PATHS TO INDEPENDENCE - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Co - Founder
- Member of the Board
- President of the Board
Executive Director and Co-Founder, Cl air Bartley, started teaching students with special needs 21 years ago in Norman, OK. She later moved with her family and taught for both the Owasso and Bartlesville public school districts. She received her Bachelor's degree in special education from the University of Oklahoma in 1989, and her Master's degree in special education, with an emphasis in autism, from the University of Oklahoma in 1995. Clair is certified by the state of Oklahoma to teach students ages 3 to 21 with mild/moderate disabilities, multiple disabilities, and autism as well as middle school math and English. Clair obtained National Board Certification in 2002 in the area of Early Childhood through Young Adulthood/Exceptional Needs Specialist. Clair's teaching experience includes teaching students with mild/moderate disabilities as well as students with severe disabilities at both the elementary and secondary levels. Clair has received numerous awards including Owasso's Teacher of the Year in 2002. She has been awarded numerous classroom grants from the Norman, Owasso, and Bartlesville school foundations. In addition, Clair has presented at the state level for the OKC/Tulsa Chapters for Autistic Citizens, Oklahoma Federation of the Council for Exceptional Children, and the University Affiliated Program Autism Registry.
Board President and Co-Founder, Jean Jensen, is the parent of 5 children, autism support group leader, and parent and advocate for her son Kieffer, diagnosed at age 2 with Autism Spectrum Disorder. She has always had a passion for changing the way the world views Autism. The more knowledge she can share, one person at a time, the better off her son and many others will be. Jean was eager to start this school program because the need is great to redefine how we teach our children on the spectrum. She believes kids with ASD are very smart individuals that can learn when they are taught by those that understand Autism and have a Passion for teaching. The journey is long but she is dedicated to working hard to provide knowledge, support, and hard work to give kids on the spectrum the fighting chance they deserve.