Meet special ed head Nikarre Redcoff

Walking into the Sonoma Valley Unified School District Office right before school starts one expects a level of chaos, especially this year. Many new hires, an interim superintendent, plenty of rumors and lots of changes. But there is none of that; in fact there is the opposite of that.

“Of course we miss (former Superintendent) Louann (Carlomagno) but we have some very strong leadership and we are all unified in our goal. You can feel the cohesion, everyone is poised to move forward,” says Nikarre Redcoff, director of student services. “I’m excited for the school year.”

There are about 660 kids in the district with a special ed classification. Redcoff oversees special education and supports the behavioral and social-emotional programs in the district. She works collaboratively with the district’s new associate superintendent for instructional services, Karen Strong, on implementing a multi-tiered system of support throughout the district.

Redcoff has been a part of the district since 1999 when she started as a full inclusion specialist and behaviorist for the district. Full inclusion refers to students with severe learning disabilities being mainstreamed into general education.

She then spent years at the Sonoma County Office of Education as the SELPA (special education local plan area) program specialist before returning to Sonoma in her current role. It’s a role that tries to balance the needs of the district, of parents, of teachers and ultimately of students.

“As far as I’m concerned, they’re all our children,” she says. “The more we can do to get parents involved, the better. I welcome ideas for improvement.” This is a common sentiment that the system works best when teachers and parents are all participating and working together.

“There is nothing more important than a teacher,” she adds. “All students benefit when we put tools in the hands of teachers, the goal is to get the right tools in their hands. You have to be respectful, loving and optimistic but also garner results.”

She is especially proud of her staff in the special education department. “That team is dedicated, and so strong, and so devoted,” she says.

Redcoff knows there are challenges – changes, fear, economics, equal access, test scores – but she is hopeful. “In addition to being with students, something else that really makes me happy is to see students make progress – academically, socially, behaviorally – to see the teachers’ and specialists’ hard work pay off for the students.”

But there are disappointments. “When a team tries their best, and we still don’t see the progress we’d hoped for,” she says. “Because the work the staff does is really for the kids. This is the most disappointing thing that can happen.”

When asked about her goals for this year, Redcoff becomes even more animated. “I love getting into classrooms and there is some really cool stuff like the Tiers of Interventions and Elementary Jump Into Reading Program,” she says.

“I understand that every parent comes to the table with fear and love but when we work together, problems get solved,” she added.

Walt Williams teaches at Creekside High School and blogs about issues of the day for the Index-Tribune.