2018 WAVE Symposium Presenters

Martin Agran, Ph.D. – Professor, School of CLAD, University of Wyoming.

Rosemarie Allen, Ph.D. – Assistant Professor, School of Education, Metropolitan State University of Denver.

Ann Armel
Ann Armel is a VR Transition Consultant with the Department of Workforce Services. She has been with the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation since 2005. She has worked as a counselor and consultant in that time. As a counselor she worked with eight (8) high schools in two (2) counties. Ann serves on the WY Advisory Panel for Students with Disabilities (WAPSD) with WY Dept. of Education. She also works with the UW/WIND/ Project Echo for Secondary Transitions. Ann enjoys building collaborative networks to meet the principle of working smarter, not harder. She brings general knowledge from VR and Education and enjoys working with staff to increase their knowledge and ability to assist youth and citizens of Wyoming.  Ann has had a 30 year career in various settings working with individuals with disabilities. She brings knowledge from those programs and other states when creating and developing programs that will fit Wyoming’s unique culture and geography.

Chad Auer – Consultant, Wyoming Department of Education.

Tessie R. Bailey, Ph.D.
Dr. Tessie Rose Bailey is Principal Technical Assistance Consultant at American Institutes for Research. Her primary responsibility is providing high quality technical assistance and professional development in data-based individualization within MTSS/RTI to states, districts, and institutions of higher education though several national centers: National Center on Intensive Interventions (NCII), Collaboration for Effective Educator Development, Accountability, and Reform (CEEDAR) Center, National Center for Systemic Improvement (NCSI), and College and Career Readiness and Success Center (CCRS). She is a former special education teacher, professional development provider, and faculty member with extensive experience in special education law and policy, data-based individualization, data-analysis for program improvement, and MTSS/RTI implementation. She has provided special education and MTSS/RTI support and professional development to practitioners and leaders in 43 states. She completed her PhD at the University of Utah in special education curriculum and assessment and post-doctoral work in RTI/MTSS and transition at Lehigh University’s Center for Promoting Research to Practice.

Wayne Ball – Wyoming Department of Education.

Jillian Balow
Jillian Balow was elected to a second term as Wyoming’s twenty-second State Superintendent of Public Instruction in 2018. As State Superintendent, Jillian serves as one of Wyoming’s five statewide elected officials. She is constitutionally entrusted with supervision of Wyoming’s public education system and sits on critical state boards and commissions such as the University of Wyoming Board of Trustees and State Board of Land Commissioners. Jillian’s policy decisions stem from her core beliefs that the role of parents in education is paramount, that curriculum and school district operations are best determined at the local level, and that our education system should provide as many opportunities as possible to make our youth successful citizens. Jillian is passionate about career and technical education, support for our military, and rural education. Nationally, Jillian serves as the Treasurer for the Education Commission of the States and is the president-elect on the board of directors for the Council of Chief State School Officers. She is also on the council’s School Safety Steering Committee. In 2017, Superintendent Balow received the State Policymaker Award from the State Education Technology Directors Association. In 2016, Superintendent Balow received the Patrick Henry Award for her contributions to the Wyoming Military Department. In Wyoming, Jillian also holds a number of leadership positions as the co-chair for the Wyoming Women’s Antelope Hunt, board member on the Wyoming Congressional Award Council, Wyoming Business Alliance Steering Committee, Governor’s Post-Secondary Attainment Council, and numerous education-related boards and commissions. Jillian is a fifth-generation Wyoming native. She taught for over a decade in Wyoming classrooms and has worked to support children and families her entire career. Jillian has an undergraduate degree in education from the University of Wyoming and a master’s degree in education from Regis University. In addition to teaching, Jillian has consulted in the private sector, served as an administrator at both the Wyoming Department of Education and Family Services, and was a policy advisor to Governor Matt Mead. Jillian and her husband, John, have two children. Their daughter, Paiton, serves in the United States Army. Their son Jack is in 7th grade and involved in sports, music, 4-H, and FFA.

Tricia Berg, Ph.D.
Tricia Berg is a national and international education consultant who has worked with schools, districts, and states to develop multi-tiered systems of support for students.  She has provided professional development and coaching support to educational organizations in the areas of mathematics, design of instruction, Positive Behavior Intervention and Supports (PBIS), data-driven decision making, and special education compliance.  She has worked as a district-level PBIS coordinator, behavior specialist, special education teacher, general education teacher, and paraprofessional.   She has her Ph.D. from the University of Oregon in Special Education with an emphasis on the relation between behaviors and academics, effective professional development practices, and interventions for students.  She is the co-author of “Teacher’s Guide to Tackling Attendance Challenges.”

