Meet Our Team

Rhonda Levenda is a dedicated School Psychologist and owner of Educational Contracting LLC, a corporation designed to provide special education staff to K-12 school sites and increase the number of available educators through strategic recruitment practices. She holds her National Certified School Psychologist credential, with over 12 years experience working in the public school setting. Prior to school psychology, Rhonda worked within the legal field supporting business and finance attorneys at Snell & Wilmer LLP. Her experience and knowledge in both education and legal fields has provided invaluable support to Arizona districts.

Currently, Educational Contracting is meeting educational needs across the state including Maricopa, Pinal and Gila counties. In addition, the company has supported two school districts through successful completion of the ADE audit and corrective action process and welcome assisting additional school districts in this area.

Dawn has over 20 years experience supporting school psychologists with compliance, calendaring, data collection, research, and report write-up needs. In addition, she has been instrumental with researching unique situations related to DCS vs. tribal guardianship rights and knowing when surrogate parents are needed. Dawn's ability to balance the varying work demands, often within short timelines, while managing staffing needs for school districts and providing support to existing contractors is unmatched in this field.

Before joining Educational Contracting, Dawn worked as a special education clerk within Arizona's largest school district for many years, providing administrative support to school psychologists, as well as training and mentorship of new clerks. Her work experience, flexibility and genuine compassion for students and families is the cornerstone that supports the company's ability to meet educational needs across the state.

Smalls joined Educational Contracting in late 2015, with aspirations of working in Reading Therapy. He earned his Bachelor of Obedience (BO) in 2016 and remarkably achieved his Master of Obedience (MO) later that same year. However, in early 2017, Smalls decided to pause his postgraduate studies to embark on a journey of self-discovery. As Smalls himself reflected, "At some point, everything I had known came into focus. Ultimately, I realized that my occupational goals were not my own, but were those of my adoptive mom."

With the encouragement of his family, Smalls transitioned to athletic pursuits and soon became renowned as "Top Dog" in both tug and keep-away. His exceptional athleticism and newfound confidence attracted a substantial following on Instagram. Despite the fame, Smalls grew weary of the celebrity lifestyle and the demands it entailed.

In 2022, Smalls retired to focus on spending quality time with his family, enjoying life both at home and on road trips across the United States in his motor home.

After a courageous battle with cancer, Smalls the Bully passed away in 2024. In recognition of his significant contributions and unwavering presence, Smalls has been posthumously honored with the title of CEO, Educational Contracting LLC.

Sarah Delgado is an accomplished educator and school psychologist with extensive experience in special education evaluations, IEP best practices and overall compliance.  She provides training, coaching, and individualized support related to IEP and Multidisciplinary Evaluation facilitation, development, and writing.  Sarah is known for her meticulous review, audit, and feedback on IEP and evaluation compliance, guiding case managers and evaluators to meet stringent standards. Most notably, she has successfully led district teams through ADE Cycle Year 4 On-Site Monitoring. 

Sarah has played a pivotal role in interviewing candidates for various positions within the Student Service Department, including teachers, psychologists, and paraprofessionals.  Additionally, Sarah has trained administrators and front office staff on Child Find Procedures, ADE state guidelines and managed the administration of IEP-Pro Software.  Sarah has considerable knowledge and experience providing social-emotional learning (SEL) including small group work with students using Skill Streaming curriculum as well as being trained in the Boystown program to support the district's cross-categorical behavior initiatives.

Jacibe Lopez is a highly skilled and dedicated Certified School Psychologist with extensive experience supporting students' academic, behavioral, and emotional development. Holding a School Psychology Specialist Degree, she has worked in various roles, including as a School Psychologist at Liberty Elementary and Isaac School Districts. Jacibe is proficient in conducting psychoeducational assessments, facilitating IEP meetings, and collaborating with teachers, parents, and administrators to implement effective interventions. Fluent in both English and Spanish, she ensures clear communication with diverse families and advocates for the educational needs of students. Her expertise spans across social-emotional learning, behavior management, and specialized assessments, contributing to the success and well-being of her students.

Zyra Castro is a dedicated Special Education teacher known for her thorough approach to tracking and analyzing student progress using IEP-Pro and Excel, focusing on behavioral, social-emotional, and academic data. She creates tailored strategies to meet the diverse needs of students in self-contained settings, designing curriculum that’s engaging, modified, including long-term monthly lessons. Zyra has extensive experience instructing students with various disabilities, including ADHD, Autism, Oppositional Defiant Disorders, and other behavioral challenges. She maintains accurate and complete records in compliance with school district regulations and legal requirements, ensuring that students with special needs can access the general education curriculum within inclusive settings. Through collaboration with stakeholders, Zyra consistently plans, aligns, and integrates curricula to meet each student's needs and objectives. By evaluating student progress, she prepares effective instructional materials and lesson plans, utilizing appropriate data collection methods to deliver instruction that leverages students' strengths and addresses their specific needs.

Jennifer Foster (“Jen”) is a seasoned Special Education teacher with 15 years of experience teaching exceptional students. She has experience as a Special Education department chair and team lead, demonstrating strong leadership and case management skills. Jen has worked with students of various needs including, intellectual, emotional, autism spectrum disorder, traumatic brain injury, specific learning disabilities, and other health impairments. Most recently, she has taught math and English Language Arts for grades 9-12 in resource inclusion settings. Jen demonstrates a strong commitment to providing inclusive and comprehensive education to students of all ages and abilities.

Shari Beardslee is a dedicated Special Education teacher with extensive experience in various educational roles. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Education of the Hearing Impaired from Eastern Michigan University and a Master of Arts in Learning and Behavior Disorders from Saginaw Valley State University. Shari holds a Standard Special Education LD, K-12, with Early Childhood and Structured English Immersion Endorsements. She currently serves as a Teacher Consultant, supporting quality instructional support for special educators. Previously, Shari was a Program Supervisor for the Educator Preparation Program at Rio Salado College and has experience as a Preschool and K-5 Resource Teacher. With a strong commitment to special education and a broad range of teaching experience, Shari is able to foster inclusive and supportive learning environments for all students.

Dr. Cynthia Sandner is an experienced educator and leader in Special Education, with over 20 years of dedicated service to students with disabilities. Holding an Ed.D. in Educational Leadership, she has a strong track record of designing and implementing specialized programs that support student success. Dr. Sandner has held leadership roles in both district and school-level settings, including serving as the Director of Special Education at Inclusion Revolution and Special Education Program Manager at Arizona Autism Charter School. Her expertise includes program assessment, professional development, and compliance with IDEA regulations. Through her work, Dr. Sandner has mentored educators, developed intervention programs, and created inclusive learning environments that empower students and staff alike.

Melanie Bailey is a dedicated special education professional with over 33 years of experience in teaching, IEP development, and inclusive education. She holds dual certification in Elementary and Special Education and has worked in various roles, including as a Specific Learning Disabilities Specialist, Inclusion Consultant, and IEP Writer. Melanie is skilled in designing adaptive teaching methods, mentoring educators, and implementing effective instructional strategies. Her expertise extends to developing and managing IEPs across all grade levels, fostering strong collaboration with students, parents, and school staff. Melanie’s commitment to improving student learning outcomes and supporting educational communities has made her a valued contributor to every institution she has worked with.