Team of Consultants.
Founder
Jerry Brodsky
Jerry is lead consultant and founder of American Educational Consultants, as well as a recently retired attorney-at-law. Having spent 35 years in the public schools and retiring from the superintendency of a highly rated school district, he currently provides consultative services to: individual parents regarding student-school issues; school districts looking to improve instruction, save taxpayer dollars, improve special education services, or communicate more effectively with families and community.
Chief Executive Manager
Faith Brodsky Racusin
Faith is a Speech-Language Pathologist with experience at all levels of the K-12 system. She also has served as Vice President of Zenacon, LLC which created MyGallons and FunLoom. Faith's love for working in education along with her business skills provide her with the ability to manage the day-to-day operations and understand the nature of educational consulting. She became C.E.M. of American Educational Consultants in 2016.
Expert Consultants
Dr. Michael Barnes
During his thirty years as an educator, Mike has been a paraprofessional, a classroom teacher, assistant principal, small-school principal, athletic director, coordinator of at-risk programming, director of human resources, assistant superintendent and superintendent. He is currently the superintendent of a high-performing school district near Cleveland, Ohio. Mike holds a masters degree in Educational Administration from Cleveland State University and earned his Ed.D. in Leadership and Organizational Development at Nova Southeastern University. Mike is a fellow at the Center for Educational Leadership at Cleveland State University and has presented at multiple national conferences including AASA and EdLeader21. He enjoys being a mentor to several educational leaders and serves as an adjunct professor at Ursuline College, Cleveland State and John Carroll University.
Edward Bernetich
Ed currently teaches at Cleveland State University and works for the Ohio Department of Education, providing consultation to help the most struggling schools in Northern Ohio, having been a teacher, curriculum director and administrator in highly respected public schools in Ohio. He has done extensive work with Blue Ribbon Schools both as a principal of a twice-awarded school, as a member of the U.S. Dept. of Ed. National Review Panel, and as a site visitor and evaluator for both the government's program and the current independent Blue Ribbon Lighthouse School program. In addition his school was named a National School of Distinction for Technology Excellence during his tenure as principal. Ed most recently has been asked to lead the school assessment team for the International Blue Ribbon Schools of Excellence.
Amy Brodsky
Amy has over 16 years of experience as a teacher, curriculum coordinator and school-based administrator in both urban and suburban settings. Her experience spans from elementary through secondary levels and includes being a founding administrator of a new public high school in Cleveland, Ohio. Amy has also spent the last ten years coordinating the International Baccalaureate Programme in several schools, successfully leading multiple schools through the program's authorization. She specializes in curriculum development, instructional coaching, and assessment design. Amy is on the Board of the Ohio IB Association, is a certified member of the IB Educator Network (IBEN), and has presented several times at IB Global Conferences, Battelle for Kids conferences, and at the Minority Student Achievement Network Institute.
Susie Budine
Susie has over 30 years in education with a vast range of experiences in both in- and out-of-district settings, working with a wide variety of student needs. This has included programming and supports for students with emotional and behavioral needs, learning disabilities, hearing impairments, autism, communication impairments and more. She has won awards for her vocational and transition programming and was nominated for the Special Services Director of the Year award. Susie began as an elementary and middle school special education teacher and has spent the last 24 years serving in various roles as a special education administrator. She is currently serving as the Director of Pupil Personnel Services with the Madison School District in New Jersey where she directly oversees and supports the Department of Special Services as well as serving as the McKinney Vento Homeless Liaison and other related areas of support. In addition, Susie brings a strong knowledge base in the areas of Federal and New Jersey special education law, compliance, specialized programming and instruction and related professional development to her district, providing guidance and mentoring in these areas to staff and administration. She also works closely with her team in areas related to diversity, equity and inclusion to ensure access and equity for students throughout the district.
