant in a kindergarten Spanish speaking class.

Jessica Bonilla has been working as a preschool teacher and para-educator at the Hope Technology School since September of 2005. She has received her Bachelors Degree in Child and Adolescent Development with an emphasis in School Age Child and Families from San Francisco State University. She plans to further her education by getting a Credential and Master's Degree in Special Education. She has been working with children since 2000. In addition to her experience working at the Hope Technology School, she has previously worked as a teacher assistant and head teacher at the Early Childhood Education Program at San Francisco State University. She also has experience working as a tutor and teacher assistant with school age children in after school programs. She is excited to take part in children's development and be part of a great team at Hope Technology.

Jennifer is part of our middle school program. Jennifer graduated Magna Cum Laude from California State University in Monterey. She has a degree in Liberal Studies. She is continuing her education to receive a teaching credential in special education from San Francisco State University.

Aubrey works with our fifth graders and she has a degree in History from the University of California at Berkeley. She graduated with Honors. She is looking forward to pursuing her teaching credential while gaining experience at the Hope Technology School.

Christa works with third and fourth graders and she has a music degree from the University of California at Davis. After graduating from Davis she has volunteered and worked in a variety of jobs that support community programs for special needs children and adults.

Beverly received her Bachelor's Degree in Mass Communication from Menlo College; she is working with our first and second graders. She has spent many hours volunteering in community programs tutoring and mentoring high school and middle school students.

Nadia has a Bachelor's degree from San Francisco State University in Dance and Liberal Studies; she is a part of our first grade team. She then completed the program for her Elementary School Credential. She has had experience in both 2nd and 3rd grade in the public schools in the East Bay.