Sonia Gonzales brings more than 30 years of experience in education, with a deep commitment to inclusive, student-centered learning. Her career has spanned classroom teaching, program leadership, and school administration across multiple states. In 2013, Sonia founded AZ Aspire Academy to provide highly personalized, one-to-one education and therapeutic support. She remains a passionate advocate for exceptional learners and believes every child deserves to feel supported, capable, and seen.

Jennifer Jones-Rohde has dedicated more than 20 years to serving and empowering students with exceptionalities and the families who support them. Throughout her career, she has served in a variety of roles—from direct care to educational leadership—always guided by the belief that every student deserves to feel valued, supported, and capable of success. As Chief Academic Officer at Assist Enterprises and a member of the AZ Aspire Academy family since 2015, Jennifer has helped foster a school community in which students, families, and staff are encouraged to thrive together. She holds degrees in Special Education, Curriculum and Instruction, and is currently completing her doctorate in Educational Leadership with a focus on Community and Educational Partnerships.

David Jefferson is a dedicated leader guided by a clear mission: always do what is right for kids. As Chief Operations Officer for Assist Enterprises, he oversees AZ Aspire Academy, Ascent Academy, and The Future Now Services, bringing deep insight into the needs of students with disabilities. His expertise is shaped by both professional experience and his personal journey as a parent of children with exceptionalities. Having spent years navigating education, behavioral health, and developmental disability systems, David uses his knowledge to ensure every student receives the support they need to reach their full potential.

Monique serves as Director of Administrative Services, she oversees the Billing, Registrar, and Admissions departments, ensuring smooth and efficient operations across the school. With more than 10 years of experience in education administration, she also serves on the Outreach Team, where she enjoys building meaningful connections with families and the community. She is passionate about guiding families with clarity and care, helping them feel confident and supported throughout their educational journey.

Brianna Grondin is a student-centered special education leader with more than 20 years of experience supporting children and young adults with diverse needs. Over the years, Brianna has grown from directly serving students and families to leading and mentoring the professionals who support them. As Regional Special Education and Academic Director, Brianna brings extensive experience in special education programming, IEP development and compliance, staff development, instructional leadership, and building strong systems that promote student success. Brianna is passionate about developing confident, collaborative teams and creating educational environments where both students and staff feel supported, valued, and empowered to thrive.

With 13 years of experience in the behavioral and educational field, Misael Rivas provides district-wide leadership for behavioral systems, staff training, and campus operations across multiple sites as the Director of Behavioral Integrity and Campus Operations. Misael oversees behavioral integrity through coaching, data-driven decision-making, and Jirah training, while coordinating facility maintenance, vendor partnerships, safety compliance, and emergency preparedness to ensure safe, effective, and well-managed learning environments. Throughout his 13 years in the field, he has developed a strong passion for supporting students, empowering staff, and creating environments where everyone has the opportunity to succeed. His goal is to build strong relationships, support our staff, and help every campus provide the best possible environment for students to learn, grow, and succeed.

Del Vigil serves as Special Education Compliance Officer. She brings 25 years of experience in education, with a background spanning physical education, reading intervention, special education, and athletic coaching. Originally from Colorado, she has served in a variety of instructional and leadership roles throughout her career. Since moving to Arizona nearly seven years ago, she has been dedicated to supporting AZ Aspire students and helping each learner reach their full potential.

RoxAnne Williford is a Licensed Professional Counselor in Arizona with more than 30 years of experience serving children, adolescents, adults, and families in clinical, educational, and behavioral health settings. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and Criminal Justice from Minnesota State University Moorhead and a Master of Counseling from the University of Phoenix. Throughout her career, RoxAnne has worked in residential treatment centers, psychiatric hospitals, schools, and private practice, supporting individuals with diverse social, emotional, behavioral, and educational needs.

Nicole Kurth serves as Campus Director at AZ Aspire Academy’s Tempe Campus, where she leads a collaborative team focused on individualized, student-centered learning. With more than 17 years of experience in education, she brings a strong background in special education and school administration. Nicole is passionate about helping students discover their strengths, supporting educators, and fostering a school culture grounded in high expectations, compassion, and continuous growth.

Ashley Ellis serves as our Gilbert (formerly Queen Creek) Campus Director at AZ Aspire Academy, bringing more than 16 years of experience in education and special education. Ashley received her BA in Education from Arizona State and her MA in Special Education from Grand Canyon University. Ashley’s passion for special education is deeply personal, inspired by her younger brother with autism. She is committed to creating supportive, student-centered learning environments where every child is empowered to reach their full potential.

Khaled Berklin serves as Interim Campus Director at our Scottsdale Location. His experience in special education has given me the opportunity to work closely with students with a wide range of academic, behavioral, and social emotional needs. Throughout his career, he has served in both teaching and leadership roles, supporting students through individualized instruction, behavior interventions, IEP implementation, and collaboration with families and school teams. One of the things he values most is building genuine relationships with students, understanding their individual needs, and ensuring they have the support and structure necessary to succeed both inside and outside the classroom. He believes some of the greatest impact we can have in education comes from being consistent, being present, and making sure students know they have someone who genuinely supports and believes in them.

Angel Ramirez serves as Interim Campus Director at our Litchfield Park AZ Aspire Campus. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Biology with a minor in Spanish from California State University, Dominguez Hills. In August 2020, Angel relocated to Arizona and joined AZ Aspire. Alongside my work in education, I earned a Master of Science in Clinical Nutrition from Sonoran University of Health Sciences in 2022 to broaden my expertise in healthcare and wellness. Over his time with AZ Aspire, he has progressed through several key leadership roles—including Classroom Teacher, Lead Teacher, Behavior Specialist, and Special Education Coordinator—and currently serves as Campus Director. As a native Spanish speaker who benefited from specialized educational services during my schooling, he remains deeply committed to advocating for students facing academic challenges and providing them with the support they need.