Meet The Team
Annie Cox, Executive Director Early Education Programs
Annie Cox is the Executive Director of Early Education Programs for the CHIME Institute. Her dedication is reflected in the successful operation of the Infant & Toddler and Preschool & Kindergarten Programs. Ms. Cox has contributed significantly to the development of the CHIME mission and philosophy, supported development of new programs including the CHIME Charter Elementary School, and mentored newer members of the staff and leadership team. Her professional experience in the field of education extends for the past twenty years. Ms. Cox also has extensive experience working with adults with developmental disabilities. In addition, Ms. Cox provided early intervention services for young children with disabilities at UCLA and acted as an inclusion specialist for preschool children with disabilities in a full inclusion site. Ms. Cox has served as a part-time instructor, master teacher, and fieldwork supervisor for the Department of Special Education at CSUN. She currently trains and supports teachers in the field of Early Childhood Special Education and since 1989 has provided mentoring and supervision for university students at the CSUN.
Jodie Agnew-Navarro, M.A.
Jodie Agnew-Navarro, M.A., is a special education teacher and early intervention specialist for the Toddler and Provisional Eligibility Program. Her academic credentials include a B.A. in Psychology, an M.A. in Early Childhood Special Education, and an Early Childhood Special Education Teaching Credential. With over 25 years of experience, Jodie has worked with both children with disabilities and their typically developing peers. Her teaching background encompasses providing early intervention services to infants and toddlers with developmental delays or disabilities, both in center-based and home-based settings, as well as acting as an inclusion facilitator for preschoolers with disabilities. Additionally, she has taught a graduate-level course in early childhood special education at California State University, Northridge (CSUN), and is actively engaged in the training, mentoring, and supervision of undergraduate and graduate students.
Erika Barnathan, M.A.
Erika Barnathan, M.A. is a special education teacher for the Preschool Program. She holds a B.A. in Child and Adolescent Development and an M.A. in Early Childhood Special Education, and an Early Childhood Special Education Teaching Credential. She has supported preschoolers with disabilities and their families in full inclusion preschool programs for over 30 years and provides training, mentoring and supervision to university students.
J. Sarah Handwerger-Lipman, M.S. OT, OTR/L
J. Sarah Handwerger-Lipman, M.S. OT, OTR/L is our licensed occupational therapist. She graduated with a M.S. degree from California State Dominguez Hills and has provided pediatric occupational therapy in a variety of settings including Therapy in Action where she served children of many ages. Sarah brings great experience and creativity to treatment planning and implementation.
Adria Harrington, M.A. CCC-SLP
Adria Harrington, M.A. CCC-SLP is our speech pathologist. She has a M.A. degree in Communication Disorders from California State University Los Angeles, and has pediatric speech and language experience both in private practice and public settings for the last 12 years including three years at CHIME Charter School. Adria is bilingual (English and Spanish) and offers great expertise in Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) to our team.
Debra Huntsman Lannom, P.T.
Debra Huntsman Lannom, P.T. is the physical therapist for our early intervention and preschool programs. Her educational background includes a B.S. in Health Science and a Certificate in Physical Therapy. She is a licensed physical therapist and has an extensive background in the field of pediatrics. She has provided pediatric physical therapy in private practice for the last 30 years and has worked for the NICU (Neonatal Infant Care Unit) and NICU Follow Up Clinic at Providence Tarzana Medical Center for many years. In addition, Debra worked as part-time faculty at California State University, Northridge, teaching graduate level classes for both the College of Education (Special Education) and the College of Health and Human Development (Physical Therapy).
Olga Quirarte, M.A.
Olga Quirarte, M.A. is the lead special education teacher/early intervention specialist for our Home Visit Program. Her educational background includes a B.A. in Child Development with an option in Child Mental Health, an M.A. in Early Childhood Special Education, and the Early Childhood Special Education Teaching Credential. Olga is fluent in Spanish. She has worked with young children with and without disabilities ages birth to five years for over 20 years. She also worked as a consumer service coordinator at Frank D. Lanterman Regional Center handling a caseload of Spanish speaking families. Olga has taught graduate level classes in early childhood special education and has been involved in the training, mentoring, and supervision of undergraduate and graduate students receiving degrees and teaching credentials from California State University, Northridge.