Winston Prep Marin Santa Rosa Event Schedule & Bios

Roadmaps for Neurodivergent Learners Symposium Schedule

9:00am - 9:30am

Registration | Continental Breakfast and Coffee

9:30am - 10:30am

Breakout Session I (choose one)

Neurodiversity & Education Law: Know Your Rights

Less Recognized Variants of Autism

Beyond the Label: Helping Your Child Thrive Through Understanding, Not Stigma

10:30am - 11:30am

Keynote Speaker | Larkin O’Leary

11:30am - 12:15pm

Complimentary Lunch

12:15pm - 1:15pm

Breakout Session II (choose one)

Building a Longer Runway After High School: Empowering

Neurodiverse Young Adults for Sustainable Success Autism & Anxiety

From Reactive to Proactive: Empowering Neurodivergent Learners Through Positive Behavior Support

1:15pm - 2:00pm

Ask the Experts | Professional Panel Q & A

Roadmaps for Neurodivergent Learners Guest Speaker Bios

Larkin O’Leary

is the Executive Director and co-founder of Common Ground Society. A former educator, Larkin taught PreK-8th grade for over a decade, earning multiple awards for her innovative work. Her journey shifted when her son was born with Down syndrome, hearing loss, and complex medical needs. Larkin has since become a renowned speaker, delivering a TEDx talk, and authoring Want to Play?, a children’s book empowering kids to embrace diversity.

Michael Zatopa, Atty.

after graduating from the University of San Francisco and the University of California, Hastings College of the Law, Attorney Michael Zatopa was a California special education hearing officer. Michael entered private practice in San Francisco in 1982 and has since represented thousands of parents of special needs children, helping them identify the nature of their children’s disabilities, find appropriate services, and obtain public provision and/or financial support for those services. He has also provided legal counsel to many residential treatment facilities, private special education schools, and other private social service providers.

Sara Schiff, Ph.D.

is a licensed clinical psychologist and neuropsychologist who has been in practice for 20 years in the San Francisco Bay Area. Dr. Schiff specializes in neuropsychological evaluation of neurodivergence in children, adolescents, and adults. She is passionate about identification of and education about atypical presentations of autism.

Bethany Deniz, EdS, NCSP, LEP, ABSNP

is a Licensed Educational Psychologist, Nationally Certified School Psychologist, Diplomate of the American Board of School Neuropsychology, and co-owner of EmpowerED Educational Psychology Services. Since 2009, she has served students throughout Sonoma County in various settings, including public, private, and non-public schools, as well as in private practice. Bethany specializes in identifying learning disabilities and offers collaborative consultations to educators and families. She is deeply committed to helping teams understand each student’s unique learning profile to foster academic and emotional growth.

Roadmaps for Neurodivergent Learners Guest Speaker Bios

Annalise Puentes, EdS, NCSP, LEP, ABSNP

is a Licensed Educational Psychologist, Nationally Certified School Psychologist, Diplomate of the American Board of School Neuropsychology, and co-owner of EmpowerED Educational Psychology Services in Sonoma County. With 15 years of experience in public, private, and non-public school settings, as well as private practice, she specializes in psychoeducational assessment, behavior support, and staff training. Passionate about empowering students, families, and educators, Annalise takes a collaborative, individualized, student-centered approach that places family partnership at its heart.

Dan Davies, PhD.

is a licensed clinical and educational psychologist working in private practice assessing children and adults. When receiving his Masters and Ph.D. from U.C. Berkeley in School Psychology, Dr. Davies’s dissertation research focused on the use of theories of executive functioning to understand ADHD deficits. Over the last 15 years, Dr. Davies has counseled and tested clients of all ages. His practice specialties are primarily ADHD, autism, and anxiety.

Colleen Arnold, Ed.D

founder of Arnold Advocacy LLC, is a special education advocate, working with families across Marin County to empower students with learning differences through strength-based solutions for both school and home. Colleen specializes in working with students with learning disabilities, autism, attention differences, as well as those with behavioral challenges.

Danielle Mansfield

is a dedicated advocate for youth with learning differences and mental health challenges. She spent seven years teaching in Bay Area public schools and holds a Master’s in Learning and Instruction, and received an Education Specialist Credential from the University of San Francisco. Danielle is passionate about creative, student-centered education solutions and has also worked for behavioral health startups.

John Civita, M. Ed

as Winston Prep’s Director of Transitions Programming and the founding Head of Winston Transitions, John Civita is experienced in supporting adults with learning differences and their families, with particular attention to sustainability and employment, goal setting, and problem solving. John’s background includes 20+ years of working in education, specifically focusing on language processing, non-verbal processing, & executive functioning difficulties.