Faculty

A formidable team provides model special education, with skill, care and compassion in a relaxed environment.”
Dr. Neil Sharp, MD

Kinga Czegeni: Founder, Program Director

Kinga Czegeni is a Co-Founder of Avalon. Kinga holds an M.A. in Special Education (with an emphasis in Physical and Health Impairments) as well as a California teaching credential. She is also a Lecturer at San Francisco State University (S.F.S.U.) where she teaches a graduate course in the Special Education Department. Many of her graduate students visit Avalon as part of their training. Kinga entered the field of special education at the International Peto Institute in Budapest, Hungary. She graduated with High Honors in 1996 with a degree in elementary education majoring in special education of motor-disabled children. Kinga was recruited to California in 1997 where she contributed to the establishment of two programs for children with cerebral palsy. Prior to Avalon, Kinga had been the Director of Step by Step CEC in Millbrae for 7 years. Kinga is a certified practitioner in the Anat Baniel Method®. She is a graduate of the Mastery Program which encompasses children with special needs. Kinga has an extensive private practice dedicated to children and teenagers with special needs. To contact Kinga, e-mail her at kinga@theavalonacademy.org or call 650.777.9131.

Jessica Kratzer Phillips: Director of Education

Jessica holds a B.S. from the University of Delaware in Elementary and Special Education. She is working towards her M.A. in Physical and Health Impairments at SFSU and holds a California Teaching Credential in this area. Jessica has worked in the area of Alternative and Augmentative Communication (AAC) for more ten years in Maryland, New York, London, and California as a teacher, an Assistive Technology specialist, and a professional developer, training teachers, therapists, and school staff who work with students with movement disorders and communication impairments.  Jessica has presented nationally and internationally in the area of AAC and literacy in the classroom. To contact Jessica, e-mail her at jessica@theavalonacademy.org

Magda Gorecka: Director of Movement Education

Magda Gorecka holds a Master’s Degree in Physical Therapy from Poland as well as a license from the Physical Therapy Board of California and has over 5 years’ experience in PT working with children with physical disabilities including those with cerebral palsy. Additionally, she holds a Diploma in Sports Medicine from California. Magda is a certified practitioner in the Anat Baniel Method® and a graduate of the Mastery Program which encompasses children with special needs. Magda participates in Movement Education Training at Avalon™ (META). To contact Magda, e-mail her at magda@theavalonacademy.org

Cynthia Weinstein: Speech Language Pathologist

Cynthia Weinstein holds an M.S. in Communicative Disorders from San Francisco State University (SFSU), with a California Speech Language Pathology Services Credential. She completed the Collaborative AAC Services in Inclusive Early Intervention Settings Endorsement Program, a training program in augmentative and alternative communication run through the Departments of Special Education and Communicative Disorders at SFSU. Additionally, she holds a B.S. in Speech Language Pathology and Audiology from Ithaca College.  To contact Cynthia, e-mail her at cynthia@theavalonacademy.org

Erin McGehee: Intern Teacher

To contact Erin e-mail her at erin@theavalonacademy.org

Jude Silva: Senior Instructional Assistant, Media and Art Specialist

Jude Silva has a B.A. in Fine Arts. He joined Avalon in 2005. He has over 10 years’ experience as a paraprofessional in special education. Previously, Jude was Program Director of the Interactive Children’s Museum in Manila, The Philippines. Jude has a specialized interest in art and media. To contact Jude, e-mail him at jude@theavalonacademy.org

Sean Adams: Senior Instructional Assistant

To contact Sean, e-mail him at sean@theavalonacademy.org

Tony Benavidez: Instructional Assistant

Tony has worked a number of years as an EMT and more recently as a school nurse.  He has been involved with various non profit agencies supporting the special needs population.  He has an interest in community integration pertaining to persons with disabilities. To contact Tony, e-mail him at tony@theavalonacademy.org

Genoa Hamiel: Instructional Assistant

Genoa earned her BA degree in Contemplative Psychology from Naropa University in Boulder, Colorado.  She is currently working towards a Master’s degree in Special Education at SFSU with a focus on Mild to Moderate disabilities.  She is most fascinated by the role of resiliency and motivation in the lives of persons with disabilities and their families.To contact Genoa, e-mail her at genoa@theavalonacademy.org

Lester Mallari: Instructional Assistant

To contact Lester, e-mail him at lester@theavalonacademy.org

Ann Minton: Instructional Assistant

To contact Ann, e-mail her at ann@theavalonacademy.org

Tiffany Mullooly: Instructional Assistant

Tiffany has a B.S. in Kinesiology from San Jose State University and in 2008 she earned her California Teaching Credential from Notre Dame De Namur.  She has worked with children (K-12) as a teacher, coach, sports camp director, and fitness instructor. She joined the Avalon team in 2010. To contact Tiffany, e-mail her at tiffany@theavalonacademy.org

Plern Pratoommas: Instructional Assistant

Plern holds a B.A. in Liberal Arts from Bangkok, Thailand. She is currently completing her M.A. in Special Education and Certificate in Autism Spectrum Disorders at San Francisco State University, with an emphasis in Early Childhood. Plern has been working with children with special needs for five years now, across a variety of age ranges, disabilities and settings in Thailand and in the United States. Plern will take part in the Collaborative AAC Services in Inclusive Early Intervention Settings Endorsement Program at SFSU in Spring of 2010. To contact Plern, e-mail her at plern@theavalonacademy.org

Lizz Schoelen: Instructional Assistant

Lizz holds a B.A. in English from Humboldt State University. She is currently working towards her California teaching credential and M.A. in Special Education at San Francisco State University. Lizz has a specialized interest in incorporating sensory integration and positive reinforcement into her teaching method. She also has a strong interest in music.To contact Lizz, e-mail her at lizz@theavalonacademy.org

Sara Schoelen: Instructional Assistant

Sara holds a B.A. in Psychology from Humboldt State University. She is currently working towards her California teaching credential and M.A. in Special Education at San Francisco State University. Sara has a specialized interest and love of music. To contact Sara, e-mail her at sara@theavalonacademy.org

Chris Tamayo: Instructional Assistant

To contact Chris, e-mail him at chris@theavalonacademy.org

Amanda Taniguchi: Instructional Assistant

To contact Amanda, e-mail her at amanda@theavalonacademy.org


Part-Time/Temporary Faculty

Avalon is fortunate in having a tremendous pool of special-education professionals we can call upon on an as-needed basis, many of whom work with us as a regular part of the team, including specialists in the following fields:

  • Vision
  • Speech and Language
  • Alternative, Augmentative Communication
  • Assistive Technology
  • Classroom Instruction

Volunteers

Individuals with kind hearts of all ages and backgrounds readily volunteer on a regular basis in very useful ways. They provide welcome hands in the classroom and in task-specific areas such as helping with meals, technology, fundraisers, administration, and the like. They range from young siblings of Avalon students, middle and high schoolers performing Community Service, and professionals from other fields such as Accounting, Banking, Medicine and Law.