After 33 years serving public schools and 12 years running her own practice, Ms. Cesario is transitioning into a well-deserved retirement at the close of 2026. As of July 31, 2026, Ms. Cesario has sold her practice to the Harbottle Law Group. To facilitate the transition of her clients, Ms. Cesario has taken an Of Counsel role with HLG.
Over the course of her career, Ms. Cesario has specialized in the representation of school districts, charter schools, SELPAs and county offices of education in special education and student matters. Her extensive background in special education includes litigation in state and federal courts, and representation in administrative proceedings. She regularly supported her clients at IEP meetings, mediations, and due process hearings.
Ms. Cesario has also frequently been invited to conduct trainings on a variety of special education and student topics for statewide education associations, school districts and charter schools. She contributed to Jerome M. Sattler’s Assessment of Children: Cognitive Applications, Fourth Edition. She served as editor of The Special Ed Administrator’s Personal Trainer for Strengthening Leadership, Relationship and Management Skills, by Carol A. Bartz, Ed.D.
In her Of Counsel role, Ms. Cesario is available to facilitate a warm handoff or her existing clients, and may also perform legal work on an as-needed basis.
Education
- California Western School of Law, San Diego, JD, magna cum laude
- San Diego State University, B.A. Public Administration
Bar Admissions
- State Bar of California
- United States Court of Appeal for the Ninth Circuit
- United States District Court, Central and Southern Districts of California
