Robert Mata, Regional Director of RSDSS Region XI of the Los Angeles County Office of Education, and Catherine Atkin, President of Preschool California, gives the closing remarks of the 2013 Transitional Kindergarten Implementation Conference.
Bio
Catherine Atkin
Catherine Atkin serves as the President of Preschool California. Ms. Atkin leads Preschool California's day-to-day work and collaborates closely with senior staff on strategy. She is an attorney with legal and policy expertise in the area of early care and education.
Prior to joining Preschool California, she was the principal of a consulting firm specializing in strategic research, a directing attorney at Public Counsel Law Center in Los Angeles and minority subcommittee counsel for the Banking and Financial Services Committee of the United States House of Representatives. She holds a bachelor's degree from Stanford, a law degree from UC Berkeley's Boalt Hall and a master's degree in urban planning from UCLA.
Yolanda M. Benitez
Yolanda M. Benitez was named assistant superintendent of Educational Services in April 2012. She previously served as LACOE's director of Parent and Community Services and the Williams Legislation Implementation Project. Ms. Benitez has an extensive background in education: high school teacher, elementary principal, special education principal, director of special projects, assistant superintendent and superintendent (a position she held for eight years). Early in her career, she also served as curriculum coordinator for the Riverside County Office of Education.