CADRE - Key Persons

Aimee Walsh Aimee Walsh has been with Direction Service for over 20 years and is the Chief Executive Officer. She previously served as the Associate Executive Director and as the program director of the Family Services program for more than ten years and launched the Wraparound Facilitation program for children... (read more)

Art Cernosia is an attorney and an education consultant from Williston, Vermont. Art previously worked as a public school teacher, an Assistant Attorney General assigned to the Vermont Department of Education, a practicing attorney, and consultant with the Northeast Regional Resource Center, a special education technical assistance center.

Candace began her career working for a residential facility that served young adults with serious emotional disability. She left the field of social work to become a lawyer with the hope of advocating more effectively on behalf of children and adults with disabilities. As a public interest lawyer, Candace went on to represent low-income Minnesotans in the areas of disability, healthcare, employment, housing, and elder law, specializing in federal government benefit programs and access to healthcare. During this time, she also participated in a juvenile law project that provided representation to students in educational disputes, including suspension, expulsion, and special education. In 2010, Candace returned to her home state of Colorado and joined the Colorado Department of Education's (CDE) Office of Special Education as dispute resolution and policy specialist where her primary role was within the state complaint system. In addition to conducting state complaint investigations, she has designed and provided regular training and technical assistance on special education law and policy to Department staff, partnering agencies, and Administrative Law Judges from the Office of Administrative Courts. In partnership with PEAK Parent Center, Candace initiated a project to offer early dispute resolution activities to Colorado stakeholders that resulted in CDE sponsored regional trainings in IEP Facilitation. During this time, Candace also served as CDE's representative to the Colorado Restorative Justice Council and the Colorado Juvenile Parole Board. In the fall of 2016, Candace left the CDE to join CADRE as a policy analyst. While at CADRE, Candace analyzed trends and system performance in special education dispute resolution and provided intensive and targeted technical assistance to constituents, including state education agencies and federally funded parent centers, on dispute resolution policy and IDEA regulatory requirements. Candace also developed materials and presented information related to dispute resolution system performance and improvement. And, with CADRE colleague Diana Cruz, she designed an innovative training on the application of restorative approaches to special education dispute resolution. Candace left CADRE in the fall of 2017 to be closer to her family in Colorado and rejoined the CDE as a dispute resolution and policy specialist where she again works primarily within the state complaint and general supervision system to promote improved outcomes for students with disabilities in Colorado. In the Spring of 2018, Candace became the CDE's dispute resolution supervisor, where she oversaw the coordination of Part B dispute resolution services for the state. In 2019, Candace became the Director of General Supervision and Monitoring, where she oversaw the dispute and alternative dispute resolution system, IDEA data collection and reporting, parent engagement, and results driven accountability system. In February of 2023, Candace left the Colorado Department of Education to join Disability Law Colorado, the state's designated protection and advocacy system where she served as the Investigations and Monitoring Attorney Team Leader. Candace returned to the Colorado Department of Education in June of 2023 where she serves as the Director of Special Education Guidance. Candace's primary professional interest is in special education dispute resolution system performance, particularly the relationship between early dispute resolution and IDEA's procedural safeguards, and the potential of the state complaint process to effect systemic change to benefit all students with disabilities, including youth who may not have the parental advocacy and support presumed by the IDEA. Candace Hawkins Candace began her career working for a residential facility that served young adults with serious emotional disability. She left the field of social work to become a lawyer with the hope of advocating more effectively on behalf of children and adults with disabilities. As a public interest lawyer... (read more)

Carmen Sanchez Carmen joined the Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) in 2006 after gaining 10 years of experience supporting families of individuals with disabilities in Fairfax County, Virginia. Prior to joining OSEP, she was the Family Resource Coordinator at the Fairfax Infant-Toddler Connection... (read more)

Job Titles:

• Attorney, Hearing Officer, Mediator

Claudette Rushing Claudette Rushing is an Attorney, Hearing Officer, Mediator, and Trainer in Seattle, Washington and the owner and Principal of Education Resolutions, LLC. She also works as an attorney advisor for the U.S. Department of the Interior/Bureau of Indian Education, and as an arbitrator for FINRA. She has... (read more)

Job Titles:

• Executive Director of the Wisconsin Family Assistance Center for Education

Courtney Salzer Courtney Salzer is the Executive Director of the Wisconsin Family Assistance Center for Education, Training, and Support, Inc. She serves as Co-Director of the OSEP-funded Wisconsin Parent Training and Information Center (PTI) and the Director of the Region C Parent TA Center (RPTAC). Courtney also... (read more) Courtney Salzer is the Executive Director of the Wisconsin Family Assistance Center for Education, Training, and Support, Inc. She serves as Co-Director of the OSEP-funded Wisconsin Parent Training and Information Center (PTI) and the Director of the Region C Parent TA Center (RPTAC). Courtney also serves as the Parent Partner on the Wisconsin Special Education Mediation System. Courtney received Law Degree and Bachelor's Degree from Marquette University. She earned her Professional Certificate in Non Profit Management from UW-Milwaukee. Prior to her work with WI FACETS, Courtney was an attorney in private practice, where she did a variety of civil litigation including school and special education law. Courtney is currently an Instructor in the UW-Milwaukee Nonprofit Management Program. Courtney has served on several nonprofit Boards of Directors, including currently as a founding member of the National Center for Parent Leadership, Advocacy, and Community Empowerment (National PLACE). Courtney and her husband are the parents of two amazing young children.

