Blog By: Jenny Ventura, Senior Director of Education Innovation

In the last year, UE Constellation – which serves partners San Lorenzo, Castro Valley, and Fremont – doubled in size. More cases? More staff? More problems? Perhaps. More grit? More resilience? More celebrations? Definitely.

Washington Manor Middle School, tucked away in the city of San Leandro, began with a rather lackluster start. In the fall of 2024, the counseling enriched classroom (CEC) welcomed exactly one student through its doors. Despite the low enrollment – and the notable absence of permanent teacher – our Seneca staff were determined to build a program that would meet it’s young scholars where they are in order to help guide them to where they want to be.
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The Washington Manor team is made up of our clinician, Sierra K., and two new mental health counselors, Judith H., and Whisper T. Our clinician has seen the silver lining of a small caseload and worked to create a therapeutic space that reflects the needs of the students, while simultaneously inspiring them to begin exploring the endless possibilities that lie ahead of them.

This team focused on providing continual counseling support, creating and maintaining a safe space for students to practice self-regulation and autonomy, as well as supporting a small rotation of guest teachers to implement consistent curriculum. During those first few months, we were extremely grateful to the Washington Manor administrators, Nicole Sandoval, school principal, and Andy Waranoff, assistant principal. Mrs. Sandoval and Mr. Waranoff not only expressed their interest in getting to know our growing group of students but also made intentional efforts to welcome UE Constellation into the ‘Wolf Pack.'

In December of 2024, the Washington Manor CEC was beyond elated to welcome an incredible long term guest teacher, Erik Guiterrez. His addition to the classroom helped to round out our incredible team, improving student participation and even managing to increase student time in the general education setting. These changes allowed the mental health counselors to bring the amazing work they do into more mainstream classes, which in turn, has served to create stronger relationships within the Washington Manor community.
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As the CEC continues to grow, this collaboration stands as an inspiring example of how strong partnerships can create meaningful change for students and foster a sense of community and support for everyone involved. With hard work and dedication, this team is setting the foundation for brighter futures, one student at a time.

Blog By: Tatiana Toscano, Assistant Director of School Partnerships

Position: Classroom Counselor 

What led you to your current position? When I was growing up, I had the privilege of having a community that placed value on my mental health and prioritized my emotions. I saw the benefits of going to therapy or talking about my feeling but never saw that reflected in the classroom. I felt very supported at home and with my therapist, but it felt very isolating and taboo to talk about those things while at school. In college I started to work with youth from Continuation High Schools and fell in love with advocacy work and Restorative Justice. I knew I wanted to work with students but was not sure in what capacity. I continued to work with students in different capacities like being a literacy interventionist and an afterschool teacher. I was able to learn and see different ways to support students academically but always felt like their mental health and emotions were being ignored or not acknowledged enough.  I knew i wanted to work with youth and be able to support them with their emotions and behaviors. 
 
What inspires you to do this work? My two biggest inspirations are the clients we work with and the staff. I am always in awe of how hard our clients work every day to reach their goals. There are weeks that sometime feel never ending but seeing our clients' perseverance and dedication inspires me to push through and make it to the end of the week. In duality with the hard work of our students I am inspired by the continued efforts of staff to find new ways to engage and support our clients. I am inspired by seeing how staff advocate for our clients and are constantly trying to model the things we preach. 
 
What is a recent highlight you’ve experienced in the work or an important lesson you’ve learned in this role?      One of the most important lessons I have learned in this role is to have more patience. Understanding that growth is not linear, and we have to take things one step at a time. We cannot work harder than our clients and there will be times that we need to exercise that patience and work at the pace the client needs. 
 
Share your life motto or something unique about yourself. "Ya la bailada quien te lo quita", is one of my mottos. This roughly means, go for it, at the end of the day no one will be able to take that experience away from you so have fun and try things even if it is just once.  

The Seneca Washington Specialist Team is comprised of School Psychologists, Occupational Therapists and Speech Language Pathologists/Assistants. We work in 10 charter schools in the Puget Sound region supporting diverse learners through special education, 504 plans, MTSS and many other ways. Some of our students struggle to communicate effectively due to limited speech or language skills. This may include students with speech sound disorders, Autism, intellectual disabilities, motor difficulties, traumatic brain injuries or neurological conditions. 

Individuals with communication limitations may use AAC to help them access communication. AAC stands for Augmentative and Alternative Communication. The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA)’s website explains, “Augmentative means to add to someone’s speech. Alternative means to be used instead of speech.” AAC includes tools and strategies to support or replace speech, helping individuals communicate with the world around them. ASHA outlines: 
 
There are a lot of different types of AAC. No-tech and low-tech options include things like 

• Gestures and facial expressions 

• Writing 

• Drawing 

• Spelling words by pointing to letters 

• Pointing to photos, pictures, or written words 

 
High-tech options include things like 

• Using an app on an iPad or tablet to communicate 

• Using a computer with a “voice," sometimes called a speech-generating device. 

 
AAC is an important tool in promoting inclusivity for individuals with speech or language challenges. It supports students in accessing their classroom and school community and being able to communicate with others. AAC can help students communicate their wants, needs, feelings and opinions. It also allows students who might not otherwise be able to communicate with others, communicate with their teachers and peers. AAC can also empower students with communication challenges to access their curriculum, contribute to discussions, and participate in classroom activities. The use of AAC also supports individuals in having more independence.   
  
There are some common misconceptions around AAC and some hesitancy to recommend AAC soon in the special education process. But there is no need to delay introducing AAC to students with communication challenges!  Early implementation can promote language development, and have a positive impact on social communication, cognitive skills and speech development. The use of AAC will not prevent or delay speech development. Research shows that AAC actually enhances the development of natural speech and language.  
 
Using AAC helps students by reducing barriers, fosters independence and ensures that students can express their thoughts, needs and ideas. By integrating AAC into the school environment, school teams can create more accessible and equitable spaces. If you have a student who may benefit from AAC, please reach out to your Speech Language Pathologist or Occupational Therapist at your school for guidance and support. 
 
The Seneca Washington Speech Language Therapists created this document All About AAC. Check it out to learn more.  

Blog by: Gini Sanders, Director of Specialized Services