Mrs. Wendy Clifford
Email: wrclifford@mpsaz.org
Phone: 480-472-4528
Room: 114
Interested in planning for your child's post-secondary employment, education/training, and independent living goals?
Transition planning is where it all begins. Transition planning, career development, and enhancing self-determination skills is a true passion of mine and I truly enjoy assisting students develop realistic post-secondary transition goals. As a veteran teacher of 20 years, I have had the pleasure of assisting students with cognitive, learning, and emotional disabilities plan appropriate transition goals. In addition, Mesa Public Schools is currently in an inter-agency collaboration grant with Arizona's Department of Vocational Rehabilitation. The collaboration is in an effort to increase resources and the likelihood of successful transition planning. This is accomplished by providing direct transition services while students are still in high school through the Transition from School to Work Program (TSW). Direct services include, but are not limited to, providing career exploration, job-readiness, job acquisition skills, self-advocacy training, current labor market studies, and awareness of post-secondary employment, education/training, and independent living options. Please look at the related pages on the right hand side of this website for information and links to adult agencies to further assist you and your family with transition planning for your child. Please feel free to call or email with any questions. I look forward to providing transition services for your child.
A little personal history about who I am:
I was born and raised in Indiana and am a 'true' Hoosier loving to play and watch basketball. I was also fortunate to know at an early age that my career goal would be serving students with special needs by participating in a peer education program in high school. I attended Indiana State University in Terre Haute, Indiana from 1989 to 1993 and received my bachelors degree in special education. After teaching for three years in Indiana, I realized it was time to move to warmer and sunnier weather (I think I reached my goal)! Mesa Public Schools afforded me many opportunities to learn and grow pedagogically as well as working with such a wonderful and diverse student population. I live happily with my husband, two wonderful and happy children, and of course our two chocolate lab dogs.
My educational/training background is as follows:
Undergraduate Education:
Indiana State University, Terre Haute IN., Bachelor of Science, Special Education, May 1993, Graduate with Honors
Graduate Studies:
Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff AZ., Secondary Education Masters, December 2000, Graduate with Distinction
Graduate Studies:
University of Kansas, Lawrence KS., Special Education Masters-Concentration/Thesis Transition Programming, December 2013, Graduate with Distinction
Work Experience:
2008-current
Westwood High School, Transition Facilitator and Department Chair
2007-2008
Mesa Public Schools/Special Education, District Transition Facilitator Specialist
2006-2007
Mesa Public Schools/East Valley Insitute of Technology (EVIT) Transition Facilitator assisting Mesa Public Schools high school students with disabilities be successful in a vocational/trade school learning environment
1999-2006
Mesa Public Schools/Skyline High School/Transition Facilitator specializing in student's with emotional needs
1997-1999
Mesa Public Schools/Shepherd Junior High School, Emotional Disabilities Instructor
1993-1997
Covered Bridge Special Education District/Vigo County Schools Terre Haute North High School, Terre Haute IN., Multiple Disabilities/Cross-Categorical Special Education Teacher