Sierra School of San Diego
Sierra School of San Diego (formerly Sierra Academy & Springall Academy) provides an intensive, structured, individualized special education program aimed at strengthening each student’s academic and organizational skills, social and emotional abilities, sense of responsibility, job skills, and self-esteem. Our goal is get our students to the point where they can successfully reenter “mainstream” schools and the community. All students are encouraged, nurtured, respected, and supported in achieving their full potential in an enriching, positive environment.
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- (P) 619.460.5090
- (F) 619.460.5091
- 6460 Boulder Lake Avenue
San Diego, CA 92119
Lanae Aguilera, Director of Programs
School Director Lanae Aguilera started here in 1996, after completing her B.A. in Psychology from San Diego State University. She furthered her education by attending the University of San Diego, receiving her Master’s in Counseling as well as her Pupil Personnel Services Credential in 2000. Over the years Mrs. Aguilera has held a variety of roles at Springall such as working in the classroom, in the Support/Crisis Center, and co-creating the Counseling and Guidance Program, where she served as a School Counselor for eight years. Mrs. Aguilera has upheld lasting relationships with San Diego State University and University of San Diego where volunteers and counseling interns are able to fulfill graduation requirements and practicum/intern opportunities. In the fall of 2008, she became the PPS Coordinator, allowing her to display her passion daily for motivating students as she simultaneously guides them to reach their full potential; Mrs. Aguilera became a PRO-Act certified trainer in 2015 which allowed her to train school staff in CA and AZ. As of school year 2016–2017, Mrs. Aguilera advanced to her current role as Director. In addition to ensuring Sierra School’s exemplary reputation every day, Mrs. Aguilera is also on the Garden Leadership Team where she works closely with The San Carlos Community Garden Volunteers planning community and school based events. The community garden is located on our campus. Furthermore, Mrs. Aguilera introduced and co- facilitated with Mrs. Lehr the start of the Character Counts program which is an internationally recognized Character education program and is still going strong today. Her dedication to Sierra School goes without saying and her passion for leading her staff to be the best they can be is apparent.
Nicole Luster, M.A., Associate Director of Programs
Nicole Luster has worked at Sierra School since 2008 and was a full-time teacher for 7 years. She received her bachelor’s in liberal studies from CSU Channel Islands and her mild/moderate and moderate/severe education specialist credentials from Point Loma Nazarene University. She recently finished her master’s degree in Special Education from Point Loma as well. She helped build the ACT program in 2009 and will continue to guide our transition program and run our WorkAbility grant, but additionally will be a great resource to our teaching team, staff, and families.
Barbara Downing, Administrative Assistant
Barbara Downing is the glue that holds Sierra School together! She started at Sierra School in January of 2013 as the Administrative Assistant. Mrs. Downing attended California State University at Chico and graduated with a major in information and communication studies. Mrs. Downing goes above and beyond each day. She has a plethora of knowledge and is a huge support to all the staff. She is skilled in computers, problem solving tech problems and organizing all things school related. She enjoys coming to work each day and interacting with the students and staff, not knowing what each day will bring.
Shawna Tippins, School Counselor
Mrs. Tippins is one of Sierra School’s School Counselors. She began at Sierra School back in August of 2006 as a Teacher’s Assistant while she was going back to Grad School to become a School Counselor. After she graduated from her program, she was hired on as one of Sierra School’s Counselors. She worked here at Sierra School until 2009. Mrs. Tippins relocated and started a family. She recently relocated from the Bay Area to San Diego to plant her roots so her children could grow up here. She currently holds her Pupil Personnel Services Credential and her Masters in Counseling. Mrs. Tippins is beyond thrilled to be back and believes in the power of collaboration and is excited to be a part of such a supportive and multidisciplinary team!
Katy Miller, Elementary Teacher
Katy Miller is Sierra School’s elementary classroom teacher. She joined Sierra School back in 2007 as a teacher’s assistant and worked in all the classrooms. In 2013, Mrs. Miller became our elementary teacher. She has her bachelor’s degree in Communicative Disorders from San Diego State University and her Master’s in Special Education from National University. Mrs. Miller holds her CA Moderate/Severe Education Specialist Clear Credential. In 2016, she became the Lead Teacher at Springall. Mrs. Miller helps facilitate staff meetings, trainings and support to teachers and assistants. Mrs. Miller gets excited to come to work every day knowing that each day brings its own challenges and rewards.
