Director of Special Education
650-558-2265
hawade@smuhsd.org

Dr. Wade began her educational career in Long Beach Unified School District serving students with disabilities. Serving in a center-based school, a comprehensive high school and a community store front setting, before moving to the Bay Area to continue her career. Joining the SCCOE for one year and then finding a home at Saratoga High School in the Los Gatos Saratoga Union High School District where she served as an education specialist and department chair for the special education department. Dr. Wade began her administrative career in the Los Gatos Saratoga Union High School District, serving as their Director of Special Education/Student Services followed by serving as the Director of Special Education and Assistant Superintendent of Educational Support Services in the Palo Alto Unified School District. Most recently, she served the Coastside community of Half Moon Bay as their Assistant Superintendent of Educational Support Services. 

Dr. Wade lives in Palo Alto with her family, and enjoys cooking, golfing, and reading.

Assistant Director of Special Education
650-558-2266
lberlin@smuhsd.org

Lauren began her career in education as a special education instructional assistant while completing her Master’s Degree in School Psychology. Over the decade beginning in 2003, Lauren worked as a school psychologist and behavior specialist serving students and families in Orange County, the Bay Area, Washington State and Santa Barbara, obtaining licensure as a Board Certified Behavior Analyst along the way. In 2013, Lauren began her first administrative position in the Special Education department of the Santa Barbara Unified School District (SBUSD) for 3 years before becoming a high school site administrator in the SBUSD. Lauren was an assistant principal at Dos Pueblos for three years, and most recently served as the Principal of La Cuesta Continuation and Alta Vista Alternative High Schools in the SBUSD.  Lauren and her family relocated to San Mateo, her husband's hometown, to be closer to family, and Bay Area sports. Lauren enjoys spending time with family, cooking, reading and being outdoors. 

Program Specialist
650-558-2268
kish@smuhsd.org

Tina Ish has been in the District since 1998.  She began working at Capuchino High School as an educational specialist where she focused on reading and inclusive practices. She transitioned into becoming an Instructional Coach and Special Education Coordinator in 2014. Here she was able to provide professional development for both general education and special education teachers.  In order to deepen her knowledge and to build programs for students, Tina has taken the Program Specialist position. She assists in helping teachers and student’s access learning specifically at Aragon High School and Hillsdale High School.  

Tina currently resides in the Bay Area with her husband, two daughters and two cats. She loves traveling with her family during the summer months.

Program Specialist, Bay Academy & University
650-558-2285
klynch@smuhsd.org

Kristin Lynch has worked in the special education field since 2009. She began her career as an ABA Therapist in Burlingame. After completing her Education Specialist Credential and Masters Degree in Special Education, Kristin began working with San Mateo Union High School District as an Education Specialist for our Bay Academy Program at Hillsdale High School. She has since left the classroom to help support our Bay Academy (high school)  and Bay University (post-secondary) programs across the district. 

Kristin and her husband are both Bay Area natives and currently live in Belmont with their son and two dogs.

Program Specialist
650-558-2254
hvasquez@smuhsd.org

Heather is originally from Gilroy, California. She began her career as an Education Specialist at San Mateo High School.  She received her Master’s Degree in Education from the University of San Francisco and her BA from Sonoma State University. She has served as the Department Chair at San Mateo since 2009 and continues in that role while joining the district team as a Program Specialist.  Heather has three children and a large extended family. In her free time, she enjoys traveling, diving, reading, and spending time with her family and friends. 

Program Specialist
650-558-2297
jwong@smuhsd.org

Office Assistant/ WorkAbility Job Coach
rchoroski@smuhsd.org

Assistant to the Director of Special Education
650-558-2260
jiniguez@smuhsd.org

Janette has been with the San Mateo Union High School District since 1998. She has dedicated the entirety of her SMUHSD career to the Special Education Department.  Her tenure, expansive knowledge, passion and commitment to the importance of educational equity serve as her greatest assets. She serves as the assistant to the Director of Special Education where she not only supports district level operations but also provides assistance for all Special Education staff within the seven comprehensive high schools. Furthermore, her native proficiency in both English and Spanish have allowed her to interpret in various areas within SMUHSD.

Janette was born and raised in the Bay Area, is active within her community, and holds an integral role in the productivity of the Special Education department. She is the proud mother of two sons whom both graduated from high schools within the district, where one has gone on to graduate from UCLA in 2017 and the other attended the University of Arizona. In 2021 Janette's family expanded with the welcome of her first grandpuppy, a miniature Dalmatian named Woofie, who loves to patrol the district office halls while he's visiting the Bay Area.

Special Education Data Technician
avigil@smuhsd.org

Behavior Program Manager
jvilfort@smuhsd.org

Jennifer was born and raised in Chicago in a Haitian household. She was granted the president's award scholarship at the University of Chicago at Illinois and graduated with a Bachelor's in Applied Psychology. 

She has worked as a Psychiatric Rehabilitation Services Coordinator in Chicago helping adults transition into independent living. In 2015, she moved to California to pursue racing in the Motorcycle Stock 1000 Series

Jennifer later discovered her passion for Applied Behavior Analysis. She graduated from Florida Institute of Technology with a Masters in Applied Behavior Analysis and then attained her board certification for behavior analysis. She currently resides in Mountain View and enjoys fast motorcycles, playing the cello, video gaming, drawing, writing, hiking, camping and spending time with family and friends.