The LDA Nominating Committee is pleased to introduce the candidates who will be placed in nomination at the Assembly of Delegates during the Annual Meeting, February 20, 2019, in Fort Worth, Texas. The Committee worked diligently to select candidates who bring a variety of skills and experience to their respective positions and to the Board of Directors of the Learning Disabilities Association of America.

Officers:

Monica McHale-Small, First Vice President
Monica McHale-Small is currently an adjunct assistant professor at Temple University. She retired from public education after twenty-seven years of service in Pennsylvania. Monica started her career as a school psychologist but spent the last fourteen years in a variety of administrative positions including, most recently, Superintendent. She earned her doctorate and masters’ degrees from the University of Pennsylvania, Graduate School of Education. Dr. McHale-Small has long advocated bringing sound research into practice in public schools. One example of this is her role on the advisory committee for Pennsylvania’s Dyslexia Screening and Early Literacy Intervention Pilot; designed to support researched based structured literacy instruction and intervention beginning in Kindergarten. Dr. McHale-Small is an advocate for responsible inclusion and equity for historically underserved students including racially, culturally and linguistically diverse students and students with disabilities. She co-founded the Greater Lehigh Valley Consortium for Equity and Excellence and she currently consults with the ACLU of PA on School to Prison Pipeline issues. Monica has served on the Board of Directors of the Learning Disabilities Association, the International Dyslexia Association, and the National Association of Pupil Services Administrators. Monica serves her own community as a board member and volunteer advocate for Coatesville Citizens Who Seek Educational Equality.

Suzanne Fornaro Second Vice President
Suzanne Fornaro serves as Co-Chair, Marketing & Communications Committee; Co-Editor, THE LD SOURCE; and was President of LDA from 2004-2006. Currently serving as a presidential appointee to the Board of Directors, she has served on the Board, Executive Committee, and/or chaired committees for LDA since 1990. In addition to Marketing & Communications, she is serving on the Public Policy, Program, Development, and By-Laws and Policy Committees. At the local level, she was president of the Alabama state and Mobile County affiliates and continues to serve on the state Board of Directors. She is the parent of an adult child with learning disabilities. Suzanne brings her expertise and education in Communications and Public Relations to LDA. She is Accredited in Public Relations (APR) by the Universal Accreditation Board and retired as Director of Public Relations with a national engineering firm. She has 30+ years of experience in communications and public relations with expertise in public relations planning, external and internal communications, community and media relations. She has served on the board of directors for Public Relations Council of Alabama-PRCA (President), Southern Public Relations Federation-SPRF (VP and Secretary), and Mobile Public Relations Council (President). She has received 14 awards from public relations organizations for creation and execution of projects ranging from brochure development to strategic communications planning. Suzanne was named to the Southern Public Relations Hall of Fame in 2015 and was previously recognized with the Practitioner of the Year Award, Professional Achievement Award, and Lifetime Achievement Award from PRCA and SPRF. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism (Advertising and Public Relations) from the University of Georgia, and an M.S. in Communications (Mental Health Information) from Syracuse University.

Kevin Gailey, Treasurer
As the Head of School for Midwest Academy and as a parent of a child with learning differences, Kevin’s focus is keeping the child at the center. His passion is providing a progressive education for kids with learning differences since he has seen the tremendous difference that it makes in their lives. After being drawn to these complex learners as a teacher over 25 years ago, he believes that progressive education fits with students’ unique stages of development. Kevin received his B.S. in Psychology from Springfield College; an M.Ed. in Elementary Education from Lesley University; and his M.A. in Administration/Exercise Sports Science from the University of North Carolina. He has also earned Certificates in Fundraising Management at the IU School of Philanthropy; Non-Profit Business Management at IU Kelley School of Business; and Organizational Consulting and Change Leadership from Georgetown University. He enjoys coaching soccer, tinkering with tools, reading, kayaking, hiking, and fly fishing.

Anne Huntington, Secretary
Anne Huntington is a Board Member and Vice President of Business Development for Huntington Learning Center, the nation’s leading tutoring and test prep provider. Since 2015, Anne has led Huntington Compensatory Education Services, a program designed to support special education students who have been denied their federal right to a free and appropriate education. Before joining Huntington Learning Center in 2014, Anne launched and remains the Principal of AMH, a creative agency for contemporary art and culture. In this capacity, she has curated over 30 exhibits across the country with organizations to help build awareness and raised over $30 millions of dollars for various causes. Her involvement with LDA began in 2014 and has included speaking at the annual conferences, company sponsorship of local (New Jersey) and national events, as well as serving as head of the Development Committee. Anne is an active chair and member of other education and arts-based groups such as the Young Collectors Council at the Guggenheim Museum, the Future Leadership Council at the Whitney Museum, the Women’s Franchise Committee for the International Franchise Association, NYC’s Coalition for the Homeless, Teaching Matters, CHADD and COPAA. Anne received a Bachelor of Arts from Colgate University.