Job Titles:

• Managing Member of Special Education Solutions

Lenore Knudtson Ms. Knudtson has a bachelor of Arts degree from Ball State University, a Masters of Science in Education degree from the University of Wisconsin, and a Juris Doctorate degree from William Mitchell College of Law. She began her career as a school psychologist working with school teams, parents, and... (read more) Deusdedi Merced Deusdedi Merced is the Managing Member of Special Education Solutions, LLC (SES). Since 1997, Mr. Merced's legal career has focused on special education law. After a period as an attorney with the Office of Legal Services with the New York City Department of Education, he spent several years... (read more)

For almost two decades, Diana has provided technical assistance (TA) and support to the 26 parent centers in Region A of the US (including the territories of Puerto Rico and US Virgin Islands) under the NE-PACT Regional Parent TA Center funded by the US Department of Education. Autin also directs the National Center for Parent Leadership, Advocacy, and Community Empowerment (National PLACE, a membership organization of family-led, family-serving local, state, and national organizations dedicated to strengthening the family and family organization voices and impact at decision-making tables. Since 2005, Ms. Autin has provided TA and support to other F2Fs and Family Voices Affiliates, first as a Regional Coordinator, then as a National TA Coordinator, and over the past 7 years as Co-Director of the National Center for Leadership in Family Professional Partnerships, a project of Family Voices in collaboration with SPAN, which is funded by the Maternal and Child Health Bureau, Health Resources and Services Administration, US Department of Health and Human Services. Working regionally, nationally and in Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands, Diana provides support to F2Fs/FV State Affiliates, Parent Centers, and other family-led organizations on issues related to family engagement, parent and youth leadership development, health and mental health, cultural competence, early childhood, education, and transition to adult services for youth. She is on the Advisory Committee for the Region 1 Equity Assistance Center and the Board of the National Federation of Families (FFCMH). She is the recipient of numerous awards including most recently the CADRE Keys to Access Award (2022), NJ Council on Developmental Disabilities Lifetime Achievement Advocacy Award (2022), Family Voices Champion of Health Equity Award (2021), NJ Women Leading the Way for Immigrant Justice (2020), and National FFCMH Reclaiming Children Award (2018). Diana and her husband have raised four adult children from diverse backgrounds, and have a 16-year granddaughter. Autin is of Cajun and Native American background. She received her BA degree with Honors from the University of Michigan, and graduated from the University of Michigan Law School in 1977. She also was a Revson Fellow at Columbia University and a Wasserstein Public Interest Fellow at Harvard Law School. Diana Autin Diana MTK Autin, JD, is Senior Director for Organizational Capacity-Building for the SPAN Parent Advocacy Network (SPAN), a family-serving, parent-led organization located in Newark, NJ, which houses NJ's federally-designated Family-to-Family Health Information Center and the state's Parent Training... (read more) Art Cernosia Art Cernosia is an attorney and an education consultant from Williston, Vermont. Art previously worked as a public school teacher, an Assistant Attorney General assigned to the Vermont Department of Education, a practicing attorney, and consultant with the Northeast Regional Resource Center, a... (read more)

Job Titles:

• Leader

Angie Balsley Dr. Angie Balsley is an educational leader with 25 years of practical experience in implementing IDEA, working with schools and families to achieve outcomes for students with disabilities. She leads the development and implementation of laws, policies, and procedures at the local, state, and... (read more)

Job Titles:

• Professor

Dr. Ann Turnbull has been a professor, teacher, researcher, and advocate for individuals with disabilities, their families, and service providers for more than 4.5 decades. After being a special education teacher and working in a residential institution, she joined the School of Education faculty at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1973. After seven years, she and her growing family moved to Lawrence, KS where she joined the University of Kansas faculty. In 1988, she was the co-founder with her husband, Rud, of the Beach Center on Disability (www.beachcenter.org(link is external) ) which is a vital hub of national and international research and development on contemporary issues impacting the quality of life for individuals with disabilities and their families. Ann had a joint appointment with the School of Education and the Schiefelbusch Institute for Lifespan Studies for 34 years until she retired in 2014. Ann was the Principal Investigator on over 25 federally funded research and personnel development grants focusing primarily on supporting families of individuals with disabilities. She has co-authored 33 books in the fields of special education and intellectual and developmental disabilities. She is the co-author of two leading textbooks. One is Exceptional Lives: Special Education in Today's Schools and the other one is Families, Professionals, and Exceptionalities: Positive Outcomes through Partnerships and Trust. She has also co-authored over 280 articles and chapters. Ann has humbly received a number of awards. In 1999, she was selected by the National Historic Preservation Trust in Developmental Disabilities as one of 36 individuals who "changed the course of history for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities in the 20th century." She received the University of Kansas' highest awards for graduate education, as well as for research. She was selected in 1990 for the Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy International Leadership Award and in 2004 for the Distinguished Research Award from The Arc of the US. She was presented the Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disability and the Council for Exceptional Children. Most recently she received the 2017 Keys to Access Award from CADRE. Over Ann's career, she has focused on a wide array of disability-related specializations across the lifespan from early intervention through adulthood. Her favorite topics encompass trusting family-professional partnerships, research-based IDEA implementation, family quality of life, inclusion in schools and communities, positive behavior support, transition to adulthood, comprehensive adult supports, and advocacy. During retirement, she is continuing to work on an array of activities including revisions of her textbooks, conference presentations, module development, and serving as an expert witness. In addition to her professional credentials, Ann is the parent of three children, one of whom, Jay (1967-2009), was an adult son with multiple disabilities. Ann describes Jay as having an "enviable life" characterized by inclusion; productivity; and contributions to his family, friends, and community. His life and legacy continue to be the source of Ann's greatest learning, and she appreciatively regards Jay as her "greatest professor." Ann Turnbull Dr. Ann Turnbull has been a professor, teacher, researcher, and advocate for individuals with disabilities, their families, and service providers for more than 4.5 decades. After being a special education teacher and working in a residential institution, she joined the School of Education faculty... (read more)

Courtney Brown Dr. Courtney Brown serves as the external evaluator for CADRE. Dr. Brown has worked in evaluation and performance measurement for over 17 years. She has a strong background in research and evaluation methodology, including experimental and quasi-experimental design with significant experience... (read more)

Natalie Holdren Dr. Natalie Holdren is the Education Specialist Credential Coordinator at the Gevirtz Graduate School of Education at UC Santa Barbara where she oversees the Extensive Support Needs credential program, teaches graduate courses in special education, and supervises teacher candidates in their K-22... (read more)

Job Titles:

• Senior Consultant
• Professor of Conflict Management and Former University Ombudsman at Kennesaw State University

Timothy Hedeen Dr. Timothy Hedeen has served as CADRE's Senior Consultant for 20 years. Dr. Hedeen is a Professor of Conflict Management and former University Ombudsman at Kennesaw State University. He provides mediation services through court and private programs, delivers trainings in the areas of conflict... (read more) Dr. Timothy Hedeen has served as CADRE's Senior Consultant for 20 years. Dr. Hedeen is a Professor of Conflict Management and former University Ombudsman at Kennesaw State University. He provides mediation services through court and private programs, delivers trainings in the areas of conflict resolution and communication, facilitates group and public policy decision making and planning, and conducts research and evaluation on dispute resolution and justice policy. He serves as a senior consultant to CADRE and on the editorial board of Conflict Resolution Quarterly. He has served on the Commission on Dispute Resolution of the Georgia Supreme Court. the Section Council of the American Bar Association's Section of Dispute Resolution, and on the editorial board of Family Court Review. He is a past chair of the Board of Directors of the National Association for Community Mediation.

