Beacons, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) public benefit nonprofit
empowering adults with intellectual and other developmental disabilities.
The Beacons Team
UNDER CONSTRUCTION
Lead Instructor
PathFinder Division
Associate Instructor
Explorer Division
Tailored Day Specialist
More coming! Beacons is always looking for new team members. If interested, please click here to learn of available openings.
Background Summaries
JASON MARKS, M.Ed, MBA
Director of Human Resources &Office Coordinator
Jason has a Masters in Education and a Masters in Business Administration and leads Beacons' human resources, staff training and site management. His experiences in higher education as a Director of Education, and Associate Dean of Students provided Jason opportunities to support diverse and underrepresented populations in the San Diego region. He has taught and supervised academic programs for in-person, hybrid and online models and in small and large campus settings that include Kaplan College, San Dieguito Union High School District and Carlsbad Union High School District, Julian Charter School, Bonsai Charter Academy, and Pinnate Middle School. He served on the curriculum re-write committee for College Success Strategies, and was a mayor-appointed adult representative to the Youth Commission for the City of Oceanside.
Jason has operational, management and leadership experiences supporting students, parents, alumni as well as our veteran population. Jason has training as a Civil Rights Title IX Investigator, Clery Center VAWA training, and has worked to support Red Ribbon Week and Safe and Drug Free Schools. Jason’s service experience ranges from being a pharmacy technician, a credentialed public school teacher and administrator as well as many years supporting students in higher education. Jason has previously worked in both the public and private sector, and for non-profits.
Jason moved to southern California from the San Joaquin Valley, has a college-aged son and enjoys spending time outdoors with his wife and two dogs.
BETHANY BRITT, M.Ed
Director of Explorer Division & Lead Instructor
Bethany was born and raised in Southern California and is a graduate of La Costa Canyon High School so she has endless contacts throughout our community to enrich activities for Explorer. She is also a trained self-determination facilitator and well-versed in the supports and options available in the community to help self-advocates learn more about their local area and service options.
Bethany has a BA in Special Education from Arizona State University and a Masters in Educational Counseling from National University. She holds credentials in Pupil Personnel Services, Educational Specialist of Instruction Level II and CrossCultural Language and Academic Development in the state of California.
Bethany taught special education in a Moderate/Severe program for the Chandler Unified School District and coached the girls JV soccer team for Hamilton High School for two years. After returning to San Diego, she taught in both Mild/Moderate and Moderate/Severe programs for the San Dieguito Union High School District for 13 years. During her time at SDUHSD, Bethany helped lead the TAP program at Torrey Pines High School and La Costa Canyon High School. In 2015, Bethany won the Collaborative Team Award for the North Coastal Consortium for Special Education.
Bethany is a valued member of the Beacons team and brings her years of experience to help optimize learning, increase confidence and facilitate social connections.
TYLER HERSHEY
Director of PathFinder Division
Tyler has spent the last decade using his personal and career experiences to support and empower individuals with various disabilities. Tyler served as an assistant coach for the Independent division of the San Diego Miracle League and volunteer for Shooting Stars basketball, founded Project Puzzle (an Autism awareness club) and was awarded the North Coastal Consortium for Special Education "Excellence in Supporting Students with Disabilities."
While pursuing his Psychology degree at San Diego State University, Tyler was an advocate for students with varying disabilities and planned school wide inclusive events as the Program Coordinator for Student Disability Services. While at SDSU, he also founded the Delta Alpha Phi international honor society.
After graduating from SDSU, Tyler relocated to Hawaii to continue his work with neurodiverse individuals in the school setting. After working in the district setting for 2 years, Tyler returned to San Diego to follow his passion and to work as an instructor with Beacons, Inc.
Tyler has been a valued member of the Beacons Pathfinder team since summer of 2020 when he started as an associate instructor for the Beacons summer vocational exploration workshops. He now serves as the Director of PathFinder and as an instructor for our vocational training workshops with a proven record of successfully working with the individuals who Beacon serves. Tyler has developed strong community ties and in Fall 2021, was able to help 100% of our trainees who wanted employment find employment
Tyler's experience, high energy, positive attitude and patience helps optimize each individual's growth during the Beacons vocational workshops. He was recently recognized by the Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce as one of the "40 under 40" emerging leaders for north county (July 2022).
