Abbie King, MS CCC-SLP/ATP, Boston Childrens Hospital, Augmentative Communication Program
Abbie King is a speech language pathologist and assistive technology professional at Boston Children’s Hospital Augmentative Communication Program. Abbie's clinic interests lie in family-centered care, siblings, AAC, AT, and interdisciplinary practice.
Cullen John "CJ" Buckley, Bridgewater State MAICEI Graduate, MDSC Your Next Star Employment Academy Graduate
Cullen John “CJ” Buckley graduated from North Attleboro High School in 2020. After high school, CJ attended the EXCEL program at Bridgewater State University (BSU) through the Massachusetts Concurrent Enrollment Initiative (MAICEI). He began his college career as a commuter student and then transitioned to living on campus as a full-time student from 2022-2023. During his time at BSU, CJ took courses on public speaking, business and yoga. He also spent time managing the men’s basketball team, in addition interning at the dining hall and DJing at the local radio station. Currently, he volunteers at a nursing home where he reads and plays games with those who live there. CJ is ready to find a job he loves and begin leading an independent life!
David A. Koppenhaver, Ph.D., Professor of Reading Education and Special Education, Appalachian State University
David Koppenhaver is the co-founder of the Center for Literacy and Disability Studies (CLDS) at UNC-Chapel Hill. Recently retired from Appalachian State, he continues to actively engage in research and teaching with scholars at the CLDS focused on literacy in students with high support needs for learning. His current work focuses on thoughtful learning demonstrations in students with the most significant intellectual disabilities, inclusive literacy methods, and writing instruction that motivates all students’ increased communication, engagement, and composition abilities. He has presented many times previously at MDSC events.
Jessica Kuss, M.Ed.
Jessica Kuss is the Senior Manager of Education Programs for the National Down Syndrome Society (NDSS), where she oversees NDSS’ community focused education programs and develops high-quality supports and resources for the education and Down syndrome communities. Since 2017, Jessica has been a part of the NDSS team as a consultant and a staff member. During that time, she has supported community events for runners and contributed to resources for our education program and our health and wellness initiatives. A former elementary special education teacher, Jessica holds a bachelor’s degree in K-12 special education and a master’s degree in special education from James Madison University. Jessica lives in Alexandria, VA with her two children, including a son with Down syndrome.
Joseph Moldover, PsyD, ABPP
Dr. Joseph Moldover is a developmental neuropsychologist with twenty years experience providing assessment and consultation for children and adolescents with learning and developmental needs. He is a licensed psychologist and is board certified in neuropsychology. Dr. Moldover is the past-president of the Massachusetts Neuropsychological Society and has a group practice with offices in Wellesley and in Biddeford, Maine.
Mary Price, MAICEI State Director
Mary Price took the role of MAICEI Director for the Department of Higher Education in January 2020. In this role, Mary oversees the fourteen MAICEI (Massachusetts Inclusive Concurrent Enrollment Initiative) programs at many public colleges and universities throughout the state. Since her start as the MAICEI Director at the DHE, Mary has guided the MAICEI Coordinators throughout the state in helping support the students during the pandemic and consulted with public community colleges and universities on the proper procedures in submitting grant proposals. She has worked with campuses regarding the proper steps needed to take to lead a MAICEI Program, and has planned statewide conferences for Coordinators, as well as leading monthly meetings where campus updates are shared. Prior to her role as MAICEI Director, Mary served for over ten years as the MAICEI (EXCEL) Director at Bridgewater State University. It was there that she instituted the EXCEL (formally MAICEI) program, which is considered the flagship program for the state. Bridgewater State University was the first four-year institute of Higher Education in Massachusetts to launch such a program and has a successful residence life program as well.
Maile Munson, LICSW, Collaborative & Proactive Solutions (CPS) Trainer, Lives in the Balance
Maile is a clinical social worker with more than 20 years of experience supporting children and adolescents with social, emotional, and behavioral challenges. She has worked in a variety of school settings, including residential schools, therapeutic day schools, and public schools. She also enjoys a private practice serving children, teens and their families. Maile was trained in the Collaborative & Proactive Solutions (CPS) model by its founder, Dr. Ross Greene. She is currently active in training many school personnel in the CPS model and is the Director of Advocacy for Dr. Greene’s non-profit organization, Lives in the Balance.
Oanh Bui, MHA , MA
Oanh Bui has advocated tirelessly for Vietnamese speaking parents and parents from culturally linguistically diverse (CLD) communities on Language Access to ensure CLD parents can meaningfully participate in their children’s special education process. Being an immigrant Vietnamese single mother of a child with multiple disabilities, Oanh has first-hand experience navigating the US system for appropriate services for her child with multi-disability. Oanh is an AIDD-funded diversity leadership fellow with the ICI at UMASS Boston. She was a FORD scholar and holds two Master Degrees in Health Administration and Sustainable International Development. She was a LEND fellow (Leadership and Education in Neuro-developmental Disability) through Shriver Center, UMASS Medical.
Russell Johnston, PhD, Deputy Commission and State Director of Special Education, Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
Russell Johnston has served at the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education since August 2014, first as a Senior Associate Commissioner, managing the state's accountability and assistance system for all public schools and districts, and since September 2021 as Deputy Commissioner, directly overseeing functions such as special education, strategic transformation, and curriculum and instruction. Russell's early years as an educator were spent an elementary special education teacher in Newton, Massachusetts before heading the elementary special education department for the Wellesley Public Schools. In 2004, Johnston earned a Doctorate of Philosophy and Education Leadership from Boston College. That same year, he became administrator of special services for the West Springfield Public Schools, a role he held until becoming superintendent in 2010. He and his family reside in Melrose, Massachusetts.
Zach Rossetti, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Special Education, Boston University
Zach Rossetti, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor of Special Education in the Wheelock College of Education & Human Development at Boston University. A former elementary school special education teacher and inclusion facilitator from New Hampshire, Dr. Rossetti’s research focuses on social interactions and friendships between students with and without intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), specifically the contexts and dynamics of such relationships and how educators and families may facilitate social opportunities. His research also examines the experiences of families with children with IDD by centering on participation and language access in IEP meetings, community participation, family-professional partnerships of culturally and linguistically diverse families, and sibling roles and relationships. Dr. Rossetti is personally and professionally inspired by his brother Todd who was a huge Boston sports fan, loved dessert even more, and had cerebral palsy.