Job Titles:

• Professor at the University of Northern Colorado

Tracy Gershwin Dr. Tracy Gershwin is a full professor at the University of Northern Colorado (UNC) where she teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in special education licensure programs and coordinates the Master of Arts in Applied Behavior Analysis (Applied Behavior Analysis International-ABAI approved)... (read more)

Job Titles:

• Founder and Executive Director of Community Inclusion & Development Alliance

Terry Amsler Terry Amsler is an Adjunct Lecturer with the School of Public and Environmental Affairs at Indiana University (Bloomington) where he teaches courses on public engagement. He is also Program Director Emeritus of the Institute for Local Government's Public Engagement Program, having retired in 2015... (read more) Young Seh Bae Dr. Young Seh Bae is the founder and Executive Director of Community Inclusion & Development Alliance (CIDA: www.cidainfo.com(link is external) ), a grassroots organization with the mission of strengthening the capacity and increasing the inclusion opportunities of individuals with disabilities. She earned her... (read more) Dr. Young Seh Bae is the founder and Executive Director of Community Inclusion & Development Alliance (CIDA: www.cidainfo.com(link is external) ), a grassroots organization with the mission of strengthening the capacity and increasing the inclusion opportunities of individuals with disabilities. She earned her doctorate degree in Special Education from Teachers College at Columbia University. Dr. Bae taught in a New York City special education school as a NYS-certified special education teacher. She also taught as an Adjunct Assistant Professor in Columbia University and St. John's University. Dr. Bae's research accomplishments include mathematics education for students with learning disabilities, mathematical word problem-solving for students with ASD, and sexuality education for students with ASD.

Ed Feinberg Edward Feinberg, Ph.D., is a veteran program administrator, psychologist, writer, and trainer on a variety of issues related to Parts C and B of IDEA. He is now retired; he previously served as the Program Manager of the Anne Arundel County, Maryland Infants and Toddlers Program. In this capacity he... (read more)

Esperanza Reyes Esperanza is mother to two boys, including a 4 year-old and a 14 year-old with ASD. She is also a sibling to an adult with Intellectual Disabilities with ASD. She currently serves as Associate Director for the Utah Parent Center (UPC). She has worked with many families in the state for... (read more)

Job Titles:

• Principal at Sound Options Group, LLC

Greg Abell Greg is the Principal at Sound Options Group, LLC, a Conflict Engagement firm. In this role he coordinates the design, implementation and delivery of all services. His particular area of expertise is in assisting agencies, organizations and communities in designing and implementing systems for more... (read more)

Job Titles:

• Senior Program Manager
• Senior Program Manager / Legal Officer for the Dispute Resolution Unit

Jamila Pollard Jamila C. Pollard, Esq. is the senior program manager/legal officer for the Dispute Resolution Unit in the Division for Special Education Services and Supports at the Georgia Department of Education. Since October 2013, Jamila has provided leadership in Georgia's implementation of the IDEA dispute... (read more) Jamila C. Pollard, Esq. is the senior program manager/legal officer for the Dispute Resolution Unit in the Division for Special Education Services and Supports at the Georgia Department of Education. Since October 2013, Jamila has provided leadership in Georgia's implementation of the IDEA dispute resolution processes of mediation, formal written complaints, and due process hearing requests. After joining CADRE's intensive technical assistance workgroup on IEP Facilitation in June 2014, Jamila coordinated the development and current implementation of Georgia's IEP Team meeting facilitation program. While at the Georgia Department of Education, she has presented at numerous conferences on special education-related topics including legal compliance and dispute resolution processes and practices. Jamila is also an active member of the State Bar of Georgia's Young Lawyers Division, Advocates of Students with Disabilities Committee. Prior to joining the Georgia Department of Education, Jamila was a staff attorney with the U.S Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit, where she served as a screening and motions attorney. In her two-year term with the Court, Jamila researched and drafted legal memoranda to assist in the disposition of direct appeals from federal criminal convictions, federal and state prisoner civil rights and post-conviction relief appeals, federal appeals from federal civil judgments, and final decisions by federal agencies. She also orally presented research, analysis, and recommendations to active federal judges. Before Jamila graduated from William and Mary Law School, she served for five years as a middle school mathematics and language arts teacher in a Georgia public school district. As an educator, Jamila was actively involved in the school and community, and proudly served as a Student Support Team Chairperson and a volleyball coach.

Job Titles:

