PHP Staff Directory
| Name | Title |
| Alba Alamillo | Bilingual Education Specialist |
| Alexandra Cramer | Receptionist/Admin. Assistant |
| Carol A. Gallegos | Administrative Assistant |
| Claudia Harty | Bilingual Community and Family Services Specialist |
| Debbie Battersby | Parent Liaison |
| Debbie Drennan | Assistive Technology Specialist |
| Denny de Harne | Early Intervention Specialist |
| Esmeralda Garcia | Bilingual Education Specialist |
| Fax | 408-286-1116 |
| Fax Kaiser Satellite Office | 408-972-6745 |
| Jan Tuber | Assistive Technology Specialist |
| Jane Floethe-Ford | Director of Education Services |
| Janet Nunez | Manager, iTECH Center |
| Jocelyn Penner | Education Specialist |
| Judy Bower | Librarian |
| Kathy Kenyon | Data Entry Assistant |
| Kathy Weitsman | Parent Liaison |
| Leslie McNeil | Education Specialist |
| Loni Allen | Education Specialist |
| Maria Avina | Bilingual Education Specialist |
| Mary Ellen Peterson, M.A. |
Executive Director |
| Melissa King | Program Coordinator |
| Minh Phan | Bilingual Community and Family Services Specialist |
| Mouna Raad | Bilingual Education Specialist |
| Nancy O'Rourke | Chief Development Officer |
| Netta Anderson | |
| Paul Schutz | Chief Financial Officer |
| PHP Toll Free Line | 866-747-4040 |
| Rosa Solorzano | Bilingual Education Specialist |
| Shriya Shah | Workshop Specialist |
| Sian Liu | IT |
| Tammy Thompson-Cooke | Speech Pathologist/AAC Specialist |
| Tonia Shaw | Circles® Specialist |
| Trudy Marsh Holmes | Director, Community and Family Services |
| Virginia Hildebrand | Bookkeeper |
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| Alba Alamillo Bilingual Education Specialist albaa@php.com |
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| Alexandra Cramer Receptionist/Admin. Assistant alexandra@php.com |
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| Carol A. Gallegos
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Carol started with PHP as a volunteer and later took the position of The Kids on the Block Coordinator where she worked with a wonderful group of volunteers to take an educational puppet show about disability awareness, medical/educational differences or social concerns to school age children. Currently she provides administrative support to the CEO. She is the volunteer facilitator for the Asperger's Syndrome Support Group and volunteers many additional hours to the events of Parents Helping Parents. |
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| Claudia Harty Bilingual Community and Family Services Specialist claudiah@php.com |
Claudia Harty has extensive experience providing clients with information and support in English and in Spanish. She has a BA from University Diego Portales in Santiago, Chile. Claudia is the parent of a child with special needs. |
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| Debbie Battersby Parent Liaison deb@php.com |
Emigrated from Quebec, Canada in 1963, Debbie graduated from San Jose State University with a business degree in 1976. She worked in bank management and aerospace prior to the birth of her only child, Charlie, born with the diagnosis of Severe Congenital Hydrocephalus in 1990. Husband, Leslie, a civil engineer, works as a Senior Project Manager in the construction industry. His work took the family to homes in Bakersfield and Tracy during Charlie's toddler years. When her son could not learn to walk, placed him in local group home. Debbie then returned to work in banking and other business fields, but soon discovered her true interest now lay in mentoring other families with special needs children. Debbie began her Parent Liaison (PL) career with PHP in February, 2000. She soon found herself drawing upon her business acumen, as well as her ten years experience as "Charlie's Mom," to gain acceptance as part of the network of medical professionals at four PHP hospital satellite FRCs. Debbie continues to enjoy her work as a PL at PHP's sole remaining satellite, Kaiser Permanente San Jose Medical Center. She also volunteers as a Mentor Parent for PHP and the Hydrocephalus Association, as well as singing with the San Jose Symphonic Choir. |
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| Debbie Drennan Assistive Technology Specialist debbied@php.com |
Debbie Drennan is one of the assistive technology specialists in the iTech Center, with more than ten years experience in the field. She received her certificate in Assistive Technology from Cal State Northridge. She also has a Masters in Social Work, which she received from San Jose State University, and has previously worked as a medical social worker. Primarily, however, Debbie is a parent of two sons, each with different special needs. She has a son with Cerebral palsy (CP), and a son with ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) and Dyspraxia. It was because of her sons' unique needs that she became interested in, and passionate about, assistive technology and the potential it has for many people. |
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| Denny de Harne Early Intervention Specialist denny@php.com |
A former Peace Corps volunteer, Denny has a B.A. in Sociology from the University of California Santa Barbara and a background in early childhood education. Denny has been at PHP since 2001 providing families with information, resources and support as part of our Community and Family Services program. |
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| Esmeralda Garcia Bilingual Education Specialist mailto:esmeraldag@php.com |
Esmeralda Garcia had more than four years experience working directly with children with special needs and their families before coming to PHP in 2008. She also brings her experience with a family member with special needs as she provides support and information to families. Esmeralda is bilingual English & Spanish. |
