Cynthia Austin
Resource Director
Ms. Austin’s dynamic contributions as a leader in special education have positively impacted the college and career readiness outcomes of students with disabilities throughout the State of California for more than 20 years.
A Los Angeles native who completed undergraduate and graduate studies at the University of Southern California and Pepperdine University respectively, Ms. Austin was called to the field of special education early in her history as a general education teacher.
Ms. Austin joined New West Charter School as the Resource Director in 2023 with a wealth of special education expertise, stemming from her rich experiences as a classroom instructor, teacher leader on special assignment, and district office administrator roles in Los Angeles County school districts.
Additionally, Ms. Austin’s successful parent and business community partnerships have made her a sought after leader in the area of post-secondary transition services for students with disabilities, who has collaborated with outstanding educators across California on program and policy initiatives including: California Department of Education special education workgroups in Sacramento; the WorkAbility I Grant and model transition program; The California Department of Developmental Services’ Local Partnership Agreements; The United States Department of Education’s PROMISE Grant longitudinal study on best practices for students with disabilities; and a long-standing engagement with The California Transition Alliance.
Her unwavering commitment to the achievement of neurodiverse young people, along with her proven leadership in the area of specialized academic instruction, school program development, and community engagement make New West Charter School a learning environment where students of all abilities succeed.