Jessica Lester, Speech Language Pathologist
Jessica Lester is our Speech Language Pathologist (SLP). Ms. Lester has a bachelor’s degree in communication disorders and sciences from California State University Northridge and a master’s degree in Speech Language Pathology from Western Kentucky University. Ms. Lester began as an ABA therapist, working predominantly with children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder, ADHD and/or Emotional Disturbance. Now as an SLP, Ms. Lester’s interests and expertise include articulation, receptive and expressive language, pragmatic (social) language, and augmentative and alternative communication (AAC). Ms. Lester is a San Diego native who enjoys collaborating with the Sierra School team to provide the most efficient and effective services to its students.
Michael Brooks, Academic Career Transition (ACT) Teacher
Michael Brooks did his undergraduate work at Chapman University and obtained a degree in liberal arts. He is currently finishing his master’s in education with an emphasis on mild/moderate disabilities at Brandman University in San Diego. With us since 2010, Mr. Brooks just finished his first year as a middle-school classroom teacher at Sierra School, where he developed a classroom culture, built exceptional teamwork, and created classroom projects/presentations that culminated in students working together with different mediums to express their understanding. Over his four years at Sierra School, he has worked directly with students between the ages of 12 and 22 and has spent three years working in the ACT program, collaborating with students, their families, and other educational team members to develop plans for student successes in the school setting as well as the post-secondary setting.
Cory Gove M.S., P.P.S., School Counselor
Cory Gove, M.S., P.P.S., is a professional school counselor and a member of ASCA (American School Counselor Association). He joined the Sierra team in 2013 and is happy to be part of such an exceptional group. He has more than 13 years of experience in the education setting. He provides individual and group counseling, as well as runs our SEEDS program and crisis intervention. Mr. Gove will be leading our career guidance classes for our students who will be graduating and looking to enter the workforce. Mr. Gove incorporates his background in Physical Education into his counseling services to help student(s) get the most out of each counseling session.
David Bielik-High School Teacher
David Bielikis one of Sierra School’s high school teachers. He began working at Sierra in the summer of 2018 as a teaching assistant for the transition program. He graduated from the University of California, Irvine in 2016 with his bachelor’s degree in Philosophy. Currently, he is working on obtaining his Masters in Special Education by 2022 at National University. In his short period of time working at Sierra, his other roles have included being a sports coach, snack shop manager, and thespian. Every day he is dedicated to provide students with an unforgettable learning experience and support them to grow in all areas of need.
Dr. Erin Schwier, OTD, Occupational Therapist
Erin Schwier, OTD, OTR/L, has been an occupational therapist for Sierra School of San Diego since 2004. She is also an assistant professor for the Master of Occupational Therapy Program at the University of Saint Augustine. She has 15+ years of experience working with children with disabilities and their families as a pediatric therapist for multiple school districts and clinics in San Diego County. Dr. Schwier is a frequent presenter on topics related to children with special needs and has published articles in professional journals including OT Practice and Disability Journal of Health. She co-authored Breaking Bread and Nourishing Connections (Brooks Publishing, 2005).
Matt Beltran, B.A., Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant
Matt Beltran, B.A., COTA/L, is a licensed certified occupational therapy assistant and a member of AOTA (American Occupational Therapy Association). He has been a member of the Sierra School team since 2009 and is instrumental in promoting physical fitness through various means, such as our Sierra Strong program, our Sierra sports teams, and fitness in the community. He has been featured in OT Practice magazine, promoting mental health in school-based practice as part of an interdisciplinary team. For the last five years, Mr. Beltran has been a clinical instructor for Grossmont College and the University of Saint Augustine. He has also been involved in coaching competitive youth soccer for four years.
Michele Rooney, M.S., Physical Therapist
Michele Rooney, M.S., P.T., is licensed physical therapist. She has worked at Sierra School since 2011. She graduated from Columbia University with her master’s degree in physical therapy and has enjoyed a 16-year career with a specialty in pediatric clinic-based and school-based physical therapy. She has taken advanced workshops in yoga and respiratory facilitation and is dedicated to assisting children in maximizing their physical potential.
