Phone: (626) 815-5425
Fax: (626) 815-5416
Email: nthorsos@apu.edu
Nilsa Thorsos, Ph.D.
Chair, Department of Special Education, Associate Professor of Education
School of Education
Profile
Nilsa J. Thorsos currently serves as chair of the Department of Special Education. She came to APU from Azusa Unified School District, where she was a special education teacher consultant for the district’s teachers and administrators. As an adjunct for Azusa Pacific University in the Teacher Education Program for several years, she taught special education and cultural linguistic and diversity requirement courses. Her experience in special education includes teaching all grade levels, including pre-school and professional development. She also serves as a consultant for nonpublic schools in areas of professional development for teachers serving diverse or disabled students. She specializes in language acquisition, Bilingual Special Education, the SST process, and Individuals with Disabilities Educational Act and its implementation.
Thorsos’ tenure encompasses an extensive multicultural background and experience as a classroom teacher in public schools throughout New Mexico, Northern California, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. In New Mexico, she coordinated the bilingual program for the special education students and developed a model for inclusion. In Sunnyvale, California, she implemented a Montessori Inclusion program and was designated the master teacher for the San Jose State University Teacher Education Program. In addition to her interest in foreign languages, she is fluent in Spanish and holds a BCLAD.
Her areas of academic interest include sociocultural linguistic studies, teacher education, professional development, minority overrepresentation in special education, and Montessori philosophy.
Thorsos’ tenure encompasses an extensive multicultural background and experience as a classroom teacher in public schools throughout New Mexico, Northern California, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. In New Mexico, she coordinated the bilingual program for the special education students and developed a model for inclusion. In Sunnyvale, California, she implemented a Montessori Inclusion program and was designated the master teacher for the San Jose State University Teacher Education Program. In addition to her interest in foreign languages, she is fluent in Spanish and holds a BCLAD.
Her areas of academic interest include sociocultural linguistic studies, teacher education, professional development, minority overrepresentation in special education, and Montessori philosophy.
Education
Ph.D. - University of New Mexico, 2005
M.S. - Fordham University, 1984
B.A. - University of Puerto Rico, 1980
Credentials/Certifications
Mild to Moderate Special Education Credential (California and New Mexico)
Multi-Subject Teaching Credential (New Mexico)
Early Childhood teaching credential (New Mexico)
Montessori Advance Teaching Certificate AMA
M.S. - Fordham University, 1984
B.A. - University of Puerto Rico, 1980
Credentials/Certifications
Mild to Moderate Special Education Credential (California and New Mexico)
Multi-Subject Teaching Credential (New Mexico)
Early Childhood teaching credential (New Mexico)
Montessori Advance Teaching Certificate AMA
Professional/Scholarly Presentations
Presentations
Seeing with new eyes-The roles of academic study, faith, and practical application in teacher education. Nancy Brashear, Ph.D., Gil Reeder, Ph.D., Ivy Yee-Sakamoto, Ph.D. and Nilsa J. Thorsos, Ph.D., 2005. Coalition of Christian Teacher Educators Conference (CCTC) May 25-27, 2006 in Virginia Beach, VA.
Pedagogy of the heart: a self study of doctoral students. Dr Diana Vazquez Torres & Dr. Nilsa J. Thorsos. AERA in Montréal, Canada 2005.
Impact of the partnership between school districts and universities: The role of an advisory board. Dr. Nilsa J. Thorsos, Dr. Ivy Yee-Sacamoto, Dr. Chinaka DomNwachuwu, & Dr. Nancy Brashear. Proposal has been accepted for the Hawaii conference on Education January 6, 2006.
Hillside Non -Public School, Pasadena, November, 2004. Woodcock Johnson Academic achievement training: How to score and interpret the results.
Accreditation Systems: A hidden blessing: Can one assessment system meets the requirements of three separate accrediting bodies? Dr. Nilsa J. Thorsos, Ph. D., Dr Ann Test, Ed.D. and Dr Ivy Yee Sakamoto, Ph. D. Western Association of Schools and Colleges. April 19, 2007 in San Jose California.
Seeing with new eyes-The roles of academic study, faith, and practical application in teacher education. Nancy Brashear, Ph.D., Gil Reeder, Ph.D., Ivy Yee-Sakamoto, Ph.D. and Nilsa J. Thorsos, Ph.D., 2005. Coalition of Christian Teacher Educators Conference (CCTC) May 25-27, 2006 in Virginia Beach, VA.
Pedagogy of the heart: a self study of doctoral students. Dr Diana Vazquez Torres & Dr. Nilsa J. Thorsos. AERA in Montréal, Canada 2005.
Impact of the partnership between school districts and universities: The role of an advisory board. Dr. Nilsa J. Thorsos, Dr. Ivy Yee-Sacamoto, Dr. Chinaka DomNwachuwu, & Dr. Nancy Brashear. Proposal has been accepted for the Hawaii conference on Education January 6, 2006.
Hillside Non -Public School, Pasadena, November, 2004. Woodcock Johnson Academic achievement training: How to score and interpret the results.
Accreditation Systems: A hidden blessing: Can one assessment system meets the requirements of three separate accrediting bodies? Dr. Nilsa J. Thorsos, Ph. D., Dr Ann Test, Ed.D. and Dr Ivy Yee Sakamoto, Ph. D. Western Association of Schools and Colleges. April 19, 2007 in San Jose California.
Professional Involvement and Accomplishments
The Teacher’s Choice Award: Azusa Unified School District, 2004
Expertise
IDEA Law
Special Education
Studies in Diversity
Courses Taught
Teaching and Cultural Diversity (EDUC 504)
Introduction to Individual Differences (SPED 530)
Tests, Measurements, and Instructional Planning (SPED 531)
Counseling, Collaboration, and Consultation (SPED 535)
Theories and Interventions in Behavior Disorders (SPED 537)
Mild to Moderate Disabilities in General Education (SPED 540)
Introduction to Individual Differences (SPED 530)
Tests, Measurements, and Instructional Planning (SPED 531)
Counseling, Collaboration, and Consultation (SPED 535)
Theories and Interventions in Behavior Disorders (SPED 537)
Mild to Moderate Disabilities in General Education (SPED 540)
Note: This information is current for the 2008-09 academic year. For additional information, please contact the appropriate office.
