Speaker Bios
2026 MASE Best Practices Conference
REGISTER Conference Central Schedule Sponsor/Exhibit 
2026 MASE Best Practices Conference Speaker Bios
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Kasey Anderson
Kasey Anderson is the Work Experience Coordinator at the Burnsville-Eagan-Savage Transition Program. In her 14th year of teaching and second year in this role, she oversees three in-house job sites, seven community-based vocational training sites, and collaborates with teams and community partners to support employment outcomes as students prepare for graduation.
Kayla Awolope
Kayla has over 20 years of experience in education. She has served in the classroom and most recently as the Assistant Director of Special Education for Goodhue County Education District serving Red Wing Public Schools. Currently Kayla is an Education Consultant at Sourcewell, in Staples, MN. Kayla is leading new teacher trainings, licensure via portfolio cohorts and supporting communities of practice in regions 5 and 7.
Emily Aust
Emily Aust, Ed.S., CCC-SLP, is a Speech-Language Pathologist with over 20 years of experience in educational and healthcare settings. She currently serves as Past President of the Minnesota Speech-Language-Hearing Association and co-chair of the Advocacy and Governmental Affairs Committee. Emily is the speech-language pathology lead and a special education lead in Eden Prairie Schools.
Amy Krueger
Bio coming soon.
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Laura Booth
Laura has represented schools in special education matters since 1987. She loves the work and the professionals she supports.
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Erik Chrissis
Bio coming soon.
Fhonda Contreras
I serve as the Director of Special Services in Hopkins Public Schools for the past 8 years. Prior to that I was a special education supervisor; building administrator intern, special education coach, and special education teacher in St. Paul schools for over 15 years. I taught general education in Minneapolis Public Schools. I enjoy spending time with family, reading and traveling when I'm not advocating for students who have been marginalized by disability and/or race.
Rochelle Cox
Rochelle Cox is a dynamic professional with extensive experience in the field of educational leadership. Known for her strategic vision and collaborative leadership style, Rochelle has built a reputation for delivering exceptional results throughout her career. Rochelle has developed expertise in instructional coaching, MTSS, health and safety and operations. Her analytical approach to problem-solving, combined with her innovation has enabled her to successfully navigate complex challenges and identify opportunities for growth and improvement. Prior to her current role as Assistant Superintendent at Fridley Public Schools, Rochelle held leadership positions at Minneapolis Public Schools, including Interim Superintendent, where she was instrumental in the creation of intervention triads, development of mental health student support strategies, and strategic planning. Her ability to build and mentor high-performing teams has been central to her success.
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Tom Delaney, Ed.S.
Tom Delaney is the supervisor of the Interagency Partnerships Unit in the Special Education Division of the Minnesota Department of Education. This unit coordinates special education policies and programs with other state agencies providing services to children, youth and young adults with disabilities, including Medicaid programs at the Department of Human Services. In addition, this unit supports implementation of education programs in care and treatment programs and facilities.
Jennifer Danielson
Bio coming soon.
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Lindsay Engberg
Lindsay Engberg has over 10 years of experience in special education leadership in both rural and suburban school districts in Minnesota. She holds a Doctoral Degree in Educational Leadership from St. Mary’s University of Minnesota and earned her special education and educational administration credentials from Minnesota State University, Mankato.
Tia Ellis
Tia Ellis is a Special Services Supervisor for the St. Croix River Education District. Tia earned her Bachelor degree in Psychology from the College of Saint Benedict & Saint John’s University, and her Master’s and Specialist degree in School Psychology from Minnesota State University Moorhead. She aims to lead with courage, authenticity, and empathy in order to collaborate with and empower educators as believes it's through their collective work that we change student lives, our communities, and the world.
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Janet Fimmen
Janet Fimmen is a special education leader in Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagan Schools (ISD 196), where she supports more than 5,500 students with disabilities across the district. With over 20 years of experience as a special education teacher, coordinator, and director, Janet brings deep expertise and a steadfast commitment to inclusive education. She prioritizes strong partnerships with staff, families, and district leaders, recognizing that collaboration is essential to providing high-quality support for students. Janet’s leadership is rooted in the belief that every student can thrive when we lead with purpose, foster meaningful relationships, and work together to ensure that each day is an opportunity for growth and learning.
