SALLY SPENCER
19121 Liggett St., Northridge, CA 91324
(818) 998-3488, (818) 970-6231
E-MAIL: sspencer@csun.edu
EDUCATION
Ed.D. University of Southern California
 Doctorate in Urban Education, specialization in Teacher Education, 2008
M.A. California State University Northridge, 1999
 Master of Arts in Educational Psychology With Distinction: Learning, Development
and Instruction
B.M.
California State University Long Beach, 1977
 Bachelor of Music Degree, concentration in Voice Performance
Credentials/Certifications
 Education Specialist Instruction Credential, Levels I and II
 Certification in Crosscultural Academic and Language Development (CLAD)
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
2005-present California State University, Northridge
Northridge, CA
Teacher Education Coordinator, Department of Special Education

Responsibilities include:

Coordinating policies and procedures regarding field experiences for
the Level 1 Preliminary Credential and field experiences/student
teaching courses in all specialization areas in the Department of
Special Education;
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Chairing the Teacher Education Committee, which evaluates and
creates policy for student teaching experiences;
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Overseeing part-time faculty assigned as university student teacher
supervisors;
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Placing student teachers in fieldwork sites;
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Participating on both the college and university Student Teaching
and Internship Committees.
2002-present California State University, Northridge
Full-time lecturer, Department of Special Education

Northridge, CA
Responsibilities include:
 Teaching courses including Collaborating to Meet the Needs of Special
Populations; Reading Processes for Students with Mild/Moderate
Disabilities; Instruction in Special Education Assessment and Methods;
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Theoretical and Empirical Bases of Education for Learners with
Mild/Moderate Disabilities; Advanced Specialist Fieldwork with Learners
who have Mild/Moderate Disabilities; Special Education Internship Field
Experience
Supervising interns and student teachers
Co-Chair of the Community Advisory Committee
Developing Special Education content modules for Chancellor’s
Office Course Redesign Grant Project: Master Teacher Website
Chairing/Reading Masters’ projects and theses
Student advisement
Participating in curriculum and program development
Participating on a variety of college and university committees
2002-2006
CHIME Institute
Director of Educator Development
Woodland Hills, CA
2002-2004
CHIME Charter Elementary School
Special Education Co-Teacher
Woodland Hills, CA
2000-2002
California State University, Northridge
Adjunct faculty, Department of Special Education
Northridge, CA
1998-2002
Castlebay Lane Elementary School
Resource Specialist and Special Education Gatekeeper
Northridge, CA
1995-1998
Fair Avenue Elementary School
SDC teacher, 3-6th grade mild/moderate disabilities
N. Hollywood, CA
1995
El Sereno Middle School
SDC teacher, 6th grade mild/moderate disabilities
El Sereno, CA
2004-present Bureau of Educational Research
National Presenter
Seattle, WA
1993-1995
Los Angeles, CA
Heart of Los Angeles Youth
Arts and Education Director
HONORS AND GRANTS
2005/2006
Judge Julian Beck Award, Learning Centered Project, CSU Northridge
Improving Communication Skills for Effective Collaboration in Special Education
2001
California Council for Exceptional Children, Southern California Division
Outstanding Special Educator Award
1999-2000
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National Foundation for the Improvement of Education
Leadership Grant recipient
PUBLICATIONS
Friedman-Narr, R., Murawski, W.W., & Spencer, S. (Spring, 2007). The collaboration
continuum. The Ladder. A magazine for and About Future Teachers. Los Angeles Unified
School District Career Ladder Office, 9-10.
Spencer, S. (2005) An interview with Dr. Lynne Cook and Dr. June Downing: The practicalities
of collaboration in special education service delivery. Intervention in School and Clinic, 40,
296-300.
Downing, J. E., Spencer, S. & Cavallaro, C. (2004). The development of an inclusive charter
elementary school: Lessons learned. Research and Practice for Persons with Severe
Disabilities, 29(1), 11-24.
PRESENTATIONS (Selected)
Spencer, S. (2007, October). Accelerating the reading skills of your students with mild-tomoderate disabilities. Presented as staff development for the school district of
Brockport, NY.
Spencer, S. (2007, October). Accelerating the reading skills of your students with mild-tomoderate disabilities. Presented in 5 cities in Illinois for the Bureau of Education and
Research.
Spencer, S., & Peckham-Hardin, K. (2007, September). Working with students with special
needs. Presented for the Liberal Studies Conference, Future Teachers Making a Difference
in Children’s Future, CSU Northridge, Northridge, CA.
Spencer, S. (2006, March). Building in reading supports for struggling readers. Presented as
staff development for the faculty of Pomelo Elementary School, Los Angeles Unified
School District.
Spencer, S. (2006, February). Building in reading supports for struggling readers. Presented as
staff development for the faculty of Woodlake Elementary School, Los Angeles Unified
School District.
Spencer, S. (2005, November). Inclusion ideas that really work: Practical, teacher-tested
classroom strategies for grades K – 6. Presented in New Mexico, Arizona and Utah for
the Institute for Educational Development.
Spencer, S. & Friedman-Narr, R. (2005, September). Co-teaching strategies: Making it
meaningful. Presented as a staff development for the CHIME Elementary and Middle
School faculty, Woodland Hills, CA.
Cook, L., Murawski, W.A., & Spencer, S. (2004, February). Improving instruction through
collaboration. Presented at the CARS + Conference, Palm Springs, CA.
Murawski, W. A. & Spencer, S. (2003, October). Collaboration, LD and full inclusion:
Negotiating to meet students’ needs. Presented at the Council for Learning Disabilities
Conference, Seattle, WA.
Cook, L., Friend, M., & Spencer, S. (2003, April). Ensuring better outcomes in collaboration
with standards-based instruction and assessment. Presented at the Council for
Exceptional Children Conference, Seattle, WA.