Sierra School of East Valley
Sierra School of School of East Valley is a new Nonpublic School located in Colton, CA. We are excited to announce we are now enrolling students for the 2020-2021 school year.
Sierra School of East Valley’s programming is designed to meet the unique academic and social emotional learning needs of each individual student. All students are encouraged, nurtured, respected, and supported in achieving their full potential in an enriching, positive environment. Students are placed in an appropriate classroom conducive to their learning style and needs.
The school program offers a continuum of services and supports which include:
- Small Class Size
- High Staff to Student Ratio
- Specialized Academic Instruction (Individual/Group)
- Occupational Therapy & Sensory Integration
- Speech & Language Therapy
- Social Skills Training
- Counseling Service
- Life Skills Training
- Classroom & Schoolwide Behavior Supports
Behavior Management is an integral part of our school’s programming that ensures a safe learning environment. All students’ behavior supports and services are reviewed and implemented in accordance with their IEPs. Our school team will be provided with Crisis Intervention trainings, de-escalation techniques and Behavior Intervention supports and resources.
Contact Us

(P) 909.254.5582
- 1325 E. Cooley Dr. Colton, CA 92324
2nd floor, entrance in back of building
Meet the Team
Jacqueline Ragan, Director
Jacqueline Ragan excited to be the school director at Sierra East Valley. She loves working with her new team to create an enriching, caring and safe environment for all our students. She has worked in the field of education and with individuals with disabilities for over 10 years. She has a bachelor’s degree in educational studies and a Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction. She has been worked as a supervisor for a company working with individuals with autism. She is also a University Supervisor and adjunct faculty at the University of Redlands. She has taught courses at California State University San Bernardino in the special education department.
Shari Burns, Teacher
Shari Burns serves as our Moderate/Severe Education Specialist. She has worked in special education classrooms since 2009. She also worked for four years as a substitute instructional assistant, four years as a long-term substitute teacher, and has served as the Functional Academics teacher at another nonpublic school for more than two years.
Ms. Burns’ experience as an instructional aid contributed to her discovery of how much she enjoys working with kids with special needs. She enjoys finding ways to connect with those who are unable to connect with the world in typical ways.
On a personal note, her favorite colors are green and yellow. She loves learning new things and finding new ways to challenge herself. In her free time, Ms. Burns enjoys reading, listening to podcasts and visiting new places outside of her cute, little house in Rubidoux. She is pleased to meet everyone and is happy to be here at East Valley!
Cindi O’Donnell, Teacher
Cindi O’Donnell has been teaching as an Education Specialist since 2004. She completed her undergraduate, graduate studies in the areas of Psychology, Correctional Education, Special Education as well as Mild to Moderate and Moderate to Severe Education Specialists Credentials at The California State University San Bernardino and The University of California Riverside with The Center for Teacher Innovation.
She began teaching and found after working with her students for a few years, that her main areas of interest were with behavior and trauma informed practices in the classroom.
She decided to change her teaching path to involve working with ‘troubled’ youth. She has taught students, in the Juvenile system and other nonpublic schools, with severe maladaptive behaviors. Her classroom style is centered toward positive reinforcement and teaching strategies that involved creating a therapeutic environment catered to student based needs, assessment, instruction and individualization with adapting curriculum, social skills, life skills and behavior management strategies.
When she is not teaching, she enjoys spending time with her daughter and family. Her hobbies include fashion, gymnastics, singing, dancing, music and doing as many fun activities as she can with her daughter, Christi. She is comical, enjoys making people laugh and is always helpful in making people feel important, part of the team, comfortable and loved. She is everybody’s favorite cheerleader! Go Team Go!
Jessie Holston, Behavior Specialist
Jessie Holston is currently a graduate student at Boston University pursuing a master’s degree in Social Work. She graduated from California State University, Fullerton in 2019 with dual degrees: her Bachelor of Science in Child and Adolescent Development (with an emphasis in Family and Community Contexts) and Bachelor of Arts in Ethnic Studies.
Her career goal is to incorporate evidence-based and developmentally appropriate wellness and mental health care practices in schools as an everyday exercise; to educate school and community members on diversity, equity, and inclusion, and how to respectfully and effectively work with others – including parents/caregivers, and students.
In her spare time, Kisha enjoys ballroom dancing, and may be caught dancing in the hallways. The opportunity to work at with East Valley has given Kisha the opportunity to continue combining mental wholeness with her love for the creative arts.
Daniel Dang, Occupational Therapist
Daniel Dang is a graduate student from University of St. Augustine and received his Master’s in Occupational Therapy. He will be here to help our students function to the best of their abilities by addressing sensory processing skills, fine/gross motor skills, handwriting, keyboarding and other areas of educational need. It is such a rewarding experience when we see our students succeed and reach their goals through therapy fueled by their motivations. In his free time he loves tinkering with technology, playing video games, trying new food and working out. He hopes to incorporate both his students’ and his own interests into fun and exciting intervention sessions to create a fantastic way of learning. As a brand new occupational therapist, he is looking forward to learning and growing together with Sierra School of East Valley as we build a solid foundation for our students.