Adam Frudden
Adam focuses much of his practice on all things education. As a former educator, he understands the practical issues of dealing with difficulties and has addressed many of these issues with clients over the last decade.
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Kristine Gullen
Kristine Gullen, Ph.D. is the Project Manager for Michigan Transition To Independence (MITTIN). Kristine has published numerous articles and facilitated professional learning on topics such as Leadership, Assessment Literacy and Technology Integration. Prior to joining MAASE, Kristine was a college professor, leadership consultant, assessment consultant and special education classroom teacher.
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Heidi Hahn
Heidi is a Certified GiANT trainer and has over 30 years of experience in educational leadership. Heidi has served as an Assistant Director and Director of Special Education, and as an Assistant Superintendent and Superintendent. She is currently serving as an Associate Director of Special Education for Sourcewell, located in Staples, MN and as the Region 5/7 RLIF.
McKenzie Helgeson
McKenzie Helgeson is a Director of Special Education for the Southwest West Central Service Cooperative, supporting rural districts across southwest Minnesota. Serving as a special education administrator since 2021, McKenzie has partnered with district and cooperative leaders to build sustainable training and support systems for navigating special education fiscal monitoring.
Katie Hestness
Katie Hestness, a National Certified Guardian, brings 11+ years of experience at Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota, including six as a supervisor. As Education Navigator for Supported Decision-Making, she guides individuals and professionals on alternatives to guardianship. Katie also serves on the MAGiC board.
John Hitchcock
My expertise lies in mixed methods research, program evaluation, and special education research. I have coauthored numerous peer-reviewed articles, books, and book chapters on these topics. I also lead various studies employing randomized controlled trials (RCTs), surveys, and systematic reviews.
Dr. James Houseworth
Dr. Houseworth received his Ph.D. in Educational Psychology from the University of Minnesota in 2016. As a Research Associate at the Institute on Community Integration, he has worked with both with quantitative and qualitative methods to explore many important areas, mostly related to the quality of life of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Kate Hulse
Kate Hulse is the Director of Social/Emotional Learning & Support for Intermediate District 917. As a Nationally Certified School Psychologist and administrator, she has extensive experience working in federal setting IV programs and intermediate districts, managing districtwide mental health and SEL systems. She joined ISD 917 in 2021.
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Tish Kalla
Tish Kalla is a Director of Special Education for the Southwest West Central Service Cooperative with 15 years of leadership experience. Beginning her career as a general education teacher and school counselor, she has since led federal Setting IV programs, alternative learning centers, and rural school districts with a strong focus on student-centered systems and programs.
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Brenda Lewis
Brenda Lewis, Ph.D. is a passionate and innovative educator with over 25 years of experience in the field of education. She is an equity warrior who is an advocate for students with learning differences, multilingual learners and historically underserved students with a keen eye for building systems and leading her schools to attain academic excellence for all students. Additionally, she has led innovative work, including bringing AVID into her district, significantly increasing student achievement as a champion of tutoring and professional learning about Equity and establishing a H1-B visa program in her district to eliminate unfilled positions. During her 25 years in the field of education, Dr. Lewis has been an executive level leader at the district level for over 10 years. She has served in a variety of roles in education as a paraeducator, classroom teacher, assistant principal, principal assistant superintendent and is currently serving as the Superintendent of Fridley Public Schools in Minnesota.
Andrea Lucas
Bio coming soon.
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Amy Mace
Amy is a founding shareholder with the law firm of Squires, Waldspurger & Mace P.A. Amy is dedicated to providing practical and proactive legal advice to school districts in all areas of school law.
Diane McCarron
Long time special ed teacher, coordinator, and director. Currently working for SpEd Forms and hoping to make everyone's life a little easier.
