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The PROGRESS Center’s Educators in Residence comprise a diverse group of dynamic educators who work alongside Center staff to ensure local perspectives are represented in Center activities. Additionally, these educators develop a community—collectively they tackle tough questions facing the field today and are valued by Center staff for their unique perspectives. They are our partners, our thought leaders, and our “eyes and ears” in the field.

General Education Teacher
Texas
Andrea Bergener
Andrea Bergener is the math specialist at Prince of Peace Catholic School in Plano, TX. She has nearly 20 years ...
District Administrator
Related Service Provider
Wyoming
Bart Lyman
Bart Lyman is originally from Cody, Wyoming. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management with a minor ...
District Administrator
Massachusetts
Christine Panarese
Dr. Christine Panarese is the Region 2 Assistant Director for Special Education for Boston Public Schools. She has over 20 ...
Special Education Teacher
Arizona
Carol Moriarty
Carol Moriarty is a special education teacher in Phoenix, Arizona and a doctoral student at Northern Arizona University. Her research ...
Special Education Teacher
New Jersey
Dawn DeLorenzo
Dawn De Lorenzo has been a special education teacher for 22 years. Dawn has served as both an in-class support ...
District Administrator
Wyoming
Corine Morgan
Corine Morgan has been in education for over 25 years. She received her undergraduate degree in Family and Consumer Sciences ...
Special Education Teacher
Louisiana
Pam White
Pamela White has been serving students with disabilities for almost 15 years. As a classroom teacher, Pamela experienced working with ...
Special Education Teacher
Oklahoma
Denise Griffin
Denise Griffin has been a special educator for 28 years. For the last 26 years, she taught high school students ...
Special Education Teacher
Texas
Gabi Aragon
Gabi Aragon is a Student Support Specialist in the Diocese of Austin. She has over 13 years of experience in ...
Special Education Teacher
Colorado
Jennifer Hiler
Jennifer Hiler recently came back to the classroom after many years of working with the Wyoming Department of Education (WDE) ...
Special Education Teacher
Indiana
Nicolette Lesniak
Nicolette Lesniak has been a special education teacher for over 17 years. For the last 5 years, she taught middle ...
District Administrator
Faculty
South Carolina
Deanna Parish
Deanna Parish has been serving students with disabilities for over 25 years. As a classroom teacher, she worked with students ...
Faculty
Michigan
John Palladino
John Palladino is Professor of Special Education who specializes in ethical leadership for special education administration, as well as ...
Faculty
Indiana
Kara Bratton
Dr. Kara Bratton serves as an Assistant Professor in the School of Education in the doctoral programs at Concordia University ...
District Administrator
Maryland
Carolyn Razon-Fernandez
Dr. Carolyn Razon-Fernandez has been an educator for 15 years, beginning her instructional experience in the classroom as a special ...
District Administrator
South Carolina
Laura Merrick
Laura Merrick has 20 years of experience in the education field and has served in various roles and settings. ...
Faculty
Virginia
Teresa Lee
Dr. Teresa Lee served as Coordinator for the Virginia Department of Education in Special Education Instructional Services and Specialist for ...
District Administrator
South Carolina
Jessica Lairson
Dr. Jessica Lairson currently serves as Coordinator of Exceptional Learning for Colleton County School District, one of the largest counties ...
District Administrator
South Carolina
Melissa Chiplis
Melissa Chiplis is a coordinator for the Office of Special Services at Berkeley County School District in South Carolina. She ...
District Administrator
Nevada
Sara Jorgensen
ara has been serving students with disabilities for 29 years providing special education program services to students ages 3 – ...
Special Education Teacher
Texas
Diana Saenz
Diana Saenz is a Special and Bilingual Education professional with over 20 years of experience at the campus, district, and ...
Special Education Teacher
Colorado
Erin Rupe
Erin Rupe has worked in the field of special education for the past 26 years serving in a variety of ...
General Education Teacher
Texas
Roni Jackson
Roni Jackson is a math and learning specialist at Prince of Peace Christian School in Carrollton, TX. She has over ...
Related Service Provider
Massachusetts
Sheera Hefter
Dr. Sheera Hefter is a Certified School Psychologist and Licensed Psychologist in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, currently working in the ...
District Administrator
Ohio
Jennifer Wooding
Jennifer Wooding works in the Union Local School District in Belmont, Ohio. After 25 years teaching students with disabilities, she ...
Special Education Teacher
North Carolina
Maggie Hefner
Maggie Hefner has over 25 years of experience teaching people with disabilities in a variety of settings and ages. She ...
District Administrator
Georgia
Robyn Magnussen
Robyn Magnussen is the District Administrator for Marietta City Schools' Multi-Tiered System of Supports. Her role affords her the opportunity ...
Special Education Teacher
Louisiana
gray outline of a person
Chundra Steele-Woods lives in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, but is from Mississippi. Chundra holds a bachelor’s in English and Modern Foreign ...
Special Education Teacher
Montana
Rebekka Montgomery
Rebekka Montgomery is a Special Education teacher in Billings, Montana. She has taught in a Resource classroom for 11 years. ...
Faculty
New York
Vicki L Mingin
Dr. Vicki L Mingin began her special education career in Tampa, Florida, at the University of South Florida, where she ...
Special Education Teacher
Washington
Amanda Findley
Amanda Findley received her master's in teaching from the University of Washington. She spent her first few years teaching at ...
Special Education Teacher
Idaho
Kevallyn Drake
Kevallyn Drake is a Special Education Teacher who teaches Study Skills and Life Skills at a Title One middle school ...
Related Service Provider
Wisconsin
Christopher Colosimo
Christopher Colosimo is a certified school psychologist with the Elkhorn Area School District in southeastern Wisconsin. Chris has more than twenty ...
School Administrator
Maryland
Doug Fireside
Doug Fireside started his teaching career in New Orleans, La. In 1992 and moved to Baltimore in 1994 where he ...
District Administrator
Virginia
Dr. Francisco Durán
Dr. Francisco Durán is the Superintendent of Arlington Public Schools in Arlington, Virginia. Dr. Durán has a diverse background in ...
General Education Teacher
South Carolina
Julie Lang
Julie Lang earned her Bachelor's Degree from Queens University of Charlotte and later received her teaching certificate in Social Studies Education from the University of ...
District Administrator
Illinois
Kasandra Posey
Kasandra Posey, PhD, is the Director of Student Services for Civitas Education Partners and was previously a Special Education District ...
District Administrator
Virginia
Dr. Lynn Clayton-Prince
Dr. Lynn Clayton-Prince serves as Assistant Superintendent of Special Education and Equity and Diversity in Powhatan County Public Schools in ...