Improvement Facilitator
System Improvement Leads (SIL) Project
West San Gabriel Valley (WSGV) Special Education Local Plan Area (SELPA)

U.S.: California Hub | NORTH AMERICA

My name is Lorraine Garcia. I serve as an Improvement Facilitator for the System Improvement Leads (SIL) project out of West San Gabriel Special Education Local Plan Area (SELPA). The SIL project works collaboratively within the California Statewide System of Support with the goal of improving outcomes for students with disabilities.

I have served students and adults in various roles, from Instructional Aide to Program Specialist. As a classroom teacher, I advocated to bring awareness, access, and equitable opportunities for all students, particularly those who are often left in the margins. As a Program Specialist, I supported teachers and families to ensure that they had the support and resources to directly impact their students.

I am currently in my final year of obtaining a doctoral degree from California Polytechnic State University in Pomona, CA. My interest of study is in the disproportionate representation of Latinx students in special education and how systems and policies intersect with this population of students.

I am excited to be a part of the Compassionate Systems certification program and community. I was first introduced to the Compassionate Systems framework in the summer of 2020 and hope to continue to build on the tools and strategies that will grow my capacity as I collaborate with educational leaders and organizations in effective and lasting change.