Karen’s background spans 25 years working as a Special Education/Mental Health Specialist in Head Start programs with children and families with a focus on special education for the last 7 years.  That span of a career in itself shows her commitment to children and families in our local communities.  She holds a Family Development Credential from the University of Connecticut and is a certified trainer for ASQ (Ages and Stages Questionnaire) used by Head Start programs as well as is a CLASS Certified Observer where she conducted classroom observations / assessments for infants and children 3-5.

Karen developed and built community partnerships including the local LEA’s in San Diego county and has worked alongside families, SDRC service coordinators, and local school districts special education directors, in the developments of IFSP’s and IEP’s as a parent partner in these processes.

Karen worked along-side Kara in the KDA Preschool Training Program for the last for many years where she organized staff trainings, managed the screening schedule, was always an advocate for screening team to ensure smooth flow of this program to her 9 sites of over 1200 children.  She has also worked closely with the Autism Tree Project Foundation in the collection of research data of the screening program for grants, while attending community events as a speaker of the importance of early intervention, identification, and support of children in families to access services without our communities.

Karen joined KDA as our clinic director in 2019 and has been an innovator in customer service, organization, and has helped grow our team and locations to expand our services to children!

Outside the center, Karen enjoys boating, traveling, being with her friends and family and especially being a “nana” to two awesome grandkids!