Special Education Solutions Team

Dario Avila serves as a senior consultant for the TASB Special Education Solutions. Avila’s primary task is to make School Health and Related Services (SHARS) easier for TASB members. He regularly meets with districts across the state to update members on SHARS policy changes, address billing concerns, share best practices, and connect members with SHARS resources and services available from TASB. Prior to joining TASB in 2019, he oversaw the day-to-day operations of the SHARS and Medicaid Administrative Claiming (MAC) programs for the Texas Health and Human Services Commission.  

Avila is a University of Texas graduate. He is a past president and former member of the board of directors of the National Alliance for Medicaid in Education. 

Tricia Gray serves as a senior consultant for the TASB Special Education Solutions team.   

Prior to joining TASB in 2019, she worked with a public school district in the Houston area for 15 years providing campus and administrative support. Her experience in finance, special education, and SHARS allows her the opportunity to continue providing exceptional support to districts in cost reporting, policy and procedures, training, and systems. Gray is dedicated to public school districts and the success of their SHARS programs. 

Karlyn Keller serves as division director of Student Solutions and Special Education Solutions, where she leads a team of educational professionals in serving school districts’ special populations programs.

Keller has more than 30 years in education, beginning as a substitute teacher in 1992. During her time in education, she has served as teacher, school counselor, educational diagnostician, campus administrator, director of various special populations programs, and assistant superintendent. She joined TASB in 2015.

Keller is a graduate of East Texas State University, where she received a bachelor’s degree in education with a concentration in special education and psychology and has a bachelor’s degree in cross-cultural communication from Southwest Assemblies of God University. She earned a master’s degrees in special education and in counseling from Texas A&M University – Commerce, and master’s degrees in educational administration and in gifted and talented from the University of North Texas. She also earned a doctorate in education from the University of North Texas.

Laurie Woodel serves as a senior consultant for TASB Special Education Solutions. 

Woodel’s years of experience in SHARS and Medicaid program policy, SHARS program analysis, and cost reporting help ensure districts have the most up-to-date and relevant information and processes in place. She provides SHARS and Medicaid training throughout the state and at professional conferences. Her outgoing personality and sincere care for the districts she works with allow her to build and maintain positive relationships and user experiences with all levels of district personnel.   

Woodel has been a member of the TASB Special Education Solutions team since 2000. She joined TASB in 1997. She is a graduate of Louisiana State University with a bachelor’s in finance.