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
- SEIS File Requests: seishelp@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
WHO’s WHO in SFUSD Special Education Services
Assistant Superintendent, Special Education Services and SELPA Director - Jean Robertson
Executive Director, Special Education Fiscal Services & Operations - Simone Green
Executive Director, Instructional Programs - Jenny Jimenez-Payne
Director, Compliance - Margaret Farruggio
Director, Elementary Schools - Maggie Michels, michelsm@sfusd.edu
Director, Secondary Schools - Matt Lavoie, lavoiem@sfusd.edu
Ombudsperson - Julia Martin, martinj5@sfusd.edu Schedule a Meeting Today
Psychologist Supervisor for PreK-8, Private Parochial - Cynthia Ortiz-Front, ortizfrontc@sfusd.edu
Psychologist Supervisor for Middle, High and County Schools - Open
Related Services Supervisor - Princess Tucker, tuckerp@sfusd.edu
Related Services Supervisor - Cathy Sherman, shermanc@sfusd.edu
Deaf Hard Hearing/Home Hospital Instruction/Tier 3 Literacy Supervisor- Open
Early Childhood/PreK Supervisor - Moira Zacharakis, zacharakism@sfusd.edu
Argonne EES • Commodore Stockton EES • J Serra Annex EES • Jefferson EES • John McLaren EES • Jose Ortega • Carver/Leola Havard EES • Noriega EES • Theresa Mahler EES • Tule Elk Park EES • San Miguel EES • Zaida Rodriguez EES
Elementary School Supervisor (Learning Center/RSP) - Nicole (Kee) Fricke-Pothier, fricke-pothiern@sfusd.edu
Alice Fong Yu • Bret Harte • Bessie Carmichael • Claire Lilienthal • Commodore Sloat • Carver • Cleveland • Chinese Immersion • Drew • Edwin & Anita Lee • Gordon J. Lau • Guadalupe • Harvey Milk • John Yehall Chin • Junipero Serra • Malcolm X • Marshall • Mission Education Center • Monroe • New Traditions • Jean Parker • Redding • Rooftop • SF Community • SF Montessori • Sutro • Ulloa • Visitacion Valley • Webster • West Portal • *Creative Arts Charter
Elementary School Supervisor (Autism Focused & SOAR) - Gabriel Baker, bakerg@sfusd.edu
Alamo • Argonne • D. Feinstein • El Dorado • ER Taylor • Flynn • Garfield • Glen Park • Grattan • Jefferson • Lakeshore • McKinley • Miraloma • Rosa Parks • Sherman • Sunset • Starr King • Tenderloin • Yick Wo
Cross Categorical Elementary Supervisor- Sheree Catingub, catingubs@sfusd.edu
Alvarado • Bryant • BVHM • Chavez • Clarendon • Cobb • FS Key • Hillcrest • Huerta • J. Ortega • John Muir • Lafayette • Lawton • Longfellow • McCoppin • Moscone • Paul Revere • Peabody • Sanchez • Sheridan • Spring Valley • Sunnyside • Stevenson
Middle Schools, Supervisor - Sara Mireles, mireless@sfusd.edu
AP Giannini • Aptos • Everett • Francisco • Hoover • James Denman • James Lick • Martin Luther King • Marina • Presidio • Roosevelt • Vis Valley • Willie Brown • *Gateway Middle School
High Schools Supervisor - Andy Chung, chungw@sfusd.edu
Asawa • Balboa • Burton • Galileo • June Jordan • Lincoln • Lowell • Marshall • Mission • O'Connell • SF International • The Academy • Wallenberg • Washington • *Gateway High School • 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 • Transition Center • Woodside (YGC) 7-12
Non Public Schools (NPS) Supervisor - Chad Schimke, schimkec@sfusd.edu
Private/Parochial Program Administrator - Sara Koss, kosss@sfusd.edu
Supervisor, Transition Program - Kara Schinella, schinellak@sfusd.edu
Supervisor, Alternative Dispute Resolution/PD Supervisor - Adriana Aro, aroa@sfusd.edu
Special Education Ombudsperson
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:
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.
This page was last updated on November 9, 2023