From our Master's Level, Certified staff members to our Specialized Instructors, we pride ourselves in professionalism and expertise. To assure we remain at the cutting edge of research and development in our targeted areas, our entire staff is committed to continuing education and training.

It thrills me to see how we have taken the Vision and Mission of our company and turned it into a respectable, organized, passion-and-purpose driven organization. Whether I am working with a student, training a group of teachers, or challenged by file compliance, I remain passionate and excited. My educational background is appropriately balanced, with a BA in Business Management/Marketing and a MA in Special Education. Still it is the everyday experiences with students, teachers, staff, and parents that continue to truly mold me.

My goal as an educator is to help students achieve their potential. My name is Jon Belkis and I have a Bachelors degree in Sociology and a Masters degree in Special Education. Although I am proud of my previous education, I am even prouder of the learning I receive on a daily basis working with students. As I learn about each students individual needs a new goal arrives; to find a way to fulfill that need. It is wonderful to be involved in that process.

Many people would say they pursued their career; I would say my career pursued me. My four children have given me a lot of experience; two with ADHD, one is bi-polar, the youngest, though not identified, is displaying behaviors I find strangely familiar to what I experienced with his older siblings. I am currently completing my BA in special education with a minor in psychology and look forward to pursuing MA in educational psychology. I have been teaching for seven years and have been with STEPs the past four years. I am deeply committed to serving the exceptional students. There is nothing like seeing the look in a student’s eyes when they gain a new understanding of a concept which had been unknowable before. Each day is a new challenge discovering new and creative ways to support our students understanding while reinforcing the foundational concepts they will continue to build upon for years to come.

My name is Rachel Devereaux and I have worked with STEPs for 6 years. My educational background includes Associates in Business, a Bachelors Degree in Psychology, and a Masters Degree in Education accompanied by Teacher Certification in Arizona. Educating children is one of my greatest passions and I feel fortunate to be involved in shaping the minds of tomorrow.

I began my association with STEPs (Serving the Exceptional Population) August, 2006. This affiliation has provided me the opportunity to work with great staff, students and parents at a Montessori school. I have since taken a Montessori class through South Mountain Community College which has helped me to integrate my training with the Montessori practices. My position (between 1992-2006) for Mesa Public Schools was as a specific learning disabilities teacher. The last three years in Mesa, I was also the department chair for my school. My degrees are a Bachelors in Psychology, Masters in Elementary Education and a CAGS (certificate of advanced graduate studies) in Curriculum and Administration from Boston College. Teacher certification is in the fields of Specific Learning Disabilities, Emotional Disabilities, Reading, and ESL.

My name is Jennifer Starkey.  I have an Associates of Arts in Elementary Education from Chandler-Gilbert Community College.  I am currently working towards a double-bachelors degree in elementary education and special education from Northern Arizona University.  Over the past 3 years, I have worked with many children that have multiple disabilities, including autistic preschoolers and learning disabled students. Every day is an exciting day for me because I not only teach my students, but I learn from them as well. 

My name is Lisa Lowman and I am in my second year with STEPs.  I have been working in the educational field for almost fifteen years.  Starting out in special education, I worked with first, second, and third grade special needs students.  In 1995 my family and I moved to Tennessee where I spent some time with the Head Start Program. I was then hired to teach in a local special needs preschool.  It was also in Tennessee where I was able to devote time to "Very Special Arts" and "Special Olympics". Upon returning to Arizona I began teaching regular education in second and third grade for the next seven years at a large charter school in Peoria.  I also worked as a lead teacher and curriculum coordinator. After having several special needs children placed in my classroom over the years I knew that my true calling was special education. I want to dedicate my career to teaching these special children who are eager to learn and have a unique "never give up" attitude.  It is through STEPS that I have been able to fulfill my desire and gain precious experience in working with exceptional children.  In the short time I have been with STEPs I feel I have touch the lives of many children and they have touched my life as well.

My name is Tracy Repovsch. I am currently going to school to get my Associates Degree to be a SLPA (Speech Language Pathologist Assistant). I have been working with STEPs for 2 years. I feel that I am one of the luckiest people to get to do what I do. I enjoy working with these kids and I love having part in their success.

I am graduating from Arizona State University in May 2008, magna cum laude with a B.S. in Speech and Hearing Sciences.  Through my degree I have focused on research in the Pediatric Amplification Laboratory and plan to continue doing research throughout my post-baccalaureate education.  I have previously worked for The Foundation for Blind Children for four years and have been a member of the STEPs team since 2007.  It has been such a privilege to be a part of a group of individuals who all share the same passions and work ethic.  The positive environment among the staff allows for the open exchange of teaching techniques, making each of us more qualified and well rounded. I love being challenged by my students to be innovative, compassionate, and constructive.  They have taught me that the only universal language is a positive attitude and for this, I will always be grateful.