The Special Services Team

Leon Metoyer

Assistant Principal of Special Services

leon.metoyer@ocsarts.net

Mr. Leon Metoyer joined Orange County School of the Arts in 2018 and currently serves as Learning Specialist. Mr. Metoyer has over 10 years of experience, working in the field of special education, with students between the ages of 5 and 22 after working in the hospitality industry for approximately 20 years. Prior to OCSA, Mr. Metoyer served as the transition specialist for Ocean Grove, South Sutter, and Sky Mountain Charter schools, where he created and facilitated a transition program for over 125 students with various special needs throughout California in a distance learning academic setting. Mr. Metoyer also served as the admissions coordinator for each of those schools, ensuring the successful transition for students and families with IEPs. Mr. Metoyer began his teaching career at Olive Crest Academy in Santa Ana, California where he worked with high needs students who required intensive academic, social, and behavioral interventions daily.

Mr. Metoyer holds a bachelor’s degree in Hotel and Restaurant Management from the highly acclaimed Collins College of Cal Poly Pomona, a master’s degree in Educational Technology from Concordia University, Irvine and is a certified Assistive Technology Specialist through California State University Dominguez Hills. Soon Mr. Metoyer will also complete a Master of Science in Educational Administration with National University.

Suzanne "Sue" Baron

Speech and Language Pathologist

sue.baron@ocsarts.net

Ms. Sue Baron has over 30 years of experience as a Speech and Language Pathologist and Special Education Mild-Moderate classroom teacher. She holds a bachelor’s degree in speech pathology and psychology, a master’s degree in special education/speech pathology, and early childhood education and special education credentials K-12 from California State University, Long Beach. She has her Certification of Clinical Competence from the American Speech and Hearing Association, and California Speech and Hearing Association. She has supervised and mentored Speech and Language Assistants, and Interns.

She loves working with the gifted and talented students and staff at OCSA. She enjoys a warm working relationship with parents, teachers, and other professionals as an integral part of their student’s success and progress. Equipping students with the necessary tools for social communication and language skills is the number one priority.

Ms. Baron helps OCSA students with a wide range of speech–language-related problems to meet performance standards. Their work includes prevention, assessment, intervention, and program design efforts that are integrated within a school. Ms. Baron and the OCSA team utilizes Social Thinking, which is a developmental, language-based, and thinking-based (metacognitive) methodology that uses visual frameworks, unique vocabulary, strategies, and activities to foster social competencies.

If you would like to communicate with Mrs. Baron directly, please contact her via email or at 714.560.0900 ext. 3275.

DeAndre Cooksie, M.A, Ed.S, NCSP

School Psychologist

deandre.cooksie@ocsarts.net

Mr. DeAndre Cooksie holds a Bachelors of Arts degree in psychology from California State University, Fullerton. He then went on to acquire his master’s degree in educational psychology, followed the year after with his PPS credential and finally his Educational Specialist degree with a specialization in School Psychology. Mr. Cooksie has worked in education for more than ten years in many different settings. He began his career at the Orange County School of the Arts in 2020. What really attracted Mr. Cooksie to OCSA, was its connection to the arts. Along with being a School Psychologist, Mr. Cooksie also studied acting at the Beverly Hills Playhouse as well as improv techniques at Second City Improv in Hollywood, California. Mr. Cooksie loves helping students of all capacities thrive to the best of their abilities, and he is definitely grateful to have that opportunity to do that at the Orange County School of the Arts.

OCSA’s school psychologists are uniquely qualified members who support students' ability to learn and teachers' ability to teach. They apply expertise in mental health, learning, and behavior, to help children and youth succeed academically, socially, behaviorally, and emotionally. School psychologists partner with families, teachers, school administrators, and other professionals to create safe, healthy, and supportive learning environments that strengthen connections between home, school, and the community.

If you would like to communicate with Mr. Cooksie directly, please contact him via email or at 714.560.0900 ext. 6624.

Jeannette DeGrave

Mental Health Clinician

jeannette.degrave@ocsarts.net

Ms. Jeannette DeGrave is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist who has provided comprehensive mental health services to students and their families for almost 20 years. She began her career as a high school counselor and holds a Master of Science in counseling and a CTE Teaching Credential in education, child development, and family services.

It is Ms. DeGrave’s belief that students can thrive when they are given an opportunity to be heard and understood. The first intervention is ALWAYS the relationship, and in counseling, students are empowered, supportively challenged, and afforded self-determination. In a safe and nurturing environment, students are free to be their authentic selves, explore their challenges, learn new skills, develop insights, and ultimately achieve personal and emotional growth.

