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 an M.A. and California Teaching Credential in Physical and Health Impairments from SFSU.  She also has an Assistive Technology Certificate through the Center on Disabilities at California State University, Northridge, and a B.S. from the University of Delaware in Elementary and Special Education. Jessica has worked as an educator in the area of Alternative and Augmentative Communication (AAC) for more than ten years in Maryland, New York, London, and California.  Jessica has worked as a teacher, an Assistive Technology specialist, a consultant, and a professional developer, training teachers, therapists, and school staff who work with students with physical disabilities and complex communication needs.  Jessica has presented nationally and internationally in the area of AAC and literacy in the classroom. To contact Jessica, email her at jessica@theavalonacademy.org or call 650.777.9130, ext.109.

Magdalena 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 or call 650.777.9130, ext.106.

Joey Hamlin: Speech Language Pathologist, CF

Joey Hamlin holds a Master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology from San Jose State University. She has experience providing services to adult and pediatric populations in clinic, hospital and school settings. To contact Joey, e-mail her at joey@theavalonacademy.org or call 650.777.9130, ext.108.

Janet Macks: Teacher of the Visually Impaired, Orientation and Mobility Specialist

Janet Macks holds an M.A. in Special Education as well as a California teaching credential, a VI credential (teacher of the Visually Impaired) and a rehabilitation credential in Orientation and Mobility. Janet has been teaching students (pre-K to 22 years old) with visual impairments for over two decades. For the past 20 years she has also been an assistant instructor at San Francisco State University in the Orientation and Mobility Program. Janet has taught and trained teachers and teaching staff in both Thailand and Sri Lanka. She has, with other educators and professionals, conducted on-site trainings in the area of visual impairment. To contact Janet, e-mail her at janet@theavalonacademy.org

Lizz Schoelen: Teacher

Lizz holds an M.A. and a California teaching credential in Special Education from San Francisco State University. Lizz also participated in the University California Deaf-Blind Services Partnership Program and the Autism Spectrum Endorsement Program at SFSU. Prior to joining the Avalon team 3 years ago, Lizz worked with children, teenagers and adults impacted by autism and intellectual disabilities for 9 years. Lizz has a special interest in multi-sensory teaching approaches, positive behavior supports, and music.  To contact Lizz e-mail her at lizz@theavalonacademy.org

Sara Schoelen: Teacher

Sara holds an M.A. and a California teaching credential in Special Education from San Francisco State University. Sara also participated in the University California Deaf-Blind Services Partnership Program and the Autism Spectrum Endorsement Program at SFSU. Prior to joining the Avalon team 3 years ago, Sara worked with children and teenagers impacted by autism for 7 years. Sara has a specialized interest and love of music. To contact Sara e-mail her at sara@theavalonacademy.org

Sean Adams: Senior Instructional Assistant, Media and Art Specialist

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

Tony Benavidez: Coordinator of Student Health, 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

Samuele Palazzi: Instructional Assistant

To contact Samuele, e-mail him at samuele@theavalonacademy.org

Cerita Perez: Instructional Assistant

To contact Cerita, e-mail her at cerita@theavalonacademy.org

Lena Schoelen: Instructional Assistant

To contact Lena, e-mail her at lena@theavalonacademy.org

Ann Smith: Senior Instructional Assistant

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

Amanda Taniguchi: Senior 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.