Tamara Schiern

Tamara Schiern is an Adjunct Professor in the School of Human Development and Education. She is currently the Executive Director of the West San Gabriel Valley Special Education Local Plan Area ("SELPA"). Prior to this position, she was Director of Special Education and Psychological Services for the Burbank Unified School District and prior to that spent over twenty years as a school psychologist for preschool through transition aged students. In this role, Ms. Schiern supported students with all types and intensities of disability, as well as their teachers and families, and also supported students without disabilities in the areas of crisis management, social skills, emotional regulation, etc. Ms. Schiern is a recognized expert in supporting students with disabilities and currently Co-Chairs the State SELPA Association's IEP Forms Committee. Ms. Schiern holds a Bachelor's Degree in Psychology from U.C. San Diego, a Master's Degree in Psychology from California State University, Northridge, a Pupil Personnel Services Credential in School Psychology and an Administrative Services Credential. Ms. Schiern is a member of the SELPA Administrators of California, the Coalition for Adequate Funding for Special Education and the Association of California School Administrators ("ACSA"). She has been published in ACSA's Leadership Magazine and EdCal Newsletter and has presented at ACSA's Every Child Counts yearly symposium.

Ms. Schiern teaches on ground courses at the Pasadena campus, as well as online courses. Her areas of expertise include all areas of special education and supporting students with disabilities, child development, child and adolescent mental health, and preschool, primary and secondary education. Ms. Schiern is native to Los Angeles and grew up in Los Angeles and Santa Clarita. In her spare time, Ms. Schiern is a figure skater and a US Figure Skating judge. She has two young adult daughters, one who is a professional figure skater and one who is away at college in Massachusetts, pursuing a degree in English.