Dr. Gary Burgess
Gary has an impressive history as a turnaround specialist in suburban, middle class schools, rural schools, schools with rural-mill-village backgrounds and urban schools. He holds a doctorate degree from the University of South Carolina and is a retired superintendent, adjunct professor, workshop facilitator, author, elected official and motivational speaker. Gary served on the Transition Assessment Team for South Carolina's current State Superintendent of Education, the Honorable Mick Zais. He is the principle researcher for The Burgess Research Action Group, LLC, and serves on the Board of Directors for Blue Ribbon Schools of Excellence, Inc. Among other honors and appointments, Gary has been the Secondary Principal of the Year for the State of South Carolina and was named a Milken National Educator. He is highlighted in the HOPE (Harnessing Optimism and Potential through Education) Foundation video series entitled, Failure is not an Option. Gary was recognized by his alma mater, Wofford College, as the school's Distinguished Young Alumnus, the first African-American to receive the award. He brings a wealth and diverse set of experiences to our consulting team.
Jacqueline Casey
Jacqueline "Jackie" Casey works in New Hampshire as a Special Education Teacher and Case Manager at the high school level. Her past experience includes working in a self-contained Special Education classroom with students who have a multitude of cognitive, physical and social challenges. In this position, she helped develop a life skill curriculum and realistic post-high school life plans. Currently, Jackie works in a large, public high school serving a wide-range of students as they navigate their way through high school and prepare for college or post-high school employment. She is well versed in competency-based education, especially as it applies to students with special needs. Known as a special education advocate, Jackie has extensive experience with both Special Olympics and Unified sports. She has her Masters degree in Leadership and Administration as well as a General Special Education Certification and is certified in the Orton Gillingham Reading program. Jackie recently completed coursework needed for an endorsement specializing in Emotional Disabilities.
Pat Ciccantelli
Pat has a variety of experiences in his 40 years in education. He currently works for the South Carolina Department of Education providing support to districts in the areas of Curriculum & Instruction, Strategic Planning, Accreditation support and Special Education. He has over 25 years of administrative experience, working in two of the most respected districts in Ohio. Pat has extensive experience in the areas of Curriculum and Instruction, and Special Education Services. He holds two master's degrees: Exercise Physiology and Educational Administration. Pat has been an integral part of the administrative teams in two districts that have seen their students achieve in the top 1% of the state and the nation. He values a collaborative approach to school improvement which has paid great dividends in all settings.
Paul DeAngelo
Over his 20 years of experience working in education, Paul has been the Business Administrator, Board Secretary, CFO, CEO, and Director of Technology in both the financial and educational sector. He earned his Masters in Finance at LaSalle University in Pennsylvania. A significant amount of his background was spent in the School Business Board offices. Paul is a qualified purchasing agent (QPA), school finance and operations (SFO), and has worked on multiple school renovations, new school construction, technology, facilities, food service, policy, and grant writing. Prior to entering education, Paul worked in Distribution and Treasury Management with Pennsylvania and New Jersey financial institutions, and with one of the largest healthcare providers. He has served on several Accounting, Funding Formula, and Legislative Committees for ASBO in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. He teaches as an adjunct professor, serves on various Boards, and is a mentor for educational leaders.
Didi Deitcher
Didi has more than 25 years experience working directly with children and their families. After 15 years as a social worker on IEP teams she joined the administration team in a high-performing district. As a leader, she is a true believer in teamwork and collaboration. In 2015 Didi was awarded the Educational Services of the Year Award and was recognized for her professionalism and expertise within her field. Her applied fieldwork enables her a unique perspective for academic and professional settings, collaboratively working with integrated teams on the application of behavioral modification for both students and educators; creating, implementing and monitoring actionable work plans to encourage optimal outcomes. Her strong clinical background coupled with her knowledge of special education allow for a personalized, evidence-based approach to behavioral counseling. Didi is a leader in person-centered engagement solutions and population health and a frequent lecturer on parenting and child development.
