Presenters
Keynote Presenter
Dr. Nikole Hollins-Sims
Dr. Nikole Hollins-Sims is an internationally recognized speaker, author, and educational consultant specializing in equity and positive behavior interventions. She is the senior consultant for Hollins-Sims Consultation and has held roles such as technical assistance coordinator for the Midwest Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) Network and Special Assistant to the Secretary of Education at the Pennsylvania Department of Education. A Pennsylvania-certified school psychologist, she has researched family-school partnerships, particularly involving caregivers of children with incarcerated parents. She is the lead author of Creating Equitable Practices in PBIS.
Keynote Address
A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes - Building Belonging from Birth On
Belonging is the feeling of being appreciated, validated, and treated fairly (Cobb and Krownapple, 2019). It is the goal of educational frameworks, like Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS), to create climates and cultures in schools, where learners of all ages can obtain a sense of belonging and connection. By dreaming out loud, we have the ability to create these spaces with the practices we employ to honor dignity and affirm those we serve.
Taylor Arrell
Ms. Taylor Arrell is an experienced educator with a background in teaching 4th and 5th grade at AIM Academy. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education and a master’s degree in special education from Saint Joseph’s University, as well as a Reading Specialist certification from Drexel University. Ms. Arrell is also certified as a Wilson Level 1 instructor and a CERI® Structured Literacy Dyslexia Interventionist (C-SLDI). Currently, Ms. Arrell works at AIM Institute, where she delivers professional development in the Science of Reading and Writing to educators nationwide. As AIM Institute’s first Instructional Coach, she is an integral part of the Implementation team, helping schools apply evidence-based literacy practices.
Dr. Caitlin Bennyhoff
Dr. Caitlin Bennyhoff has been a dedicated school psychologist since 2008, with extensive experience supporting students and schools through innovative practices and evidence-based approaches. She earned her doctoral degree from Indiana University of Pennsylvania in 2014 and contributed to the advancement of the field through 15 years of service on the Association of School Psychologists of Pennsylvania (ASPP) board. Her expertise includes guiding teams to build and sustain multi-tiered systems of support (MTSS), securing state approval for the use of Response to Intervention (RTI) in identifying specific learning disabilities, and enhancing tiered mental health supports in school settings. Dr. Bennyhoff is currently the ATTEND school psychologist at Lancaster-Lebanon IU13 and specializes in psychological and functional behavioral assessments for school refusal behaviors. She is also an experienced presenter on topics such as rate of improvement and school refusal.
Dan Billings
Mr. Dan Billings is the founder of Billings Bilingual LLC with a bachelor’s degree in Spanish from Susquehanna University and a Master’s in Spanish from Millersville University. With 17 years of experience as a Spanish translator for IU13, Mr. Billings now runs Billings Bilingual LLC, specializing in special education document translation and local interpretation services for educational agencies and school districts.
Bettie Bertram
Ms. Bettie Bertram is an assistant professor at Lebanon Valley College, specializing in special education, leadership, and addressing the culture of poverty. A sought-after speaker, she presented at an international conference in Rome to women from over 40 countries on strategies to overcome poverty. Recognized with national and international awards, her greatest passion is making a difference through one-on-one connections that improve lives.
Rachel Bixler
Ms. Rachel Bixler is an education consultant at the Pennsylvania Training and Technical Assistance Network (PaTTAN) specializing in learning environment and engagement, transition, and special education leadership. With over 20 years in public education, she has served as a special education teacher, consultant, behavior specialist, and supervisor across diverse educational settings. She holds a bachelor’s degree in biology from the University of Illinois, a special education certification and master’s degree from Immaculata University, and additional certifications from Penn State University, Acadia University, and Johns Hopkins. Currently, Ms. Bixler is pursuing a doctorate in educational leadership at Drexel University.
Dr. Carolyn T. Bruey
Dr. Carolyn T. Bruey is a seasoned psychologist with over 40 years of experience supporting children with developmental differences, their families, and provider agencies. A published author of books and chapters on Autism Spectrum Disorders, Dr. Bruey has been a trusted expert in diagnosis and intervention. Her career spans private practice and two decades at Lancaster-Lebanon Intermediate Unit 13, where she served as supervisor of school psychologists and program supervisor of Autism Solutions. Dr. Bruey’s work reflects a lifelong commitment to advancing care and support for children with developmental needs.
