Special Education

 

SPED Teacher: Dianne Cochran

 

Mrs. Dianne Cochran grew up in Mississippi and is a graduate of Oklahoma State University. She has been a teacher in Fort Worth for 22 years. When not teaching, she loves spending time with her husband, family, and  friends.  Mrs. Cochran loves teaching and believes that all children deserve to have the best education possible

Speech: Elizabeth Surita-Khuat

Elizabeth is a proud FWISD graduate who went on to receive her undergraduate degree from Texas Christian University, and her master's degree from the University of Houston.  She has worked for 15 years as a bilingual SLP with pediatric populations. Elizabeth loves traveling, cheering on her Horned Frogs, and spending time with her husband and their two dachshunds.   

LSSP: Dr. Nekedria Clark

My name is Nekedria Clark and I have been the Licensed Specialist in School Psychology at Cesar Chavez for 12 years.  I was born and raised in Tulsa, Oklahoma but moved away to attend college at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee.  I received my BS degree in Psychology from Vandy, then I moved to New York City to attend graduate school at Pace University.  I received both a Master's in Education and a Doctorate in Clinical-School Child Psychology at Pace.  I have lived in Texas for the past 19 years and have 2 daughters who are native Texans.

Dyslexia: Melinda Vargas

Hello! My name is Mrs. Vargas. I bring with me 18 years of teaching experience, and I am passionate about helping students grow and succeed. I am a bilingual certified teacher and a Structured Literacy Interventionist, now entering my 10th year in this specialized role.

Throughout my career, I’ve had the privilege of working with diverse learners, and I believe every child has the potential to thrive when given the right tools and support. My goal is simple yet powerful: to make a difference in every child’s life. I strive to create a nurturing, inclusive, and engaging learning environment where students feel confident and empowered.

I look forward to a wonderful year filled with growth, learning, and success!

Dyslexia: Rebecca Gutierrez

My name is Rebecca Gutierrez and this will be my 20^th year as an educator.  I am a Dyslexia Teacher and I absolutely love my job. I am married and have three beautiful grown children. I love to travel, listen to music, cook, attend cultural events and spend time with my wonderful family and friends.  I have traveled to twenty-three countries and have lived in Germany.  I was born in Chicago, Illinois.  I have two dogs, a Rottweiler and a husky.  I also have two parakeets.  I look forward to a wonderful year of learning! 

SPED Teacher: Catherine Adkinson

My name is Catherine Adkinson.  This will be my fourth year at Cesar Chavez Elementary. I have lived in Fort Worth my entire life and attend the University of North Texas in Denton. This will be my 24st year teaching in Fort Worth ISD. I have taught Kindergarten, 1st grade and Special Education. I am married to my high school sweetheart Keith, and we have a dog named Tyson. In my spare time I love to travel and spend time with my family

Diagnostician: Kimberly Cochran

My name is Kimberly Cochran. I have been working with children in education for 18 years. I I have really enjoyed learning how to better serve my students. I love working with children and watching them learn and grow. I have been married for 24 years and have 3 wonderful boys who keep me busy. In my spare time I enjoy being outdoors with my family camping and off-roading.

Lydia Tello: Sped Teacher

My name is Lydia Tello. I was born and raised in the Diamond Hill area and graduated from Diamond Hill-Jarvis High School. I went on to study Interdisciplinary Studies with a focus on Math and Science at The University of Texas at Arlington.

I have ten years of educational experience within FWISD, all at the middle school level, and I am now blessed to be here at Cesar Chavez!

Some of my favorite activities include spending quality time with my husband and our two sons. I especially love creating new memories and experiencing life through the eyes of my four-year-old and two-year-old.