Gillian Dillard
Gillian currently works as a special education elementary school teacher in New Jersey and, for 20 years, has enjoyed the reputation of ensuring excellence in all learners. Gillian holds a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from Baylor University and Master’s degree in Special Education from Pennsylvania State University and is experienced in teaching future educators at the community college level. Gillian’s expertise in executive function and intervention strategies has been presented at several workshops. At her district’s Professional Development Academy, she is an annual presenter of several workshops including “Strategies to Improve Executive Function” and “Improving Comprehension in Struggling Readers”. She has also presented workshops at the NJ International Dyslexia Association’s Winter Institute. Gillian holds Orton-Gillingham certification from the Institute of Multisensory Education. She is well-known as an intervention specialist who is well versed in the effective implementation of accommodations and modifications to ensure success of students with different abilities.
Dr. Cindy Elsberry
Dr. Cindy Elsberry works with school districts across the country conducting academic program reviews, special education audits, and promoting blended learning practices. She has presented at national conferences including the National Association of School Boards (NASB), the International North American Council for Online Learning (iNACOL, now the Aurora Institute), the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) and EDWeb. Prior to consulting, Dr. Elsberry served as superintendent in Horry County Schools (SC) for six years. Horry County--a diverse, high-poverty district with over 40,000-- won national acclaim for its personalized digital transformation under Cindy's leadership and was rated one of South Carolina's highest-performing school districts. Prior to serving as superintendent in South Carolina, Cindy served as superintendent for Talladega County Schools in Alabama and held a number of other teaching and administrative positions, including special education director, principal, assistant principal and teacher. She has been an adjunct professor at the University of Alabama and Jacksonville State University.
David Glass
David has 18 years of experience teaching World and United States History in grades 9-12 with extensive training in Holocaust and Genocide Studies, and Teaching Tolerance. David teaches courses sponsored by the New Jersey Holocaust Commission and High School level social Social Studies in Parsippany, NJ where he has also developed and tailored curriculum. David was certified as a Master Training Specialist in the United States Navy, he holds a B.A. in History from Montclair State University and an M.B.A in Nonprofit Management from Touro University Worldwide.
Nachum Katz
Nachum has over 35 years human capital management experience in the fields of military, education and non-profit organizations in Israel and the United States. He is a retired Colonel from the Israeli military and has served as Director General of the Hadassah Neurim Youth Village (a residential/educational facility for at-risk children) and as Principal of the Comprehensive High School of Arts and Sciences. Nachum has an MA in Criminology, BA in Criminology and Political Science with teacher licensure, and is fluent in six languages: English, Hebrew, French, Spanish, Romanian and Hungarian. He currently serves as CEO for Budo for Peace and coaches executives in Israel and around the world.
Dr. Keith Kelly
During his forty years as an educator, Keith has been a classroom teacher, assistant principal, principal, assistant superintendent and superintendent. Keith recently retired as the superintendent of a high-performing school district near Cleveland, Ohio. Keith holds two masters degrees, one in Behavior Disorders and one in Educational Administration from Northeastern Illinois University. He earned his Ph.D. in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies at Loyola University in Chicago. Keith is a fellow at the Center for Educational Leadership at Cleveland State University. Keith is also a graduate of the Harvard Educational Leadership training program and has participated in the Harvard International Think Tank on Education. He has been recognized by Ohio State Representatives for leading the creation and implementation of innovative education programming. He enjoys being a mentor to several educational leaders and speaking to undergraduate and graduate students seeking a career in education.
Roberto Mendez
Roberto has over 20 years of experience in public education. He is a bilingual (Spanish) educational leader who has extensive knowledge of special education laws and regulations. He has served in various capacities as a school administrator both at the building and central administration levels within urban and suburban communities. Roberto has served as a Vice Principal, Supervisor of Special Services, and Director of Special Services. As a district level administrator has worked at the elementary, middle and high school levels. Roberto specializes in Intervention and Referral Services/Response to Intervention, special education program development, strategic planning in bringing students back from out-of-district placements and into in-district programs, fostering community/parent partnerships, and appropriately assessing and meeting the needs of culturally and linguistically diverse students.
