Contact Exceptional Student Services
General Contact Information
Mailing Address
1535 W. Jefferson Street, Bin 24, Phoenix, AZ 85007
Main Phone and Email
Tel: (602) 542-4013
TDD: (602) 542-1410
Fax: (602) 542-5404
Email: ESS Inbox
Contact ESS Webmaster
Email the ESS Inbox to report a broken link or to make a suggestion for improving the ESS website.
Physical Addresses
Phoenix 100 N. 15th Ave, Phoenix, AZ 85007 Phoenix Map
Tucson 416 W. Congress, Suite 100, Tucson, AZ 85701 Tucson Map
Request Assistance
Encircle Families (formerly Raising Special Kids) is a nonprofit parent organization that provides support and information for parents of children with a full range of disabilities and health care needs from birth to age 26. Programs are offered at no cost to families and are available in English and Spanish.
ESS offers Request Assistance, an email inbox that is available for you to submit any of your special education questions for prompt reply. You may email us your questions, and someone will contact you during regular weekday work hours within 24 hours of your posting the question.
Contact Your School's Program Specialist
Program Support and Monitoring program specialists are assigned to each Arizona district and charter school to provide program assistance. Program specialists offer technical assistance and monitor special education programs in school districts and charter schools throughout the state.
Contact Program Areas
| Name and Email | Title | Phone Number |
|---|---|---|
| Stefanie Sharkey | AZ FIND Coordinator | (520) 770-3175 |
| Name and Email | Title | Phone Number |
|---|---|---|
| Stacy Riccio | Director of Academic Achievement & Inclusive Practices | (602) 364-2440 |
| CHELSEY BRANHAM | Professional Learning Project Specialist | (602) 364-2011 |
| ANISSA MCGOUGH | Program Project Specialist | (602) 364-2088 |
| JENIFER FERNANDEZ | Universal Design & Inclusive Instruction Professional Learning Specialist | (520) 628-6331 |
| CHRISTY HEGEBUSH | Autism & Low Incidence Specialist | (602) 542-3209 |
| Rob Hilliker | Lead Professional Learning Specialist | (520) 638-4295 |
| Vacant | Data Literacy Specialist | n/a |
| Name and Email | Title | Phone Number |
|---|---|---|
| Jeff Studer | Director of Dispute Resolution | (602) 364-4011 |
| Chris Lane | Lead Complaint Investigator & Compliance Coordinator | (602) 542-3545 |
| Amanda Barlow | Complaint Investigator | (602) 364-2195 |
| VACANT | Complaint Investigator | (602) 542-5084 |
| Laura Boever | Dispute Resolution Analyst | (602) 542-3084 |
| CARRIE MCCULLOCH | Alternate Dispute Resolution Specialist | (602) 542-7579 |
| JANICE RAKOCZY | Complaint Investigator | (602) 542-2959 |
| SALLY TULLY | Complaint Investigator | (602) 542-3109 |
| Name and Email | Title | Phone Number |
|---|---|---|
| AANYA Metrakos | Director of Early Childhood Special Education | (602) 542-1113 |
| LETICIA CLAMOR | Program Project Specialist | (602) 542-5586 |
| Tami Philips | Lead Early Childhood Special Education Specialist | (602) 542-3183 |
| Erika Argueta | Early Childhood Special Education Specialist | (602) 542-3160 |
| Vacant | Early Childhood Special Education Specialist | n/a |
| Lenka Studnicka | Early Childhood Special Education Specialist | (602) 542-1134 |
| Camille Verdugo | Early Childhood Special Education Specialist | (602) 542-8747 |
| Title | Phone Number | |
|---|---|---|
| ABBY SANCHEZ | Director of Finance | (602) 542-2812 |
| Vacant | Program Project Specialist | pending |
Program Management
| Title | Phone Number | |
|---|---|---|
| Tanya Rodriguez | Lead Program Management Specialist | (602) 542-4610 |
| CAROL BUSH | Program Management Specialist | (602) 542-0709 |
| Nancy Chavarin | Program Management Specialist | (602) 542-3270 |
| MARIA DURAZO | Program Management Specialist | (602) 542-3057 |
| Program Management Inbox | n/a | n/a |
ESS Projects
| Title | Phone Number | |
|---|---|---|
| Vacant | Lead Education Projects Specialist | (602) 542-2812 |
| AARON DAY | Program Management Specialist | (602) 542-3855 |
| Rocio Munoz | Program Management Specialist | (602) 542-0610 |
