Sage Mendez-McLeish

An experienced teacher and school administrator, Sage (he/they) has an extensive background in special education instruction and advocacy, LGBTQ student success, classroom behavior management, curriculum development, and instructional coaching. As a queer, trans and neurodivergent person, Sage brings a positive, compassionate and nuanced approach to meeting the needs of students and stakeholders with intersecting and often marginalized identities. Sage’s affinity for flexible and responsive structures, his eye for pattern recognition and his emotional intelligence allows him to lead teams towards stabilizing programs, increasing engagement and retention of both staff and students. They are passionate about creating sustainable student-centered programs focused on Universal Design for Learning and full inclusion models.

Sage received a Bachelor’s degree in Humanities from Northwestern College and a Master’s in Special Education from Cal State Dominguez Hills. He is currently working on his EdD in educational leadership with a focus on Neurodiverse Leaders. Additionally, Sage is a part-time faculty member at Alder Graduate School of Education in the area Special Education and Classroom Behavioral Management. Previously, they served as the Assistant Principal of Da Vinci Connect TK-8, Principal Learning Specialist at Geffen Academy at UCLA, Co-Director of Special Education at California Collegiate Charter School, as well as part-time faculty member at Pasadena City College teaching Special Education, Child Development and Parent Education, and at Cal State Dominguez Hills teaching General Education and Special Education topics in the Graduate Division of Education.

When away from Da Vinci, Sage can be found listening to Whitney Houston and George Harrison on repeat while screen printing textiles in his garage.