Debra Herburger is a Senior Program Associate with WestEd’s Special Education Policy and Practice team, focusing on providing technical assistance and support as a special education training specialist.
Herburger is a teacher at heart and is passionate about her work in providing classroom teachers with the knowledge, tools, and coaching to continuously improve teaching and learning for each and every student. Herburger’s experience as a general education teacher, co-teacher, special education instructional coach, and professional development provider informs her work providing professional learning for teachers with a focus on inclusive practices for students with disabilities. She was the coordinator for a strong Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) program for 11 years, co-taught for many years with special education teachers, and designed her instruction based on the principles of Universal Design for Learning (UDL).
Herburger is an expert at designing and delivering professional development and coaching support for teachers and administrators that connects research and evidence-based practices to classroom application. Her commitment to supporting teachers and working to change our educational systems to be inclusive of all learners stems from her personal experience as a classroom teacher who strived to make learning accessible for every student, every day, in every classroom.