Ms. DeGrave provides Designated Instructional Services/Counseling for OCSA’s students, leads and facilitates community/restorative circles to improve peer-to-peer and student/teacher interactions and leads OCSA mental health program. DIS Counselors provide counseling to individual and small groups of students to help understand and seek solutions to social and emotional challenges that impede academic progress at school.

If you would like to communicate with Mrs. DeGrave directly, please contact her via email or at 714.560.0900 ext. 5595.

Kelly Hewitt

Inclusion Specialist

kelly.hewitt@ocsarts.net

As OCSA’s Inclusion Specialist, Ms. Kelly Hewitt serves as the lead administrator in Individualized Education Program (IEP) meetings. She also serves as a liaison between parents, families, and OCSA’s academic and conservatory programs.

Ms. Hewitt completed her undergraduate education in communication studies at Long Beach State before earning her Master of Arts in communicative disorders at California State University, Fullerton in 2010. The following year, Ms. Hewitt received her Certificate of Clinical Competency in Speech-Language Pathology (SLP-CCC) from the American Speech-Language Hearing Association (ASHA) and her Speech-Language Pathology Services Credential from the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing. After initially practicing as a speech-language pathologist in the public school setting, Ms. Hewitt earned her Administrative Services Credential in 2015 and began applying her expertise as a Special Education Program Supervisor in Garden Grove USD, supporting IEP teams at all grade levels from preschool to adult transition, and across all populations from general education to moderate-severe/medically-fragile. Ms. Hewitt joined the OCSA Special Services team in 2020 as Inclusion Specialist. With knowledge gained working closely with legal counsel and attending upwards of 300 IEPs per year, Ms. Hewitt has trained and coached IEP team members, from novices to veterans, in the development of legally-sound IEPs with an emphasis on parent input and involvement in every step of the process. Ms. Hewitt has a son who attends OCSA in the Musical Theater Conservatory and is proud to be a part of the amazing OCSA family!

If you would like to communicate with Ms.Hewitt directly, please contact her via email or at 714.560.0900 ext. 6625.

Briana Lopez, M.A., Ed.S.

School Psychologist

briana.lopez@ocsarts.net

Ms. Briana Lopez is a Nationally Certified School Psychologist who strives to partner with families, teachers, and other professionals to create a supportive learning environment for all students. She holds a bachelor's degree in psychology from California State University, Long Beach and a Master of Education and Educational Specialist Degree in school psychology from Chapman University. Ms. Lopez has been in the field of education since 2016 and uses a holistic approach in understanding the whole student and their life experiences. She also encourages students to focus and build upon their strengths to meet their academic, social, and emotional goals. She wants every student to know they are seen, valued, and heard! Ms. Lopez is excited to continue serving OCSA’s students, families, and staff!

OCSA’s school psychologists are uniquely qualified members of school teams that support students' ability to learn and teachers' ability to teach. They apply expertise in mental health, learning, and behavior, to help children and youth succeed academically, socially, behaviorally, and emotionally.School psychologists partner with families, teachers, school administrators, and other professionals to create safe, healthy, and supportive learning environments that strengthen connections between home, school, and the community.

If you would like to communicate with Ms. Lopez directly, please contact her via email or at 714.560.0900 ext. 6623.

Lauren Reynolds, MA

504 Coordinator/Behavior Intervention Specialist

lauren.reynolds@ocsarts.net

Ms. Lauren Reynolds’ philosophy of therapeutic adaptive skills management is rooted in the belief that we should strive to gain a holistic understanding of our students (and our staff). Not just responding to what we see, but investigating and “tuning in” to what we can’t see, so that we can effectuate growth in the areas of adaptive behavior, social cognition, emotional regulation, and executive functioning. Ms. Reynolds’ goal is to provide evidence-based support through a collaborative model of team assessment, program development and implementation, driven by relationship building, which lays a foundation for emotional and physical safety, clear boundaries and expectations, and mutual respect, while fostering strengths, and individual differences.

Ms. Reynolds has worked in the field of adaptive skill intervention for over 22 years, providing behavioral, academic, social-emotional, vocational, and self-advocacy support services at all developmental levels, and across educational, clinical, and natural environments. Ms. Reynolds specializes in individualized intervention, team development, and program development. Ms. Reynolds has extensive experience training and collaborating with parents, students, administrators, teachers, and staff all over the United States.

She holds a Bachelor of Arts in therapeutic and community psychology, and a Master of Arts in human behavior. She is trained in Applied Behavior Analysis (and related methodologies), sensory-motor integration, social cognition and facilitation, Crisis Prevention Intervention (CPI), Relationship Development Intervention (RDI), and the Developmental, Individual-differences & Relationship-based model (DIR). Ms. Reynolds is also a certificated special education advocate trained in IDEA.

