MEET THE
LEADERSHIP TEAM
The OPEPP Leadership Team works behind the scenes to connect with school districts, ESCs, Board of DD schools, independent schools, and members of state education teams to share information, train consultants, build strong partnership plans, and widen the scope of professional development offerings on the OPEPP website.
Deb Telfer, PhD
Executive Director | University of Cincinnati Systems Development & Improvement Center
Elizabeth Lilly
Program/Social Media Coordinator | University of Cincinnati Systems Development & Improvement Center
Renee Mattson, PhD
OPEPP Coordinator | University of Cincinnati Systems Development & Improvement Center
MEET THE
OPEPP CONSULTANTS
Partner school districts, ESCs, Board of DD schools, and independent schools collaborate with a personal OPEPP consultant to support their growth throughout the three-year process. Our consultants are experienced educators, administrators, and specialists who are knowledgeable about OPEPP resources and experienced in helping schools reach goals through strategic action steps to bring about system-wide change. LEARN ABOUT CONSULTANT ROLES: OPEPP Consultant Roles and Responsibilities
Holly Burgess, MEd
Educator, Literacy Specialist, Education Consultant, Founder of CollabWorks LLC Education Consulting
Supporting Bright Local, Adams County-Ohio Valley Schools, Fairfield Local, and East Clinton
Cheri Copeland-Shull, MEd
Education and Literacy Consultant (Self) | Workshop Coordinator for OPEPP
Supporting Washington Local and Ottawa Hills
LaTaunya Dunn, MEd
Retired from Ohio Department of Education and Workforce and Educational Consultant (Self)
Supporting Whitehall City Schools, KIPP Columbus, and Dayton Public
Susan Franz, MEd
Retired Professional Instructor | Ashland University
Supporting Orrville City Schools, and Westlake City Schools
Judith Hassel, MAEd
Retired from Ohio Departement of Education and Workforce and Ashland University and Educational Consultant (Self)|
Supporting Sidney City Schools, Lebanon City Schools, Springfield City, and Northwest Local
Susan Jones, MS
Speech Pathologist and Educational Consultant | Ohio Association of County Boards of DD
Supporting Defiance Board of DD, Gallia County Board of DD, Stark County Board of DD, and Trumbull County Board of DD
Charles Kemp, EdD
Program Coordinator, Intervention Specialist Licensure Program | Shawnee State University
Supporting West Clermont Schools and Trumbull County Career Tech Center
Julie Kugler Ackley, MEd
University Supervisor and Annual Adjunct Faculty, OCCRRA Coordinator | University of Cincinnati
Supporting Northmont, Hamilton City, Mariemont City Schools, New Lebanon City Schools, Dayton Public Schools and Monroe Local | OCCRRA Support
Sheri McClurg, MEd
Executive Director of Student Services | Fairfield County Educational Service Center
Supporting Franklin City Schools and ESC of Central Ohio | Workshop Instructor for T.I.P.S. for Building Relationships and Helping with Instruction
Jane Lance, MEd
Intervention Specialist | Retired Faculty, Miami University
Supporting Indian Hill Schools
Judy Miller, MEd
Retired Professional Instructor| Ashland University and Education and Literacy Consultant (Self)
Supporting Dublin City Schools, Field Local Schools, Lorain County ESC Early Childhood, Alliance City Schools, and New Philadelphia
Kathleen Scott, PhD
Consultant, Educator Quality | Educational Service Center of Cuyahoga County
Supporting Beachwood City, Crestwood Schools, and Hudson City Schools
Kathy Webb, MEd
Field and Clinical Coordinator | Ohio University Southern
Supporting Lawrence County ESC, and Ironton City Schools
Mary Yeager
MEET THE
Workshop Instructors
Amy Bihn
Special Education Coordinator | Mercer County ESC
Supporting Student Behaviors
Jaclyn Cotrell
Educational Aide | Harrison Hills City School District
Paras as Interveners
Jodi Dowell, TVI
Research Associate and OCDBE Coordinator | University of Cincinnati Systems Development & Improvement Center
Paras as Interveners
Elena Krikorian
Occupational Therapist | Cincinnati Occupational Therapy Institute, Inc.
