Lori Thomas Hicks has a diverse professional background in education and administration. She has a thirty-year career in education that spans preschool to college. Beginning with her roles in preschool and high school teaching, Lori spent many years as an elementary principal, middle school principal and district level director of special education. Since 2020, she has served as the San Luis Obispo County SELPA Program Coordinator where she provided new special education director mentorship and coaching; support for non-public school placement and monitoring; ERMHS/ERSESS supervision and oversight; professional development for general education and special education teachers, site principal coaching, IEP facilitation, agency outreach, small district monitoring support, and guidance in the support of English learners and foster youth with disabilities.

Lori’s career has included extensive experiences in educational leadership, program development, system change, improvement science, conflict engagement, and staff development. She has supported multiple districts in exiting disproportionality and guided her districts through the process of designing individual education programs (IEPs) that promote educational benefit based on the unique circumstances of each student eligible for special education. She led the implementation of a highly successful Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS) at both the elementary and secondary levels. Additionally, she has supervised multiple professionals, represented the district in legal proceedings, and played a key role in the design of learning environments that support the learning of all students. Her contributions over the years have led to significant improvements in student performance, recognition as a California Distinguished School, the successful development of innovative programs, and establishment of a culture of inclusivity and equitable access.

Lori’s experience encompasses areas such as compliance monitoring, teaching future special educators in the School of Education for Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, managing special projects, writing procedures and implementation guides, conducting root cause analysis, coaching IEP teams through challenging cases, and managing special projects.

Lori holds a Master of Arts Degree in Special Education, a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Liberal Studies, and the following credentials: Multiple Subject, Special Education, Reading Specialist, and Administrative Leadership.