Florene Bednersh, PhD, MEd

Retired Executive Director, volunteer
Children and Family Resource Services

Conference Co-chair / Network Team Liaison

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Dr. Bednersh holds an M.Ed. in Education and Reading from the University of CA at Los Angeles and an M.A. and PhD. in Special Education from the University of CA at Santa Barbara. She has worked in education for over 45 years as a special education teacher, administrator, university researcher and teacher trainer.  She retired from her position as Assistant Superintendent, Special Education, Santa Barbara County Education Office (SBCEO) in 2010, and served as Executive Director / Administrator of Children and Family Resources Services (CFRS) at SBCEO until her recent retirement in January of 2021. In that role, she oversaw the Early Childhood & Family Wellness Coalition, the CSEFEL Leadership Team, Welcome Every Baby Family Connects, Health Linkages, Children’s Oral Health Initiative, and the SB County Coalition in Support of Promotores. She continues to serve on the board of CFRS and volunteers as Co-director of Bridges to Resilience, and as a member of the First 5 Santa Barbara Help Me Grow Advisory Committee and Home Visitation Planning Grant.  She is a Certified Trainer for the CSEFEL Teaching Pyramid and the Community Resiliency Model (CRM).