Karen Brady
Ms. Karen Brady is an educational consultant at the Pennsylvania Training and Technical Assistance Network (PaTTAN) and is the central region lead for multi-tiered system of supports (MTSS) and is a consultant on the PaTTAN literacy initiative. She presents and works with school teams on their implementation of a multi-tiered system of support frameworks in literacy. Prior to her 11 years as a consultant at PaTTAN, she spent 22 years in the field as a reading specialist, MTSS coordinator, and coach focusing on data analysis and instruction and she was also an elementary classroom teacher. Ms. Brady has presented at state and national conferences on MTSS frameworks.
Jared Campbell
Mr. Jared Campbell is an educational consultant with the Pennsylvania Training and Technical Assistance Network (PaTTAN) in Harrisburg. Before working at PaTTAN, he taught high school mathematics and served as a district curriculum coordinator for math and science. Mr. Campbell currently serves as the statewide lead consultant for PaTTAN’s mathematics initiative in addition to work with multi-tiered systems of support.
Amy Estrada
Ms. Amy Estrada served 33 years in public education and holds a bachelor's in elementary education, a master’s in educational leadership and her English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) and Reading Endorsement. Her experiences as a classroom teacher, literacy coach, reading resource teacher, and district resource teacher in Virginia and Florida, has allowed her to coach many educators in refining their craft of teaching. Ms. Estrada has been honored with numerous grants and awards which have made substantial contributions to education in the way of providing professional development and coaching at district and state levels. She is a national literacy consultant for Benchmark.
Ann Fields
Ms. Ann Fields is the founder of Peaceful Poses Kids Yoga and is currently studying to become a yoga therapist. She specializes in teaching toddlers through teens yoga, children with exceptional needs, adult yoga, Pilates, trauma-informed yoga, mindfulness, and meditation. Ms. Fields travels to childcare centers, pre-K count programs, libraries, elementary schools, and just about anywhere there are children and teens. She is also an adjunct professor at Harrisburg Community College where she teaches yoga and Pilates as wellness classes and is the yoga teacher to patients at University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) cardiology.
Tom Flynn
Mr. Tom Flynn is a human services program representative with the Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) mission of "Everyday Lives" by providing support and technical assistance to various stakeholders - county offices, supports coordination organizations, providers, education units, and individuals and families. Mr. Flynn has a history of autism advocacy; he and his wife, Betsie, have an adult son on the autism spectrum.
Dr. Sara Frey
Dr. Sara Frey is an educational consultant with the Pennsylvania Training and Technical Assistance Network (PaTTAN), where she leads statewide efforts in K-12 computer science education and co-leads the Accessible Educational Materials (AEM) initiative. With 15 years of experience as an instructional coach, library media specialist, and teacher, she is nationally recognized for fostering inclusive learning environments. Dr. Frey focuses on expanding access to computer science for historically underserved students, including those with disabilities and English learners.
Ann Hohenwarter
Ms. Ann Hohenwarter is a certified brain injury specialist and has over 26 years of experience in post-acute brain injury rehabilitation. She has served as a cognitive rehabilitation therapist, and professional counselor, and has held leadership roles at Acadia Inc., including being the CEO. Since Acadia's merger with Success Rehabilitation in 2024, she has been the executive director of Acadia NeuroRehab. Ms. Hohenwarter specializes in the cognitive, sensorimotor, and behavioral impacts of brain injury, with expertise in creating adaptive learning environments to support recovery and skill development.
Sue Ann Houser
Ms. Sue Ann Houser is an educational consultant with the Pennsylvania Training and Technical Assistance Network (PaTTAN), specializing in supporting students who are deaf, hard of hearing, or deaf blind, as well as educational interpreters and teachers of the deaf. From 2012-2018, she served as Director of the Pennsylvania DeafBlind Project. With over 25 years of experience in sign language interpreting and teaching, Ms. Houser is a qualified educational interpreter (EIPA 5.0) and holds a bachelor’s degree in deaf education from Indiana University of Pennsylvania and a master’s degree in school counseling and guidance from Gallaudet University.