Rachel Migliorini
Rachel has been a high school counselor for 10 years. Throughout her tenure, primarily working at a competitive magnet-style high school, she works extensively on the college admissions process. Rachel has a vast knowledge of all things college admissions as well as post-secondary planning. In 2022 she was named Union County, New Jersey’s Counselor of the County by New Jersey School Counselor Association followed in 2023 as Outstanding Educator by the University of Chicago.
Dr. Danny Newman
Dr. Danny Newman is an Associate Professor in the School Psychology Program at the University of Cincinnati, having completed his doctorate in school psychology at the University of Maryland, College Park. He is a Nationally Certified School Psychologist. His research and teaching focus is on school consultation, clinical supervision, and professional issues in school psychology. Danny has presented and published widely on these topics including peer-reviewed journal articles, book chapters, and three books. He is the current Editor of the Journal of Educational and Psychological Consultation and is engaged in professional leadership roles within the National Association of School Psychologists and the Trainers of School Psychologists organizations. For over a decade, Danny has supported the training and supervision of school psychology graduates in schools throughout Illinois and Ohio.
Joanne Riker
Joanne currently works as a Special Education teacher at Winnacunnet High School in Hampton, New Hampshire. She holds her New Hampshire licensure in elementary education, special education, and has also earned a Principal certification through her Master’s of Education in Administration and Leadership. Joanne was named as a NH Union Leader top 40 under 40 for the class of 2014, which honors those who are considered among the state’s top political and community leaders. She prides herself on teaching the whole student, taking into account the varying social-emotional factors that impact students on a daily basis. Joanne is well equipped with technology tools and skills that help foster learning achievement for all students. Athletics has played a large role throughout Joanne’s life and she has coached a variety of high school sports, including basketball, softball, tennis, and Unified Sports programs that pair up students with and without intellectual disabilities as teammates.
Jerry Brodsky
Jerry is lead consultant and founder of American Educational Consultants, as well as a recently retired attorney-at-law. Having spent 35 years in the public schools and retiring from the superintendency of a highly rated school district, he currently provides consultative services to: individual parents regarding student-school issues; school districts looking to improve instruction, save taxpayer dollars, improve special education services, or communicate more effectively with families and community.
Chief Executive Manager
Faith Brodsky Racusin
Faith is a Speech-Language Pathologist with experience at all levels of the K-12 system. She also has served as Vice President of Zenacon, LLC which created MyGallons and FunLoom. Faith's love for working in education along with her business skills provide her with the ability to manage the day-to-day operations and understand the nature of educational consulting. She became C.E.M. of American Educational Consultants in 2016.
Expert Consultants
Dr. Michael Barnes
During his thirty years as an educator, Mike has been a paraprofessional, a classroom teacher, assistant principal, small-school principal, athletic director, coordinator of at-risk programming, director of human resources, assistant superintendent and superintendent. He is currently the superintendent of a high-performing school district near Cleveland, Ohio. Mike holds a masters degree in Educational Administration from Cleveland State University and earned his Ed.D. in Leadership and Organizational Development at Nova Southeastern University. Mike is a fellow at the Center for Educational Leadership at Cleveland State University and has presented at multiple national conferences including AASA and EdLeader21. He enjoys being a mentor to several educational leaders and serves as an adjunct professor at Ursuline College, Cleveland State and John Carroll University.
Edward Bernetich
Ed currently teaches at Cleveland State University and works for the Ohio Department of Education, providing consultation to help the most struggling schools in Northern Ohio, having been a teacher, curriculum director and administrator in highly respected public schools in Ohio. He has done extensive work with Blue Ribbon Schools both as a principal of a twice-awarded school, as a member of the U.S. Dept. of Ed. National Review Panel, and as a site visitor and evaluator for both the government's program and the current independent Blue Ribbon Lighthouse School program. In addition his school was named a National School of Distinction for Technology Excellence during his tenure as principal. Ed most recently has been asked to lead the school assessment team for the International Blue Ribbon Schools of Excellence.
