Rick Clemens, M.A.~ Founder and Director, Programs

 

Rick Clemens has been working with individuals with Autism and other developmental disabilities since 1985. He has worked in various settings including schools, after-school and summer programs, homes, work programs and socialization programs that support individuals with disabilities. Throughout his career he has been committed and active in the integration, inclusion and socialization of the individuals he has worked with. He has been a teacher for students with moderate-severe disabilities since 1990 and in 1991 was the first teacher to fully include a student with moderate-severe disabilities in Ventura County. While teaching, Rick developed a close relationship with Camarillo State Hospital and was a pioneer in including children with autism from the State Hospital into general education classrooms.

Rick became known in Ventura County as an expert in the field of Inclusion, Behavior and Socialization and was asked to consult with varying districts on successful inclusion and behavioral practices. Rick also served as a Behavior Specialist and an Inclusion Specialist for several districts. During this period Rick was an invited speaker to many conferences and trainings throughout California. Eventually Rick became a full time consultant with a need to hire additional staff. Hence IECP was formed. Currently, along with overseeing IECP and its many programs, speaking at conferences and universities and consulting with School Districts and Regional Centers on systems change, Rick continues to work directly with children, teachers and families in addressing challenging behaviors and making inclusion successful for all involved. Rick’s graduate work includes a Masters Degree in Special Education, Moderate, Severe and Multiple Disabilities, a California Multiple Subject Teaching credential, and a California Special Education Moderate/Severe Authorization Credential.

Rick’s Master’s Thesis included an intensive hand’s on training on inclusive practices targeted at general education teachers. His Bachelor’s thesis from Antioch College in Ohio researched the effects on the family of having a child with a disability and created a model early intervention program which focused on the whole family. Rick’s focus of study revolved around the ecological model and the match between the child and the environment. This focus of study carried over to his work with children with autism and inclusion. Today Rick continues to learn and apply innovative ways of making the match between child and the environment successful.

 

Bernard J. Korenstein, Ed.D. ~ Director, Administration

 

Dr. Korenstein has served as the Director of Administration at IECP since 2004. Dr. Korenstein has provided in-service in special education, and oversees many of the personnel functions at IECP. In this role Dr. Korenstein works with staff on service and compliance issues and staff relations with schools and parents. Dr Korenstein has held a wide variety of positions including teacher, principal, Special Education Director, Superintendent and Executive Director of the Ventura County Special Education Local Plan Area. In addition Dr. Korenstein is a lecturer in special Education at California State Channel Islands and has been an instructor at CSUN and California Lutheran University. Dr. Korenstein has been  a member and leader in numerous State organizations such as the Association of California Administrators and Tri-Counties Education Coalition. Dr. Korenstein has provided consultation to numerous school districts in the area of inclusion and has served on numerous committees and task forces dealing with issues in education.

 

Cathy Carpenter, M.A., BCBA ~ Director, Community Services

 

Cathy began her work with children and adults with developmental disabilities in 1979.  In 1982, she taught school aged children in a K-12 school in Cripple Creek, Colorado where all children with disabilities were included in general education classrooms during the entire school day.  Upon coming to California in 1987, Cathy took a position at a private school and ensured that children were properly included in grade level classes.  In 1989, Cathy was a special day class teacher for Los Angeles Unified School District in grades 4-6.  In 1992, Cathy became a resource specialist for the Simi Valley Unified School District where she worked for 15 years as a special day class teacher, inclusion specialist, behavior specialist, and autism program coordinator.  Cathy has experience working with children with disabilities ages 3-22 in school settings.

Cathy has been a part-time lecturer at CSUN since 2000, where she teaches behavior analysis, methods courses and inclusion of students with disabilities in general education programs.  Cathy has also presented at various state and national special education conferences and served as president of the California Federation of the Council for Exceptional Children and the California Division for Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Exceptional Learners.  Cathy has been invited to speak to audiences in Russia, Belgium, and China about inclusive education and services for children with autism and emotional disturbance.  Most recently, Cathy was invited to travel to Egypt as a member of a delegation from the United States to discuss education of children with behavioral disorders and emotional disturbance.  Cathy has written several research articles and has published two books about parent collaboration.  The International Biographical Congress named Cathy International Educator of the Year in 2005.  In 2006, the American Biographical Congress named her Woman of the Year.

Cathy became a Board Certified Behavior Analyst in 2008.  Since then she has consulted with school districts to create autism programs and improve services for students with emotional disturbance. Her role as a consultant is also to increase opportunities for these students in inclusive settings.  Moreover, Cathy supervises BCBA and BCABA interns as part of their requirements for obtaining their certification.  Finally, Cathy works very closely with the program supervisors to ensure quality services are being provided through our Regional Center Programs.

 

Dennis Carter,  M.A. ~ Director, Business Services

 

Mr. Carter has served as the Director Business Services at IECP since 2008.  In this capacity he directs all aspects of business services. Mr. Carter negotiates and oversees contracts with School Districts, Regional Centers and outside vendors. Mr. Carter oversees company billing, risk management and the employee benefits program. In addition he works with staff on contract implementation. Mr. Carter was a Special Education Director and Coordinator in three districts over a 25 year period.  Previous to school administration Mr. Carter held positions as a middle school teacher, counselor and psychologist.  As Special Education Director, Mr. Carter started an inclusion program and a program for students with autism. He has served on numerous committees addressing program needs and special education finance and has been part of several state projects on exemplary practices. Mr. Carter has provided consultant services to several school districts for the purpose of reviewing their special education programs for compliance and efficiency. He has provided in-services to administrators on  IEP compliance and implementation, program reviews, financial efficiency and Office for Civil rights procedures and compliance.