• Co - Founder

Jan Serak, M.S. is the co-founder and served 22 years as CEO (1995-2017) of the WI Family Assistance Center for Education, Training, and Support (WI FACETS(link is external) ), a parent-led, family-serving agency located in Milwaukee, WI. Serak was the co-founder and Parent Partner (1996-2017) of the Wisconsin Special Education Mediation System(link is external) , where she provided administrative oversight, training, and consultation in WI and nationally on topics including mediation, IEP facilitation, and collaborative problem solving. She is interested in building equitable dispute resolution systems and local-level capacity. Serak currently is the Director of Serak Consulting Services, LLC, where she provides consultation and training for boards of directors, interim agency management, assistance with strategic planning and grant writing, and curriculum development and training (on IDEA, literacy, leadership-related topics). She received her B.S. from the University of WI and M.S. in Educational Psychology and Dispute Resolution from Marquette University. Prior to her retirement, Serak served as the Co-Director of WI FACETS' Regional Parent Technical Assistance Center (https://regioncptac.org(link is external) ). The Regional Center provided TA for 11 Midwest Parent Centers. Serak was the Co-Director of Wisconsin's Parent Training and Information Center, serving Wisconsin families of children with disabilities for 17 years. She co-directed WI FACETS' Community Parent Resource Center serving Milwaukee parents for 7 years. Serak was Executive Director of Parent Education Project of WI for 5 years. Serak was a founding Board member of the National Center for Parent Leadership, Advocacy, and Community Empowerment (National PLACE(link is external) ), advocating to ensure a place at the table for every family and family organization. She served on the National CADRE Advisory Board and the IDEA Partnership Creating Agreement national training team. She was a Senior Advisor for the National Center for Parent Information and Resources and a consultant for the National Center for Systemic Improvement. Other leadership roles included: National Center for Deaf-Blindness Family Engagement Technical Workgroup, Family Support Research and Training Center Advisory Board, Advisory Panel for the National Autism Indicators Report, OSEP P&A/Parent Center Collaboration Workgroup, WI Superintendents' Exceptional Education Council, WI Governor's School Accountability Design Team. She served on multiple review panels for USDOE/OSEP and the National Institute of Mental Health. She served as Board President of the Autism Society of WI, President of the Autism Society of SE WI, and as a Board member and Legislative Chair for the Autism Society of America. Serak has two sons (Ben, who has autism; and Jeff, CFO for Racine Unified School District). She loves watching her grandchildren's sports activities (Aria Serak, Luke Serak) and traveling with family. She passionately believes that every child deserves a chance to shine. Jan Serak Jan Serak, M.S. is the co-founder and served 22 years as CEO (1995-2017) of the WI Family Assistance Center for Education, Training, and Support (WI FACETS(link is external) ), a parent-led, family-serving agency located in Milwaukee, WI. Serak was the co-founder and Parent Partner (1996-2017) of the Wisconsin Special(link is external) ... (read more) Odilla Sidime Recognizing how conflict impacts human interaction and can interfere with meeting the needs of students, Odilla Sidime is diligent about empowering families and schools to work strategically and creatively to generate options for appropriately serving and supporting students. She is the founder of... (read more)

Job Titles:

• Founder of Harper Conflict Resolution, LLC

Jason A. Harper Jason Harper is the founder of Harper Conflict Resolution, LLC. He specializes in Education and Employment mediation utilizing a collaborative approach. In addition, Jason is a nationally recognized alternative dispute resolution (ADR) consultant, conflict management coach, adjunct professor, and... (read more)

Job Titles:

• Program Director for the Conflict & Dispute
• Program Director for the Conflict & Dispute Resolution Masters

John Inglish John Inglish is the Program Director for the Conflict & Dispute Resolution Masters program, an interdisciplinary program housed at the University of Oregon School of Law. Prior to this, John served as an Education Program Specialist with the Oregon Department of Education where he managed the... (read more) John Inglish is the Program Director for the Conflict & Dispute Resolution Masters program, an interdisciplinary program housed at the University of Oregon School of Law. Prior to this, John served as an Education Program Specialist with the Oregon Department of Education where he managed the special education mediation program. Prior to ODE, John served as a research associate and director for Technical Assistance and Consulting Services, an outreach unit housed in the University of Oregon's College of Education. John's early career history includes work as an instructional assistant, job coach, school-based occupational therapy practitioner, civil rights advocate, and attorney. He spent over 10 years providing services to students with disabilities in school districts in Utah, California, and Maine. Subsequently, he worked on education and other civil rights issues for the Disability Law Center of Utah. John¹s interests include procedural safeguards and dispute resolution under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), school discipline reform, juvenile justice, school-based mental health, assistive technology, and restorative justice. John holds undergraduate degrees in occupational therapy and psychology, a master's in public administration and policy, and a doctorate in law.

Julie J. Weatherly, Esq. has been working with school agencies in the area of special education since 1986. She is the owner and founder of Resolutions in Special Education, Inc., a special education law firm in Alabama with offices in Mobile and Birmingham. Julie is a member of the State Bars of Alabama and Georgia and for more than thirty-five years has provided legal representation and consultation to school agencies across the country in the area of educating students with disabilities. She has been a member of the faculty for many national and state special education legal institutes and is a frequent speaker at special education law conferences and professional development sessions. Julie has developed a number of training programs that support special education legal compliance and has been published nationally as a part of her trainings, workshops and seminars. In June of 1996, Julie appeared with Leslie Stahl on CBS news program "60 Minutes" to discuss the cost of meeting the legal requirements of IDEA and in 1998, she was honored by Georgia's Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) as the Individual who had Contributed Most to Students with Disabilities. In April 2012, Julie received the Award for Outstanding Service from the Council of Administrators of Special Education (CASE). Julie Weatherly Julie J. Weatherly, Esq. has been working with school agencies in the area of special education since 1986. She is the owner and founder of Resolutions in Special Education, Inc., a special education law firm in Alabama with offices in Mobile and Birmingham. Julie is a member of the State Bars of... (read more)

Job Titles:

• Consultant for Ed

Kathy Clayton, M.Ed., is a consultant for Ed21 Consulting Services. Her 25-year career has seen her serving at all levels of the public education system in special education roles. Most recently, she spent five years as the Texas State Director of Special Education of the Texas Education Agency (TEA). During her time at the TEA, she made significant contributions that led to improvements in special education across the state.

Job Titles:

• Learning and Development Specialist

Kelly Rauscher Kelly Rauscher joined CADRE in 2015 as a Learning and Development Specialist. Kelly brings over 25 years of experience working at the local, state, and national levels within the education, mental health, and foster care systems. As a parent of children who benefitted from both early intervention... (read more) Kelly Rauscher joined CADRE in 2015 as a Learning and Development Specialist. Kelly brings over 25 years of experience working at the local, state, and national levels within the education, mental health, and foster care systems. As a parent of children who benefitted from both early intervention and special education services, and as someone who experienced challenges navigating these systems, she is passionate about supporting state education agencies, lead agencies and parent centers in building local-level capacity and in improving their states' dispute resolution systems. Kelly provides trainings and technical assistance to support a full continuum of special education dispute resolution options and specializes in system design and improvement, stakeholder engagement, building local-level capacity, and instructional design. She has worked predominately with under-resourced educators, parents, and providers in both rural and urban areas, and continuously strives to facilitate the development and implementation of systemic solutions to meet the needs of those most impacted. She also serves as the project lead in the use of technology for delivering information and training to different audiences through a variety of platforms. Prior to joining CADRE, Kelly was with the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) for eight years. She managed the Social and Emotional Learning Standards Professional Development and School Mental Health initiatives and was the co-lead in the development and implementation of several systems, including an IEP Facilitation System, a Comprehensive System of Learning Supports, and a Family Engagement System. Kelly also served as the Parent Involvement (Indicator 8) team leader and oversaw related improvement activities and survey administration. When Kelly isn't working, thinking about work, or dreaming about work, she enjoys hanging out with her husband, three sons, and goofy cat. She also loves to read, hike, listen to podcasts, and dabble in creative endeavors, such as writing, painting, and pottery.

