Belinda East holds a Bachelor in Fine Arts, and a master's in Special Education and has been teaching in New Mexico for the last 15 years. Additionally, Belinda has her level 3 Special Education K-12 licensure and a level 3 Admin Licensure. Belinda has been a teacher in K-12th grade classrooms, having started as a D Level Cross Category teacher working with elementary students. Over the last 15 years, she has taught special education math with middle school students, inclusive intervention classes for students in K-12, and has worked with teachers and leadership as an instructional coach, a retention expert, and then as a Director of Special Education. Belinda's purpose in life is to be an honest and kind Educator who creates environments where students, colleagues, friends, and family feel safe to learn and share, to ensure respect as unique individuals who are part of a broader productive community. Belinda is motivated by tight organizations skills, data, and social justice. She further believes that students who are successful are so because of their own hard work, but for some unique children, a team of people is needed to back them up and make sure that the playing field is as accessible for them as for anyone else.