Mary Ellen Abilez Grande

Candidate for San Bernardino California  School Board

Mary Ellen has been teaching students designated with moderate/severe needs in the San Bernardino City Unified School District for 20 years.  She attended professional learning which included but not limited to California Alternate Assessment ELA Field Test Item Writer Training, Sacramento, Ca., CEDR Systems (SEIS) Conference, San Diego, Ca., California Association for Bilingual Education Conference (CABE), Neurodiversity & Inclusion, Certificate Program, University of La Verne, La Verne, Ca., San Bernardino Teacher’s Association, National Board Jump Start Training Pre-Candidacy Program for Teachers.

Mary Ellen Abilez Grande is a seasoned educator dedicated to all students, and a creative team leader with the ability to inspire efficacy in others.
As an advocate for students and peers, in the community and in the K12 system, she actively engaged in promoting contemporary  solutions for education.

She has been a Beginning Teacher Support Provider, Home & Hospital teacher, Anderson School Site Council, and a member of this year’s California Advisory Committee for Special Education. As an advocate for education  she promotes Neurodiversity & Inclusion, Mindfulness, and Universal Design for Learning for all students.

After years of attendance at SBVC and sister college, CHC, she continued a path in student leadership at CSUSB during the time of its designation as a Hispanic Serving Institution under the tenure of Dr. Albert Karnig.   As an EOP student, she became editor for Coyote Chronicle school newspaper, next elected Vice President, then President for the Associated Students, Inc., the first Latina to do so.

In addition to her teaching credential, she holds an B.A. Social Science, M.A. Special Education, M.A. Ed Adminsitration. She has three daughters, Michael-Anne, Eve Star and Gabrielle, all graduates from SBCUSD, and her husband, Fred Grande. Eve is a graduate of SBVC nursing program and currently a Physician’s Assistant. Mary Ellen plans to retire next year.

Education

California State University, San Bernardino, CA
2008     Administrative Credential/Certificate of Eligibility
2007     MA Educational Administration
2005     MA Education, Special Education Focus
2002     Educational Specialist Credential
2000     BA Social Science

Crafton Hills College, Yucaipa, CA
1995       AS Spanish

Teaching Experience

2004 to Present - Anderson Special School, San Bernardino, CA

2003 to 2004 - Roosevelt Elementary School, San Bernardino, CA

2002 to 2003 - Colton High School, Colton, CA

School Site Leadership Experience
  • Beginning Teacher Support Assessment-Support Provider
  • Administrative Designee for IEP meeting
  • Master Teacher for College Interns
  • Site manager and facilitator for CELDT
  • On-site trainer for volunteers and classroom paraprofessionals
Achievements
  • Created and implemented modified general education curriculum, discipline and behavior  intervention and sensory integration strategies for students with special needs, ages 12 - 22 years
  • Developed lesson plans in alignment with general education state and local standards using district approved Basics 2 program
  • Utilized resources and assessment tools for IEP development, behavior support plans and team instructional decisions for autistic and other disabled students
  • Created and implemented modified general education curriculum and learning strategies for students with developmental disorders, grades 3-5
  • Produced and utilized Picture Exchange Communication, visual schedules and Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) with autistic and other students with special needs
  • Supervised paraprofessionals and students while participating in Community-Based Instruction
  • Served as Home and Hospital teacher
  • Developed transitional and vocational goals to follow completion of high school hours
  • Produced measurable results reflected in CAPA test scores
  • Developed a 10-month strategic plan for student learning and behavior
  • Mentored new special education teachers while supporting State requirements of BTSA teacher induction program
  • Coordinated accountability measures for new teachers using the California (6) Standards for the Teaching profession
  • Raised funds for Planned Parenthood of San Bernardino and  Orange counties, and the Inland Empire Hispanic Scholarship Fund
  • Elected as a Representative to the National Education Association Assembly
  • Elected as CSU San Bernardino Student Body President with $10,000/year stipend, the only Latina  and one of only three females in school's history to receive this honor
  • Organized services, staff and over 200 volunteers  on $1,000,000 working budget and served as public  relations voice for over 12,000 students at the state and local level as Associated Students, Inc. President

Special Recognition

She is quite goal-oriented, as suggested by the financial solutions she implemented as well as various other approaches she advanced in her leader role, and she was especially committed to the goal of serving students. I was impressed by her talent for establishing goal of serving students. I was impressed by her talent for establishing goals, as well as planning to bring then forward."

- Albert K. Karnig, President Emeritus

Ms. Abilez demonstrates a genuine concern for the educational welfare of all students. She has the caring and compassionate characteristics that administrators need if they are to make a difference."

- Margaret Hill, Assistant Superintendent, San Bernardino County Schools