Job Titles:

• Kerry Smith Attorney

Kerry Smith Attorney Kerry Voss Smith has been the Director of the Pennsylvania Office for Dispute Resolution (ODR) since 2002. She is a graduate of Penn State University (B.S. Special/Elementary Education); Antioch University Midwest (M.A. Conflict Analysis & Engagement); and Dickinson School of Law (J.D.

Larry Ringer After graduating from the University of Wisconsin School of Law in 1977, Larry Ringer worked for 12 years as an attorney for publicly-funded law programs in Georgia, Pennsylvania, and Minnesota. His work focused on representing children with disabilities and their families in both individual and... (read more)

Ms. Knudtson has a bachelor of Arts degree from Ball State University, a Masters of Science in Education degree from the University of Wisconsin, and a Juris Doctorate degree from William Mitchell College of Law. She began her career as a school psychologist working with school teams, parents, and children with disabilities. As a special education attorney and partner at Pingora Consulting, Ms. Knudtson provides consultation, training, and technical assistance to schools and states from coast to coast. She also serves as a mediator, complaint investigator, and hearing officer in several states and speaks to audiences across the nation on special education law and compliance.

Lisa Pagano From 2006 until her retirement in December 2022, Lisa Pagano worked for the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP). First as a State Lead and Audit Facilitator, she supported States' implementation of Part B and Part C program and fiscal requirements. She later... (read more)

Luann Purcell Luann L. Purcell, Ed.D. currently is president of Luann Purcell, LLC where she consults and is a strategic analyst for educational and associational organizations. Her tag sums up her current professional philosophy: Learning, Leading, and Progressing! She recently retired as the Executive Director... (read more) Luann L. Purcell, Ed.D. currently is president of Luann Purcell, LLC where she consults and is a strategic analyst for educational and associational organizations. Her tag sums up her current professional philosophy: Learning, Leading, and Progressing! She recently retired as the Executive Director of the international Council of Administrators of Special Education, Inc (CASE), a division of the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC). In her position as the Chief Executive Officer of an international professional organization of school administrators whose primary responsibility is in leadership of special education programs for children, her major job responsibilities included: consulting and advising administrators on best practices for leadership and development of quality programs for students with disabilities; assisting members in developing networking systems through state, provincial, and country units in order to provide better services to members; advocating at the governmental level to assure appropriate legislation to facilitate the development and maintenance of quality programs for students with disabilities; and providing Keynote/breakout sessions and presentations at state, provincial, and regional conferences on leadership, legislative/policy updates, attitude adjustment, the passion in compassion, and other current education issues. From 2002-2020, she keynoted and led sessions in over 48 states and 4 foreign countries on various educational issues and the development of proactive leadership skills in times of change. She is one of the authors of Leading by Convening: A Blueprint for Authentic Engagement and worked extensively with state and provincial CASE units to implement this model of sustainable change by authentically engaging cross stakeholders. Dr. Purcell has had a variety of experiences throughout her 48 years in education including experience as a general education teacher at both high school and middle school level, teacher of students with emotional and behavioral disorders, coordinator at a regional educational service center, and assistant superintendent for pupil services for 18 years in a local district with 27,000 students. Luann has been very active in CEC from the chapter level through the international level and believes strongly in the local chapter as a way to promote teacher retention and quality! Since 1990, Dr. Purcell has served the education community in adjunct instructor positions for various higher education institutions including Georgia College and University, Fort Valley State University, Troy State University, and currently Piedmont College. Dr. Purcell was appointed in 2006 by Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue to the Early Care and Learning State Board which she chaired and has served on through re-appointments by Governors Deal and Kemp to present day. She has been involved over the years in many community service activities and is very involved in her church, currently teaching an adult couples Sunday School class as well as being director of missions at the church and associational level. Dr. Purcell received her bachelor's degree in History and English at Georgia Southern University, her Masters' and Specialists Degrees in Special Education as well as her doctorate in Educational Administration from University of Georgia. In her real life, she has been married to Douglas Purcell, a retired educator, for 50 years and they have two brilliant sons, two amazing daughter-in-laws, and most importantly, 8 of the MOST GRAND grandchildren ever born, ages 21 yrs to 3 yrs old.

Job Titles:

• Founding and Former Director

Marshall Peter is the founding and former Director of CADRE (1998 - 2015). Peter's background as a special educator and parent/parent advocate contributed to CADRE's success at becoming mutually trusted by national leaders from the special education and advocacy communities. Peter has provided training and consultation throughout the United States on topics including collaborative problem-solving, facilitative advocacy, consumer empowerment, and conflict resolution system design. After receiving an M.S. in Special Education from the University of Oregon, Peter worked as a substitute teacher with students who had emotional/behavioral disorders. In 1976, he began working at Direction Service, a multi-program family support agency, where he provided ongoing support and advocacy services to more than 500 families who have children with disabilities. In 1983, he became the organization's Executive Director. Peter's early work as an aggressive advocate evolved into an interest in developing methods for facilitating home/school partnerships that are respectful, considerate and yield powerful results. From 1992-1996 Peter directed a successful, USDOE funded project that field tested a conciliation model aimed at addressing the cultural barriers that interfere with the effective utilization of special education services. Peter served on the City of Eugene Human Rights Commission, the Oregon State Advisory Council for Special Education, the Oregon Disabilities Commission, and as Chair of the Eugene School District Equity Committee. He has received numerous awards including the "R. Elwood Pace Humanitarian Award" presented by NASDSE, the "National Public Service Award" presented by the University of Oregon College of Education, and the "Distinguished Service Award" presented by the Oregon Disabilities Commission. Peter was designated a United Nations International Human Rights Day "Hometown Hero" by the Eugene Human Rights Commission. Marshall Peter Marshall Peter is the founding and former Director of CADRE (1998 - 2015). Peter's background as a special educator and parent/parent advocate contributed to CADRE's success at becoming mutually trusted by national leaders from the special education and advocacy communities. Peter has provided... (read more)

