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Special Education Services

Administrator Profiles

Betsy A. Christ, Ph.D. has worked at the El Dorado County Office of Education since 1989. She started as a SELPA Program Specialist, then moved into a Special Education Principal position and was named the Special Services Director in 1994. She started her career in Special Education in 1977 when she began as a teacher of students with Behavior Disorders and Learning Handicaps. During her years of teaching, she also worked with students with Mental Retardation and Serious Emotional Disturbances. Betsy earned both her B.A. and M.A. degrees from Occidental College in Los Angeles, CA. Her doctorate, from U.C. Berkeley and San Francisco State University, focused on the administration of special education programs, with an emphasis in the attitudes of teachers toward students with Learning Disabilities. Betsy has presented nationwide and published several journal articles on the subject of General Education and Special Education Collaboration. She is trained as a mediator in the Alternative Dispute Resolution process.

 

Robert Stromberg has worked at the El Dorado County Office of Education since 1986. At that time he served as a School Psychologist, serving both county and district operated special education programs. He moved into the position of Special Education Principal for the County Office in 1995. Robert received his Undergraduate degree in Developmental Psychology from U.C. Santa Barbara, and completed his Master of Science degree in School Psychology from San Jose State University in 1979. His educational career began in the Evergreen School District (San Jose, CA) as a School Psychologist. He continued there until his move to El Dorado County in 1986. Robert has presented to parents, teachers and administrators in the areas of Attention Deficit Disorders and Serious Emotional Disturbance in children. He is also a part-time instructor at Chapman University. He is trained as a mediator in the Alternative Dispute Resolution process.

 

Betty Connolly has worked for the El Dorado County Office of Education since 1983.  She initially worked as a School Psychologist, serving both county and district programs.  She later took on the additional role of Program Specialist.  Betty moved into her position as Principal of Special Services in 2004.  She began her career in Special Education in 1977 as a teacher of students with Severe Disabilities in the San Juan Unified School District.  Over the past fifteen years, Betty has presented throughout the State on the subjects of Autism and Behavior Analysis.  She has served on the board of the California Association of School Psychologists for the past six years and will be assuming the role of Secretary/Treasurer of CASP for the 2005-2006 school year.  Betty has also been an instructor at Chapman University and is trained as a mediator in the Alternative Dispute Resolution process.      

  

Support Personnel Profile

Cheryl Turnboo has worked for the El Dorado County Office of Education since 1994.  She initially worked as an Instructional Assistant supporting students with Autism in our special day classes.  She also provided in-home early intervention services in association with the Lovaas Institute at the University of California, Los Angeles.  In 1996, she began working in our Autism programs as an Instructional Assistant-Autism.  While working in this position she was the recipient of an Outstanding Service Award in 1998.  In May of 2006, Cheryl received her Bachelor's degree in Education from California State University, Sacramento.  She began working as a Behavior Specialist for the El Dorado County Office of Education in July of 2007.  In addition, Cheryl has earned a certificate in Applied Behavior Analysis from National University, where she has completed her Masters of Arts in Teaching degree and received her board certification in Behavioral Analysis from the Behavior Analyst Certification Board.