How to Contact Special Education

Special Education Services Office:  415-759-2222
3045 Santiago St. 
San Francisco, CA 94116

Special Education Contact List (scroll down for supervisor emails and school assignments)

Special Education Departments:

• Special Education Records: spedrecords.request@sfusd.edu   
• Early Education Special Education Assessments: ecreferrals@sfusd.edu
• Private and Parochial School Special Education Assessments: privateschoolreferrals@sfusd.edu
• Mediation Only Requests and Due Process Requests - spedfilings@sfusd.edu. No other matters should be emailed to this address. 

Not sure who to contact?  Call (415) 759-2222, fill out this form and we will respond right away.

For more information, visit the Special Education Website 

Head, Special Education Services and SELPA Director - Jenny Jimenez-Payne

Director, Secondary Schools - Matt Lavoie, lavoiem@sfusd.edu

Director, Elementary Schools - Maggie Michels, michelsm@sfusd.edu (on leave)

Director, Related Services & Psychology Services - Heather Logan, loganh1@sfusd.edu

Ombudsperson - Julia Martin, martinj5@sfusd.edu Schedule a Meeting Today

Senior Manager Data and Operations - Danielle Love, loved@sfusd.edu

Psychological Services Supervisor - Cynthia Ortiz-Front, ortizfrontc@sfusd.edu

Psychological Services Supervisor- Andi Hilinski, hilinskia@sfusd.edu

Related Services Interim Supervisor - Francine DeMarco, demarcof@sfusd.edu

Related Services Supervisor - Cathy Sherman, shermanc@sfusd.edu=

Early Childhood/PreK Supervisor - Stephanie Richmueller, richmuellers@sfusd.edu
Argonne EES • Commodore Stockton EES • Leola Havard EES • J Serra Annex EES • Jefferson EES • Theresa Mahler EES • John McLaren EES • Mission Education Center • Noriega EES • San Miguel EES • Tule Elk Park EES • Zaida Rodriguez EES, DHH Toddler Classroom, Early Start DHH Itinerant Services

Elementary School Supervisor (Cohort 1) - Nicole (Kee) Fricke-Pothier, fricke-pothiern@sfusd.edu
Alamo •  Clarendon • D. Feinstein • Francis Scott Key *DHH+ • Guadalupe + PreK • Jefferson • Lafayette • Lakeshore • Longfellow • McCoppin + PreK • New Traditions • Jose Ortega • Peabody • RL Stevenson • Sheridan + PreK • Commodore Sloat • Sunset • Sutro • Ulloa • West Portal 

Elementary Supervisor (Cohort 2)- Sheree Catingub, catingubs@sfusd.edu
Argonne • Chavez + PreK • ​​​​John Yehall Chin • Chinese Immersion • Cobb + PreK • Garfield • Grattan + PreK • Gordon J. Lau/Edwin & Anita Lee • Marshall • McKinley ​​​​​• SF Montessori • Moscone • John Muir + PreK • Jean Parker • Redding • Rosa Parks + PreK • Sanchez • Sherman • Spring Valley • Tenderloin • Yick Wo 

Elementary School Supervisor (Cohort 3) - Gabriel Baker, bakerg@sfusd.edu
Alvarado • Bryant + PreK • Carver • Cleveland • Drew • El Dorado • ER Taylor • Flynn • Glen Park • Bret Harte • Hillcrest • Huerta • Junipero Serra • Harvey Milk • Miraloma • Monroe • Malcolm X • Starr King • Sunnyside • Visitacion Valley • Webster

K-8 and Middle School Supervisor - Sara Mireles, mireless@sfusd.edu
Alice Fong Yu • AP Giannini • Aptos • Bessie Carmichael • BVHM • Claire Lilienthal  *Creative Arts Charter • Lawton • Everett • Francisco • Hoover • James Denman • James Lick • Martin Luther King • Marina • Presidio •     Paul Revere •  Rooftop • Roosevelt •  SF Community • Visitacion Valley • Willie Brown • *Gateway Middle School

High Schools Supervisor - Andy Chung, chungw@sfusd.edu
Asawa • Balboa • Burton • Galileo • John O'Connell • June Jordan • Lincoln • Lowell • Marshall • Mission • SF International • The Academy • Wallenberg • Washington • Downtown • Independence • Ida B. Wells • C.A.R.E Bayview • C.A.R.E Buchanan • Youth Chance • McAuley CEEP • Civic Center 7-12 • Hilltop 7-12 • El Camino Alternativo • Woodside (YGC) 7-12 • *Gateway High School • *Life Learning Academy

Transition Program Supervisor - Kara Schinella, schinellak@sfusd.edu

Non Public Schools (NPS) Program Administrator - Alexia Bogdis, bogdisa@sfusd.edu 

Private/Parochial, Interim Supervisor - Sara Koss, kosss@sfusd.edu

Tier 3 Literacy PK-12+ Program Administrator - Saveth Seang, seangs@sfusd.edu

Compliance Supervisor - Adriana Aro, aroa@sfusd.edu

ESY and HHI Program Administrator- Amanda Barnett, barnetta@sfusd.edu

K-8 & Middle School Interim Program Administrator - Tara Sessa, sessat@sfusd.edu

Contact the Ombudsperson: 

Julia Martin
Special Education Ombudsperson
555 Franklin St
Email: martinj5@sfusd.edu
Cell Phone: 415-319-4811
Click here to make an appointment

What is an Ombudsperson?

The word Ombudsman comes from a Swedish word that means “trusted representative.” The word has come to mean someone who assists consumers or citizens who are experiencing problems with corporations or government organizations. Our office is a member of the US Ombudsman Association and the International Ombudsman Association.

What Does the SFUSD Special Education Ombudsperson Do?

The SFUSD Special Education Ombudsperson is the family, community and staff liaison for students with Individualized Education Programs (IEPs).  The Ombudsperson's office can: 

• Assist parents and guardians in navigating Special Education Services when they have concerns about their chid's special education services.
• Provides an independent, confidential resource for students, families, employees, and community members, offering informal help to resolve concerns, problems, complaints, and other special education related issues.
• Promote inclusion of all students, especially those with disabilities during Inclusive Schools Week. 
• Provide training to SFUSD and San Francisco community stakeholders, such as Navigating Special Education Services, IEP 101, Engaging and Empowering SFUSD Families, Effective Communication between Special Education Families and Educators, and other issues related to special education services and families.   
• Address the need for educational surrogate assignment (the Ombudsperson is the educational surrogate coordinator for the district, which matches students in need of representation with volunteers to help advocate for their educational needs.)

Ombudsperson support is impartial, confidential and free of charge to all SFUSD families and staff and often leads to resolutions before legal action is needed.  If needed, translation/interpretation can be provided.

The vision of the Office of Ombudsperson is to ensure children with disabilities receive all services and supports needed to benefit from public education by fostering an environment where collaboration and cooperation exist between parents, staff and administration.

How to Request Support: Link to this section

Families and staff can contact the ombudsperson via email at martinj5@sfusd.edu or via phone at 415-319-4811. Drop in office hours are available at 555 Franklin Street Monday - Thursday from 3-5pm. Click here to make an appointment.