Job Titles:

• Technical Assistance Coordinator at the National Center

Megan Cote is the Technical Assistance Coordinator at the National Center on Deaf-Blindness (NCDB). During her 30 years in the field of special education, she has worked as a classroom teacher, an educational consultant, and director of the Kansas Deaf-Blind Project. In her role at NCDB, she supports state deaf-blind projects and families by developing tools and publications, providing training and technical assistance, coordinating national efforts, and facilitating collaboration. She also serves as a special advisor for the National Family Association for Deaf-Blind (NFADB), is a board member for the Region A PTAC, and is a member of the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee of the Global Foundation for Peroxisomal Disorders (GFPD). As a Kansas native, she earned her master's degree in Severe Multiple Disabilities/Deaf-Blindness at the University of Kansas. Megan and her husband are the parents of three wonderful children. Megan Cote Megan Cote is the Technical Assistance Coordinator at the National Center on Deaf-Blindness (NCDB). During her 30 years in the field of special education, she has worked as a classroom teacher, an educational consultant, and director of the Kansas Deaf-Blind Project. In her role at NCDB, she... (read more) (read more)

Job Titles:

• Director

Melanie J. Reese, Ph.D. Melanie Reese enthusiastically joined CADRE as Director in 2017, coming from the Idaho Dept. of Education where she was the Dispute Resolution Coordinator for seven years. There she oversaw the state's IDEA mediation, state complaint, and due process hearing systems, and helped grow the IEP... (read more) Melanie Reese enthusiastically joined CADRE as Director in 2017, coming from the Idaho Dept. of Education where she was the Dispute Resolution Coordinator for seven years. There she oversaw the state's IDEA mediation, state complaint, and due process hearing systems, and helped grow the IEP facilitation program into a popular option for Idaho's districts and parents. Working collaboratively with the state parent center and local school districts, she actively fostered relationships to better serve children with disabilities. Professor emerita (Boise State University, 2009), Dr. Reese remains active in the academic community as a co-author of conflict and mediation textbooks and by guest lecturing. She was a founding member of the BSU Dispute Resolution Graduate Advisory Board, teaching in that program for over 20 years, and was an Associate Professor in the College of Applied Technology. Previously, Melanie served on the executive board of the Idaho Mediation Association, was a college ombudsman, and has been a professional mediator since 1990. Melanie has consulted for numerous organizations to improve their communication effectiveness, and has facilitated large and small groups in widely diverse contexts and populations. She is regularly called to present on dispute resolution issues in special education and productive conflict engagement, loves supporting system improvement work, and currently sits on several national advisory boards and committees. Melanie comes to this work with the experience of growing up in a small rural farming community to later teaching at three different state universities. She's experienced the challenges, frustrations, and successes that come from advocating for her two neurodivergent boys when they were in elementary and high schools. She is actively engaged in social justice causes, particularly related to equitable access of healthcare and defending individual rights and liberties. She and her husband, a jr. high science teacher, are proud parents of two adult sons. They live alongside three sweet dogs and one snarky cat.

Job Titles:

• Operations Director With the University of Cincinnati Systems Development & Improvement

Monica Drvota began her career in special education working at the Center for Special Needs Population providing technical assistance to State Departments of Education. Monica then went to the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce, Office for Exceptional Children where she worked in the Dispute Resolution Section for over 18 years. During her tenure with the Dispute Resolution section, Monica was the Complaint Coordinator and then Due Process Coordinator for the State of Ohio before becoming the Assistant Director of the Dispute Resolution section. As the Assistant Director of Dispute Resolution, Monica supervised staff responsible for managing complaints filed by families and advocacy organizations. This team led the development and redesign of early dispute resolution, mediation, facilitation, due process, and formal complaint processes for the State of Ohio. These efforts facilitated equitable access to special education programs and services for all families of children with special needs. In the last few years with the Department of Education and Workforce, Office for Exceptional Children, Monica was the Associate Director who oversaw the Dispute Resolution, Supports and Monitoring and Urban Support sections. In addition, Monica coordinated the State's Advisory Panel for Exceptional Children, helping to build a trusting partnership between the Advisory Panel and the State Department. Additionally, Monica helped to design, implement, and supervised the State 5-year rule revision process for 16 regulations including the Operating Standards for the Education of Children with Disabilities, Developmental Delay rules and the Positive Behavior and Intervention and Restraint and Seclusion rule. The rule revision process which was developed included facilitated equitable inclusion of diverse stakeholder groups statewide. Currently, Monica is the Operations Director with the University of Cincinnati Systems Development & Improvement (SDI) Center which is an applied research center within the University of Cincinnati that works to improve conditions and outcomes for students with disabilities and other marginalized groups of learners. The SDI Center fosters the development, implementation, and evaluation of education research and dissemination efforts that improve opportunities to learn for children and youth, their families and the professionals who support them. At the core of the SDI Center's activities is a commitment to advocacy on behalf of all children with a focus on improving conditions and outcomes for students with disabilities and other marginalized groups of learners. As part of her work for the Systems Development & Improvement Center, Monica is responsible for leading partnership development efforts in the area of special education, technical assistance and managing national partnership efforts including activities related to research, program development and evaluation. At the heart of Monica's work is her passion for bringing families and districts together to form a partnership to help enhance the lives of special education students and other marginalized learners. Monica Drvota Monica Drvota began her career in special education working at the Center for Special Needs Population providing technical assistance to State Departments of Education. Monica then went to the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce, Office for Exceptional Children where she worked in the Dispute... (read more)

Job Titles:

• Assistant Project Director for the National RAISE Center

Myriam Alizo Myriam has worked within the Parent Center Network since the year 2000. Myriam has extensive expertise engaging diverse populations, parent group development, social media coordination and data management. Myriam led the English-Spanish OSEP Glossary Project, which included the translation of over... (read more) Myriam has worked within the Parent Center Network since the year 2000. Myriam has extensive expertise engaging diverse populations, parent group development, social media coordination and data management. Myriam led the English-Spanish OSEP Glossary Project, which included the translation of over 400 terms related to IDEA Parts B and C. As Assistant Project Director for the National Center for Parent Information and Resources, she manages the CentersConnect, a virtual space for Parent Center staff to work, network, and collaborate; and assists Parent Centers with their annual data collection. She also manages the programming and organization of webinars and social media for the Center for Parent information and Resources (CPIR). Myriam is the Assistant Project Director for the National RAISE Center, where she runs Google Analytics reports, organizes webinars and also coordinates the annual data collection of the RSA PTI's. Myriam supports parent center staff across Region A (NEPACT) by providing technical assistance to parent centers serving Spanish-speaking families and youth on best practices to increase their expertise in effective and appropriate outreach and service provision. Myriam participated in the YSEALI Professional Fellows Program 2017 in Brunei (South Asia), bringing ideas for families of children with disabilities to start and run special education advisory groups in their communities. Myriam has a B.S. in Electronic Engineering from Universidad Simon Bolivar in Caracas, Venezuela.

