Meet Ruth Jennifer Garcia

Ruth Jennifer Garcia holds a B.A. in Psychology with a minor in Education from the University of California, Santa Cruz, and an M.S. in Special Education from National University. She is a cleared credentialed Education Specialist with authorizations in English Learners, Autism Spectrum Disorder, and a Bridge Credential from the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing.

Her journey in special education began as a 1:1 aide and Resource Specialist Program (RSP) assistant, supporting students with diverse needs across multiple TK-5 schools in Southeast Los Angeles. Motivated to deepen her impact, she transitioned into an Education Specialist role at a TK-6 elementary school in South Los Angeles. She later advanced to Lead Education Specialist and Department Chair, overseeing special education programs for a charter organization.

With over ten years of experience, Ruth has been instrumental in designing and implementing Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) and behavior support plans that foster academic, social-emotional, and behavioral growth. She has led professional development for special and general education staff, ensuring best practices in inclusive education. As a district representative, she has played a key role in student placement meetings, compliance reviews, and staff recruitment, training, and evaluation. Under her leadership, the charter school she served complied with California Department of Education (CDE) reviews and LAUSD oversight, consistently achieving outstanding results. Most importantly, under her leadership and guidance, families learned their parental rights and became strong advocates for their children.

In her current role, Ruth serves as a Lead Educational Therapist, working with children and adults with learning disabilities and other learning differences. She provides a wide range of intensive, individualized interventions designed to remediate learning challenges and build resilience. She creates and implements treatment plans informed by social, emotional, psychoeducational, and neuropsychological profiles. Additionally, she supports families as a parent advocate during IEP meetings, ensuring they are heard and their child’s needs are met.

Ruth is a proud associate member of the Association of Educational Therapists (AET) and is currently completing her final supervision hours with a board-certified Educational Therapist at Kaiser Permanente to earn her professional membership.

A bilingual, first-generation Latina college graduate, Ruth is passionate about equitable access to education. Fluent in Spanish, she ensures families receive critical information in their native language, bridging communication gaps and advocating for the most vulnerable communities. Dedicated to empowering students, families, and educators, she continues to champion inclusive education with expertise, advocacy, and a commitment to excellence.