Peter Storniolo, Transition (ACT) Teacher
Peter Storniolo earned his Bachelor’s Degree from San Diego State University and he is currently completing his master’s program in Special Education from National University. Peter has worked at Sierra Schoolas an Instructional Assistant for two years. He also worked with the theater program at the University of San Diego High School and has taught ceramics at Francis Parker School. A San Diego native, Mr. Storniolo is excited to bring his passion and love of learning to Sierra School.
Ms. Adi-Marie Martin, High School Teacher
Adi-Marie Martin has had a passion and devotion for teaching since middle school. She has had background experience with volunteering in daycare programs and in after-school tutoring for elementary students. For the past three years, Ms.Martin runs a private tutoring business for bilingual students and English language learners. Also, by 2017, Ms.Martin took up the position as a program supervisor for an extended school day program, and by 2018 she started as a one-to-one aid at Sierra School. In regard to her education, she has a bachelor’s degree in Art History, credentials in mild/moderate special education and in multiple subject teaching, and she is in the midst of finishing her master’s degree from Pt. Loma University. Ms.Martin is excited to have finally reached her goals in supporting the youth community as a full-time teacher amongst supportive and collaborative team members.
Nicole Philips, High/Middle School Teacher
Nicole Philips was born and raised in San Diego and has worked at Sierra School since 2018. She received her bachelor’s degree in Psychology at San Diego State University and minored in Counseling and Social Change. Her teaching credentials are from National University. She has had various experience working with the special needs population, including working as an ABA therapist, a job coach, and a teacher’s assistant. Working at Sierra School has been her favorite job so far, and she is very excited and grateful to work at such an amazing school.
Robin Florez-Middle School Teacher
Robin Florez isthe lead teacher in Room 306. She started at Sierra in January 2021 as a student teacher before becoming a Sierra staff shortly after. She has her bachelor’s degree in Elementary and Special Education from Grand Canyon University. She has been teaching for a total of 5 years, where she started as a TA in a preschool classroom, working her way up to lead teacher after 2 years. Her experience with Special Education started in 2015 when she began volunteering for a recreations company that organized programs, activities, and adventures for children, teens, and adults with special needs.
Melissa Rivera, Middle/High School Teacher
Melissa Rivera has been with Sierra School for 3+ years, she has worked in the middle school program, high school program, and transition program. She also has been our leader with Student Government, Student Events, Transportation, Job Development, Job Coaching, Sport Coaching, among many other things. She knows all of our students and the program very well. Ms. Rivera comes from Northern California and has obtained her Bachelors Degree at San Diego State University and her current credentials from Pt. Loma University. She is highly qualified and her strong family values and dedication to Sierra School will bring a lot to the classroom.
Sabrina Chase, Special Education Teacher
Sabrina Chase has known that she wanted to be a Special Education teacher from the minute she began working as a peer tutor at age 15. While pursuing her degree in Sociology at California Lutheran University, Ms. Chase worked as an intern in the Center for Equality and Justice, advocating for increased inclusion of the disability community within postsecondary education. She completed her senior thesis on family supports of children with disabilities. She received certification as a Registered Behavior Technician (RBT) and Applied Behavioral Analysis Technician (ABAT) while working as a Behavior Interventionist, before becoming a substitute teacher for Special Education classrooms. Ms. Chase earned her teaching credential in Moderate/Severe Special Education at San Diego State University, and is excited to begin her Master’s Program in Reading Instruction. She is thrilled to be part of the Sierra family and grateful for her wonderful students. Go Wolfpack!
Jessica Leiser, Occupational Therapist
Jessica Leiser, MOT, OTR/L is a licensed occupational therapist and a member of AOTA (American Occupational Therapy Association) and OTAC (Occupational Therapy Association of California). She graduated with a bachelors degree in liberal studies from San Diego State University and obtained her masters degree in occupational therapy from the University of St. Augustine. Jessica completed her fieldwork experience during her masters program at Sierra School and fell in love with the program. She is excited to continue working with the amazing students at Sierra School.
Mrs. Janice Munevar, M.A., Reading Teacher
Janice Munevar earned her master’s degree in Special Education from George Washington University. She holds a Mild/Moderate Education Specialist credential. She taught special needs students in a variety of settings for 10 years before taking time off to raise her children. She has been working as a reading teacher at Sierra School for three years.
