Our Leadership Team
We are a team of professional educators, and advocates for disability justice who stand for the equal inclusion of intellectually disabled people in community life
Michael A. Pereira (Executive Director)
Michael A. Pereira has been working in the field of Special Education and Disability Services for nearly 20 years. Mike received his undergraduate degree in Secondary Education and English at Boston College, and entered into the field starting as a Special Education Teacher, then Educational Coordinator for a Non-Public School in Massachusetts. There he earned Board Certification as an Associate (then Assistant) Behavior Analyst and provided service within educational settings- non-public, public school districts, and assisted in the formation of another non- public school specializing in serving students then identified or diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome. Mike also continued pursuit of clinical work serving Early Intervention and School Age children on the Autism Spectrum for a Non-Public Agency offering direct ABA service, consultation, and parent training. In 2007, Mike returned to California to grow another Non- Public School, and to acquire a Masters of Education degree in Educational Leadership. In 2009, Mike moved to the Bay Area to serve as Clinical Director of an organization, overseeing clinical and programmatic service delivery to students and participants being served in an Adult Behavioral Day Program, three Adult Residential Facilities, a Supported Living Program, and a Non- Public School. Mike has been the Executive Director of Ala Costa Centers, since November 2015. He does not currently hold Board Certification in Behavior Analysis, though he is eligible to sit for the BCBA exam. He is passionate about providing service to the IDD community and opening avenues to support equality, access, opportunity, and advocacy.
Tanya Coffield (Program Director - Adult Programs)
Tanya Coffield is the Designer and Director of Ala Costa’s Adult Transition and Adult Community Training Programs. She identifies as Neurodivergent; She is a grassroots researcher and educator, as well as advocate for disability rights.
Kelly Copeland (Program Director - Berkeley After School)
Kimarie Robin (Program Supervisor - Alameda After School)
Brittany Bryant (Program Supervisor - Adult Programs)
LaTae’ J. Willis, MA Ed. (Senior Administrative Specialist)
Tiffany Oaks (Program Administrator)
Naomi Propper, (Director of Special Projects)
Naomi Propper is a passionate professional with nearly a decade of experience in disability service provision. Naomi's expertise lies in enhancing the quality of services for people with disabilities and delivering comprehensive training to emerging professionals in the field. Her work is rooted in disability justice and promoting the equal inclusion of disabled individuals in community life.
Ala Costa's Board Members
Elizabeth Kowal (Board of Directors - President)
Elizabeth Sharada Kowal has had the privilege of working with students from Pre-school through Adult Transition, beginning in the 70’s (!) as a Montessori teacher, and moving on to teach both general and special education programs in the public schools. She received her teaching credentials and Masters in Special Education at St. Mary’s College and has taught in Albany, Richmond and finally, Alameda, where she spent over 20 years working: first as a high school Resource Specialist, then as a Program Specialist in the District Office, where she had the opportunity to work closely with all of the Special Education programs in Alameda until retiring in 2017. Elizabeth sees herself as a student and family advocate with a special focus on educational equity, and possesses a passion for program and curriculum development. She continues to support both new and experienced teachers and is currently mentoring interns and student teachers in the Special Education Credential Program at St. Mary’s College. Elizabeth lives in Berkeley with her husband Constantine, a custom furniture and cabinet maker.
Helen Chan (Board of Directors - Treasurer)
Helen Chan, MBA, MPH, MA is currently a doctoral candidate of clinical psychology at The Wright Institute in Berkeley. Her clinical focus is on children and families impacted by developmental disabilities, utilizing an evidenced-based, relational, strengths-based and neurodiversity approach. Helen’s clinical approach is also informed by her experience as a parent and advocate of a child with developmental differences. Prior to clinical psychology, Helen has over 10 years of experience in management consulting, marketing, and product management across multiple industries with a particular focus in biopharma and medical devices. Helen received her bachelor’s degree from MIT and her MBA and MPH degrees from UC Berkeley and currently resides in Alameda.
Sarah A. Taylor (Board of Directors - Treasurer)
Sarah Taylor, MSW, PhD is an Associate Professor of Social Work at California State University, East Bay. Her research focuses on promoting well-being, building collaboration, and reducing inequities across human service systems. She explores these themes in a variety of contexts, including higher education, mental health, disability, and LGBTQ+ communities. Sarah’s experiences as a parent of a child with a disability have informed her work, particularly as related to advocacy, access, and inclusion. For more information and recent publications, see her faculty profile at: https://www.csueastbay.edu/directory/profiles/sw/taylorsarah.html
Ron Wilson (Board of Directors - Member)
Ron Wilson is the CEO of Omni Insurance Agency in Pacifica, California and a former instructor in insurance fundamentals. He has been serving on the Board of Directors for Ala Costa Centers for 10 years, and is a past member of the Pacifica Chamber of Commerce Board. Ron honorably served in the United States Marine Corps/R and is blessed with 3 daughters, 6 grand-children, and 2 great grand-children. Along with being a master and instructor in the Martial Art of Kung Fu San Soo, Ron is an avid photographer- collecting, preparing, and photographing insects all over the world in conjunction with the California Academy of Sciences and the University of Florida on a volunteer basis. Ron has educational degrees in Criminology, Geography/ Geology and Insurance Counseling. He resides in Pacifica, California.
Holly Singh (Board of Directors - Secretary)
Alameda Unified Special Educator - Moderate/ Severe Special Day Class
Brad Tomkowiak (Board of Directors - Member)
Brad is an Information Technology Professional in the Bay Area.
Photography by Jamie Meronk and Ala Costa Centers