Amy Brodsky
Amy has over 16 years of experience as a teacher, curriculum coordinator and school-based administrator in both urban and suburban settings. Her experience spans from elementary through secondary levels and includes being a founding administrator of a new public high school in Cleveland, Ohio. Amy has also spent the last ten years coordinating the International Baccalaureate Programme in several schools, successfully leading multiple schools through the program's authorization. She specializes in curriculum development, instructional coaching, and assessment design. Amy is on the Board of the Ohio IB Association, is a certified member of the IB Educator Network (IBEN), and has presented several times at IB Global Conferences, Battelle for Kids conferences, and at the Minority Student Achievement Network Institute.
Susie Budine
Susie has over 30 years in education with a vast range of experiences in both in- and out-of-district settings, working with a wide variety of student needs. This has included programming and supports for students with emotional and behavioral needs, learning disabilities, hearing impairments, autism, communication impairments and more. She has won awards for her vocational and transition programming and was nominated for the Special Services Director of the Year award. Susie began as an elementary and middle school special education teacher and has spent the last 24 years serving in various roles as a special education administrator. She is currently serving as the Director of Pupil Personnel Services with the Madison School District in New Jersey where she directly oversees and supports the Department of Special Services as well as serving as the McKinney Vento Homeless Liaison and other related areas of support. In addition, Susie brings a strong knowledge base in the areas of Federal and New Jersey special education law, compliance, specialized programming and instruction and related professional development to her district, providing guidance and mentoring in these areas to staff and administration. She also works closely with her team in areas related to diversity, equity and inclusion to ensure access and equity for students throughout the district.
Dr. Gary Burgess
Gary has an impressive history as a turnaround specialist in suburban, middle class schools, rural schools, schools with rural-mill-village backgrounds and urban schools. He holds a doctorate degree from the University of South Carolina and is a retired superintendent, adjunct professor, workshop facilitator, author, elected official and motivational speaker. Gary served on the Transition Assessment Team for South Carolina's current State Superintendent of Education, the Honorable Mick Zais. He is the principle researcher for The Burgess Research Action Group, LLC, and serves on the Board of Directors for Blue Ribbon Schools of Excellence, Inc. Among other honors and appointments, Gary has been the Secondary Principal of the Year for the State of South Carolina and was named a Milken National Educator. He is highlighted in the HOPE (Harnessing Optimism and Potential through Education) Foundation video series entitled, Failure is not an Option. Gary was recognized by his alma mater, Wofford College, as the school's Distinguished Young Alumnus, the first African-American to receive the award. He brings a wealth and diverse set of experiences to our consulting team.
Jacqueline Casey
Jacqueline "Jackie" Casey works in New Hampshire as a Special Education Teacher and Case Manager at the high school level. Her past experience includes working in a self-contained Special Education classroom with students who have a multitude of cognitive, physical and social challenges. In this position, she helped develop a life skill curriculum and realistic post-high school life plans. Currently, Jackie works in a large, public high school serving a wide-range of students as they navigate their way through high school and prepare for college or post-high school employment. She is well versed in competency-based education, especially as it applies to students with special needs. Known as a special education advocate, Jackie has extensive experience with both Special Olympics and Unified sports. She has her Masters degree in Leadership and Administration as well as a General Special Education Certification and is certified in the Orton Gillingham Reading program. Jackie recently completed coursework needed for an endorsement specializing in Emotional Disabilities.
