Bret Lieberman, M.Ed., ES: Mild/Mod, CAS — Executive Director/Program Instructor

Bret Lieberman brings to YIC over 20+ years of experience as a mild/moderate special education teacher specializing in supporting young adults on the autism spectrum. He holds a Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction from California State University, Bakersfield, and a Bachelor of Arts in Communications from California State University, Northridge. Lieberman is a Certified Autism Specialist through the International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards (IBCCES) and a certified New World of Work Instructor. This curriculum was developed under the **Doing What MATTERS for Jobs and the Economy** framework of the California Community Colleges system—the largest higher education system in the nation, comprising 72 districts and 115 colleges serving over 2.1 million students annually.

Throughout his career, Lieberman has earned significant recognition for his contributions to education and community service. He received Golden Valley High School's inaugural Teacher of the Year award in 2005 and was named one of Santa Clarita's 51 most influential people by the Santa Clarita Signal in 2010. In 2014, the Magazine of Santa Clarita honored him as one of their "40 Under 40" for his impact on the Santa Clarita community. He was also distinguished as one of Canyon High School's Most Influential Teachers. Lieberman also sits on the board of The Santa Clarita Valley Mayor's Committee for Employment of Individuals with Disabilities, which has the mission to educate employers on the benefits and social responsibility of employing individuals with disabilities while reducing barriers to employment.

Beyond his work in education, Lieberman has spent over two decades producing musical events throughout the greater Los Angeles area and Santa Clarita Valley. He is the executive producer and creator of the Summer Meltdown Arts and Music Festival—the world's only festival where young adults with disabilities collaborate with entertainment industry professionals to produce a concert event. From 2004 to 2016, Lieberman produced Summer Meltdown, and in 2023, he expanded upon this vision by launching the Good Karma Music & Arts Festival. This new venture continues Summer Meltdown's legacy while offering even greater professional employment opportunities to adults with disabilities.