As a passionate educator and mentor for both exceptional and neurodivergent students, Jennifer has spent 20 years in the education industry specializing in professional development, curriculum design, SEL, and counseling. She is currently a high school counselor and a Doctoral candidate at Liberty University.

Dr. Barton joined the Lower School at Currey Ingram in January 2005 as a support teacher, upon completion of her Masters in Special Education at Vanderbilt. Prior to that, she earned a bachelors in Special Education at the University of Evansville. In 2012, Danielle graduated with a Doctorate in Educational Leadership and Policy from Vanderbilt University. In her time at Currey Ingram, she worked as a support teacher, classroom teacher, and Assistant Division Head. She has been the Lower School Division Head since 2015.

I was born in raised in Charlotte, North Carolina. I moved to Tennessee to obtain my bachelor's degree in Early Childhood from Trevecca Nazarene University. After completing my degree in the spring of 2013, I began my teaching career. This year is my ninth year in education. I have worked at various schools; and with various ages and have learned so much in the field. In the spring of 2020, I started my Master's degree in Instructional design and completed my degree in October of 2021.

Courtney Gallaher earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Health and a Master of Science degree in Occupational Therapy, both from Belmont University. She holds a Tennessee Professional License in Occupational Therapy. She joined the Currey Ingram Academy staff in August 2007; however, she worked in conjunction with Currey Ingram under a joint venture grant between Currey Ingram and Vanderbilt Bill Wilkerson from 2003 until 2007. She was the Lower School occupational therapist from August 2007 until May 2020. As the Lower School OT, she played an integral part in unifying the handwriting curriculum, cultivating OT framework within the division routines, and supporting sensory needs of students within the classroom. One of her passions includes presenting to educators and parents regarding topics on learning differences, sensory processing and handwriting. In 2020, she became the Assistant Director of Admissions and the Director of the Annette Eskind Institute of Learning for Currey Ingram Academy.

Dr. Tai Hinkins is a student-centered educator with leadership experience in (K-12) independent, public, and charter schools. Hinkins has a passion for researching attitudes towards inclusion and workplace dynamics, and is also highly skilled in supporting neurodiverse learners, DEIB, professional learning, and accreditation.

Dr. Humphrey earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Rhodes College, a Master of Education in Special Education from Vanderbilt University, and an Ed.D. in Educational Leadership and Policy from Vanderbilt University. She joined the Currey Ingram faculty in 2014 and worked as a teacher in the Lower School for seven years. She currently serves as the Director of Community Outreach where she oversees the CORE Program, Pathways Program, and ADHD Summer Treatment Program. She is also the Faculty Chair for Research and Data Analysis at Currey Ingram Academy.

Keynote Presenter:

Dr. Humphrey earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Rhodes College, a Master of Education in Special Education from Vanderbilt University, and an Ed. D. in Educational Leadership and Policy from Vanderbilt University. She joined the Currey Ingram faculty in 2014 and worked as a teacher in the Lower School for seven years. She currently serves as the Director of Community Outreach where she oversees the CORE Program, Pathways Program, and ADHD Summer Treatment Program. She is also the Faculty Chair for Research and Data Analysis at Currey Ingram Academy.

Geraldine Pesacreta has taught middle school reading and written language at The Hill Learning Center for 23 years. She also serves as the Coordinator for Executive Functioning Curriculum for Student Programs. Mrs. Pesacreta graduated from Clarion University with a bachelors degree and The University of Carolina, Chapel Hill with a masters degree in Special Education. Prior to teaching at The Hill Center, Geraldine taught middle school and high school students with learning differences in the public school, at a mental hospital, and a juvenile detention center. Mrs. Pesacreta brings over 40 years of experience teaching students to achieve success.

Dawn Pilotti is the McRae Family Foundation Faculty Chair of Mathematics and a Mathematics Specialist in the Middle School at Currey Ingram Academy in Brentwood, Tennessee. She has over 25 years of teaching experience in mathematics and special education. Dawn earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics from Fairfield University, a Master of Arts degree from New York University, and a Postgraduate Certificate for Mathematics Specialist from the University of Wisconsin. She is a doctoral candidate in Educational Practice and Innovation--STEM Leadership at the University of South Carolina and holds secondary mathematics certification with additional training certificates in Applied Behavior Analysis and Response to Intervention. She has written interdisciplinary curriculum for local, national and international organizations such as the National Park Service and the Acropolis Museum and was the 2013 recipient of the Tim Russert Make a Difference in Education Award. Her interests lie in improving mathematics instruction for underserved populations and in designing math curriculum to meet the needs of neurodiverse learners.

Michele Richter has been an educator for 25 years in public and private settings primarily working as a special educator with neurodiverse students. She is a mother of a child who is dyslexic and is the President-Elect of the TN branch of the International Dyslexia Association (TN IDA). She is trained in multiple literacy programs such as Slingerland, Wilson, LiPS, SPIRE, REWARDS , and Take Flight. She is finishing coursework to be a Certified Academic Language Therapist, Certified Structured Literacy Dyslexic Interventionist, and a Reading Facilitator for the AIM Institute for Learning and Research. She completed training at Vanderbilt University to be a special education advocate.