Jon Paul Burden

Richard Carter, Ph.D.
Richard Allen Carter, Jr. is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Counseling, Leadership, Advocacy, and Design (CLAD) at the University of Wyoming. Richard earned his doctoral degree at the University of Kansas, specializing in Instructional Design, Technology, and Innovation (IDTI). His current research focuses on the implementation of self-regulation practices for students with disabilities in both fully online and blended learning environments. In addition, Richard has led and assisted studies that examine a broad range of effects of online instruction for students with disabilities for the Center on Online Learning for Students with Disabilities (COLSD). Currently, Richard is part of a research team that is implementing technology-enabled personalization for students with disabilities in a public elementary school.

Jennifer Davis – Wyoming Children’s Trust Fund.

Gail Eisenhauer – Education Consultant, MTSS/Early Learning, Wyoming Department of Education.

Mary Ellbogen Garland – President, Ellbogen Foundation.

David Flink

LeDerick Horne
LeDerick Horne is a poet, advocate, and co-author of the book “Empowering Students with Hidden Disabilities: A Path to Pride and Success” – Released by Brookes Publishing Co.   Within this presentation, LeDerick Horne will share his own experience as a student with a learning disability who was able to graduate from college with a BA in mathematics.  LeDerick is now one of the nation’s most sought after speakers dedicated to improving the outcomes of youth with disabilities.  During this family focused presentation, LeDerick will give advice to help all students develop positive identities as people with disabilities.  Strategies for helping students reach their transition goals will be shared as well as advice on helping students develop positive relationships in school and the adult world.

Tiffany Lynn Hunt, Ph.D.
Tiffany L. Hunt is a faculty member in the Special Education Program at the University of Wyoming. Dr. Hunt’s research interests include bullying and students with disabilities, school violence, social and emotional disabilities, special education leadership, competency-based learning modalities and professional preparation and development. Her areas of expertise also include affective needs, learning disabilities, inclusion services, special education law, and Individualized Education Plan (IEP) compliance. Dr. Hunt has a wide range of experience both in the classroom as well as at the administrative level. She has taught both general education and special education. Dr. Hunt has worked with a variety of students with special education needs ranging from preschool to 8th grade. She was a member of the education faculty at Clarke University in Iowa, where she taught in a professional development school and worked at the Wyoming Department of Education, as the Special Programs Division Director. This range of experiences has helped Dr. Hunt grow and advance her knowledge and skill in the field of special education. She has her undergraduate degree in elementary education from the University of Wyoming. She earned her master’s and doctoral degree from the University of Northern Colorado.

Ashley Krzywicki – Wyoming Department of Education.

Jennifer Kurth, Ph.D. – University of Kansas Department of Special Education.

Bart Lyman – Regional Coach for Wyoming Department of Education.

Dan Mayer

Eric Moody, Ph.D. – University of Wyoming.

Laurie Nichols – President, University of Wyoming.

Sara Reed – 2018 Teacher of the Year.

Hillary Reisig – Instructional Facilitator, Lander Valley High School.

Ray Reutzel, Ph.D.
Dr. Ray Reutzel has served as Dean of the College of Education at the University of Wyoming since 2015.  Previous to his current position, he was the Emma Eccles Jones Distinguished Professor and Endowed Chair of Early Literacy Education at Utah State University, a position he held for 14 years. He is the author of more than 230 published research reports in top tier research journals, articles, books, book chapters, and monographs. He is the co-author of the best-selling book on the teaching of reading, Teaching Children to Read: The Teacher Makes the Difference, 8th Edition published by Pearson Education, Boston, MA.  He has received more than 17 million dollars in research/professional development grant funding. He has been active in securing legislative and private foundations gifts in excess of 40 million dollars. He is the past Editor of – Literacy Research and Instruction, The Reading Teacher and is the current Executive Editor of the Journal of Educational Research. He received the 1999 A.B. Herr Award and the 2013 ALER Laureate Award from the Association of Literacy Researchers and Educators. Ray served as President of the Association of Literacy Educators and Researchers, ALER, from 2006- 2007. He was presented the John C. Manning Public School Service Award from the International Reading Association, May 2007 in Toronto, Canada and served as a member of the Board of Directors of the International Reading Association from 2007-2010. Ray was a member of the Literacy Research Association’s Board of Directors from 2012-2015. Dr. Reutzel was elected a member of the Reading Hall of Fame in 2011 and is serving as its President from 2017-2019. He is also an author of school-based literacy instructional materials with Curriculum Associates® and is a newly appointed member of the prestigious Literacy Research Panel of the International Reading Association (ILA) until 2021. In October 2019, Dr. Reutzel will receive the literacy field’s most prestigious award, the William S. Gray Citation of Merit, from the International Literacy Association in New Orleans.

