Welcome! I'm Dr. La Toshia Palmer
Dr. La Toshia Palmer is a distinguished and innovative leader with over 20 years of extensive experience dedicated to advancing the well-being of students, families, and school communities across diverse cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds. A visionary professional, she is deeply committed to aligning health services with educational objectives to ensure that all programs are culturally responsive and support the holistic development of every child.
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Dr. Palmer has demonstrated proven expertise in cultivating collaborative organizational cultures that foster the design, implementation, and oversight of student-centered, data-driven, and equity-focused support systems. She excels at building infrastructure that promotes innovation and organizational change, while effectively managing partnerships that advance the professional growth and development of individuals and teams.
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An accomplished author, Dr. Palmer has written several influential works, including 21 Days of Prayer, God’s Purpose for His Praise Dance Ministry, and Successful Strategies for All Educational Leaders and Administrators.
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Dr. Palmer holds a Doctorate in Education and Organizational Leadership and is currently pursuing her second Doctorate in Ministry at George Fox University -Portland Seminary in collaboration with Jakes Divinity School. She also earned a Master of Arts in Educational Leadership and Administration and a Clear (Tier 2) Administrative Credential from Brandman University. Additionally, she holds a Master’s Degree in Social Welfare from the University of California, Berkeley, along with a Pupil Personnel Services Credential issued by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing.
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As a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) registered with the California Board of Behavioral Sciences, Dr. Palmer maintains professional affiliations, including membership in the Association of California School Administrators (ACSA). She currently serves as the Executive Director of Integrated School Health for the Alameda County Office of Education and has previously held the position of DEI Coordinator III for the Pleasanton Unified School District.
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Dr. La Toshia Palmer, Ed.D.​,LCSW
Education
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Organizational Leadership
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T.I.E.
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"Transforming, Impacting & Empowering the lives of children, youth & families."
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EDUCATION
EXPERIENCE
EXPERIENCE
JUNE 2025 - PRESENT
ALAMEDA COUNTY OFFICE OF EDUCATION
Dr. Palmer is currently serving as Executive Director of Coordinated School Health. She was promoted from her prior position as Director II, Principal of Quest Oakland & Emerge Academy from September 2024-June 2025.
JULY 2023 - August 2024
PLEASANTON UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT
Dr. Palmer served as a Coordinator III of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion.
AUGUST 2021 - JUNE 2023
VALLEJO CITY UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT
Dr. Palmer served as a High School Vice Principal, High School Summer School Principal, & Elementary School Principal.
OCTOBER 2018 - July 2021
SAN JUAN UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT
Dr. Palmer provided Social Emotional Learning, Educational Leadership and a deep theoretical knowledge of School Social Work Practice with the emphasis of collaboratively meeting the academic, behavior, mental health and social emotional needs for all students. Dr. Palmer achieved this by building positive and healthy professional relationships with colleagues, administrators, school staff, teachers, students, families, community partners, and vested stakeholders. She provides equity-focused, student-centered and data-driven evidence-based approaches in efforts to foster safe, caring and supportive learning environments, which is needed in order to support the delivery of high-quality instruction and successful student learning outcomes.
APR 2015 - July 2018
MONTEREY COUNTY OFFICE OF EDUCATION
Dr. Palmer was responsible for managing school social work programs across multiple alternative education school sites. She also provided substitute teaching when need, in addition to assessing home, school, personnel, and community factors that may affect a student’s learning, school adjustment, and general well-being. Dr. Palmer also consulted with teachers, administrators, other faculty/staff and parents regarding effective strategies for dealing with problems related to the social, emotional, attendance and academic needs of all students within Alternative Education. Furthermore, Dr. Palmer identified and implemented evidence-based curriculums and interventions for students and families. She served and chaired on various community consortiums and multidisciplinary teams. In addition, Dr. Palmer fostered equitable student support services by utilizing a Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS) in order to foster positive healthy school climates, Positive Youth Development (PYD), and high quality academic instruction.
JUNE 2017 - PRESENT
MAY 2014 - APR2015
MONTEREY COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
NATIVIDAD MEDICAL CENTER
Dr. Palmer provides treatment to adults, children or adolescents with various mental disabilities ranging from serious mental illness to dysfunctional behavior patterns including victims of sexual and physical abuse. In conjunction with the consumer, develop realistic, attainable and measurable service plans and facilitate their attainment, Dr. Palmer evaluate the degree of community functioning or emotional distress of consumers and communicate effectively orally and in writing and able to complete work using electronic format.
SOLANO COUNTY OFFICE OF EDUCATION
Dr. Palmer recruited, screened, and processed intake referrals for intervention services, and provided individual case management services. Dr. Palmer also conducted home visits and meets with parents/caregivers to explain services and obtain consent. This includes explaining to parents and students the policies and regulations that will be enforced.
APR2012 - MAY2014
VALLEJO CITY UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT
Dr. Palmer worked within the Special Education Department. She served within setting of two Special Day Classrooms that provided enhanced support to students with disabilities and mental health needs. She also assisted in implementing IEP's and developed Behavior Support Plans as this involved observing and recording student behaviors to assure the effectiveness of the IEP plan. Dr. Palmer also assisted with the preparation and/or revision of reports and maintained a variety of documentation, including not limited to: charting observed behaviors, behavior support plans, IEP goals, progress reports, incident reports, etc.
EDUCATION
2018-2020
EDUCATIONAL LEADERSHIP & ADMINISTRATION
BRANDMAN UNIVERSITY, PART OF THE CHAPMAN UNIVERSITY
Dr. Palmer earned a second Master's Degree in Educational Leadership & Administration on June 14, 2020. In addition, she completed and passed all 3 phases of the CalAPA assessment and met the requirements of obtaining a Preliminary Administrative Credential. Following CalAPA, Dr. Palmer completed 2 years of Educational Leadership Coaching through ACSA and earned a Clear Administrative Credential.
2015-2018
Ed.D ORGANIZATIONAL LEADERSHIP
BRANDMAN UNIVERSITY, PART OF THE CHAPMAN UNIVERSITY
As a former Doctoral student in Organizational Leadership, Dr. Palmer developed a Transformational Change Project (TCP) that entailed changing the mindset, culture, values and behavior of her department. This involved fostering the equity of student support services throughout all school settings in order to enhance the socio-emotional well-being of all students.
2007-2009
MASTER'S DEGREE, SOCIAL WELFARE
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, BERKELEY
Dr. Palmer participated in a two-year, full-time program within the concentration of Children and Families. Her 2-year internship consisted of Social Work within a Mental Health setting and Social Work Management and Planning. The concentration area that Dr. Palmer participated in was designed to impart the specialized knowledge and skills required for advanced practice in a specific human service system. The MSW program that Dr. Palmer completed at UC Berkeley is fully accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE).
SKILLS
EDUCATIONAL LEADERSHIP & ADMINISTRAION
SOCIAL SERVICES
CASE MANAGEMENT
MENTAL HEALTH
PSYCHOTHERAPY
CHILD WELFARE
TEAM BUILDING
CRISIS INTEREVENTION
PUBLIC SPEAKING
COMMUNITY OUTREACH
