2026 CASE Conference

Kristen Bordonaro
Assistant Superintendent of Special Services
Cary District 26


Kristen Bordonaro, EdD, has served as a school- and district-level administrator for the past 15 years. She has worked in both private and public school districts, as well as special education collaboratives. Dr. Bordonaro is known for helping teams move beyond compliance to design and deliver meaningful, instructionally driven special education services. She supports educators in connecting grade-level standards to specially designed instruction and measurable, individualized education plans that improve daily practice and student outcomes. Over the past several years, she has partnered with districts to strengthen their understanding of inclusive practices, clarify roles across general and special education, and refine service delivery models to better support students with diverse learning needs. Her passion lies in uniting school teams around a shared belief that “all means all,” ensuring that every student has access to high-quality instruction and meaningful opportunities for independence and growth. Throughout her career, Kristen has served as a classroom teacher, special education teacher, resource teacher, building leader, program manager, and district-level administrator. She has supported students across all grade levels, from early childhood through transition programming. Dr. Bordonaro earned her bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Trinity International University. She holds master’s degrees in special education and educational leadership, as well as an educational specialist degree in educational leadership, from Western Illinois University. She completed her doctorate at Aurora University, where her dissertation focused on the impact of the Endrew F. Supreme Court decision on school districts and students with disabilities.

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