Dana Robertson, Ph.D. – University of Wyoming.

Patrick Schwarz, Ph.D.
Dr. Patrick Schwarz is a dynamic and engaging professor, author, motivational speaker and leader in Education (Inclusive Education, Special Education, General Education, Educational Leadership) and Human Services. He is the CEO of Creative Culture Consulting LLC and Professor Emeritus at National Louis University, Chicago. He is the author of From Disability to Possibility®, You’re Welcome (with Dr. Paula Kluth), Just Give Him the Whale (with Dr. Paula Kluth) and Pedro’s Whale (with Dr. Paula Kluth) and From Possibility to Success. His new book is Special Education Makeover 101 Transformational Ways to Promote Mindful Inclusive Practices.

Dicky Shanor
Dicky currently serves as Chief of Staff at the Wyoming Department of Education. In this capacity, he oversees the policy and operations of the 128 employee, $2 billion Department of Education charged with serving Wyoming’s 48 school districts and 93,000 students in the K-12 system. Prior to serving as Chief of Staff, he was in private law practice and served as an Assistant District Attorney for Laramie County. Dicky also currently serves on the Cheyenne City Council, the Wyoming AdvancED State Council, the Wyoming State Bar legislative affairs committee, the Wyoming High School Activities Association Board of Directors, the Wyoming Department of Transportation TAP Committee, and is a member of the Cheyenne Kiwanis Club. He is also the past Chairman of the Wyoming State Board of Mixed Martial Arts.

Marcus Soutra

Aaron Stabel – Board Certified Behavior Analyst.

Becca Steinhoff – Executive Director of Wyoming Kids First.

Lori Thilmany – Wyoming Department of Education.

Alicia Vonberg – Wyoming Department of Education.

Therese Willkomm

Jennifer Wilson – Sublette County School District #1.

Legal

Selene Almazan
Selene Almazan has represented students and families for over 30 years.  Selene is a former Supervising Attorney for the Legal Aid Bureau of Maryland where she represented children in the foster care system, including representation in special education matters. For nearly 23 years, Selene represented parents in special education matters with a primary focus on least restrictive environment (LRE) issues at the Maryland Coalition for Inclusive Education.  Selene is the Legal Director for the Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates (COPAA) where she supports the work of the Amicus Committee as well as works on federal and local policy issues.   In this position she writes appellate amicus briefs for appellate courts as well as the United States Supreme Court. Selene maintains a private practice focusing on parent and student representation in special education matters, including LRE. Selene represents families at IEP team meetings, state complaint proceedings, mediations, due process hearings, suspension/expulsion proceedings and federal court proceedings, including matters involving violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act, and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. She has extensive experience training families, teachers, school administrators, attorneys and advocates on legal issues related to special education law as well as disability discrimination issues.

Jose Martin
Jose Martín is a partner with the school law firm of Richards Lindsay & Martín, L.L.P. in Austin, Texas. For the last twenty years, his practice has focused on matters involving the education of disabled students under the IDEA and Section 504. He is a graduate of the University of Texas and the University of Texas School of Law. A background in journalism has led Jose to frequent publication in the area of disabilities laws and their effect on public schools. He currently serves as Contributing Editor to the national LRP publication The Special Educator and LRP’s online-based Special Education Connection. As a speaker, Jose presents numerous topics on disabilities laws to numerous audiences at national, regional, and state conferences, as well as local education agency staff development programs.

David Richards
David Richards is a partner in the Austin law firm RICHARDS LINDSAY & MARTIN, L.L.P., where his practice is focused on the defense of school districts and special education co-ops. He is the General Counsel for the Council of Educators for Students with Disabilities and is a frequent presenter on §504, IDEA, NCLB and other school law topics at education service centers, school districts, and conferences in Texas and throughout the country. His analysis on education law issues frequently appears in LRP’s publications The Section 504 Compliance Advisor, The Special Educator, and Your School and the Law. He is a graduate of Texas Tech University, and the University of Texas School of Law.

Julie Weatherly – Education Attorney.