Her Story
About Tami
Tamalee Fein is a retired educator with 35 years in the field of special education who has been called back by the Sacramento City Unified School District to serve as a program specialist due to the ongoing need for credentialed special education teachers. She earned her bachelor's degree from Buffalo State in 1976 after attending community college for two years due to illness, followed by a master's degree in special education in 1982. Fein also holds degrees in general education and administration. Her work centers on conducting Individualized Education Plans (IEPs) across district sites, both in person and remotely, with a focus on learning disabilities and emotionally disturbed students. She attributes her success to understanding special education laws, serving as a voice for children, and ensuring they receive necessary support and education. Fein values open and honest communication in meetings, ensuring parents feel heard, and fostering partnerships that lead to win-win outcomes for students. She advises aspiring educators to pursue rigorous training focused on disabilities and effective strategies, noting that Buffalo State provided excellent preparation in these areas. Among current challenges in the field, she highlights the need for clearer understanding of special education rights and laws, including the depletion of protections under relevant federal statutes.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Tami
01What do you attribute your success to?
Just basically understanding what the laws are, and being the voice for the child, and making sure that that child gets the education and the support it needs. Because the IEP will end up saying what the child needs, and then making sure that the child is successful.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
I haven't really thought about that. Just the love for the child, and making sure they're successful.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
They need to go through a proper education. Right now, a lot of the programs and stuff have been watered down, and I don't think that the universities really focus like they used to on the needs and understanding the different disabilities. Understanding how to, the effectiveness of the different strategies. Teachers are not trained properly on how to handle students with disabilities. And just to focus on those areas. My school, Buffalo State, was one of the best.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
A clear understanding of special education and the needs, what's going on in Department of Education. The depletion of our 94142 rights for special education has been a major problem. They just don't understand it. Parents being notified and understanding what their rights are, as well as the schools themselves and what their rights are. The laws haven't changed yet, everything around us here has.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Just to be open and honest. When I go to meetings, you want the parents to be heard. A lot of parents are just terrified, they just want their child to do well, and to be clear in explaining what's going on, what's happening in the classroom, what that disability is, what the impact is. And then helping the teacher with that too, but in giving them confidence and understanding of how to teach that child. You gotta be there to listen. And know that you're there. You want it as a win-win situation. It's a partnership.
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