Cheryl-Marie Manson
Cheryl-Marie Manson has 30 years of experience in education and currently leads large, statewide initiatives as Project Manager at MAASE. She specializes in coordinating complex projects, aligning diverse stakeholders, and supporting systems-level work. A Full Focus Certified Coach and Certified Google Trainer, she helps organizations implement sustainable, high-impact solutions.
Elizabeth Meske
Bio coming soon.
Noelle Meyer
Bio coming soon.
Jennifer Middendorf
Dr. Jennifer Middendorf serves as Special Education Supervisor for District 191 and lead administrator for the BEST transition program. A veteran educator with 25 years of experience, she possesses deep expertise in due process, instruction, and transition curricula. Dr. Middendorf collaborates with staff and community partners to provide students with the essential skills and resources needed for a successful transition into adulthood.
Nicole McKevett
Nicole M. McKevett, Ph.D., is an MTSS Support Specialist at the Center for Applied Research and Educational Improvement (CAREI) at the University of Minnesota, where she provides technical assistance, training and research related to Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS) implementation and coaching practices for math, literacy and MTSS. Prior to joining CAREI, Dr. McKevett was a school psychologist in Michigan and Minnesota, working in early childhood, elementary, and low incidence disability instructional settings. She has provided advocacy support to families of children with autism and provided consultation and training to districts who are working to improve their implementation of MTSS.
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Rebecca Nesset
Rebeca Nesset is the supervisor of the Program Monitoring Unit in the Special Education Division of the Minnesota Department of Education. This unit is part of the state’s system of general supervision, ensuring district and state compliance with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) as well as state statute and rule. This unit also provides training and technical assistance to district staff to foster compliance with and understanding of state and federal requirements.
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Kristin Orton
Dr. Kristin Orton serves as the Director of Special Education for the St. Croix River Education District (SCRED). Prior to joining SCRED, Dr. Orton spent 20 years at Heartland Area Education Agency in Iowa in a variety of leadership roles. She holds a Ph.D. in School Psychology and a Master's in Special Education from the University of Oregon.
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Dana Page
Dr. Dana Page is a Black cultural liaison and founder of Turn the Page Consulting. She partners with Minnesota schools and districts to strengthen culturally responsive family engagement, address disproportionality, and support special education leaders navigating compliance, equity, and systems change through research-informed, practice-based strategies.
Mona Perkins
Bio coming soon.
Patty Popp, Ed.D.
Dr. Popp has 33-years of experience in education as a special education teacher, coordinator, and director. She currently serves as a Specific Learning Disabilities (SLD) Support Specialist for the Minnesota Department of Education. She previously served as a Director of Special Education for twenty years.
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Dr. Melissa Schaller
Melissa Schaller is the Executive Director of Student Services for Intermediate School District 917. In this role, her focus is acting in the best interest of the students the district serves. She does this through focusing on the district's core values while providing oversight for district special education and secondary programming, including teaching and learning, social/emotional learning and support. Her experience includes working in greater Minnesota as well as metro area school districts. Melissa has her Ph.D. from the University of Minnesota. She has served many state-level organizations in the field of education, including MASE, MASA, and MN CEC. Melissa currently serves as the chair of the board of directors for the Minnesota Board of School Administrators as well as the CASE representative for MASE.
Christian Shafer
Christian Shafer has been working with school leaders for almost two decades. He has expertise in student issues, staffing and employment matters and all things special education. He tells a good Dad joke as well!
Sherlonda Sharp
Sherlonda Sharp is a powerhouse of leadership, laughter, and lasting impact. With over 20 years of experience in higher education, public speaking, engagement, and comedy, she blends wisdom with wit to create experiences that stick. Her career has been defined by championing diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging—always with a people-first approach.
From mentoring future leaders to captivating national audiences, Sherlonda’s magic lies in her ability to meet people where they are—then inspire them to aim higher. She’s as comfortable in a boardroom as she is on a comedy stage, bringing authenticity, insight, and a healthy dose of humor to every interaction.
When Sherlonda speaks, people don’t just listen—they lean in, laugh out loud, and leave with new tools, fresh perspectives, and a renewed sense of possibility.
