Special Education Administrative and Coaching Staff
Mandy Henry
Special Education Director
mandy.henry@usd262.net
316.755.7170
Mandy has worked with the Valley Center School District since 2013 as a school psychologist and Instructional Coach. She is currently in a new role as Special Education Director with the Ark Valley Special Education Cooperative. Prior to coming to Valley Center, Mrs. Henry served as a School Psychologist for the Blue Valley School District and as a School Psychologist and Special Education Coordinator for the Central Kansas Cooperative in Education in Salina, KS. Mrs. Henry pursued a Master's degree in Counseling Psychology and an Education Specialist Degree in School Psychology at the University of Kansas, along with a building level leadership license at Ft. Hays. Her family includes a husband, Justin, daughter, McKenzie, and son, Brent. She enjoys attending sporting events and playing pickleball.
Mandy Cundy
Special Education Coordinator
mandy.cundy@usd262.net
316.755.7170
Mandy received her bachelors degrees in psychology and human development and family life, as well as her education specialist degree in School Psychology from the University of Kansas. Mandy has been a School Psychologist for 22 years, with 20 of those years being in Valley Center. In addition to her role as School Psychologist, she has served as a mentor to school psychology interns and practicum students, been a mentor to special education teachers, participated on many district and building leadership teams, and has served as an educational advocate. She has also done many workshops and presentations on the topic of Dyslexia and currently serve as the Communications Director on the Kansas Association of School Psychologists board. Mandy lives with her husband, her 14 year-old, and their dog in Maize.
Debra Engelbrecht
MIS/Medicaid Clerk
debra.engelbrecht@usd262.net
316.755.7170
Debra is the MIS/Medicaid Clerk for the Ark Valley Special Education Cooperative. Debra prepares, inputs, and retrieves student information as well as supports and facilitates the Medicaid process from beginning to end. Debra handles sending, receiving, entering, and updating special education student records. She reports student data to the state that allows AVSEC continued state funding and continued compliance. She has been working in special education since 2009 in various roles.
Laurie McGee
Compliance Clerk
laurie.mcgee@usd262.net
316.755.7170
Laurie McGee is the Special Education Compliance Clerk for the Ark Valley Special Education Cooperative. Laurie reviews IEP(s) for accuracy and compliance, manages mileage reimbursement, test protocols, purchasing and Early Childhood Screening appointments. She has over 22 years of experience working in education. She has previously worked as an aide, paraeducator, special education clerk, and school secretary before moving to Kansas.
Andrea Saffle
Human Resource/Administrative Assistant
andrea.saffle@usd262.net
316.755.7170
Andrea Saffle is the HR Administrative Assistant for the Ark Valley Special Education Cooperative. Andrea's responsibilities include onboarding new paraeducator staff, maintaining the state Categorical Aid Personnel System for reimbursement, Clerk for the Superintendents’ Council, answering and directing phone calls, and tracking/verifying Para Inservice Hours. Prior to working in the AVSEC Office, Andrea worked as a para in the Mixed Abilities classrooms at the Intermediate and Middle Schools for over four years. She has more than 12 years of experience working in administrative roles, and has worked for over 13 years managing fireworks stands during the summer.
Kelli Doolen
Low Incidence Instructional Coach
kelli.doolen@usd262.net
316-755-7087, Ext. 6515
Kelli's experience includes 12 years as a speech-language pathologist working collaboratively with educators across various specialized programs, including structured learning, life skills, PBS, functional, and transition programs, for students from early childhood to post-secondary education. She has a strong passion for supporting students with complex communication needs and assistive technology, and excels at consulting with professionals to integrate communication strategies, structured learning, inclusion, and modified curricula into academic settings. Throughout her career, Kelli has been an active member of district assistive technology teams, autism teams, and several special program committees in the Wichita area. Kelli is married with three children and is a proud native of Valley Center.
Teresa Whitener
Instructional Coach
teresa.whitener@usd262.net
316-755-7088, Ext. 6513
Teresa Whitener is a Special Education Instructional Coach serving primarily Valley Center K-5, and Sedgwick K-12. Teresa began her teaching career as a general education teacher with a strong passion for students with special education needs, which eventually led her to becoming a Special Education Teacher. She earned a Bachelor's degree in Elementary Education, a Master's degree in Curriculum and Instruction, and a Master's degree in High Incidence Special Education. While her passion for teaching students with special education needs is still strong, Teresa moved from an Instructional Support Teacher into her role as an Instructional Coach for AVSEC's inaugural year. Teresa enjoys supporting and encouraging both Special Education and General Education teachers, and working together to find ways to best help our students be successful.
Teresa's family includes her husband who is a longtime educator, three grown sons, two daughters-in-law, seven grandchildren, and two tiny Chihuahua girls.
Ronda Bugbee
Instructional Coach
ronda.bugbee@usd262.net
316-755-7091, Ext. 6514
Ronda Bugbee is a Special Education Instructional Coach with the Ark Valley Special Education Cooperative. Ronda received her Bachelor’s in Secondary Education and taught Middle School Computers then decided to go into Special Education and received her Masters in Special Education and taught as a Instructional Support Teacher at the secondary level. Ronda then became an IEP coach and is now continuing with AVSEC as an Instructional Coach supporting secondary providers and students. Ronda enjoys helping teachers be able to find resources that aid in teaching students and helping them reach their potential. She also likes to help teachers with writing IEP(s) and running smooth IEP meetings along with creation of materials. Ronda believes all students deserve to have an opportunity to learn and be included. Ronda’s family include her husband, who is a career long educator, four grown children, a son-in-law, a daughter-in-law and six grandchildren.
Jana Hogan
Early Childhood Facilitator
jana.hogan@usd262.net
316-755-7185, Ext. 2101
Jana Hogan is an Early Childhood Facilitator with the Ark Valley Special Education Cooperative. Jana received her Bachelor’s in Elementary Education and certifications in both early childhood and early childhood special education. She taught kindergarten in Wichita for one year and in an early childhood special education classroom for five years in Valley Center before transitioning to an early childhood community-based special education teacher for twenty-one years. With the development of AVSEC in 2021, Jana became an early childhood facilitator supporting early childhood providers and students. Jana enjoys helping teachers support all preschool children's social emotional and ready-to-learn skills. She also enjoys helping teachers write IEP(s) and run collaborative IEP meetings. Jana believes all students deserve to belong and be included as they learn. Jana is a third-generation teacher in the Valley Center school district and her family includes her husband, two grown children, a son-in-law, and a daughter-in-law.
Joey McDowell
Behavior Support Coach
joey.mcdowell@usd262.net
316-755-7089, ext. 6516
Joey McDowell is the Behavior Coach for the Ark Valley Special Education Cooperative. During college, Joey's career in education began. He started as a paraeducator in a behavior program. This sparked Joey's desire to become a special education teacher. Joey completed his bachelor's degree from Pittsburg State University and went on to get his master's degree in 6-12 High Incidence Special Education. At the beginning of his teaching career, Joey taught at Greenbush, a special day school for children with intensive behavior needs. From there, Joey moved to the Wichita area and taught as an Instructional Support Teacher at Sedgwick for the next four years. Joey has a passion for supporting students with behavioral needs, and he is excited to support the district in this role. Joey met his wife, Addie, in college doing behavior therapy together for children on the autism spectrum. They share a son, Franklin; two golden retrievers, Ivy and Dump Truck; and a cat named Simba.