Dr. Anne Kinderwater Carroll
Dr. Anne Kinderwater Carroll is an educator advocating for students, teachers, and staff for three decades. After 18 years of teaching and leading in a Lancaster County school district, she worked with educational non-profit organizations in leadership capacities. For more than 10 years, Dr. Carroll has continued to support the teaching profession through her work at Millersville University. Currently, she is employed as program coordinator for Joining Forces for Children at Lancaster General Health where she serves in the capacity of a hope navigator to support families and those who support families in our communities.
Tim Leister
Mr. Tim Leister currently serves as an instructional technology specialist at Lancaster-Lebanon IU13 where he manages the Instructional Media Services (IMS) program and provides instructional technology support for all educators within IU13 public and private school districts. Mr. Leister also works closely with the IU13 Lancaster-Lebanon Virtual Solutions (LLVS) program that supports high-quality online education for local school districts and their students. He has presented conference sessions at the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) Conference, the Pennsylvania Alternate System of Assessment-Pennsylvania School Boards Association (PASA-PSBA) Conference, the Digital Learning Annual Conference (DLAC), the Pennsylvania Educational Technology Expo and Conference (PETE&C), the IU13 Elementary and Secondary Technology Conferences, and the CAOLAC on Online Learning Conference.
Dr. Dana Milakovic
Dr. Dana Milakovic is the mental wellness and trauma specialist for the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE), where she also serves as the trauma lead. She plays a key role in advancing Pennsylvania as a trauma-informed state through leadership roles with HEAL PA, including co-chairing its Educational Committee. With over 20 years of experience in mental health and education, Dr. Milakovic specializes in trauma-sensitive practices, school mental health integration, neuropsychology, and improving mental health services for children. Her career includes roles in community mental health, school psychology, and administration, all focused on supporting children with special needs and enhancing school climates statewide.
Sandra Moritz
Ms. Sandra Moritz is a former full-time school nurse and health services coordinator with a total of 35 years of experience in school nursing. Currently, she presents at seminars, workshops, and school nurse conferences. Ms. Moritz has been awarded School Nurse of the Year (PA. 2010) and is a frequent presenter at the national conference. She most recently returned from the Tennessee Association of School Nurses’ fall conference as a keynote speaker.
Cody Morris
Mr. Cody Morris is a finance planner with over seven years of experience at uFinancial Group in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania. Mr. Morris specializes in pensions, including Public School Employees’ Retirement System (PSERS) and deferred compensation plans. He helps individuals, families, and businesses achieve their financial goals with customized solutions. With a background as a civil engineer, he applies an analytical approach to complex financial challenges. He holds a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from Lehigh University, a master’s degree in civil engineering from Penn State University and is a licensed Professional Engineer (PE).
Allison Moyer
Ms. Allison Moyer is an educational consultant with expertise in Learning Environment and Engagement (LEEI), math, inclusive practices, and multi-tiered system of supports (MTSS) for English learners. A former instructional specialist, tech integrator, and K-5 teacher, she brings classroom experience to her work supporting schools. Ms. Moyer is passionate about equity and equipping educators with strategies to enhance instruction for all students.
Christopher Pajak
Mr. Christopher Pajak is a financial services professional with uFinancial Group in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania. Mr. Pajak has 14 years of expertise in helping clients create customized financial plans tailored to their individual goals and needs. He specializes in retirement planning, investment strategies, and estate planning, with a strong focus on providing clients with the knowledge and tools to achieve long-term financial success. Mr. Pajak graduated from Shippensburg University.
Deborah Pajak
Ms. Deborah Pajak is a financial planner and senior partner with uFinancial Group in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania. Ms. Pajak has been in the financial services industry for 26 years and during that time has dedicated herself to helping her clients achieve financial peace of mind through education and comprehensive planning. Her specialties are financial issues of divorce and comprehensive retirement planning. Ms. Pajak graduated from Penn State University with highest honors and is a qualifying member of the Million Dollar Round Table.