Job Titles:

• Associate Director

Noëlla Bernal is the Associate Director and Internal Evaluator at CADRE. She has neary 13 years of experience delivering technical assistance on a national level to State Education Agencies, Lead Agencies, and federally-funded Parent Centers. Noella is passionate about CADRE's continual improvement in providing accessible and culturally and linguistically competent products and services to its stakeholders. Noëlla is responsible for project management and coordination, including the delivery of universal, targeted, and intensive technical assistance activities. She manages CADRE's data collection and evaluation efforts, and coordinates resource outreach efforts to State Education Agencies, Lead Agencies, Parent Centers and other interested individuals and organizations. Noëlla produces CADRE's webinar series, manages the CADRE website and content, and, with CADRE staff, prepares presentations and trainings. She also serves as the Symposium Chair for CADRE's national symposia on dispute resolution in special education. Noella co-leads CADRE's efforts in particiption with the cross-state DMS Topical Working Series Learning Collaborative, CADRE's Early Intervention Dispute Resolution Learning Community, and CADRE's Parent Center Dispute Resolution Learning Community. Noëlla earned her Bachelor of Arts in Ethnic Studies and Sociology from the University of Oregon, with top honors. She identifies as multiracial and multicultural, being of Mexican, Spanish and French descent. Noëlla was raised in a small rural town where her experience being other than the cultural majority inspired her toward a path of a social justice. Her passion for working at CADRE stems from her own experiences as a child, receiving speech language services and spending countless hours accompanying and observing her mother, a nurse, deliver home health services to people with disabilities and serve as a special education aide. From this experience, Noëlla developed a heart of service for helping others. Recently, Noëlla has gained experience advocating for close family members who receive early intervention services. Outside of CADRE life, Noëlla enjoys breathing the fresh Oregon air while being active with her young son and husband. She actively volunteers at her son's school and PTA, in environmental conservation, and in operating a nursing scholarship fund in memory of her late mother. Noëlla wishes her cat were a bit nicer to her.

Job Titles:

• Associate Director

Noëlla Bernal Noëlla Bernal is the Associate Director and Internal Evaluator at CADRE. She has neary 13 years of experience delivering technical assistance on a national level to State Education Agencies, Lead Agencies, and federally-funded Parent Centers. Noella is passionate about CADRE's continual improvement... (read more)

Job Titles:

• Conflict Management Specialist

As a special education Conflict Management Specialist, Odilla provides training, facilitation, mediation and communication coaching to local and state education agencies. She has spent her career focusing on children's outcomes as is evidenced by her work as a conflict management specialist; special education and foster youth attorney; school-site ADR program coordinator, substitute teacher and college instructor. As a result of that work, Odilla has developed expertise in mediating IEP-related disputes, facilitating education-related meetings and determinations, and, training stakeholders to communicate and collaborate more effectively. Odilla earned a law degree from Santa Clara University School of Law and an undergraduate degree at the University of San Francisco. She is a certified mediator and was chosen for the inaugural team of DR experts who provided ADR services to the special education department in one of California's largest single-SELPA school districts under the state's ADR grant.

Patricia Bourexis Patricia S. Bourexis, Ph.D., President and a Principal Researcher of The Study Group Inc., has worked with the Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP), U.S. Department of Education and other federal agencies for more than 25 years to ensure program quality and effectiveness. Dr. Bourexis... (read more)

Randall Reese Randall co-founded RelationSmart Conflict Consulting in 1998 to provide mediation services, design effective conflict engagement systems, and facilitate decision-making for groups experiencing organizational conflict or other barriers to effective performance. Randall has a bachelor's degree in... (read more)

Job Titles:

• Director of the University 's Western Regional Resource Center

Dr. Zeller was appointed Director of the University's Western Regional Resource Center in 1985. For almost twenty years in that capacity, he worked with dozens of State Directors of Special Education and hundreds of agency personnel, parent center leaders, consumers, administrators and teachers. He has participated on OSEP, NASDSE, and national TA&D workgroups, planning and review panels; he was a leader within the RRC program and with other national associations and TA organizations to improve results for students with disabilities. Richard Zeller Dr. Zeller began his career working in a residential institution for children with severe cognitive disabilities. He left that setting to join others at the University of Oregon who were convinced that services must be community-based. In 1976, he became the Director of the NW Direction Service... (read more)

Job Titles:

• Co - Director of Walsh Taylor Incorporated

Sharon Walsh Sharon Walsh, Co-Director of Walsh Taylor Incorporated, has worked in the field of special education and early intervention for over 30 years. She currently provides consultation to state and local agencies (e.g. SEAs, state lead agencies for Part C, school districts and local lead agencies) on the... (read more) Sharon Walsh, Co-Director of Walsh Taylor Incorporated, has worked in the field of special education and early intervention for over 30 years. She currently provides consultation to state and local agencies (e.g. SEAs, state lead agencies for Part C, school districts and local lead agencies) on the implementation of Part C and Part B of IDEA. She also is the Governmental Relations Consultant for the Division for Early Childhood of the Council for Exceptional Children (DEC) and the IDEA Infant and Toddler Coordinators Association (ITCA), which is the national association representing the state Part C lead agencies. Sharon also works as a consultant on the federally funded Early Childhood Technical Assistance Center (ECTA) and the Center for IDEA Early Childhood Data Systems (DaSy). Sharon taught in a large suburban school district in early childhood and served as the district's IEP Specialist, developing policies and procedures and designing and implementing training programs on the implementation of P.L. 94-142 when it was enacted. She also has worked for several OSEP funded projects including The Data Accountability Center (DAC) and the National Center for Special Education Monitoring (NCSEAM); for the National Association of State Directors of Special Education (NASDSE); and for LRP Publications serving as the Editor of The Early Childhood Report. Sharon also served for several years as the Court Appointed Monitor in the federal Part C case, Marie O.

