Dr. Katherine Mahoney is a passionate educator with a wealth of knowledge, skills, and experiences in a Special Education career that spans more than 20 years. She has supported PK-ATP schools in developing high-quality inclusive programs through various instructional and administrative roles.

Katherine’s start as a Special Education teacher helped shape her focus on prioritization of instructional quality and the removal of barriers for school site staff to ensure they can focus on instruction and relationships.  Her tenure for the past 9 years as a Special Education Director has been rooted in the belief that all students benefit when all the adults collaborate based on positive, trusting relationships. This belief has resulted in extraordinary results for her current students in a district with an overall Special Education population rate of 7%, as well as an increase of 35% in LRE over the past 5 years.

Since 2009 Katherine has also invested in building the capacity of both multiple subject and education specialist teacher candidates as an instructor at the University of La Verne. Her experience has afforded her the opportunity to learn alongside a diverse group of amazing students, families, community leaders, and colleagues.

Dr. Mahoney earned her Ed.D. in Educational Leadership. Her dissertation examined the attitudes and perceptions of elementary principals and their impact on creating inclusive school environments for students with disabilities. She is committed to supporting Special Education administrators in their mission to create and improve educational systems that provide equitable and inclusive learning opportunities for all students.