Dr. Lisa Russo
Dr. Lisa Russo is an educational consultant at the Pennsylvania Training and Technical Assistance Network (PaTTAN), specializing in mathematics, secondary transition, and inclusive practices. She co-leads the Framework for Access & Belonging (FAB) and advocates for inclusive instructional practices. A former supervisor of special education and a high school teacher, Dr. Russo holds degrees in education from Carlow University, a master’s in middle school mathematics from Wilkes Barre University, and a doctorate in Educational Leadership with a focus on Universal Design for Learning (UDL) from Gwynedd Mercy University. She is dedicated to fostering equitable access and belonging for all learners.
Dr. Gina Scala
Dr. Gina Scala is chair of the Special Education/Rehabilitation Department, including the Applied Behavior Analysis program at East Stroudsburg University. In addition to teaching at the undergraduate and graduate levels, she works within the Partnership of Professional Development Schools. She has been appointed to the Special Education Advisory Panel by the Governor for three consecutive terms and is the Region V Director for Northeast Pennsylvania, Awards Chair for the state, and a Pennsylvania Council for Exceptional Children (PaCEC) Board member. In addition, she is a member of the Executive Committee for the International Council of Administrators of Special Education (CASE) and is the Chair for the Research Committee for the organization. Dr. Scala is a compliance monitor for the Pennsylvania Department of Education for special education and gifted programs. She maintains other numerous state and federal appointed positions in relation to Teacher Training, Mental Health, Positive Behavior, and Professional Standards.
Jennifer Sciacca
Ms. Jennifer Sciacca is a dedicated special education professional with a robust background in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) education and innovative instructional strategies. She holds a master’s in special education and is pursuing a Doctor of Education degree in educational leadership. In her role as the educational consultant for STEM at the Capital Area Intermediate Unit (CAIU), she spearheads initiatives to enhance STEELS (science, technology and engineering, environmental literacy and sustainability) and STEM programs, empowering educators to adopt engaging, forward-thinking instructional practices that enrich learning experiences across the region. Passionate about creating inclusive and dynamic learning environments, Ms. Sciacca is committed to equipping educators with the tools and strategies needed to inspire the next generation of innovators and problem solvers.
Jennifer Shade
Ms. Jennifer Shade is a board-certified behavior analyst serving as an educational consultant for the Pennsylvania Training and Technical Assistance Network (PaTTAN) autism initiative and a regional coordinator for the PaTTAN emotional support project. She is also a certified elementary and special education teacher beginning her career in education teaching in elementary autistic support programs. Ms. Shade has assisted many classroom teams, students, and families through the toilet training process. In addition, she has presented at the National Autism Conference for several years. Ms. Shade’s expertise expands beyond toilet training but believes this is one of the greatest achievements an individual and family can experience that is truly life changing.
Judith Trusz
Ms. Judith Trusz is an experienced educator and math consultant with a strong focus on problem-solving and technology integration. For the past 10 years, she has served as the nonpublic schools’ consultant for math at IU13, leading math initiatives across 30 plus nonpublic schools, providing K-9 math intervention, and offering instructional coaching and technology support to teachers. Recently, she has led coding initiatives using Ozobots, Spheros, and CSCMU Academy. A 2018 Keystone Technology Star, Ms. Trusz has presented at prominent conferences such as the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM), Pennsylvania Council of Teachers of Mathematics (PCTM), and the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE). She also serves as the social media chair for PCTM. She holds a bachelor’ degree in elementary education and a master’s degree in education with a focus on assessment, curriculum, and teaching from Millersville University.
Christy Winski
Ms. Christy Winski is an education consultant at the Pennsylvania Training and Technical Assistance Network (PaTTAN) specializing in behavior analysis, program development, and professional training. At PaTTAN, she provides consultation, coaching, and training in Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS), Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) Trauma-Skilled Schools (TSS), and emotional support initiatives for Pennsylvania school districts. With over 17 years as a behavior consultant for the Central Dauphin School District, Ms. Winski has led initiatives in behavioral intervention, crisis management, and staff training. She holds a master’s degree in education, a master’s degree in educational psychology, and certification in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA). Additionally, she is a certified trainer in School-Wide Information System (SWIS) and Safe Crisis Management (SCM).