Cindy Chavez, IEP/Transition Coordinator
Cindy Chavez has worked at Sierra since 2017. She has earned her Bachelor’s Degree from The University of California, San Diego for Sociology and is a fluent Spanish speaker. She is in the front office to greet you and answer any questions.
Caitlin Fleming-Speech and Language Pathologist
Caitlin Fleming is a Speech Language Pathologist (SLP) here at Sierra School of San Diego. Ms. Fleming received her bachelor’s degree in communication disorders and sciences from West Chester University of Pennsylvania and her master’s degree in Speech Language Pathology from Salus University. Ms. Fleming previously worked in a private clinic in Philadelphia, PA where she worked primarily with children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder and children with expressive and receptive disorders. Ms. Fleming especially enjoys working with children with pragmatic difficulties and children who use augmentative and alternative communication (AAC). Ms. Fleming grew up on the East Coast, recently moving to San Diego. She is excited to build rapport with the students and make a positive difference in their lives.

The Perfect Fit!
I have never seen a kid more excited to go to school every day…I am proud to call Sierra School of San Diego Christopher’s home away from home. The program is amazing. The staff is exceptional. The administration is easy to deal with and so supportive. It is truly the perfect fit.
We teach social skills, life skills, transitioning from school to life, and small group instruction. We collaborate with speech therapists, occupational therapists and counselors to ensure students receive the instruction and interventions they need.
Our Students
Students are referred by their school district and are generally in grades 1–12 (aged 6 to 21). They face disabilities in a variety of areas, including Autism, Intellectual Disability, Emotional Disability, Other Health Impairments, Specific Learning Disability, and more.
Our Staff
We are proud to employ certified special education teachers and provide Occupational Therapy, Speech and Language Therapy, Counseling, Job Coaching, BCBA, Behavior Specialist, and PRO Act Training (Crisis Intervention).
Utilizing four specific instructional rotations, students are assessed academically, gain self-regulation skills, learn with district-aligned academic curriculums, and utilize integrated technology.
Each student enrolled in the model has individualized behavior programming which is driven by Functional Behavioral Assessments (FBA). We aim to identify the behaviors that continue to disrupt our student’s ability to access their environment and learning. We then use the data collected from the FBA and classroom data to device strategies that get to the root function of the students disrupted behaviors.
Our school counselor focuses on helping students develop age-appropriate social and emotional skills, especially those that pertain to improving classroom functioning. Further, our counselor concentrates on the personal development of each student to increase self-esteem, improve interpersonal interaction, and enhance school and community performance. Our focus on the acquisition of appropriate social skills utilizes activity-based lessons to teach students how to cooperate with others, make positive choices, accept responsibility, and peacefully resolve conflicts. As part of our program we offer Individual Counseling, Group Counseling, Social Skills/Team Work Group, and a School Wide Behavior Modification Program.
Individual Counseling:
Our Counselor meets with individuals on a weekly or bi-weekly basis per their Individualized Education Plan (IEP). Individual counseling focuses on a variety of topics such as coping strategies, social emotional development, problem solving and effective communication skills. This supportive, confidential environment provides a safe place for students to feel heard. In addition, students can make appointments to see the Counselor. Students have the option to discuss at anytime their IEP, 4 year High School Plan, credits, job placement, dual enrollment or just to problem-solve.
Group Counseling:
Group Counseling may be conducted in the classroom environment or in the counseling office. Our Focus groups include students whom are placed together to work in similar areas of need. Some of our focus group topics include: social skills, character counts, anger management, teamwork, goal setting and self-advocacy. Groups may be conducted in collaboration with our Speech and Language Pathologist and our Occupational Therapist.
Social Skills/Team Work:
Students attend a social skills/team work group on a weekly basis. Our specialists incorporate games and physical activities to help students in these groups develop pro social skills and cooperative play behaviors with an emphasis on teamwork.
School-Wide Behavior Modification Program:
A school-wide behavioral program forms the basis for promoting positive school behaviors and the development of appropriate social skills. Our staff members are trained in crisis intervention and behavioral modification, with the goal of maximizing students’ feelings of personal efficacy and self-management abilities. Through our behavioral program, students learn to exhibit positive behaviors, which allow them to be available for academic instruction.
