Board of Directors

Kimberly Houldsworth

President of IDA-MA

Kimberly is a sixth-grade language-based teacher for the Hope Graham Program at Bancroft School and is a Fellow-in-Training through the Orton-Gillingham Academy. Kimberly brings experience as both a classroom teacher and an Orton-Gillingham practitioner. She is passionate about equity in literacy instruction and bringing structured literacy instruction to all classrooms. Kimberly holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education from Wheelock College and a Master of Education in Moderate Special Needs pre-K-8 through a collaborative program with The Carroll School and Lesley University.

Jodi Bertolino
Treasurer

Jodi Bertolino has worked in the LBLD field for the past 25 years. She joined the MABIDA Board in 2016. She is currently the Controller at Landmark School in Prides Crossing, MA. She brings a financial insight and perspective to Board.

Chris Baumgarten

Secretary

With over 30 years of experience in Boston Public Schools as an English teacher, Chris Baumgarten is currently a reading specialist at the Edward M. Kennedy Health Careers Academy in Boston. In addition to being a certified reading specialist, Chris holds professional certifications in English 5-12, ESL 5-12, and Moderate Disabilities 5-12. Her passion is ensuring that all students receive the education they need to be successful in life. In her role as a reading specialist, Chris works with individuals and small groups to provide reading instruction. She also plays a key role in designing and implementing the school’s multi-tiered system of support for literacy and expanded access to grade level curriculum. Chris earned an EdS Reading and Language from UMass Lowell in 2018. She is also a credentialed Wilson Reading System practitioner

Joanna Christodoulou
Member at Large

Joanna Christodoulou, EdD, joined the board in 2010. She holds positions as Associate Professor at the MGH Institute of Health Professions, Research Affiliate at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and Adjunct Lecturer on Education at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. She received the 2014 Transforming Education Through Neuroscience Award from the Learning & the Brain Foundation and the International Mind, Brain, and Education Society. Her experiences include clinical work, teaching at undergraduate, graduate, and professional development levels, and research using cognitive neuroscience tools.

Robin Fabiano

Member at Large

Robin Fabiano is the Directory of Secondary Special Education with the Public Schools of Brookline. She began her career as an inclusion facilitator at the elementary level where she taught students with moderate to intensive special education needs. During her teaching career, Ms. Fabiano earned a second Masters in Assistive Technology from Simmons College and her administrative license. She held the position of Co-Director of Elementary Student Services with the Newton Public School for 6 years and Student Services Department Head with the Westwood Public Schools for 10 year. Ms. Fabiano is also a strong advocate for diverse learners in the community. She held a board member position at the Charles River Center in Needham and works on the MA Down Syndrome Congress Education Task Force. Ms. Fabiano is an adjunct professor at the Lesley College Collaborative Program and is a co-host of the podcast: A Special Education Teacher, an Administrator and a Lawyer Walk into a Bar (all you ever wanted to know about special education).

Weddee Neufville Henry

Member at Large

Weddee Neufville Henry is a literacy specialist and special education teacher at Boston Day and Evening Academy, a Horace Mann Charter School, who has worked at every level of the school system toward a single goal: educational equity of opportunity for every student. Her experience spans almost 20 years in the public education sector. In this role, Weddee works with TNTP to assist the school with a multi-tiered system of support for ELA/literacy and expanded access to high-quality curricula. Weddee holds a MA of Education in Educational Leadership and a Certificate of Advanced Graduate Study in Communication Disorders from MGH Institute of Health Professions. She is certified in the Wilson Reading program.

Michelle Paster

Member at Large

Michelle Paster is the Founder and Executive Director of LearningWorks, Inc., a well-respected educational therapy and consulting practice in Newton, MA. Michelle works with clients across the US and internationally, supporting students of all ages – preK through adult – helping remediate growth areas such as reading, writing, math, organization, executive functioning, and successful study skills. She has consulted with numerous school systems, both public and independent. A certified special educator in Massachusetts with a master’s degree from Northwestern in Communication Science Disorders/Learning Disabilities, Michelle’s expertise has been sought by multiple news outlets – most recently for a series of education articles in US News. Michelle has been providing strategy instruction, parent consultation, and professional development for more than twenty-five years. Michelle has served in leadership roles at several charitable and non-profit organizations. Michelle and her husband live in suburban Boston, and are the proud parents of two daughters, both of whom are current college students.

Patrick Archambault

Member at Large

Patrick J. Archambault, J.D., is an attorney whose primary practice is focused on corporate finance transactions. Mr. Archambault’s pro bono work includes representing students in special education matters and dyslexia advocacy.

Amanda Packard

Member at Large

Currently serving as the Assistant Head at Applewild School, a junior day and boarding school in Fitchburg, Amanda has dedicated her professional career over the last 25 years to education. She leads a diverse and dynamic faculty and supervises all teaching and learning. This includes Applewild’s Foundations program for students with language-based learning differences and all learning support. Her own personal experience combined with her education and experience make Amanda a passionate advocate for students with learning disabilities. Amanda received her undergraduate degree from Barnard College, Columbia University, and her MAT at Sacred Heart University where she presented on students who were double identified as LBLD and Gifted. She then went on to earn her doctorate degree in educational leadership at Northeastern.

Former Board Members

Charlotte Lunde, Former Vice President

Patricia Kelley-Nazzaro, Former Member at Large

Angela Ayre, Former Member at Large

Nicole McCarthy, Former Member at Large

Kendra McCuine, Former Member at Large & Secretary

Janet Thibeau, Former President of IDA-MA

Pamela Hook, Former President of IDA-MA

Melissa Feller, Former Member at Large

Joseph Green, Former Member at Large

Nathan Doty, Former President of IDA-MA

Dinan Messiqua, Former President of IDA-MA

Adam Hickey, Former President of IDA-MA

Liza Feldman, Former Member at Large

Caroline Legor, Former Member at Large

Joe Green, Former Member at Large

Heidi Poulin, Former Member at Large

Michelle Moor, Former Member at Large

Carolyn Wilson, Former Member at Large

Trevor Smith, Former Member at Large

Share this page with your friends…