Karla Rodriguez
Karla Rodriguez is a recent graduate from California State University, San Bernardino and received her Master’s in Guidance and Counseling with a PPS credential. She has experience in working with Special Education children ages 3-18 years old, in the school and clinical setting. She looks forward to supporting students in their school and life goals by applying counseling techniques with the mindfulness approach when listening to them. During her free time, she enjoys being at the river or beach, doing yoga and spending time with her loved ones. She hopes to continue growing as a person and a School Counselor and is happy to be part of the team at Sierra School of East valley.
Mr. Brice Tyler
Mr. Tyler commits himself to the education of his students and guides them toward their fullest potential. He earned a Bachelor’s in Liberal Studies and a Masters of Curriculum and Instruction Design from CSU Fresno. Mr. Tyler is a former general education Math teacher but is excited to find a fulfilling career in special education. Brice obtained is Special Education credentials with University of the Pacific.
Outside of school, Mr. Tyler bakes bread, golfs, collects fountain pens and coaches track and field. He is also an uncle to three crazy and amazing nephews. He loves to work with children and is motivated by their achievements. Brice is excited to be utilizing his knowledge and make a difference at Sierra School of East Valley.
Covid Safety Plans
Download our Covid Safety Plans here.
Our Students
Sierra School of East Valley serves students grades K-12+. Our school offers a continuum of academic and social-emotional services for students with disabilities that include but are not limited to: Autism, Intellectual Disability, Emotional Disability, Other Health Impairments, and Multiple Disabilities. Referrals are made by school districts.
Our Staff
We are proud to employ highly qualified staff who are trained in our Academic Rotational and B.E.S.T. Models, as well as positive behavioral interventions and supports (PBIS) strategies. Our staff includes certified Special Education Teachers, a Therapist, a Behavior Specialist and Assistant Teachers.
Utilizing four specific instructional rotations, students are assessed academically, gain self-regulation skills, learn with district-aligned academic curriculums, and utilize integrated technology.
Sierra’s goal is to build the confidence and competence of children facing learning, language, and social challenges through personalized academic interventions. Sierra is committed to achieving success with each student even in the face of obstacles, challenges, and excuses. The program is geared toward preparing youth to become responsible adults who are able to participate in their communities and lead self-fulfilling lives. We aim to build each student’s skills and self-esteem to a level that allows them to return to a mainstream school and become fully functioning members of society. In order to achieve this, Sierra has developed school-wide learning objectives. We help Sierra students to be:
Healthy individuals who:
- Effectively maintain appropriate peer relationships
- Take responsibility for their own physical and emotional heath
Demonstrate healthy life choices
Technologically literate individuals who:
- Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of various computer programs
- Utilize a variety of current technology tools
- Demonstrate awareness of assistive devices that will allow them to better access academic curriculums
Independent individuals who:
- Develop strategies to set specific and attainable goals
- Set priorities and manage time effectively
- Develop a plan for the future
- Develop their ability to have acceptable work habits
Academically competent individuals who:
- Read, write, and speak effectively
- Practice learned strategies to effectively problem solve
- Complete assignments, display organizational skills, and practice study skills
- Access and apply learned information and utilize notes on assigned curriculums
This Mission Is Accomplished By:
- Participation in community-based instruction.
- Receiving specialized education instruction, training, and support.
- Learning competency-based functional skills for continued development in daily living, personal social, and career preparation skills.
- Taking part in career exploration and development.
Three Tiers of Transition Services:
Tier One: In Classroom Independent Living and Job Training:
- Classroom janitorial services.
- Meal preparation and distribution.
- Daily classroom chores.
- Functional activities- resume, cover-letter, budgeting, sample applications and post education research.
Tier Two: On Campus Job Coaching:
Our students work with local community partners that provides job coaching in the janitorial industry on our school campus.
- Vehicle maintenance and cleaning.
- Mopping, sweeping, vacuuming, dusting, and cleaning windows.
- Restroom maintenance.
- Trash disposal- classrooms, front office, transition office and counseling office.
- Customer service- Delivering snack shack, greeting staff and students at Holiday events.
Tier Three: Off-Campus Job Experiences:
For those students who are 15 ½ years old or older, on level, have a 2.0 grade point average, and have completed the two previous tiers, are eligible for job training at an off-site business. Students are accompanied by a job coach from Sierra School. Students work an average of 4 hours a week and will collect bi-monthly paychecks. Students in this program are held accountable for their behaviors, dress code, attendance, and professional communication. Failure in these areas of competencies will reflect in their ability to work.