Juan Portley

Juan Portley has worked as the Transition Coordinator for the Eastern Navajo Agency with the Bureau of Indian Education for 3 years which oversees transition program development for 14 different schools. Mr. Portleys duties include developing policy/procedures, transition forms, training on New Mexico State and federal legislation and curriculum development in transition for special education staff, along with monitoring and accountability of school allocation of services for students with disabilities. Prior to working in transition for the agency, he taught students in the resource setting for grades 6 th-12 th on the Navajo Reservation for two years after receiving a masters degree from Pennsylvania State University in special education. Juan Portley, currently finishing his doctorate degree in special education from the University of Oklahoma, has worked primarily with schools serving Native American students in New Mexico. Over the past two years he has explored his research interests that consist of the academic engagement of Native American students, teacher perceptions, secondary transition program development, and special education teacher training.