Dr. Christine Panarese is the Region 2 Assistant Director for Special Education for Boston Public Schools. She has over 20 years of experience serving the needs of students with disabilities in urban and suburban public schools in Massachusetts. She is a former middle school special education teacher and regular education math teacher, math coach, assistant principal, principal, and a central office administrator for research, data and accountability. Dr. Panarese holds school administrator, special education director and superintendent MADESE educator licenses. In 2014, Dr.

Dr. Carolyn Razon-Fernandez has been an educator for 15 years, beginning her instructional experience in the classroom as a special educator, and is now the Coordinator of Specialized Instruction for Baltimore City Public Schools. In this role, she supports the development and implementation of programs and best practices to improve the planning and delivery of services for students with exceptionalities.

Jennifer Wooding works in the Union Local School District in Belmont, Ohio. After 25 years teaching students with disabilities, she moved into leadership with a vision to improve Tier 1 practices. She has worked as an Intervention & Instructional Coach, the District Growth Coordinator, and currently serves as the Curriculum and Instruction Coordinator PreK-12. She earned her B.S. in special education and early childhood education from Lock Haven University of Pennsylvania and M.Ed. in elementary education and reading from the Ohio University. Jennifer is currently enrolled in the Ed.D.

Corine Morgan has been in education for over 25 years. She received her undergraduate degree in Family and Consumer Sciences Professional Childhood Development and Early Childhood Special Education through the University of Wyoming. After working as an Early Childhood Special Educator for 17 years, the administrative side of education was where she needed to be. She completed her Special Education Master of Arts – Intervention Specialist: Academic Coaching & Leadership through the University of Northern Colorado.

Pamela White has been serving students with disabilities for almost 15 years. As a classroom teacher, Pamela experienced working with students having a variety of disabilities. She also served as a TAP mentor and master teacher. Pamela holds certifications in multiple areas and is qualified to serve as an education leader. In her current role as an Exceptional Student Services (ESS) instructional specialist, she supports a high school whose student population is largely students with severe cognitive disabilities.

John Palladino is Professor of Special Education who specializes in ethical leadership for special education administration, as well as special education programming for secondary students’ transition planning and youth with emotional-behavior disorders. His prior professional experiences include classroom teaching and general and special education school administration. He is also a former foster and adoptive parent of youth with emotional-behavior disorders.

Rebekka Montgomery is a Special Education teacher in Billings, Montana. She has taught in a Resource classroom for 11 years. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Montana State University Billings in 2011. She then earned her master’s degree in special education, Differentiated Instruction, from the American College of Education in 2022. She has taught in two elementary schools in the district throughout her career, teaching Kindergarten through 5th grade students who primarily have Specific Learning Disabilities in the areas of Reading and Math.

Laura Merrick has 20 years of experience in the education field and has served in various roles and settings. Currently, Mrs. Merrick serves as the Chief of Student Services for The Charter Institute at Erskine, a statewide charter school district in South Carolina. Previously, Ms. Merrick has worked as a School Psychologist and Special Education Coordinator in both K-12 traditional school settings, as well as within charter schools assisting and supporting students and teachers.

Dr. Teresa Lee served as Coordinator for the Virginia Department of Education in Special Education Instructional Services and Specialist for students with Specific Learning Disabilities and Attention Deficit Disorder. Dr. Lee was responsible for providing guidance, professional development, and technical assistance to schools and parents in the areas of eligibility and identification, IEP development and the implementation of instructional practices.

Nicolette Lesniak has been a special education teacher for over 17 years. For the last 5 years, she taught middle school students with multiple disabilities in Northwest Indiana. Nicolette has also served as a teacher leader mentor with the Indiana Department of Education, Level Up Leadership, working with other special education teachers across Indiana. She has worked with teachers and state-level leaders to redesign Indiana Content Connectors with the state standards and Indiana’s Alternative Measure (I AM).