2023 Annual Summit

Barbara Boone, is the Director of the Ohio Statewide Family Engagement Center at The Ohio State University in the Center on Education and Training for Employment.  She leads a team focused on improving partnerships between home, school, and communities for children of all ages. They do this through research, developing tools and resources for families, facilitating professional development like this Summit, and collaborating with state agencies, local school districts, and organizations. She was previously an early childhood educator, parent educator, education consultant, and Director at the Ohio Department of Education. Dr. Boone regularly works with state and district leaders across Ohio and the country. Dr. Boone takes a family-centered approach to education. She recognizes that each and every child will learn, grow, and live fulfilling lives when nurtured by their families, and supported by their schools and communities.

Debbie Pushor, PhD, is a mother of three adult sons, Cohen, Quinn, and Teague, and a former public school teacher, consultant, principal and central services administrator. She is currently Professor Emerita, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatchewan, Canada.

In her program of research, Debbie has engaged in narrative inquiries into parent engagement and leadership, a curriculum of parents, parent knowledge, and systematic parent engagement. In her undergraduate and graduate teaching, Debbie’s life work has been to make central an often absent or underrepresented conversation about the positioning of parents in relation to school landscapes.

With cohorts of graduate student, Debbie has:

Published two books:

“Portals of Promise: Transforming Beliefs and Practices through a Curriculum of Parents”

“Living as Mapmakers: Charting a Course with Children Guided by Parent Knowledge”

And has a third book in
press:
“Fires of Change: A Year of Systematic Parent Engagement.”

Produced a video series: “Care as a Bridge Between Us: Living a Philosophy and Pedagogy of Parent and Teacher Engagement”

Produced a podcast series: “School Interrupted”

If you are interested in learning more about Debbie’s work, please visit her website at www.debbiepushor.ca.

Margaret Caspe, PhD, is a Senior Research Consultant at the National Association for Family, School, and Community Engagement (NAFSCE).  She co-leads NAFSCE’s initiative designed to reimagine systems through which educators are prepared for family and community engagement. Over the past 20 years, she has studied how partnerships among families, schools, and communities influence children’s development in a variety of areas, including language and literacy, and bilingualism, as well as science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). She is the author of a variety of articles and books, most recently the co-editor of Family and Community Partnerships: Promising Practices for Teachers and Teacher Educators. Margaret earned her Ph.D. in developmental psychology from the Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development at New York University, where she currently teaches courses as an adjunct faculty member. She lives in New Jersey with her husband and three daughters.

Sherri Wilson is a nationally recognized expert and consultant in family engagement. Currently, she serves as the Senior Director of Training and Engagement with the National Association for Family, School, and Community Engagement (NAFSCE). Formerly, she served as the Director of Consultative Services at Scholastic and was a founding partner of the Center for Active Family Engagement (Café). Prior to that, she served at the Senior Manager of Family Engagement at the National PTA. During her time at the National PTA, Sherri oversaw the implementation of the National PTA Standards for Family School Partnerships and led the Urban Family Engagement Initiative. Ms. Wilson was the Co-founder of the Alabama Parent Education Center and served as Alabama PIRC Director for over fourteen years. She has served on a wide variety of national, state, and local boards and committees and was a founding board member for NAFSCE.

Meredith Wellman, Ph.D., has worked at The Ohio State University on the Family Engagement team for 8 years now, supporting strong family-school-community partnerships within Ohio’s education system. She is co-author of a training series for school districts called Partnerships for Literacy, and Dyslexia Communication Tools for Schools. She also conducts program evaluations. Meredith lives in Westerville, OH with her husband and two young children, one of whom is starting Kindergarten this Fall.

Kristy Tucker is a Dyslexia Therapist and has over 20 years of experience as an Intervention Specialist. She chairs the Family Engagement Team for the Ashland City Middle School and is passionate about supporting and educating others. She enjoys hiking and spending time with her family.

Erica is a literacy specialist for the ESC of Lorain County. Prior to her work at the ESC, Erica has experience with literacy coaching and as an intervention specialist. Erica is a CERI Certified Structured Literacy Dyslexia Interventionist. Additionally, Erica is a facilitator for AIM Pathways and an Ohio Teacher Leader Liaison with the Ohio Department of Education. Erica is a graduate from Bowling Green State University, earning her B.A. as a Mild/Moderate Intervention Specialist. She earned her M.A.T. in Elementary Reading and Literacy from Marygrove College. As a parent of a child with dyslexia, Erica has a mission to educate teachers, parents, and educational stakeholders to improve literacy for all students.

Arya Ansari is an assistant professor of Human Development and Family Science in the College of Education and Human Ecology and a faculty associate at the Crane Center for Early Childhood Research and Policy. His research program investigates how contextual factors influence the early development of children from low-income and minority homes. Through his work, he seeks to identify effective interventions and policy recommendations to bridge the opportunity gap in the United States.

