About Lee Cluster Transition Specialist

Phone: 210-356-0871 or 210-356-0870

Email:

Degrees and Certifications:

BA in Interdisciplinary Studies with a focus on Special Education AA in Early Childhood Education AA in General Education Certifications: EC-6th grade Generalist Special Education EC-12th grade

Ms. Erica L. Garza

Hello Families!

I am the Lee Cluster Transition Specialist. The Lee Cluster consists of these schools: Lee HS, Jackson MS, Nimitz MS, Castle Hills ES, Colonial Hills ES, Dellview ES, Jackson Keller ES, Olmos ES, Pre-K Academy @ West Avenue, and Ridgeview ES.

Career

I am a graduate of UTSA and I received my degree in Interdisciplinary Studies with a focus on Special Education. This will be my 10th year with NEISD.  Before becoming a Transition Specialist for the district, I taught ALE Social Studies, ALE Reading, ALE Speech, ALE Health, & ALE Work Based Learning for 5 years. I also worked in the Highly Structured Environment Classroom at Churchill HS before becoming a Transition Teacher. To keep up with my passion of teaching ALE and SPED, I usually work for ESY Extended summer school for our High School students, and it's always great to be back in a classroom and doing what I love: working with students I adore!  I transitioned to the position of Transition Teacher in September 2019, and I really enjoyed being able to meet so many more students and families within NEISD.  This is my 2nd year with the Lee Cluster and it has been so great to meet even more families, teachers, and especially students.  My goal and passion as the Lee Cluster Transition Specialist is to make sure ALL of our families are connected to all the wonderful resources out there.  I want to help families with the different transitions and stages in their child's life but with less stress! There are so many aspects to Special Education and TRANSITION is a big one that I can help you tackle!

A little bit about me:

I am the mother of 3 wonderfully rambunctious boys!   All three of my boys are like sour patch kids: sometimes they like/love me and other times they think I'm so embarrassing & "hate me." LOL :-D But we all love and support each other like no other! This school year, my eldest started college at SAC and was able to use the Alamo Promise Scholarship.  He is also joining the military and will be going into the ARMY by the end of this school year. I am so PROUD and excited for him and these new journeys he's on!  I am now coming to the realization that, OMG, he's going to leave my home very soon and become the successful adult I want him to be!  How does the time go by so fast? 

My youngest son will be in 5th grade, and he is NOT excited, to say the least. He is happy that he did get the same Reading/English teacher this year though!  My middle child is going into 8th grade and loves that he is finally able to see his best friends regularly again.  All of my children are going through so many changes and even though it is scary, they & I are ready! I want you to know that I understand the difficult challenges that you all face every day and just know that I am here for any resources or help that I can give. When I go home, my role is a mother of three kiddos and two of them receive special education services.  I also go through the ARD process, the hard conversations with schools, and the challenges my children face every day at school.  

Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions, concerns, need help, or just want to talk to a friend. I am always available to help in any way that I can.  My door is always open!

My office number is 210-356-0871, or you can call the Special Education office at Lee HS at 210-356-0870 to leave a message.  Thank you!

IMPORTANT INFORMATION!

LEE CLUSTER

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