| ESS Projects Inbox | n/a | n/a |
Residential and Institutional Vouchers
| Title | Phone Number | |
|---|---|---|
| Laura DeLoach | Residential and Institutional Voucher Specialist | (602) 364-4014 |
| NOSA MUHSIN | Residential and Institutional Voucher Specialist | (602) 542-1126 |
| Jeff Rhodes | Residential and Institutional Voucher Specialist | (602) 542-4387 |
| ESS Vouchers Inbox | n/a | n/a |
| Title | Phone Number | |
|---|---|---|
| Judy Olaiz | Director of Operations | (602) 542-7882 |
| ALLYSON HART | Program Project Specialist | (602) 542-4014 |
| LA'THEA NEVILLS | Office Manager | (602) 542-4083 |
| ANDY BURTON | Content and Accessibility Editor | (602) 364-2035 |
| ADAM ZOGUT | Data Analysis Specialist | (602) 542-5080 |
| HEATHER DUNPHY | Lead Education Program Specialist | (602) 542-5584 |
Data Management
| Title | Phone Number | |
|---|---|---|
| Peggy Staples | Lead Data Management Specialist | (602) 364-4024 |
| MAILE FAUBION | Program and Business Liaison (Lead) | (602) 542-4195 |
| THERESA FITZPATRICK | Data Management Specialist | (602) 542-3511 |
| DENNIS ROMERO | Data Management Specialist | (602) 542-4120 |
| SHAILAJA VENTRAPRAGADA | Data Management Specialist | (602) 542-0764 |
| ESS DATA MANAGEMENT INBOX | n/a | (602) 542-3962 |
ED-P and Private Day Programs
| TITLE | PHONE NUMBER | |
|---|---|---|
| MONICA CASILLAS | ED-P and Approved Private Day Specialist | (602) 542-0660 |
| BECKY OLSON | ED-P and Approved Private Day Specialist | (602) 364-4035 |
| ESS PRIVATE DAY ED-P INBOX | n/a | (602) 364-4016 |
| Title | Phone Number | |
|---|---|---|
| Tracey Sridharan | Director of Professional Learning and Sustainability | (602) 364-2066 |
| ERIK KILLON | Program Project Specialist | (602) 364-4022 |
| Sherri Schwindt | Program Project Specialist | (602) 542-4006 |
Behavior
| Title | Phone Number | |
|---|---|---|
| Celeste Nameth | Lead Behavior Specialist | (602) 542‐5445 |
| Lauren Friend | Behavior/Mental Health Project Coordinator | (602) 542-3124 |
Recruitment and Retention
| Title | Phone Number | |
|---|---|---|
| Kim Rice | Lead Specialist for Related Services | (602) 771-4299 |
| Mary Keeney | Recruitment and Retention Specialist | (602) 542-4058 |
Find your district/charter specialist
| Title | Phone Number | |
|---|---|---|
| Angela Odom | Senior Director of Program Support and Monitoring | (602) 364-4009 |
| SCOTT DOBKOVSKY | Director of Program Implementation | (602) 542-4267 |
| HEIDI PUTNAM | Director of Program Implementation | (602) 364-4007 |
| Veronica Reza | Program Project Specialist | (602) 542-5021 |
| SHAUN STEVENSON | Lead SSIP Coordinator | (602) 542-7072 |
| Title | Phone Number | |
|---|---|---|
| Sam Klein | Director of Special Projects | (520) 770-3363 |
| JOY WOLFGANG | Program Project Specialist | (602) 542-0671 |
| ALEX BERGE | Program Project Specialist | (602) 364-0043 |
| LIZ MERKLE | Lead Special Projects Specialist | (602) 542-8778 |
Assistive Technology
| Title | Phone Number | |
|---|---|---|
| DOUG CUTLER | Assistive Technology Specialist | (602) 542-4016 |
| EMILY GAYLORD | Assistive Technology Specialist | (602) 542-3153 |
| Laura Wooten-LaFranier | Assistive Technology Specialist | (602) 542-2185 |
Secondary Transition and Post-School Outcomes
| Title | Phone Number | |
|---|---|---|
| Lisa Livesay | Lead Secondary Transition Specialist | (602) 542-8718 |
| SARAH ALAM | Secondary Transition Specialist | (602) 542-0661 |
| ELENA PARKER | Secondary Transition Specialist | (602) 542-3121 |
| NELLY SANCHEZ | Secondary Transition Specialist | (602) 542-2118 |
| Title | Phone Number | |
|---|---|---|
| Stefanie Sharkey | Surrogate Parent Program Coordinator | (520) 770-3175 |
Contact Executive Team
| Title | Phone Number | |
|---|---|---|
| Alissa Trollinger | Deputy Associate Superintendent State Director of Special Education | (602) 542-5446 |
| Bekah Shahan | Executive Assistant | (602) 542-5446 |
| Title | Phone Number | |
|---|---|---|
| Colette Chapman | Associate Superintendent | (602) 542-7003 |
Page revised 2/14/25
