Special Education
| Barbara Almquist, Occupational Therapist Barbara has thirty years of experience working with children. She has previously worked in San Diego, Sydney, San Francisco (Children’s Hospital) and for the past twenty years in Marin County. She is currently the therapist for Brookside Lower and Upper campuses. Both of her children (who are now attending Drake High School) attended Brookside Schools. In her free time, she takes her son scuba diving and her daughter horseback riding. |
 Grace Canton, School CounselorGrace received her undergraduate degree in Psychology from Old Dominican University. In 2000, she received her Masters in Counseling Psychology from Dominican University. Grace has worked for the past 10 years with children in various school settings. This is the fourth year the Ross Valley School District has contracted her services through Bay Area Community Resources. She is at Brookside Upper Campus on Mondays and Wednesdays and at Brookside Lower on Tuesdays and Thursdays. |
 Linda Huber, Resource Specialist AideLinda Huber has taught in special education since 1989 and has been working at Brookside since 2002 in the Resource Program. She is a graduate of the City University of New York where she participated in research studies in education. After moving to Marin County, she received her teaching credential at San Francisco State University. For many years she participated in special education programs during the summer at various private schools in Marin. Another area of exploration in teaching has been combining visual arts with student’s classroom goals. Her involvement in private tutoring has continued to help students since 1981. |
 Pam McMurphy, Resource SpecialistGiving children with learning differences the same pleasure as children who excel, and helping them find the tools to succeed, are two reasons why Pam McMurphy is a Special Education teacher. She received her general education teaching credential from Dominican College. After years in the classroom (preschool through eighth grade), the desire to work more closely with students who struggled drove her to get her second credential. She earned her Special Education credential from Sonoma State, and has been teaching in the Resource Specialist Program for the past seven years, at Wade Thomas, Manor and Brookside schools. This vocation gives her more opportunities for planting the joy of learning. She works closely with classroom teachers to help her students and others become more successful in the school curriculum. She provides parents with advice and information about their children’s needs. She wants school to be a “wonder-full,” safe, fun place to be, for all students. |
 Kim Roth, Learning Center Teacher |
 Laurel Yrun, School NurseLaurel Yrun is in her 10th year as a school nurse and is very excited to work in the Ross Valley community. She looks forward to meeting the families and children. Prior to school nursing Laurel worked as a labor and delivery nurse for 11 years. She has both a BSN and BA in General Studies from the University of Arizona (go CATS!). She has lived in Marin County for 20+ years. Laurel enjoys traveling the world and was born and raised in the Philippines. She also loves to work in her garden, cook and stays active running, spinning and practicing yoga. Laurel lives in San Rafael with her husband and has 2 children, a chocolate lab and a cat. |