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| Jan Tuber Assistive Technology Specialist jan@php.com |
Jan Tuber is an Assistive Technology Specialist (Learning Disabilities) in PHP’s iTECH Center. She is married and the mother of two teenagers, both of whom have learning differences. Jan has a B.S. degree in Human Development from the University of California, Davis and an M.A. in Counseling from Gallaudet University. She has extensive experience working with special populations, has taught PHP’s “Circles,” and knows American Sign Language. Jan has been with PHP since 2005. |
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| Jane Floethe-Ford Director of Education Services jane@php.com 408 727-5775 x 115 |
Jane Floethe-Ford has almost 15 years experience in PHP’s Education Department providing information, support and referrals to both parents and professionals on special education, assistive technology and related topics. She has extensive training on special education issues and participates on a number of local, regional and statewide education committees and task forces, and is a member of the Board of Directors of the California Family Empowerment Centers. She is also the mother of a child with special needs. |
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| Janet Nunez Manager, iTECH Center janet@php.com |
Assistive Technology Specialist and Manager of the iTECH Center at Parents Helping Parents, Janet is responsible for leading the iTECH team to attain its mission – helping people of all abilities, ages and without regard to financial means, find the technologies that will allow them to fulfill their potential. Janet holds a B.A. degree from the University of California, Santa Barbara, and a paralegal certificate from West Valley College. She received her Assistive Technology certification from the Research Institute of Assistive Technology and Training in 2000, and prior to her position as Manager worked for 3 years as an assistive technology information and referral specialist for the State of California. Janet is fluent in Spanish and has spent many years working extensively with the special needs population, including managing a special needs soccer team and working hands-on with students in the school setting. Her areas of interest include special education law as it relates to assistive technology, and technology related to learning disabilities and autism. Her son, Daniel, who is 14 and has autism, is the driving force behind her mission to educate the public about the potential of assistive technology. In her spare time, Janet enjoys playing flute in the Saratoga Community Band. |
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| Jocelyn Penner Education Specialist jocelyn@php.com |
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| Judy Bower Librarian judy.bower@php.com |
Judy Bower, a parent of a teenage son with language and learning disabilities, first heard of PHP over 15 years ago. She was so impressed with their array of services that she became a volunteer. She has worked for over 10 years as the PHP and RiSE Librarian, and maintains the Resource Directory. Judy has a BA from University of Massachusetts-Amherst in Communications Studies, and a Certificate in Marketing Communications from San Jose State University. |
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| Kathy Kenyon Data Entry Assistant kathyk@php.com |
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| Kathy Weitsman Parent Liaison kathy@php.com |
Kathy is a Parent Liaison currently working at the PHP Satellite office at Kaiser Permanente San Jose Medical Center. At Kaiser one of her responsibilities is to work with their ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) Task Force to help Kaiser provide services to their patients and parents diagnosed with ADHD. She was a member of the Community Adivisory Committee (CAC) for Selpa III for five years. She has two sons. Christopher, age 22, who has developmental delays, and AJ, age 20. |
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| Leslie McNeil Education Specialist leslie@php.com |
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| Loni Allen Education Specialist loni@php.com |
Loni first received support for her son from PHP through referral by a thoughtful parent. A few years later, her daughter was diagnosed with a serious and life threatening disease. She turned to PHP and the Touchstone support group. Loni works in the Education Department and has a passion to share information that enhances a parent’s ability to participate in the IEP process in a positive and collaborative way. She also loves using internet technology to share information about special education rights, advocacy and 504. |
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| Maria Avina Bilingual Resource Specialist maria@php.com |
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| Mary Ellen Peterson, M.A. Executive Director maryellen@php.com |
Mary Ellen Peterson has almost 35 years of experience working with families who have children with special needs. The parent of two children with disabilities, Mary Ellen is one of the founding members of PHP. She began working at PHP in 1983 as the Visiting Parent Coordinator, quickly moving into management as the Family Resource Coordinator and then Program Director/Assistant Director. In 1995 she was appointed CEO. Ms. Peterson has an M.A. in Special Education and a Non-Profit Management Certificate. |
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| Melissa King Program Coordinator melissak@php.com |