COURTNEY SMITH
Assistant Director & Lead Instructor (PathFinder)
Beginning in high school, Courtney sought out opportunities to meet and serve individuals with various disabilities, volunteering for A Night to Remember Prom and adopting a role as a Peer Mentor in Cathedral Catholic High School's Options Program. Courtney was so inspired by the individuals she had built relationships with in this field that she decided to continue her studies in Applied Psychology and Human Development at Boston College.
While at Boston College, Courtney was a Teacher's Assistant at the Campus School, which serves students aged 3 - 21 with low incidence diagnoses and provides a wide range of personalized educational and therapeutic services. Courtney was placed in a middle school classroom, supporting six students educationally, medically and emotionally. Outside of the classroom, Courtney has volunteered for various organizations such as the Women's Center and the Center for Student Formation to work with a wide variety of people.
Courtney has worked as a Behavioral Support Professional at an Enhanced Behavioral Support Home implementing interventions and skill building activities for women with intellectual and developmental disabilities.Courtney has served as an Associate Instructor and Program Developer, and currently serves as the Assistant Director and lead instructor for the PathFinder program. This past summer she managed the Beacons summer program, which offered 19 workshops over a 6-week period.
ANDI WOOLLEY
Assistant Director & Lead Instructor (Explorer)
Andi joined Beacons from Job Corps and now serves as the Assistant Director of Explorer. Andi contributes not only her compassion for others, but also her prior experience as a Title 1 teacher, Job Corps reading instructor and Title 1 Paraprofessional. Andi has her bachelor's in Interdisciplinary Studies, a UX Design Certificate, and A.A. in Elementary Education.
Andi supports Beacons as a vocational training instructor, and helps design trainee assessments and lesson plans to enhance learning and measure progress of trainees towards their self-determined goals. Andi has taught a wide range of students for the Fremont County School District and will help Beacons continue to improve its options to meet the growing needs of those Beacons serves.
SHAE ALAI
Shae supports Beacons as a Club Beacons facilitator as an associate instructor. Shae has earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from San Diego State University. She continued her coursework, working on a Master of Arts in Experimental Psychology. Shae also has earned a California Teaching Credential in English and became an Education Specialist in 2007. Over the last 20+ years Shae has worked in the education field working as a tutor, a resource specialist and an English and Language Arts teacher. Shae is also a certified yoga instructor. Shae loves being involved as a school club advisor, volunteering in the community (working to support kids in the inner city and the homeless) and enjoys being a part of Sierra Club and trail hiking throughout the world.
ABBI BRINGOLF
Abbi joins Beacons from Dream Catchers EDH, an organization similarly devoted to empowerment of individuals with disabilities, where she served as its social media director and as an assistant instructor. While at Dream Catchers, Abbi helped teach cooking, life skills, fitness training, skills for its theater program and other activities as well as plan for monthly activities.
Prior to Dream Catchers EDH, Abbi served a Kitchen Manager and Barista for Makework Market, and as a homeschool teacher for individuals with learning disabilities for several years.
Abbi supports the Beacons instructional team with her talents in photography, social media, cooking, money management and numerous other areas to help our trainees explore and learn skills to bridge gaps to employment and increase their independence. Abbi brings her love of her older brother, who has a developmental disability, to all those she works with. Beacons welcomes Abbi and her husband to Carlsbad and to Beacons, Inc.!
ROBERT "ROBBIE" DAY, M.Ed.
Robbie grew up in North County and graduated from UC San Diego with a Bachelor's Degree in World Literature and a Masters Degree in Education. He has 5 years of high school teaching experience and returns to San Diego after spending the last year teaching mathematics in the Mojave Desert.
Robbie has spent the last two years teaching for COSMOS, a summer robotics program at UC San Diego, developing self-driving vehicles with high school students interested in careers in science and technology. He has an interest in accessible technology and is active in communities online dedicated to improving “hands free” technology for operating computers by voice.
Robbie comes to Beacons as a lead instructor for Creative Design 1 and Customer Service 1. He is excited about making contacts in the community to find vocational opportunities for his trainees and is looking forward to supporting them in any way he can.
SUNNY GROSECLOSE
Sunny has always had a heart for people of different abilities and wanted that to be the focal point of her life and career. Even though she holds a bachelor's degree in Communication from University of Cal State San Marcos, her heart ultimately led her away from a business platform to something more intimate; working with individuals and their families one-to-one in people’s homes.