Board Members (3 year terms, 2019 – 2022)

JoAnna Barnes
JoAnna is the parent of two young adults with learning disabilities. She has been involved with LDA since 2002 when her older child, then in 2nd grade, was struggling in school. She credits LDA for her daughter finally being identified as LD in 3rd grade. JoAnna lives in Chapel Hill, NC, and is active with LDA of North Carolina serving on its Board of Directors and now as President. She is Chair of the LDA Advocacy Committee, and one of two LDA representatives to the National Joint Committee on Learning Disabilities. In 2015 she chaired a LDA task force on accessibility of testing accommodations for adults with LD who apply to take the high school equivalency exam. JoAnna holds a B.A. and J.D. from Georgetown University, and is a member of the Maryland and District of Columbia Bars.

Vicki Goshon

Vicki Goshon is the parent of two adult children with Learning Disabilities and has a grandchild with special needs. Vicki has been a leader in the field of Learning Disabilities for many years, being active at both the state and national level. She is a past president of LDA Iowa and has served numerous times in that position. Vicki has taught students with Learning Disabilities for 35 years, and has a passion for helping parents, teachers, and students obtain the knowledge they need to be successful. In addition to her work with LDA she has served on the Iowa Department of Education’s Special Education Advisory Panel. Throughout her career in special education, Vicki has written many successful grants in order to obtain funding for materials and educational services for individuals with learning disabilities. These range from materials and services for elementary students to programs in Iowa Correctional Institutions. She has a unique ability to see and understand the needs of parents, students and teachers. Vicki also operates a private tutoring and consultation service in order to provide affordable academic support to students. Vicki has developed a Summer Academy program for LDA of Iowa which implements instructional services to children. She has been an adjunct professor for the University of Northern Iowa and Upper Iowa University. Vicki holds a Master’s Degree in Education and an Administrator of Special Education degree. She has served on the Finance, Education, Early Childhood, Juvenile Justice, Grievance, and Nominating Committees at the national level in her desire to help students and parents.

Donna Brigham

Donna Brigham currently lives in Memphis, TN where she is the Director of Special Education for three charter schools. She received her masters degree in education and has been in the field for 27 years serving in both the General Education & Sped Population & public/private schools. Having served in various populations, Donna is able to bring to LDA a wide range of experience. Donna has devoted the last 16 years to advocating for students with learning differences. Donna has been married for over 25 years to her husband, Keith & has two adult daughters. One of her daughters was diagnosed at an early age with ADHD which led to researching the effects of ADHD and academic performance & advocating for her daughter. Donna has lobbied on several occasions in Washington, DC for Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families. Donna has been a member of LDA for over 15 years & has served on the Board of Directors & multiple committees. When Donna is not working, you can find her traveling, gardening, reading on the beach or spending time with her family.

Gabrielle Miller

As the Director of the SALT Center at the University of Arizona, Gabrielle E. Miller leads one of the nation’s most prestigious programs for undergraduates who learn differently. She leads a large multi-disciplinary team of professionals providing a comprehensive range of services to students with learning and attention challenges. Prior to her current role, Gabrielle served as VP of Programs at Reading Is Fundamental and, for the last nine years, leading the Raising A Reader(RAR) National Office; first as Executive Director then as President and CEO. Gabrielle began her career as a special education teacher where her interests in transition at all stages of development (early education, adolescent and post-secondary), family engagement, and research to practice began. Additionally, she has assumed roles in special education clinical service, program administration and graduate teacher training/research at The Kennedy Krieger Institute (KKI) and The Johns Hopkins University (JHU). During her time at KKI she began as a classroom teacher and ultimately held a leadership role in the development of a model school-to-work secondary program for students with multiple and complex disabilities (Kennedy Krieger High School). She earned her bachelor’s degree in elementary and special education from the University of Delaware and completed her Masters and Doctorate in special education and administration at The Johns Hopkins University. She currently serves as a founding board member of the National Association of Family, School and Community Engagement (NAFSCE). Gabrielle has served on the Early Childhood Committee and Conference Program Committee of LDA.

Board Members (2 year term, 2019 – 2021)

Bev Johns ​

Bev Johns has been an active member of the Learning Disabilities Association for many years serving as a previous State President, State President’s representative, and currently as President-Elect of LDA of Illinois. She is very active in the Healthy Children’s Project. She has over 35 years experience in speciaL education in the public schools in Illinois. She is now a Professional Fellow at MacMurray College in Jacksonville, Illinois, and is a learning and behavior consultant. She has chaired legislative committees for a number of professional organizations and was the recipient of the 2000 Outstanding Leadership Award of the Council for Exceptional Children. She is the author of over 20 books in the area of special education and working with children with challenging behaviors.

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