News

Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Dr. Barbara Semel Parkhurst joins Santa Barbara School Districts as a special education director

On June 23, 2009, the board of education announced the selection of Dr. Barbara Semel Parkhurst to fill one of two director positions in the Santa Barbara School Districts’ Special Education Department. She was introduced to the board at this evening’s board meeting.

Dr. Semel Parkhurst comes from Oak Park Unified School Districts in Oak Park, CA, where she assisted in the planning, development, and implementation of the laws, policies, guidelines, and procedures pertaining to special education programs. Her professional experience includes, but is not limited to, assisting in the development, preparation, and distribution of special education curriculum and instruction guidelines; supervision of out-of-district placements; and auditing, monitoring, and enforcing program compliance requirements. Dr. Semel Parkhurst’s previous administrative experience includes working as a summer school principal, inclusion specialist, as well as speech/language pathologist.

Dr. Semel Parkhurst holds a Bachelor of Arts in Education, Speech Pathology/Audiology from the University of Florida; Master’s in Speech/Language Pathology from Pennyslvania State University; and an Education Doctorate in Educational Leadership from California Lutheran University.

Superintendent Brian Sarvis stated, “Dr. Semel Parkhurst brings excellent experience in special education, preschool through grade 12. She works closely with parents and is highly collaborative. She has expertise in providing special education trainings and, above all, a passion for her students.”

“The philosophy of acceptance of differences can influence student success for all students,” said Dr. Semel Parkhurst. She continued, “My life’s work involves providing support to educators and students whose programming can be a challenge, even for the most informed and dedicated educators and parents. As a director of special education for the Santa Barbara School Districts, my goal is to support the process of delivering high-quality education to all children and youth.”

In school year 2008-09, the districts’ Special Education Department served approximately 1,700 children at all grade levels.