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About Karen Sarafian

Dr. Karen Sarafian is committed to innovation for continuous learning, growth, and positive change.  As Director of Innovation and Impact for the non-profit she co-founded, her consulting work emphasizes support and development of the many dimensions of wellness in each child, family, school, district, and community.  Karen was an award-winning educator in the Elk Grove Unified School District where she last served as an Instructional Coach.  She also worked as an Educational Consultant for Collaborative Learning Solutions where she coached, consulted, and collaborated with schools and districts to create and sustain systems change. She serves as Program Lead for the MA Concentration in Learning, Innovation, and Design.  Karen’s approach to teaching and learning is based on a WITH mindset.  By working alongside students to envision possibilities, her goal is to inspire each towards personal and professional growth. 

Positions

2022 - Present Program Lead and Assistant Professor of Practice, University of the Pacific ‐ Benerd College
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2016 - Present Director of Education, The Sarafian Foundation
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2021 - 2022 Instructional Coach, PreK-6, Elk Grove Unified School District
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2021 - 2022 Visiting Assistant Professor, University of the Pacific ‐ Benerd College
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2019 - 2021 Educational Consultant, Collaborative Learning Solutions
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2002 - 2019 Educator, Foulks Ranch Elementary Grades 1 and 2, Elk Grove Unified School District
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2000 - 2002 Regional Director, California State University Sacramento, California Reading and Literature Project
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1996 - 2002 Educator, Kindergarten, Galt Joint Union Elementary School District
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1999 - 2000 Regional Co-Director, California State University Sacramento, California Reading and Literature Project
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1995 - 1996 Educator, Greenbrook Elementary Kindergarten, San Ramon Unified School District
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1992 - 1995 Educator, Assumption Elementary Grade 3, Diocese of Oakland
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Curriculum Vitae

Disciplines

Research Interests

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Professional Service and Affiliations

2018 - 2022 Equity Advocate, Elk Grove Unified School District
2019 - 2021 Co-founder, Elk Grove Wellness Collaborative
2015 - 2019 Leader, Foulks Ranch Guiding Coalition and Assessment Teams
2015 - 2018 Volunteer, Loaves and Fishes, Sacramento
2018 President, Benerd Graduate Student Association
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Honors and Awards

  • University of the Pacific, Benerd College Doctoral Innovation in Research and Practice Award 2021
  • University of the Pacific, Benerd College and Office of Financial Aid Dr. Agnes Soutar Robinson Endowed Scholarship 2019
  • International Organization of Social Sciences and Behavior Research Best of Paper Award, Fall Conference 2018
  • Elk Grove Unified School District Teacher of the Year 2015
  • Sacramento Area Reading Association Lighthouse for Literacy Award 1999

Education

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2020 Ph.D., Organizational and Educational Leadership, University of the Pacific ‐ Benerd College
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1999 Certificate, AB 1086 Reading Instructional Professional Development Provider, California Department of Education and State Board of Education
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1995 M.A., Curriculum and Instruction, California State University, East Bay
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1995 Certificate, Multiple Subjects Teaching Credential; Cross-cultural Language Acquisition Development (CLAD); Children’s Literature, California State University, East Bay
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1988 B.S., Physical Education, University of California, Davis
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Links

Contact Information

Sacramento campus
Phone Number 209.946.2687

Email:

Articles (1)

Dissertation (1)

Presentations (3)