Prior to coming to Beacons, Sunny worked for a local company as a Registered Behavioral Therapist and transitioned into a second role as a Parent Trainer, where she worked directly with kids (and teens) who have been diagnosed with Autism, as well as supporting their families through the process within their homes, schools, and their community.
Sunny joined the Beacons team last year first as a trained Independent Facilitator for the Beacons Self Determination division and then as an instructor for the Navigator day program. She now supports the new PathFinder Explorer program using her talents to help trainees of all abilities learn workforce skills to bridge gaps to employment. When Sunny is not at Beacons, she enjoys spending time with her husband, two young sons and their dog!
SANDRA GUADJARDO
Sandra is an Associate Instructor for Beacons and joined Beacons as an accomplished preschool owner, director, and teacher bringing 30 years of experience of early childhood education, staff management, operations planning, and financial management. Sandra has training in ASL, special-needs education, Child Family Community, and Early Childhood Education.
Sandra has spent the last 2 years working with special-needs children and young adults, and she has a life-long passion for this community. Sandra joined Beacons this winter as an instructor in our Explorer program on Tuesdays and Thursdays and helps as needed in both the Pathfinder and Explorer programs.
When Sandra is not working she enjoys surfing, yoga, playing piano, singing, and spending time with her adult children and husband Joe.
EMILY LANDERS
Emily has almost a decade of experience working with individuals with diverse backgrounds and experiences, including caring for a family member with an intellectual disability. Emily has a bachelor's degree in Psychology, with coursework in Learning and Memory, Adolescent Psychology and Early Childhood development, and a background in lesson planning and positive classroom management strategies. Emily's has also served as a coach for the YMCA and the LYCO Champions League, managing players and volunteers with (and without) intellectual and physical disabilities. Emily is also bilingual (Spanish and English).
Emily supports Beacons' trainees as an instructor in creative expression and digital arts, and as a substitute instructor for the PathFinder vocational training program in the Creative Design workshop and other areas. She has also facilitated social relationships and led activities as part of the Club Beacons social division.
CHASSIDY SUTTON
Chassidy supports Beacons as an Associate Instructor in the Pathfinder Division. Prior to Beacons, she worked as a Companion Caregiver with an at home care agency for several years. There she worked with senior clients afflicted with Alzheimer's disease and dementia. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Psychology in Education and Human Development from Northwestern State University. She enjoys spending time with her two adult children and husband of 20 years. In her free time she enjoys hiking, riding bikes and going to the beach.
AJ ROBLEZA
AJ joined the Beacons team early spring 2022 to support our growing PathFinder program, bringing with him experience teaching individuals in need of communication and language development. AJ served as a special education instructor for Together We Grow and Children's Campus, and interned with speech and language therapists to support individuals with developmental delays. He also served for two years as an assistant language teacher to support individuals with a wide range of physical, medical and mental disabilities in Japan before coming to Beacons, Inc.
AJ started in the Beacons Navigator program and after a demonstrated success working in an instructional capacity, joined the PathFinder team to help individuals develop their soft and hard skills to secure employment. He currently teaches creative design, photography and customer service skills.
AJ is an undergraduate from San Francisco State University with a Bachelor's degree in communication disorders and a minor in special education. He is also an accomplished breakdancer, surfer and photographer.
JESSICA ZARAGOZA
Fueled by compassion, happiness, and most importantly kindness, Jessica is driven to inspire the people around her to shine bright and live to their fullest potential! With nearly two decades in the nonprofit sector providing support and resources to diverse communities like our Marines, local San Diego Elementary schools and at-risk youth, she is passionate about making a positive difference in the lives of others. Jessica comes to us with a strong background teaching Mindfulness, Social Emotional Learning, and Life Skills.
Jessica joined Beacons as an Associate Instructor for the Pathfinder Program and now serves as the lead Tailor Day specialist for the Beacons Tailored Day service option, which provides 1:1 support to trainees to help support their self-directed goals in the areas of education, employment, community integration and self-advocacy. When she's not engaged in community outreach and dream development, she loves hiking and exploring the great outdoors, reading, crafting, adding new adventures to her ever growing bucket list, and time spent with her husband, 2 grown sons, and 3 dogs.