As 504 Coordinator and Behavior Intervention Specialist, Ms. Reynolds serves as the lead administrator in Section 504 meetings. She also serves as the direct supervisor of OCSA’s Instructional Aides, Test Center, and Behavior Intervention Aides.

If you would like to communicate with Ms. Reynolds directly, please contact her via email or at 714.560.0900 ext. 6244.

Meet the Teachers

Julie Atkinson

Study Skills, Literature/Composition Instructor

julie.atkinson@ocsarts.net

Ms. Julie Atkinson has been an OCSA staff member, in a variety of capacities, since 2006. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in English, creative writing from San Francisco State University, where she was also a student athlete in the volleyball program. She went on to earn her teaching credential in English from Long Beach State University and her master’s degree in curriculum and instruction from Concordia University, Irvine.

Ms. Atkinson has been together with her husband, who owns several surfboard-building glass shops, since 1999. They have two daughters (ages 3 and 5), an old dog named Lucy, and a fish named Maui. When they are not hanging out with family and friends, or teaching and making surfboards, Julie and her family spend much of their time at the beach in Laguna.

Ms. Atkinson serves as the instructor of OCSA’s Study Skills course for students who need more intensive academic and executive functioning support. She has been an OCSA staff member, in a variety of capacities, since 2006. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in English, creative writing from San Francisco State, where she was also a student athlete in the volleyball program. She went on to earn her teaching credential from Long Beach State University.

If you would like to communicate with Ms. Atkinson directly, please contact her directly via email or at 714.560.0900 ext. 7106

Greg Beach

Special Education Teacher/IEP Case Carrier/Curriculum Lead

greg.beach@ocsarts.net

Mr. Greg Beach has been in education since 2012, working in the classroom teaching the Core subjects of math, science, English, and history in Orange County. He holds a bachelor's degree in child development and a master's degree in school administration. Mr. Beach began teaching at OCSA in 2015 and loves working at such an inclusive and dynamic school.

If you would like to communicate with Mr. Beach directly, please contact him directly via email or at 714.560.0900 ext. 6241.

Theresa Blankenstein

Special Education Teacher/IEP Case Carrier/Lit-Comp Strategies Instructor

theresa.blankenstein@ocsarts.net

Ms. Theresa Blankenstein holds a bachelor’s degree in education from Michigan State University and completed her special education coursework at California State University, Fullerton. Ms. Blankenstein has a Multiple Subject Teaching Credential and an Education Specialist Instruction Credential. She also holds a Juris Doctorate degree and is a licensed attorney, but she has chosen to teach and is not practicing law at this time. Ms. Blankenstein joined the OCSA family in 2019 and is passionate about supporting students in an environment that helps students to learn and grow and reach their highest potential.

If you would like to communicate with Ms. Blankenstein, please contact her directly via email or at 714.560.0900 ext. 6254.

Dan Michael

IEP Case Carrier/Math Strategies Instructor

dan.michael@ocsarts.net

Mr. Dan Michael has a bachelor's degree in education from California State University, Fullerton and a master's degree in curriculum development from Azusa Pacific University. He has been with the special services team at OCSA since 2000. Mr. Michael is married with three kids and has a big brown dog named Walter.

He is a Christian, loves all things Dodger baseball, and is very excited about helping students set goals beyond high school and create a plan to achieve them.

If you would like to communicate with Mr. Michael directly, please contact him directly via email or at 714.560.0900 ext. 6173.

Jennifer Remolif

Special Education Teacher/IEP Case Carrier/Lit-Comp Co-Teacher

jennifer.remolif@ocsarts.net

Ms. Jennifer Remolif holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in art from California State University, Long Beach and a master’s degree as an Education Specialist in instruction from Azusa Pacific University. She joined Orange County School of the Arts in 2000 and currently serves as an Academic Special Education instructor. In addition, Ms. Remolif has served as a teacher in the Visual Arts conservatory, teaching 7th and 8th grade 2D Design, 3D Design, and ceramics during OCSA’s summer arts program.

If you would like to communicate with Ms. Remolif, please contact her directly via email or at 714.560.0900 ext. 6254.

Instructional Aides

Test Center

Dawn Spranger Dina Terry

OCSA’s test center is committed to facilitate student learning and matriculation by administering campus-specific exams, while maintaining the highest compliance with institutional, state, and federal regulations. The test center team strives to provide an environment where all examinees have the opportunity to succeed and to perform to the best of their ability regardless of age, ethnicity, culture, academic experience, economic circumstances, or disability.