Eric M. Anderman is Professor of Educational Psychology in the College of Education and Human Ecology, and Interim Dean and Director at Ohio State Mansfield. He received his Ph.D. in Educational Psychology from The University of Michigan, and he also holds degrees from Harvard University and Tufts University. His research has focused on academic motivation, focusing in particular on the relations between motivation and (a) adolescent risk-taking behavior, (b) violence perpetrated against educators, and (b) academic integrity (i.e., cheating). His research has been funded by the National Institutes of Health, the Institute of Education Sciences, and the Department of Health & Human Services Office of Population Affairs. He is a Fellow of both the American Psychological Association and the American Educational Research Association. He is the editor of the journal Theory into Practice, and he co-edited the 3^rd edition of the Handbook of Educational Psychology and the Visible Learning Guide to Student Achievement with John Hattie. He is the co-author of three textbooks, and over 100 peer-reviewed articles and invited chapters.   His research has been featured in numerous media outlets, including CBS News, NBC News (Dateline NBC), CNN, NPR, The Huffington Post, The Wall Street Journal, and New York magazine.

Jingyang (Max) Zhang is a graduate research associate for the Ohio Statewide Family Engagement Center (OhSFEC). He is also a second-year Ph.D. student in Educational Psychology at OSU’s College of Education and Human Ecology. Max’s current work with OhSFEC focuses on student voice and roles in home-school partnerships. He is also interested in chronic absenteeism, academic motivation, and social-emotional development.

Sarah DeShon joined the Center on Education and Training for Employment as a Family Engagement Learning Coordinator with the Ohio Statewide Family Engagement Center.  As a learning coordinator, her primary role is designing and facilitating research-based professional development for out-of-school-time personnel and other family-facing professionals.  She seeks to build their capacity for equitable family engagement.  As a former classroom teacher, Sarah has learned and experienced the important role all families, schools, and communities play in the success of student achievement and wellness.

Wesley Owens is a Family Engagement Research Associate at the Ohio Statewide Family Engagement Center. In his role, he leads and supports research-based professional development for out-of-school personnel and other family-facing professionals. In his professional career, Wesley has worked with youth and families in recreation, sports, and educational settings.

Wesley received a BA in Coaching and Management, and a MA in Sports Management, both from The Ohio State University. He received his licensure in Health Education and Physical Education from Otterbein University. Wesley comes to the Ohio Statewide Family Engagement Center from a K-8 school in Columbus, OH, where he taught Physical Education for seven years and was the enrollment coordinator and community liaison for two years.

Lyndsay Havey is an Education Program Specialist at the Ohio Department of Education Office for Exceptional Children. While working as an Intervention Specialist, she developed a passion for working with families of students with disabilities. As a lead for the Family Engagement Team at the Office for Exceptional Children, Havey currently supports Ohio’s Parent Mentors, Charting the LifeCourse, the Families of Students with Disabilities webpage, and continued partnerships with other state agencies working in family engagement.

Lynne Shields is a supervisor in the West Geauga Local School District with 30 years of career experience in special education. The district leadership team, including Amy Davis and Nancy Benincasa, is embracing Charting the LifeCourse principles and weaving them into practices so that everyone can live their best life.

Tracey Manz is the Project Manager for both the Family Resource Network of Ohio and the Nisonger Aspirations program.   She is a Charting the LifeCourse Ambassador and helps train people throughout the state on its framework and principles. As the parent of an adult on the autism spectrum, Tracey has developed a passion for helping those with IDD and DD self-advocate, work toward independence, and assist in maximizing their full potential. Through her work with Nisonger Aspirations, Tracey has developed and works with a network of professionals who specialize in assisting parents and caregivers of those with special needs by educating and providing necessary resources. She previously served as the 2019-2020 LEND Family Trainee.

Angie Chapple is a State Support Team 3 Special Education and Transition Consultant. She has been in this role for 18 years and in education for 33 years.  Prior to moving to SST3, Angie worked in the Cleveland Municipal School District first as an intervention specialist and then as a Special Education central office administrator. She is a Charting the Life Course (CtLC) Ambassador and has several other CtLC Badges. She is a member of many professional education and disability advocacy organizations Angie is also the sister to David who has a disability. Angie has been an advocate and ally for individuals with disabilities her entire life.

Dee Marks is a parent of two adult children with disabilities. Marks has been the Parent Mentor for Dublin City Schools for ten years. In her role as a Parent Mentor, she helps families navigate the special education process. Marks provides training on a variety of topics for families in Dublin and through multiple community partnerships, Marks helps families connect with resources they may need.

Gabrielle Johnson is a Research Administration Management Consultant at the Center on Education and Training for Employment (CETE) where she works as a member of the Equity, Engagement, and Evaluation Team. Gabrielle serves as Program Director for the Ohio Parent Mentor Project’s Oversight & Professional Development Program, Project Lead for the Ohio Head Start Association, Inc.’s adaptation of CETE’s Racial Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Movement, and serves as core leadership for CETE’s REDI Movement and REDI Steering Team. Gabrielle possesses a longtime passion for the pursuit of equity, social justice, and systemic change in education which led her to earn her PhD in Educational Studies, with a focus on School Psychology from The Ohio State University in May of 2021. Her dissertation research emphasizes the urgency to prepare school psychologists and related school-based mental health professionals for the implementation of trauma-informed practices in urban schools.