Job Titles:

• Associate Professor
• Associate Professor in the Department of Pediatrics, Georgetown

Tawara Goode Tawara Goode is an associate professor in the Department of Pediatrics, Georgetown University Medical Center in Washington, D.C. She has been on the faculty of the Georgetown University Center for Child and Human Development (GUCCHD), for over 30 years and has served in many capacities. She has... Tawara Goode is an associate professor in the Department of Pediatrics, Georgetown University Medical Center in Washington, D.C. She has been on the faculty of the Georgetown University Center for Child and Human Development (GUCCHD), for over 30 years and has served in many capacities. She has degrees in early childhood education and education and human development. Professor Goode has extensive experience as a principal investigator for federal and private sector grants and contracts. A primary area of focus for Professor Goode is national level efforts to advance and sustain cultural and linguistic competence within an array of settings including but not limited to institutions of higher education, health, mental health, and other human service systems. Professor Goode is the director of the National Center for Cultural Competence (NCCC) at GUCCHD. The NCCC has been in existence for the past 27 years during which Professor Goode was the director for 26 years. The mission of the NCCC is to increase the capacity of health care and mental health care programs to design, implement, and evaluate culturally and linguistically competent service delivery systems to address growing diversity, persistent disparities, and to promote health and mental health equity. Professor Goode is acknowledged as a thought leader in the area of cultural and linguistic competence and for building the NCCC into a nationally and internationally recognized and award winning program. She had a primary role in developing curricula, assessment instruments, professional development series, and other resources that support cultural and linguistic competence. Professor Goode is an invited scholar, lecturer, and visiting faculty: a) nationally to schools of medicine, public health, education, research institutes, professional associations, and state and national government; and b) internationally in Australia, South America, and the United Kingdom. Professor Goode is also the director of the Georgetown University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (GUCEDD) and is responsible for short-term and ongoing programs for individuals at-risk for and with developmental and other disabilities and their families. Her duties include program development, administration, and teaching within the University and community settings. She served as the principal investigator for three grants of national significance from the Office on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, Administration for Community Living at HHS. They include: 1) the Leadership Institute for Cultural Diversity and Cultural and Linguistic Competence (completed 2/20); Community of Practice on Cultural and Linguistic Competence in Developmental Disabilities (ongoing); and Embedding Cultural and Linguistic Competence in UCEDD Curricula and Training Activities (completed 2/19). Each of these grants was designed to: 1) increase the number and capacity of leaders to advance and sustain cultural and linguistic competence to respond to the growing cultural diversity among people with developmental disabilities; and 2) develop curricula and professional development for current and future professionals that will teach, provide services and supports, and conduct research with and about people with developmental disabilities, their families, and the communities in which they live Professor Goode continues to conduct research on cultural and linguistic competence and its role in addressing health and health care disparities. Selected examples of studies include: 1) a collaborative effort to create validated instruments to measure cultural and linguistic competence in health care settings; and 2) a multi-site project to examine health disparities for populations at the intersection of race, ethnicity, and disability. She is currently a Co-PI for a PCORI study entitled "Reconciling the Past and Changing the Future: Engaging Young Adults with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities and Researchers in Comparative Effectiveness Research," and is an investigator for a PCORI supplement entitled "Understanding the Impact of COVID-19 on Young Adults with IDD-MH and their Families: An Analytical Framework and Database to Identify Service Experiences and Outcomes Across Diverse Populations in Real Time," and a co-investigator for Georgetown-Howard Universities Center for Clinical Translational Science. Professor Goode holds an adjunct appointment with the University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Since 2012, she provided consultation to assist the University of Sydney to establish a National Centre for Cultural Competence in partnership with the Deputy Vice Chancellor for Indigenous Strategy and Services. For the past eight years she has assisted the University of Sydney in faculty development, curricula adaptation, community engagement, and research focused on cultural competence. Professor Goode's publications include peer reviewed articles, book chapters, policy papers, guides, and instruments that support cultural and linguistic competence in a variety of human service and academic settings. She serves on the Board of the Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD) and is the current president. Professor Goode and the NCCC have received numerous awards for academic achievements. Professor Goode has and continues to serve on numerous boards, commissions, and advisory groups at the local, regional, and national levels that are concerned with the health, mental health, and well-being of racially and ethnically diverse populations. She serves on the Board of the Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD) and is the current president

Terry Amsler is an Adjunct Lecturer with the School of Public and Environmental Affairs at Indiana University (Bloomington) where he teaches courses on public engagement. He is also Program Director Emeritus of the Institute for Local Government's Public Engagement Program, having retired in 2015 after nearly ten years of service in that position. The Institute is the nonprofit education and research affiliate of the League of California Cities, California State Association of Counties and the California Special Districts Association. Terry was formerly a Program Manager for domestic conflict resolution and then Program Director for the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation's Conflict Resolution funding area. He also served as Director of U.S. Initiatives with Partners for Democratic Change, an international conflict and change management organization, and as Executive Director of the Oregon Dispute Resolution Commission. Additionally, Terry is a previous Executive Director of the Community Board Program, a nonprofit organization providing community and school conflict resolution services in San Francisco and nationally. He has served as a mediator and mediation trainer as well as a developer of mediation programs in communities, schools, juvenile facilities, universities and other settings. Terry has also taught university level classes on the structure, theory and ethics of dispute resolution and was a founding board member of the National Association for Community Mediation (NAFCM). Terry continues to serve on boards or in executive or advisory committee roles with the University Network for Collaborative Governance, Institute for Local Government, the Deliberative Democracy Consortium, the Center for Appropriate Dispute Resolution in Special Education (CADRE) and others. He was recognized for his work in the dialogue and deliberation field with the "Hero Award" from the National Coalition for Dialogue and Deliberation in 2014. Terry holds a B.A. in Political Science from the State University of New at New Paltz and a M.P.A. from the University of San Francisco.