Ginger Huizar

Ginger is a native Oregonian and Special Education teacher with nearly 10 years of classroom experience. Her interest in this work began early. Ginger has a brother with an Intellectual Disability and began volunteering as a peer tutor in his classroom while in high school.

While attending Portland State University, Ginger worked as a middle school social worker while completing her M.S.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction. Her early career focused on developing culturally responsive curriculum and implementing social-emotional learning programs in middle schools across Portland in collaboration with school counselors. Through this work, Ginger discovered a passion for being in the classroom and working directly with students.

As a mother of a neurodiverse child, Ginger later chose to return to school to complete a second Master’s degree in Special Education with teacher licensure, focusing on supporting students from Pre-K through age 21.

Ginger has now worked as a Special Education teacher for nearly a decade, teaching students from kindergarten through high school. She has also worked as a tutor for the past four years. In her free time, Ginger serves on multiple boards that advise teachers and policymakers in Special Education. She is a mom of three and enjoys hiking and camping during the warmer months.

Qualifications:

• B.S. in Social Sciences — Portland State University
• M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction — Portland State University
• M.Ed. in Special Education with Teacher Licensure — Portland State University