To enable our students to make the most of learning opportunities, Sierra incorporates various support services to supplement our core programs. These services, combined with our highly specialized, state-approved academic curriculum, provide a comprehensive educational experience that is individualized to optimally meet the specific needs of each student.
Occupational Therapy
Occupational therapy (OT) helps students with sensory, perceptual, and motor skills so they can better meet the daily demands of their environment. The specific areas the Occupational Therapist addresses are self-care skills, sensory processing skills, fine and gross motor skills, handwriting skills, visual perceptual/visual motor skills, keyboarding skills, and self-regulation. The majority of students who receive OT services are seen on an individual basis. However, group therapy treatments do occur. Our Occupational Therapist is also responsible for educating, training and collaborating with teachers and staff so that everyone understands the students’ individual OT needs.
Sierra School of San Diego has a school wide sensory motor program. This program is a very important asset, as it has allowed children the freedom and ability to take sensory motor breaks throughout their school day, helping them function better in the classroom. Students are encouraged to take sensory breaks and to use the sensory tools or other sensory strategies. This program has helped the children who require a sensory diet the freedom to use sensory strategies as a part of their daily schedule.
Students who have communication goals will participate in our Communication Program. They will have scheduled sessions with the Speech and Language Pathologist, and they might be seen individually or within a small, peer group setting. Most communication students have a session one or two times each week. Some of them will also have a communication session in their classroom (push-in), where the objective is to work in collaboration with the staff while implementing effective learning strategies and tools that coincide with the curriculum. The Speech and Language Pathologist strives to work closely with other paraprofessionals to help achieve students’ social and academic success.
Targeted Skills
We work on a lot of different skills in the program. Each student’s goals determine which skills will receive concentration. Skill areas in our Communication Program include but are not limited to: vocabulary and categories; grammar; creating stories; learning to describe and explain things students know; sequencing (learning how to put things in order, like relating a story or experience in linear/chronological order); problem-solving; conversation; teamwork and social thinking skills; speech sounds; stuttering reduction; organized thinking; and improved memory (especially via visualization, or learning make “memory pictures” in one’s mind).
What Students Can Expect
When students meet program goals, they are granted bonus sessions called “earned activity days,” when they get to pick the activity for the session themselves—this can be a game, a puzzle, or just talking with each other, going for a walk in the community, even shooting hoops or playing at the local park.
Students can expect the Speech and Language Pathologist to have a sense of humor and be willing to listen (when there is enough time, or even later if need be). Students can also expect her to be fun, yet strict, and to work with them to meet their full social and academic potential. The Speech and Language Pathologist will do her best to make the instruction worthwhile and personally meaningful for each of the students—letting them know that their efforts are appreciated, whether or not they get everything exactly correct. And, as described above, there will be incentives for students who try to meet program expectations. The Speech and Language Pathologist will help out if students are having a hard time communicating something, and will always try to see the student’s point of view.
Meet & Greet
One day at the beginning of the school year, we hold our annual Meet & Greet Day. This is an opportunity for caregivers, families, and friends of students to tour the campus and see the classrooms. Our staff is available to answer questions, and we usually host a short presentation to introduce the program as well.
Holiday Store
In December, right before winter break, we hold our Holiday Store. This store is run by our high school students in our Work Experience program. Students collect gently used or new items, complete an inventory, and put the items up for sale. Other students are invited to do their holiday shopping and purchase items for someone special. All proceeds go towards school field trips and special activities.
Prom
As an end-of-year celebration, students in grades 9 through 12 are invited to attend our annual prom (usually scheduled for the night before the graduation ceremony). Because the prom is held off-site, students must buy tickets to attend, and all the proceeds are applied toward costs for location rental, food, and music.
Senior Week
Senior Week consists of four days of special activities just for our student graduates. Students vote on which activities to have each day. Past graduating classes have decided to have a Senior Picnic on the beach, Movie Day, and a trip to Disneyland! These activities can get expensive, so the senior class held a car wash and snack sales throughout the year. They successfully raised all the money needed for these special events.
Graduation
On Graduation Day, students completing their high school program participate in graduation ceremonies. Families and friends are invited to celebrate this special occasion. Caps, gowns, and tassels are provided by Sierra School of San Diego. Participating in the ceremony is very special to all of us.
