The LDA Nominating Committee is pleased to introduce the candidates who will be placed in nomination at the Assembly of Delegates during the Annual Conference, February 20, 2021. 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:
JoAnna Barnes, 1st Vice President
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 has served as Co-Chair of the LDA Public Policy and Advocacy Committee, and one of three LDA representatives to the National Joint Committee on Learning Disabilities. In 2015 she chaired a LDA task force on the 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.
Kevin Gailey, 2nd Vice President
As the Head of School for Midwest Academy and as a parent of a child with learning disabilities, 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.
Bev Johns, Secretary
Beverley Johns has 40 years of experience working with students with learning disabilities, and/or behavioral disorders within public schools. She supervised LD and EBD teachers in 22 school districts, was the founder and administrator of the Garrison Alternative School for students with severe EBD in Jacksonville, Illinois, and later the coordinator for staff development for the Four Rivers Special Education District. She is now a learning and behavior consultant and was a Professional Fellow for MacMurray College (where she taught courses on Special Education Law, on EBD, Adaptations, and on Diverse Learners). She is also the President of the Learning Disabilities Association of Illinois.
Gabrielle Miller, Treasurer
As the Executive Director of the SALT Center at the University of Arizona, Gabrielle Miller leads one of the nation’s most prestigious programs for undergraduates who learn differently. The SALT Center supports the academic and clinical needs of UArizona undergraduates with learning and attention challenges and partners with universities throughout the world to help university students who learn differently persist.
Prior to her current role, Dr. Miller held national nonprofit leadership roles as both President & CEO of Raising A Reader and VP of Programs at Reading Is Fundamental. She also held leadership 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 special education 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 began her career as a special education teacher in rural Maryland where her interests in transition at all stages of development (early education, adolescent, and post-secondary), family engagement, and research to practice began. 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 and currently holds the role of Treasurer.
Board Members – 3 Year Term (2021-2024)
Jaumeiko Coleman
Jaumeiko Coleman, PhD, CCC-SLP, FNAP is the Director of Clinical Services at the Atlanta Speech School. Her responsibilities include supporting the implementation of audiology; occupational therapy; reading, writing, and mathematics intervention; and speech-language-pathology clinic programs for children and adults. Her current position and past work in school-based settings, universities, a research unit, a continuing education accrediting unit, and as Director of School Services for the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association have included a strong interprofessional practice focus.
Rachel Krueger, B.C.A.S.E.
Rachel Krueger is the mother of three children, one of which has Learning Disabilities. She is a former preschool teacher and has training in Autism Spectrum Disorders, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and Pediatric Occupational Therapy.
Rachel is President of the LDA Texas affiliate and has been involved in LDA for many years. She is also a member of the National Alliance on Mental Illness and is a certified Mental Health Advocate, a Board Certified Special Education Advocate, and has a Child Psychology certificate. Rachel has worked with children who have bipolar issues, are on the Autism Spectrum, and have Oppositional Defiance Disorders. She is also the Co-Chair of the Mental Health Committee, Assistant Chair for the LDA Annual International Conference, and a Parent Advocacy Training Program member through LDA.
Rachel is passionate about educating parents about learning disabilities and how to have their child diagnosed at an earlier age. She is thankful for LDA of America and is grateful to be part of such a wonderful organization.
Rachel lives in San Antonio, Texas, with her husband and three beautiful children.
Anne Huntington Sharma
Anne Huntington Sharma is President of 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.
