New faces in old places: special education department experiences staff changes

The special education department has a new look this fall, including the addition of teacher Brian Elliot and SHS alumni Danny Wallace and the promotion of Courtney Crase.

Elliot, a full-time teacher, is brand new to the school as the special education section’s Specific Academic Instructor (SAI), which was previously taught by teacher Annamarie Villalobos, who left to work at the San Mateo Office of Education.

He teaches about 30 students in a basic study skills class, a class for students that wish to continue onto a four year university. He monitors the students’ progress in their general education classes. Elliot said that this job is a lot different from the one he had previously at San Lorenzo Valley High School.

“It’s different in the quality of students. Working primarily with students that are looking at moving on to a university, which is a lot different in special education from where I [used to teach,]” Elliot said. “I love it here. It’s like teacher heaven. Everything has been better than I expected.”

As for Wallace, he returns as an intern teacher in the school where he was a basketball star known as the “rebounding machine.” Wallace is an alumni as a student from 2001-2005. During his high school days, Wallace was one of northern California’s premier players.

Wallace was known as “the rebounding machine” as he was ranked third in the state for the most rebounds. He was a powerhouse player, usually getting a double-double every game.
Because of his love for the game, Wallace decided to come back to coach JV girls’ basketball last year. His connection to current varsity girls’ basketball coach Mike Davey landed him the job and they have always gotten along.

“Mr. Davey used to be my coach and that’s why I got the coaching job. We always got along. He’s a great guy and working with him is great. We’re always on the same page. I’ve learned all his plays, I know his defense, his expectations,” Wallace said.

Last year, Wallace worked at SHS as an aide in special education. He now teaches two periods this year as an intern resource teacher for the department.

This is his first year of teaching and he has enjoyed it so far. After his internship, he hopes to still be teaching here full time as a special education teacher.

“It’s a little bit different from being an aide to being a teacher. When I was an aide, I was able to go home, not worry about like grading or paperwork or parents,” Wallace said.

Wallace said that he enjoys the responsibility of being a teacher as it gives him more control. Wallace has tried to keep the same system as years before according to his observations from last year as an aide.

“Change-wise, there hasn’t been any big changes so it’s the same system, same format that they’ve been expecting us,” Wallace said. “We’re trying to do the exact same thing as we’ve been doing [and] work with our students to make them be successful in everything that [is possible.”]

Another change includes the promotion of Crase. Last year, she taught four periods part time; now she teaches five classes as a full-time teacher. She taught in the community based section of special education, which teaches students life skills outside of the classroom.

“I’ve always been the type of person to be here [at school] full time, so it’s [good] financially for me,” Crase said.