Tasneem M. Lokhandwala, Assistant Coordinator of Special Services for the Medina City Schools, has been named Director of Pupil Services for the Shaker Heights Schools, effective July 20. In this position she will direct the planning, delivery, assessment and ongoing improvement of the District’s pupil services program.
In her current position in Medina, Lokhandwala coordinates special education programming, implementing all state and federal special education mandates. She is co-director of the district’s preschool program, coordinates the autism scholarship and assessments program, and oversees the early entrance to kindergarten and English Language Learner (ELL) programs.
Prior to her position with the Medina schools, Lokhandwala served as supervisor of special education and response to intervention (RTI) coordinator for the Strongsville City Schools, where she supervised and trained staff to support students with special education needs. She also wrote and managed a $70,000 Third Grade Reading Guarantee early literacy grant.
Her other previous experience includes serving as manager of psychological services and school psychologist for the Cleveland Municipal School District. She has also been an adjunct faculty member at Cleveland State University, Notre Dame College, and Kent State University, teaching graduate courses in psychology and special education.
She began her career teaching elementary and high school students in India. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Meera Girls College, Mohanlal Sukhadia University in India, and a master’s degree and Ph.D. in psychology from University of Rajasthan and Mohanlal Sukhadia University, respectively. She completed her post-doctoral specialization in school psychology at the University of Iowa.
“Dr. Lokhandwala’s extensive background and experience in special education will further bolster the strong support system in place for Shaker families whose students have special needs,” said Dr. Gregory C. Hutchings, Jr., Superintendent of Schools. “I know we will benefit tremendously from her knowledge and leadership in this area.”