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

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.

Request Assistance

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

AZ Find/Child Find

Name and Email	Title	Phone Number
Stefanie Sharkey	AZ FIND Coordinator	(520) 770-3175

Academic Achievement & Inclusive Practices

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
JODI WALKER	Literacy Specialist For Inclusionary Practices	(602) 542-4358
QIANA HARRIS	Dyslexia Specialist	(602) 364-3462

Dispute Resolution

Name and Email	Title	Phone Number
Jeff Studer	Director of Dispute Resolution	(602) 364-4011
NICOLE BARNETTE	Lead Complaint Investigator & Compliance Coordinator	(602) 542-5084
Amanda Barlow	Complaint Investigator	(602) 364-2195
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
VACANT	Complaint Investigator	n/a

Early Childhood Special Education

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
WALTER HALE	Program Project Specialist	(602) 542-4747
Tami Philips	Lead Early Childhood Special Education Specialist	(602) 542-3183
Erika Argueta	Early Childhood Special Education Specialist	(602) 542-3160
PRISCILLA SACHS	Early Childhood Special Education Specialist	(602) 364-0326
Lenka Studnicka	Early Childhood Special Education Specialist	(602) 542-1134
Camille Verdugo	Early Childhood Special Education Specialist	(602) 542-8747

ESS Finance

Email	Title	Phone Number
ABBY SANCHEZ	Director of Finance	(602) 542-2812
JAYDEN MCGRIFF	Program Project Specialist	(602) 542-2975

Program Management

Email	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

Email	Title	Phone Number
CINDY STEWARD	Lead Education Project Specialist	(602) 542-5283
AARON DAY	Program Management Specialist	(602) 542-3855
Rocio Munoz	Program Management Specialist	(602) 542-0610
ESS Projects Inbox	n/a	n/a

ESS Operations

Email	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

Data Management

Email	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) 542-4156
NAVYA RENDUCHINTALA	Data Management Specialist	(602) 542-4238
ESS DATA MANAGEMENT INBOX	n/a	(602) 542-3962

ED-P and Private Day Programs

EMAIL	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

Residential and Institutional Vouchers

Email	Title	Phone Number
JEFF Rhodes	Lead Vouchers Specialist	(602) 542-4387
Laura DeLoach	Residential and Institutional Voucher Specialist	(602) 364-4014
ERIK KILLION	Public & Private Special Education Coordinator	(602) 542-1126
ESS Vouchers Inbox	n/a	n/a

Professional Learning and Sustainability

Email	Title	Phone Number
Tracey Sridharan	Director of Professional Learning and Sustainability	(602) 364-2066
VACANT	Program Project Specialist	n/a
Sherri Schwindt	Program Project Specialist	(602) 542-4006

Behavior

Email	Title	Phone Number
Celeste Nameth	Lead Behavior Specialist	(602) 542‐5445
Lauren Friend	Behavior/Mental Health Project Coordinator	(602) 542-3124

Recruitment and Retention

Email	Title	Phone Number
Kim Rice	Lead Recruitment & Retention Specialist	(602) 771-4299
Mary Keeney	Lead Specialist for Related Services	(602) 542-4058

Program Support and Monitoring

Find your district/charter specialist

Email	Title	Phone Number
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

Results Driven Accountability

Email	Title	Phone Number
VACANT	Director of Results-Driven Accountability	n/a
HEATHER DUNPHY	Lead Education Program Specialist	(602) 542-5584
ADAM ZOGUT	Data Analysis Specialist	(602) 542-5080
SHAUN STEVENSON	Lead SSIP Coordinator	(602) 542-7072

Special Projects

Email	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

Email	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

Email	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
MELISSA WOJTAK	Secondary Transition Specialist	(602) 542-4362

Surrogate Parents

Email	Title	Phone Number
Stefanie Sharkey	Surrogate Parent Program Coordinator	(520) 770-3175

Contact Executive Team

Deputy Associate Superintendent

Email	Title	Phone Number
Alissa Trollinger	Deputy Associate Superintendent State Director of Special Education	(602) 542-5446
ANGELA ODOM	Assistant State Director of Special Education	(602) 364-4009
Bekah Shahan	Executive Assistant	(602) 542-5446

Associate Superintendent

Email	Title	Phone Number
Colette Chapman	Associate Superintendent	(602) 542-7003

Page revised 12/19/25