Fading Supports | Sensory and Behavior Needs
Renee Mattson, PhD
OPEPP Coordinator | University of Cincinnati Systems Development & Improvement Center
Supporting Student Behaviors | Behavior Management
Sheri McClurg, MEd
Executive Director of Student Services | Fairfield County Educational Service Center
T.I.P.S. for Building Relationships | Helping with Instruction
Lindsey Nieberding
Intervention Specialist |Westwood Elementary, Cincinnati Public School
Behavior Management
Kathleen Scott, PhD
Consultant, Educator Quality | Educational Service Center of Cuyahoga County
Supporting Paras Through Mentoring
Emily Sobeck, PhD
Associate Professor of Special Education | Franciscan University
Summer Book Study
Libby Westerman
Intervention Specialist | Loveland Elementary School, Loveland City Schools
Paras as Interveners
MEET THE
Research Brief Contributors
Elizabeth Biggs, PhD
Assistant Professor of Special Education | Vanderbilt University
Communication Partner Strategies to Support Students Using Speech-Generating Devices in Inclusive Settings
Erik Carter, PhD, FAIDD
Luther Sweet Endowed Chair in Disabilities, and Executive Director, Baylor Center for Disability and Flourishing | Baylor University
The Power of Peer Supports: Promoting Inclusion and Belonging for All Students
Christan Coogle, PhD
Associate Professor of Special Education | George Mason University
Data-Based Decision Making
Sarah Douglas, MEd, PhD
Associate Professor, Department of Human Development and Family Studies | Michigan State University
Supporting Young Children with Extensive Support Needs
Tamarine Foreman, MSEd
Associate Dean of Faculty Development and Community Wellbeing and Associate Professor | Ohio University
Sustaining Wellness through Trauma-Informed Care Practices: A Primer for Paraprofessionals
Carly Gilson
Associate Professor, Department of Educational Studies | The Ohio State University
Importance of Job Coaching to Prepare Students for the Workforce
Claude Goldenberg, PhD
Nomellini & Olivier Professor of Education, emeritus, in the Graduate School of Education | Stanford University
Paraprofessionals As Participants in Instructional Teams to Support Multi-Lingual Learners’ Literacy Development
Teresa Grossi, PhD
Associate Research Scientist | Indiana University Bloomington
Training and Supporting Paraprofessionals for Quality Work in the Field | The Paraprofessional’s Role in Promoting Student Success through Fading of Supports
Audra Parker, PhD
Professor, College of Education and Human Development | George Mason University
Shifting Mindsets for Supervision of Paraeducators
Sarah Powell, MSEd, PhD
Professor, Department of Special Education | University of Texas at Austin
Literacy in Math: Math Language and Word Problems
Sean Smith, PhD
Professor in the Department of Special Education | University of Kansas
Universal Design for Learning Approaches for Paraprofessionals Developed
Emily Sobeck, PhD
Associate Professor of Special Education | Franciscan University
Implementing Behavior Intervention Plans
Sharon Vaughan, PhD
Executive Director, Meadows and VGC, and Professor, Department of Special Education | University of Texas at Austin
Reading Intervention Support for Paraeducators at the Secondary Level
MEET THE
Ohio Community Partners
Kate Doyle, PhD, BCBA-D, COBA
Associate Professor | Special Education Department, University of Cincinnati
OCALI
Jim Gay, PhD
Co-director, Ohio Leadership Advisory Council | Buckeye Association of School Administrators
OLAC
Charles Kemp, EdD
Program Coordinator, Intervention Specialist Licensure Program | Shawnee State University
OCALI
Karen Koehler
TVI Project Director | Shawnee State University
OCALI
Laura Sebastian, MAT, MEd
Research Associate and Adjunct Instructor | University of Cincinnati Systems Development & Improvement Center
OCEC
Emily Sobeck, PhD
Associate Professor of Special Education | Franciscan University
OCALI
Doug Sturgeon
Professor, and Lead Faculty, Collaborative Deaf/Hard of Hearing Teacher Preparation Program | Shawnee State University
OCALI
Sarah Watt, PhD
Associate Professor, EDP; CHDLT Faculty Associate | Miami University
OCALI