CAPSES Sports League
We are one of the founding schools that participate in the CAPSES (California Association of Private Special Education Schools) Sports League. We are proud to have a flag football team, a basketball team, and a softball team that compete against the other teams in our league. Many of our students are outstanding athletes, so joining a team is a wonderful way to showcase their talents.
Girls’ Group
Girls’ Group is about the fun, friendship, and empowerment that result when girls band together. This group is so enjoyable for our girls that they don’t realize it’s also a learning experience. Group pursuits include: participation in the Big Sister/Little Sister program, peer tutoring, cheering on our teams at sporting events, and bi-monthly meetings. This is an incredible platform that allows girls to connect to female staff and form lifelong relationships with other girls in the school.
Community Garden
Sierra School of San Diego is the home of the San Carlos Community Garden. This partnership allows us the opportunity for an outdoor classroom, rare-fruit tree orchard, herb garden, quiet work area, composting bins, pumpkin patch, and everything else you can imagine a garden has to offer. Each classroom has their own garden bed to grow vegetables and spices. The crops are used in cooking lessons in our student kitchen. Even if you don’t have a green thumb, you might enjoy working in our community garden!
Our Work Experience Program encompasses many areas: classroom instruction, community activities, and links to support services. Specific examples include but are not limited to: field trips, guest speakers, independent living skills instruction, cooking, budgeting, college tours, and much more! After being in our Work Experience Program, our graduating seniors leave with a transition portfolio, encompassing all of their successes in this program.
One of our students’ favorite activities, our Work Experience Program provides practical experiences and skills through on-campus jobs, in preparation for off-campus employment. Having firsthand work experience under their belts is a critical component of teaching students what is required to be a good and productive employee. For the 14th year in a row, Sierra was awarded a WorkAbility 1 grant to support our transition efforts.
WorkAbility 1 Program
WorkAbility 1 (“WorkAbility”) is a state program that was established in 1981 as a result of a successful two-year pilot study to help special education students gain work experience and skills. Its mission is “to promote the involvement of key stakeholders including students, educators, employers, and other agencies in planning and implementing an array of services that will culminate in successful student transition to employment, lifelong learning, and quality of life.” Sierra School began to participate in WorkAbility program in 1997 because of our similar philosophy – taking a holistic approach to educating students, and assessing each one as a whole, helping student reach their goals both on and off the school campus. As part of the WorkAbility Program, each student has a transition binder that is kept in the Guidance Center. The binder holds a collection of transition-related documents and work that each student can use as a tool, and take with them after they leave Sierra and enter the workforce.
What exactly is the WorkAbility all about?
WorkAbility promotes independent living and provides comprehensive pre-employment, employment, worksite training, and follow-up services for special education students who are making the transition from school to work, postsecondary education, or training. Specifically, WorkAbility provides special education students (aged 16–22) with the opportunity to complete their secondary education while also obtaining marketable job skills.
How is WorkAbility funded?
WorkAbility is funded by a federal grant administered by the California State Department of Education.
How does Sierra School personnel offer assistance to the students in the WorkAbility Program?
The school provides the following staffing in the form of a Vocational Education Team (VET) to implement the program: Transition Coordinator, Transition Assistant, Curriculum Coordinator, Guidance Counselor, Specialist Teachers, and Job Coaches.
What does WorkAbility offer prospective employers?
- Students who have been screened and prepared for employment
- Ongoing monitoring provided by Sierra personnel
- 30–90 hours of training that can be subsidized by Sierra
- Future trained employees who have proven themselves
What are the advantages to our students?
- Job development/placement services
- Support and encouragement from staff
- Pay for job training
- Opportunity to gain work experience
- Assessments of vocational interests and skills
What are the possible outcomes/goals of participating in WorkAbility?
- Students will obtain competitive employment
- Students will become successful, productive, and contributing members of the community
- Students build self-esteem through reinforced positive behavior
Listed below are current and past employer partnerships with Sierra School:
- Sea World
- GameStop
- Original Pancake House
- Foot Locker
- Albertsons
- Einstein Bagels
- Jo-Ann Fabrics
- Mission Trails Park and Recreation