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| Minh Phan Bilingual Community and Family Services Specialist minhtamp@php.com |
Minhtam Phan has over 7 years experience working with people with special needs. She is working toward her degree in Social Welfare & Sociology. She is bilingual English & Vietnamese and the parent of a child with autism. |
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| Mouna Raad Bilingual Resource Specialist mouna@php.com |
Mouna Raad is an Education Specialist at PHP, where she started in March 2002 as a Medical Home Project Coordinator. After graduating from the American University of Beirut with an MS in Biology, she worked as a language teacher, a biology instructor and in the medical device industry in Research and Development and International Regulatory. She brings with her a fluency in four languages and many years of parenting experience. |
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| Nancy O'Rourke Chief Development Officer nancyo@php.com |
Nancy O’Rourke is part of the Development Department team securing funding and resources for PHP. Since 1993 she has been involved in not-for-profit management as a development officer, deputy director and executive director. Nancy has a BS in Textiles and Business Management from the University of California, Davis. Nancy and her family have benefitted from PHP’s many services. She first contacted PHP in 1988 as the parent of a newborn daughter with Down syndrome. She still uses the information she learned at an IEP training provided by PHP back in 1990. Currently she and her husband participate in the Parents of Adult Children with Developmental Disabilities (PACDD) support group at PHP. |
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| Netta Anderson Mentor Parent Specialist nettaa@php.com |
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| Paul Schutz Chief Financial Officer pschutz@php.com |
Paul Schutz has been PHP’s Chief Financial Officer since August 1996. Paul received his Masters Degree in Marriage, Family and Child Counseling from Santa Clara University in 1979, was licensed (MFT) in 1981, and qualified as a Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) of the National Society of Fund Raising Executives (now the Association of Fundraising Professionals) in 1990. Since 1979, Paul has been providing not-for-profit management for a variety of South Bay Area organizations as an Executive Director, Development Director, Director of Marketing and Business Development, Chief Operations Officer, and Chief Financial Officer. |
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| Rosa Solorzano Bilingual Resource Specialist rosa@php.com |
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| Shriya Shah Workshop Specialist shriyas@php.com |
Shriya Shah had extensive experience organizing, recruiting and facilitating research-based and evidence based parenting workshops before coming to PHP in 2008 to lead the Sharing the Journey workshop seried. She speaks English, Hindi, and Gujarti. Shriya holds a Masters in Instructional Technology from San Jose State University and a Masters in English Literature from South Gujarat University, Surat, India. She is the mother of a child with special needs. |
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| Sian Liu IT sianl@php.com |
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| Tammy Thompson-Cooke Speech Pathologist/AAC Specialist tammy@php.com |
Tammy Thompson-Cooke is a Licensed Speech-Language Pathologist and holds a Masters in Communication Disorders specializes in Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC). Tammy has more than five years experience working with children who have moderate to severe expressive and receptive language delays. Additionally, she has performed trainings for parents, group home staff and other caregivers on how to encourage language (of all forms) in their children within the home environment. Tammy also has a certificate in Assistive Technology in Education, which she obtained through a program partnership between San Francisco State University and the Center for Accessible Technology in Berkeley, CA. |
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Tonia Shaw
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Tonia Shaw has experience supporting, counseling and guiding clients, both students and parents. She also has experience teaching in a special education environment. Tonia received specialized training in and has been teaching CIRCLES at PHP since 2007. |
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| Trudy Marsh Holmes Director, Community and Family Services trudy@php.com |
Trudy has over 18 years of experience working with families that have children with special needs. As the Director of Community, Family and Health Care Services at Parents Helping Parents (PHP), Trudy designs and implements programs and services for children of all ages with special needs and their families. AS the parent of an adult with special needs, she also volunteers as the co-facilitator of PHP's Parents of Adult Children with Developmental Disabilities Support and Information Group. Trudy participates on numerous local and national disability-related advisory committees. Trudy earned her Early Childhood Intervention Certificate from Santa Clara University in 1994. Prior to joining PHP, Trudy had a 15-year history in the healthcare industry and held a teaching credential in the specialty area. Trudy founded and ran PHP's Seizure Support Network for nine years, producing several national conferences. |
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| Virginia Hildebrand Bookkeeper 408-727-5775 x 141 |
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