Community Advisory Committee (CAC)

What is a Community Advisory Committee (CAC)?

A Community Advisory Committee (CAC) is made up of parents, educators, and community members who are involved in special education. The CAC of the North Coastal Consortium for Special Education (NCCSE) provides meetings and special events throughout the year and advises the superintendents of the 14 school districts about special education services. Each meeting includes information on a special education topic, resources for families, and opportunities to meet with other parents to exchange resources, information, and ideas.

Whether you are a student who qualifies for special education services, a parent, or family member of a student, or a district teacher or staff person, we can help!

CAC meetings are open to the public!

Anyone with an interest in special education is encouraged to attend, especially if your child receives special education services from one of the NCCSE school districts.

CAC Meetings and Agendas

Why is it worth your time to attend CAC meetings?

Parents who have attended Community Advisory Committee meetings report that they have found opportunities to:

• Connect with other parents and with school district teachers and administrators,
• Learn about resources for their child and family,
• Participate in shaping the activities of the committee, including conversations with school district staff and administrators, parent workshops, an awards ceremony, and
• Develop and expand their leadership skills.

Nominations for the 2025 Excellence in Special Education Awards

Thank that someone special who has made a difference in the lives of children with special needs by making a nomination! 

Nominees are those individuals who foster academic and social inclusion so that all students, including students with disabilities, can fully participate in the curriculum, activities, or communities with their general education peers.

You can nominate more than once for different categories. NOMINATIONS MUST BE RECEIVED BY MARCH 11, 2025. The awards will be presented at the NCCSE CAC Awards Ceremony, taking place on May 2025.

Submit your nominations from January 22, 2025, to March 11, 2025. Access the nomination form

Important CAC Calendar dates for the rest of the school year:

• CAC Meetings: Business Items and Presentation 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
  • Wednesday, April 16, 2025
• Excellence in Special Education Awards Ceremony
  • Wednesday, May 21, 2025, 6:30 p.m. 

2024-2025 Community Advisory Committee Representatives

District	Name	Role
Bonsall Unified	Ashley Nicholas	Parent Representative
	Heidi Miller	Staff Representative
	Jessica Knust	Staff Representative
Cardiff	Kristin Fay	Parent Representative
	Shauna Gilbert	Staff Representative
Carlsbad Unified	Lisa Hwang	Parent Representative
	Tricia Benton	Parent Representative/Executive Board Member
	Yolie Loughrin	Parent Representative/Executive Board Member
	Tim Evanson	Staff Representative
Del Mar Union	Maria Hinojosa	Parent Representative
	Emily Stengle	Staff Representative
	Nadine Schick (Director)	Staff Representative
Encinitas Union	Tracee Davey	Parent Representative
	Sarah Brown	Staff Representative
Fallbrook Union Elementary	Solene Trujillo	Parent Representative
	Sarah Salberg	Staff Representative
	Jill Price	Staff Representative
Fallbrook Union High	Veronica Gonzalez	Parent Representative
North County Academy	Melissa Kramer	Parent Representative
Oceanside Unified	AnnaMaria Burke	Staff Representative
	Veronica Garcia	Staff Representative
Rancho Santa Fe	Chondra Brown	Parent Representative
	Michelle Brown	Staff Representative
	Tammy Parker	Staff Representative
San Dieguito Union High	Jeff Ladman	Parent Representative/Executive Board Member
	Andrea Siler	Parent Representative
	Nicole Edgett	Staff Representative
San Marcos Unified	Jenny Mosca	Parent Representative
	Peggy Zapata	Staff Representative
	Monica Davey	Staff Representative
Solana Beach	Danielle Adams	Parent Representative
	Jomi Richards	Parent Representative
	Robyn Hubbard	Staff Representative
Vallecitos	Vacant	Parent Representative
	Vacant	Staff Representative
Vista Unified	Olga Quiroz	Parent Representative
	Michelle Ohnstad	Parent Representative
	Cassandra Ratigan	Staff Representative
	Doris Cruz	Staff Representative
HOPE Infant Program	Jana Piper	Staff Representative
	Vacant	Parent Representative
San Diego Regional Center	Zachary Guzik	Agency Representative
Exceptional Family Resource Center	Moirra Allbritton	Staff Representative
	Joe Goyos	Staff Representative
Community Member	Carmen Blum	Community Member

It is the intent of the CAC, through the priorities process and its other activities, to support the Mission Statement of the North Coastal Consortium for Special Education (NCCSE) and its member school districts. 

The CAC of NCCSE collected input for the priorities by survey and dialog between directors of special education, CAC representatives and students. Common, recurring themes were identified, discussed by the CAC membership, and are presented in this document. 

2024-2025 Priorities Report (PDF)