Benjamin Silberglitt
Ben Silberglitt, PhD, CETL has over 30 years of experience in education, including: teaching; leading school districts in their use of data and technology; and working in the public and private sector in product management, development, and implementation. Dr. Silberglitt brings to the educational technology world both a deep experience in and understanding of research-based approaches to educational practice. He maintains a focus on using technology with a purpose, to further educational outcomes, and he helps education leaders bring that mindset to their work.
Curt Slater
Mr. Curtis Slater has dedicated more than 34 years to serving in the U.S. public school system—as a paraprofessional, teacher, dean of students, associate principal, and principal. In 2018, he was recognized as a National Distinguished Principal of the Year for his commitment to transforming school culture and empowering others to lead with purpose.
Sarah Sirna
Sarah Sirna is a dedicated educational leader and advocate committed to fostering equitable learning environments where every student is prepared for post-secondary success. She currently serves as an Alternative and Prevention Support Specialist for the Minnesota Department of Education, where she provides technical support for ADSIS implementation and serves on the PBIS state management team. Her expertise spans strategic planning, change management, and the development of balanced assessment systems designed to heighten equity and instructional excellence. Sarah holds a PK-12 Administrative and Superintendent License and a master’s degree from the University of Minnesota and is a certified Reading Specialist.
Jill Stewart-Kellar
Bio coming soon.
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Nancy Thul
Nancy Thul MS CCC-SLP is the Speech Language Pathology Assistants (SLPA) Program Director at Alexandria Technical and Community College (ATCC) in Alexandria, Minnesota. Nancy has worked in both the schools (Birth to 3, preschool, K-12, ALC and level 4 setting) and in a medical setting (pediatrics and adults). In 2012 she was hired by ATCC to develop and write the online SLPA program. It launched in 2013. In 2015 she developed the 16 credit SLPA Certificate program for those that already have a BS/BA degree in speech language hearing sciences and wanted to become an SLPA. Nancy has been on various American Speech Hearing Association (ASHA) SLPA boards as well as being past president of Minnesota Speech Hearing Association (MNSHA). Nancy was part of the MNSHA legislative steering committee that launched and passed the SLPA license in the state of Minnesota, summer of 2025.
Karen Tzanetopoulos, M.S.
Karen Tzanetopoulos is a speech and language pathologist, math learning specialist, author, lecturer, instructor, and owner of Learning to Full Potential. She specializes in dyslexia and other language difficulties, and how they impact learning math.
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Dr. Lois Vaughan-Hussain
Bio coming soon.
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Mick Waldspurger
Mick is a founding shareholder with the law firm of Squires, Waldspurger & Mace P.A. Mick is dedicated to providing practical and proactive legal advice to school districts in all areas of school law.
Vicki Weinberg, PhD
Weinberg has 32-years of experience in education as a special education teacher in Federal settings 1-4, program director of non-profit advocacy organization. She currently serves as a Specific Learning Disabilities (SLD) Support Specialist for the Minnesota Department of Education with specialization in implementation science and structured literacy.
Phyllis Wolfram
Phyllis Thompson Wolfram is a nationally recognized leader in special education and the Executive Director of the Council of Administrators of Special Education (CASE), where she champions professional learning, policy, and advocacy for school leaders across the globe. With more than 40 years in public education—including 29 years in special education administration spanning rural to large urban districts—Phyllis brings unmatched experience, insight, and passion to her work. A former CASE President and respected policy voice who collaborates closely with the U.S. Department of Education, she is a sought-after keynote speaker and trusted thought partner in advancing effective, equitable leadership. Honored with both state and international distinguished service awards, Phyllis continues to shape the future of special education while remaining deeply committed to the educators, students, and families she serves.
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Jessica Yzermans
Jessica serves students as a licensed Special Education EBD teacher with 17 years of experience and have spent the past 10 years at Intermediate School District 916 in Federal 4 settings, including eight years developing inclusive work-based learning. I am passionate about creating opportunities for high-needs populations through employability skill development and meaningful classroom-to-community experiences that support post-secondary success and Career and Technical Education pathways.