Inclusive Special Education Educators Ready for U.S. Classrooms

Inclusive special education is one of the hardest roles for U.S. schools to staff well. It asks one teacher to hold individualized plans, behavior support, literacy intervention, and family collaboration at the same time — and to do it for learners whose needs look different every day. This week we highlight three international educators from Teacher Connect whose work sits squarely in that space, each with a distinct approach grounded in their own experience.

Leonila M. Fajardo — IEPs and Behavior Support Grounded in PBIS and SEL

Leonila brings more than fifteen years in Special Education across elementary, high school, and higher education, supporting students with disabilities including autism and developmental delays. Her practice centers on individualized education program (IEP) development, differentiated instruction, and behavior management strategies rooted in PBIS and SEL. She draws on evidence-based approaches such as ABA, TEACCH, PECS, and AAC, paired with structured routines and multi-sensory teaching, to build environments that promote independence, communication, and social-emotional growth. Her academic background — a Bachelor of Science in Physical Therapy, a Master of Arts in Education majoring in Special Education, and a Doctor of Education in the same field — shapes how she approaches assessment and curriculum modification. She describes herself as a collaborative educator who partners with parents, therapists, and school teams to maximize student success.

View Leonila M. Fajardo's Profile

Maria Amelia P. Calumpang — Two Decades of Inclusive, Data-Driven Pedagogy

With over twenty years of teaching experience, Maria Amelia's philosophy is rooted in the belief that every child deserves an equitable education. Her work emphasizes inclusive, student-centered pedagogy that nurtures both academic growth and personal development, and she creates engaging, culturally responsive learning environments where students are encouraged to explore, question, and achieve beyond expectations. She relies on data-driven instruction, differentiated strategies, and the integration of 21st-century skills, and her skill set spans PBIS and SEL frameworks, curriculum mapping, instructional coaching, and formative and summative assessments. Her education includes a Bachelor of Mass Communication, a Certificate in Professional Education, and a Master of Arts in Education majoring in Special Education — a pathway that informs her work in curriculum design, literacy development, and special education.

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Jennifer V. Sandoval — Literacy, Cross-Cultural Experience, and National Board Certification

Jennifer is an accomplished elementary educator with over twenty years of international teaching experience across the Philippines, Indonesia, and the United States. She is recognized as a National Board Certified Teacher (USA) and is a licensed professional in both the U.S. and the Philippines, with expertise in student-centered pedagogy, literacy instruction, and differentiated learning for diverse student populations. Her advanced training in special education and standards-aligned curriculum design shapes classrooms where every child is supported academically, socially, and emotionally. Her skill set is especially relevant for schools pairing reading support with special education: literacy intervention, standards-based curriculum design, formative and summative assessments including MAP testing, and PBIS and SEL strategies. Her education includes a Bachelor of Elementary Education, a Master of Arts in Teaching majoring in Reading, and Continuing Education in Special Education.

View Jennifer V. Sandoval's Profile

Next Steps for Hiring Leaders

Each of these educators brings a distinct angle to inclusive special education — IEP and behavior support, data-driven inclusive pedagogy, and literacy-intervention experience paired with cross-cultural teaching. If one fits a need at your school, Schedule an Interview to speak with our team. To see more educators ready to support your students, View the Entire Teacher Marketplace.