Shani Sambrano, M.Ed., M.S.

Shani Sambrano, M.Ed., M.S. is an Autism Teacher, Data Scientist, ABA Software Developer, and education leader with more than 30 years of experience serving students, families, schools, and communities.

She holds a Master of Education in Special Education and a Master of Science in Data Science, along with a California Education Specialist Teaching Credential in Moderate/Severe Disabilities. She is currently pursuing an MBA and continuing graduate study in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) with the goal of completing the academic and supervised training required to pursue Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) certification.

Throughout her education career, Shani has served as a special education teacher, autism teacher, RSP teacher, reading interventionist, behavior interventionist, Director of Special Education, and Vice Principal. She has extensive experience supporting students with autism, intellectual disabilities, communication needs, ADHD, emotional and behavioral needs, and other learning differences.

Her professional interests now bring together special education, autism instruction, ABA, artificial intelligence, data science, and software development. She is developing technology designed to make special education data collection and progress monitoring easier for teachers and support teams, including SPED DataSteps, an upcoming platform for tracking IEP goals, academic progress, behavior, and other student data.

As Teacher Shani, she creates engaging educational content for students with autism and related disabilities while also sharing practical ideas, tools, and resources for the teachers and families who support them. Her approach combines age-respectful instruction, visual learning, communication supports, positive behavior strategies, data-informed decision-making, and technology.

Shani is also the Co-Founder of Jawbone Hill Theatre, a nonprofit organization that expands access to after-school Visual and Performing Arts experiences for charter school students, with an emphasis on creating inclusive opportunities for students with autism and related disabilities.

Her current work reflects a single mission: using education, technology, data, and creativity to help students with disabilities build skills, confidence, communication, and greater independence.

Learn more about SPED DataSteps and join the early-access list [Website Coming Soon].