Pat Ciccantelli
Pat has a variety of experiences in his 40 years in education. He currently works for the South Carolina Department of Education providing support to districts in the areas of Curriculum & Instruction, Strategic Planning, Accreditation support and Special Education. He has over 25 years of administrative experience, working in two of the most respected districts in Ohio. Pat has extensive experience in the areas of Curriculum and Instruction, and Special Education Services. He holds two master's degrees: Exercise Physiology and Educational Administration. Pat has been an integral part of the administrative teams in two districts that have seen their students achieve in the top 1% of the state and the nation. He values a collaborative approach to school improvement which has paid great dividends in all settings.
Paul DeAngelo
Over his 20 years of experience working in education, Paul has been the Business Administrator, Board Secretary, CFO, CEO, and Director of Technology in both the financial and educational sector. He earned his Masters in Finance at LaSalle University in Pennsylvania. A significant amount of his background was spent in the School Business Board offices. Paul is a qualified purchasing agent (QPA), school finance and operations (SFO), and has worked on multiple school renovations, new school construction, technology, facilities, food service, policy, and grant writing. Prior to entering education, Paul worked in Distribution and Treasury Management with Pennsylvania and New Jersey financial institutions, and with one of the largest healthcare providers. He has served on several Accounting, Funding Formula, and Legislative Committees for ASBO in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. He teaches as an adjunct professor, serves on various Boards, and is a mentor for educational leaders.
Didi Deitcher
Didi has more than 25 years experience working directly with children and their families. After 15 years as a social worker on IEP teams she joined the administration team in a high-performing district. As a leader, she is a true believer in teamwork and collaboration. In 2015 Didi was awarded the Educational Services of the Year Award and was recognized for her professionalism and expertise within her field. Her applied fieldwork enables her a unique perspective for academic and professional settings, collaboratively working with integrated teams on the application of behavioral modification for both students and educators; creating, implementing and monitoring actionable work plans to encourage optimal outcomes. Her strong clinical background coupled with her knowledge of special education allow for a personalized, evidence-based approach to behavioral counseling. Didi is a leader in person-centered engagement solutions and population health and a frequent lecturer on parenting and child development.
Gillian Dillard
Gillian currently works as a special education elementary school teacher in New Jersey and, for 20 years, has enjoyed the reputation of ensuring excellence in all learners. Gillian holds a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from Baylor University and Master’s degree in Special Education from Pennsylvania State University and is experienced in teaching future educators at the community college level. Gillian’s expertise in executive function and intervention strategies has been presented at several workshops. At her district’s Professional Development Academy, she is an annual presenter of several workshops including “Strategies to Improve Executive Function” and “Improving Comprehension in Struggling Readers”. She has also presented workshops at the NJ International Dyslexia Association’s Winter Institute. Gillian holds Orton-Gillingham certification from the Institute of Multisensory Education. She is well-known as an intervention specialist who is well versed in the effective implementation of accommodations and modifications to ensure success of students with different abilities.
Dr. Cindy Elsberry
Dr. Cindy Elsberry works with school districts across the country conducting academic program reviews, special education audits, and promoting blended learning practices. She has presented at national conferences including the National Association of School Boards (NASB), the International North American Council for Online Learning (iNACOL, now the Aurora Institute), the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) and EDWeb. Prior to consulting, Dr. Elsberry served as superintendent in Horry County Schools (SC) for six years. Horry County--a diverse, high-poverty district with over 40,000-- won national acclaim for its personalized digital transformation under Cindy's leadership and was rated one of South Carolina's highest-performing school districts. Prior to serving as superintendent in South Carolina, Cindy served as superintendent for Talladega County Schools in Alabama and held a number of other teaching and administrative positions, including special education director, principal, assistant principal and teacher. She has been an adjunct professor at the University of Alabama and Jacksonville State University.
David Glass
David has 18 years of experience teaching World and United States History in grades 9-12 with extensive training in Holocaust and Genocide Studies, and Teaching Tolerance. David teaches courses sponsored by the New Jersey Holocaust Commission and High School level social Social Studies in Parsippany, NJ where he has also developed and tailored curriculum. David was certified as a Master Training Specialist in the United States Navy, he holds a B.A. in History from Montclair State University and an M.B.A in Nonprofit Management from Touro University Worldwide.