Monica McCain serves as a Parent Mentor for Toledo Public Schools. This is her third year working as parent mentor with over 7 years of working in education within her school district. Monica earned a B.A. from Lourdes University and completed post-graduate work in organizational leadership at Indiana Wesleyan University.  She is passionate about her work with families of children with disabilities. She was appointed by Ohio’s governor to serve on the board for the  Ohio Developmental Disabilities Council. She also serves on the Ohio Department of Education’s State Panel for Exceptional Children and is a member of the Family Core Council at the Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities.

Monica is a wife and mother to three boys. Her work in education and working with families is inspired by her oldest son Gavin who has cerebral palsy, epilepsy, and a rare neurological condition called alternating hemiplegia of childhood. She considers herself an information hoarder because she is always looking to learn new things to help others

My name is Susan Sweeney, I am The Clark County Parent Mentor through The Clark County ESC.  I serve all children in all districts of Clark County.  I am a Mom of two children.  My youngest has learning and medical concerns, he has been on an IEP since Preschool, he is currently in the 8th grade.  I have been a Parent Mentor since 2018, and I continue to learn so much to empower students.

Hadley Bachman, Ph.D., is a Research Administration Management Consultant at the Ohio Statewide Family Engagement Center, where she spearheads efforts to advance research, professional development, and the acquisition of grants and sponsored projects. In her role, she manages and implements large-scale professional learning projects of state, national, and international significance. Hadley holds a Ph.D. (2023) in Educational Studies specializing in Educational Administration from The Ohio State University. Before joining Ohio State, she was an English teacher and principal, serving in these roles for 14 years. She earned her Teacher-Leader Endorsement (2016) and Master of Education (2007) from OSU and her Bachelor of Arts in English (2003) from Goshen College. She is a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer (2003-2005) from Cabo Verde, where she taught English and supported her colleagues with grant writing and professional learning. When she’s not working, Hadley spends time outdoors with her husband, daughter, and dog.

Alex Corwin, M.A., is the Program Director at OCALI’s Lifespan Transitions Center. Alex has been a professional in the developmental disability field as a job coach, adult day services manager, service and support administrator (SSA), SSA supervisor, and previously oversaw the Ohio Transition Support Partnership for Ohio’s Department of Education. He continues to promote multi-agency planning to help youth with disabilities fulfill their potential and reach their adult life goals – with a focus on comprehensive, universally designed family engagement strategies.

Michelle obtained her Bachelor of Arts in Adolescent to Young Adult Education with a concentration in English writing from Heidelberg University. Michelle is a motivational speaker. In 2014, she was the keynote speaker for the BEST Assistive Technology Family Conference. As the Outreach Center’s current Family Support Liaison she provides information, supports, resources, and connections to families and learners who are deaf, hard of hearing, or blind. Michelle has personal experience with deafness and blindness, since she has two cochlear implants and is fully blind. She is passionate and enthusiastic about providing equity and access to all students. Michelle has been working at OCALI for more than five years.

Carrie has had 38 wonderful years of experience working in education! The variety of her background has given her the tools for an awesome career.  Her background includes:
*teaching the Hearing Impaired (yes she is still fluent in sign
language)
*a middle school counselor
*a high school at-risk counselor
*an Intervention Specialist (middle and high school)
*trained Peer Mediator
*trained Crisis Counselor for the Western Cuyahoga Crisis Team
*a Family and Community Engagement Coordinator
*a Martha Jennings Scholar Award

In 2018, Carrie was offered an opportunity to transition to Fairview Park City Schools as their Family and Community Engagement Coordinator. During her work, she developed and coordinated Parent Universities, a Peer Mediation Program, as well as connecting families to resources.
In 2023, Carrie brought her Family Engagement expertise to the Educational Service Center of NEO. In her current role, Carrie is working with Cuyahoga County School Districts to provide coaching and consultation, specifically focus.

I have been a Parent Mentor for 22 years and have a bachelor’s degree in Communications from Cleveland State University. I have three grown children including a daughter with autism. I also have five grandchildren whom I adore.  I am active in Strongsville City Schools’ Special Education Leadership Team,Diversity Council and PBIS. Being a Parent Mentor allows me to continue to grow and learn through Professional Development, meetings and interactions with families and staff. I want to continue to learn about mental health issues and how schools can support students.  My interests include reading, collecting beach glass and traveling.

Elizabeth is entering her 9th year as the Parent Mentor for the Parma City School District. She has previously presented at OCALICON and participated in collaborative webinar projects with other Parent Mentors from across the state. In her role, Elizabeth works to empower and educate parents so that they can make the best, most informed decisions for their child. She and her husband just celebrated 25 years of marriage and are the proud parents of adult sons, Drew and Gabriel.

Ryan Max has been a school counselor at Lakeview Junior High in Pickerington, Ohio for the last five years.  He is currently in his third year in the doctoral program in Counselor Education at The Ohio State University.