Nachum Katz
Nachum has over 35 years human capital management experience in the fields of military, education and non-profit organizations in Israel and the United States. He is a retired Colonel from the Israeli military and has served as Director General of the Hadassah Neurim Youth Village (a residential/educational facility for at-risk children) and as Principal of the Comprehensive High School of Arts and Sciences. Nachum has an MA in Criminology, BA in Criminology and Political Science with teacher licensure, and is fluent in six languages: English, Hebrew, French, Spanish, Romanian and Hungarian. He currently serves as CEO for Budo for Peace and coaches executives in Israel and around the world.
Dr. Keith Kelly
During his forty years as an educator, Keith has been a classroom teacher, assistant principal, principal, assistant superintendent and superintendent. Keith recently retired as the superintendent of a high-performing school district near Cleveland, Ohio. Keith holds two masters degrees, one in Behavior Disorders and one in Educational Administration from Northeastern Illinois University. He earned his Ph.D. in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies at Loyola University in Chicago. Keith is a fellow at the Center for Educational Leadership at Cleveland State University. Keith is also a graduate of the Harvard Educational Leadership training program and has participated in the Harvard International Think Tank on Education. He has been recognized by Ohio State Representatives for leading the creation and implementation of innovative education programming. He enjoys being a mentor to several educational leaders and speaking to undergraduate and graduate students seeking a career in education.
Roberto Mendez
Roberto has over 20 years of experience in public education. He is a bilingual (Spanish) educational leader who has extensive knowledge of special education laws and regulations. He has served in various capacities as a school administrator both at the building and central administration levels within urban and suburban communities. Roberto has served as a Vice Principal, Supervisor of Special Services, and Director of Special Services. As a district level administrator has worked at the elementary, middle and high school levels. Roberto specializes in Intervention and Referral Services/Response to Intervention, special education program development, strategic planning in bringing students back from out-of-district placements and into in-district programs, fostering community/parent partnerships, and appropriately assessing and meeting the needs of culturally and linguistically diverse students.
Rachel Migliorini
Rachel has been a high school counselor for 10 years. Throughout her tenure, primarily working at a competitive magnet-style high school, she works extensively on the college admissions process. Rachel has a vast knowledge of all things college admissions as well as post-secondary planning. In 2022 she was named Union County, New Jersey’s Counselor of the County by New Jersey School Counselor Association followed in 2023 as Outstanding Educator by the University of Chicago.
Dr. Danny Newman
Dr. Danny Newman is an Associate Professor in the School Psychology Program at the University of Cincinnati, having completed his doctorate in school psychology at the University of Maryland, College Park. He is a Nationally Certified School Psychologist. His research and teaching focus is on school consultation, clinical supervision, and professional issues in school psychology. Danny has presented and published widely on these topics including peer-reviewed journal articles, book chapters, and three books. He is the current Editor of the Journal of Educational and Psychological Consultation and is engaged in professional leadership roles within the National Association of School Psychologists and the Trainers of School Psychologists organizations. For over a decade, Danny has supported the training and supervision of school psychology graduates in schools throughout Illinois and Ohio.
Joanne Riker
Joanne currently works as a Special Education teacher at Winnacunnet High School in Hampton, New Hampshire. She holds her New Hampshire licensure in elementary education, special education, and has also earned a Principal certification through her Master’s of Education in Administration and Leadership. Joanne was named as a NH Union Leader top 40 under 40 for the class of 2014, which honors those who are considered among the state’s top political and community leaders. She prides herself on teaching the whole student, taking into account the varying social-emotional factors that impact students on a daily basis. Joanne is well equipped with technology tools and skills that help foster learning achievement for all students. Athletics has played a large role throughout Joanne’s life and she has coached a variety of high school sports, including basketball, softball, tennis, and Unified Sports programs that pair up students with and without intellectual disabilities as teammates.