Project Directors
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Steve Goodman, Ph.D.
Director
Ottawa Area ISD
13565 Port Sheldon Street
Holland, MI 49424Phone: 877-702-8600 x4027Email: sgoodman@mimtss.orgSteve has served in a leadership role for the TA Center since its beginning in 2000. Previously, Steve was a special education teacher and teacher consultant.
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Kimberly St. Martin, Ph.D.
Assistant Director
Ottawa Area ISD
13565 Port Sheldon Street
Holland, MI 49424Phone: 269-492-8434Email: kstmartin@mimtss.orgKim St. Martin’s focus in the TA Center is on regional and district implementation infrastructure efforts to scale-up the successful use of an MTSS framework. Additionally, Kim is responsible for providing literacy expertise for the Office of Special Education. Prior to working with the TA Center, Kim was a school administrator and teacher in an urban and rural school district.
Technical Assistance Center Staff
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Amy Basket
Implementation Specialist
Bay Arenac ISD
4228 2 Mile Rd
Bay City, MI 48706Phone: 989-667-3132Email: abasket@mimtss.orgAmy’s focus in the TA Center is working with District Implementation Teams to develop the capacity to implement, use, and sustain an integrated behavior and reading MTSS model. Prior to working with the TA Center, Amy worked as a classroom teacher and in the central office focusing on gifted education, mathematics, and assessment systems.
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Courtney Buck, Ed.S., BCBA
Implementation Specialist
Kent ISD
2930 Knapp NE
Grand Rapids, MI 49525Phone: 616-447-2466Email: cbuck@mimtss.orgCourtney’s focus in the TA Center is working with District Implementation Teams to build their capacity to implement, use, and sustain an integrated behavior and reading MTSS model. Prior to coming to the TA Center, Courtney practiced as a school psychologist in Illinois, coaching the development and implementation of three-tiered academic and behavioral systems of support at both the district and building levels.
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Cathy Claes
Implementation Specialist
Delta Schoolcraft ISD
2525 3rd Avenue South
Escanaba, MI 49829Phone:Email: cclaes@mimtss.orgCathy’s focus in the TA center is working with District Implementation Teams to build their capacity to implement, use, and sustain an integrated behavior and reading MTSS model. Prior to working with the TA Center, Cathy worked as a classroom teacher, a reading specialist and an ISD Literacy Consultant.
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Candi Drake-Zambelli
MiMTSS Data System and Accessibility Specialist
Ottawa Area ISD
13565 Port Sheldon Street
Holland, MI 49424Phone: 616-796-1485Email: czambelli@mimtss.orgCandi’s focus in the TA Center is working as the Data and Accessibility Specialist. Previously, Candi worked with the Administrative Assistant Unit for the TA Center and was a local district secretary.
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Stephanie Dyer
Professional Learning Specialist
Ingham ISD
2630 W. Howell Road
Mason, MI 48854Phone: 517-244-1208Email: sdyer@mimtss.orgStephanie’s focus in the TA center includes the development of training and coaching content focusing on behavior, intervention systems, and intensifying interventions. Prior to working with the TA Center, Stephanie held positions as an autism coordinator, special education supervisor, behavior specialist, and school psychologist in both rural and urban districts and ISDs.
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Mark Fynewever
Implementation Specialist/MDE Regional Consultant
Ottawa Area ISD
13565 Port Sheldon Street
Holland, MI 49424Phone: 269-921-2372Email: mfynewever@mimtss.orgMark’s focus in the TA Center is working as a communication liaison between MDE and MiMTSS TA Center, supporting MTSS scale-up work in the state. Another role that he supports is working with District Implementation Teams to develop their capacity to install and implement MTSS. Prior to coming to the TA Center, Mark was a State PBIS Specialist for the Georgia Department of Education and a School Social Worker/Behavioral Consultant for Berrien RESA.
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Leisa Gallagher, MA
MDE Project Liaison for School Climate Transformation
Phone: 616-446-6115Email: lgallagher@mimtss.orgLeisa Gallagher is a liaison between Michigan Department of Education (MDE) and the TA Center as the lead for the Interconnected Systems Framework (ISF) Model Demonstration effort to integrate mental health within the PBIS system. For MDE, she is the lead for Social & Emotional Learning. Leisa helped develop the MiPHY survey of youth risk and protective factors. Leisa was a high school English teacher and is a counseling psychologist.
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Dave Gough
Implementation Specialist
Eastern Upper Peninsula ISD
315 Armory Place
Sault Ste. Marie, MI 49783Phone: 616-405-7060Email: dgough@mimtss.orgDave’s focus in the TA Center is working with District Implementation Teams to build their capacity to implement, use, and sustain an integrated behavior and reading MTSS model. Prior to coming to the TA Center, Dave held positions as a School Psychologist, Elementary Principal, Early Childhood Director, and Director of Student Services.
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Anna Harms, Ph.D.
Evaluation and Research Administrator
Ottawa Area ISD
13565 Port Sheldon Street
Holland, MI 49424Phone: 616-738-8940 x4025Email: aharms@mimtss.orgAnna's focus in the TA Center is internal program evaluation and research projects, the MiMTSS Data System, and supports for MTSS assessments. Anna is trained as a school psychologist and has experience providing reading intervention to early elementary learners.
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Beth Hill
Implementation Specialist
Kent ISD
2930 Knapp NE
Grand Rapids, MI 49525Phone: 616-365-2334Email: bhill@mimtss.orgBeth’s focus within the TA Center is the development of District Community Leadership Teams to install the Interconnected System Framework (ISF) within their PBIS System. Prior to coming to the TA Center, Beth worked as a school social worker and mental health worker in an inpatient setting.
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Matthew Hoge, Ph.D.
Implementation Specialist
Macomb ISD
44001 Garfield Road
Clinton Township, MI 48038Phone: 586-291-9410Email: mhoge@mimtss.orgMatt’s focus in the TA center is working with District Implementation Teams to develop the capacity to support the installation and implementation of MTSS. Prior to coming to the TA Center, Matt was an Assistant Professor of Special Education at Western Michigan University, a District Behavioral Consultant, and a classroom teacher.
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Cheyne LeVesseur, Ph.D.
Research and Evaluation Specialist
Ottawa Area ISD
13565 Port Sheldon Street
Holland, MI 49424Phone: 616-796-1485Email: clevesseur@mimtss.orgCheyne LeVesseur’s focus in the TA Center is on research and program evaluation, ranging from professional development to website analytics, to survey development and data analysis. Prior to coming to the TA Center, Cheyne worked as a School Psychologist and MTSS Coordinator, university professor, and community outreach coordinator.
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Claire MacArthur
Professional Learning Specialist
Menominee County ISD
1201 41st Avenue
Menominee, MI 49858Phone: 906-863-5665 x1029Email: cmacarthur@mimtss.orgClaire’s focus in the TA Center is on professional learning standards, accessibility, and coordinating the annual MTSS conference. Prior to coming to the TA Center, Claire worked as an ISD MTSS coach and trainer and special education teacher consultant.
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Lara MacQuarrie, P.h.D
Content and Implementation Specialist
Ottawa Area ISD
13565 Port Sheldon
Holland MI 49424Phone:Email: lmacquarrie@mimtss.orgLara’s focus is on developing content and supporting District Implementation Teams in the installation, implementation, and sustainability of an MTSS framework. Lara is a school psychologist, an approved special education supervisor, and taught at the university level. Lara has provided professional learning to educators in the areas of reading instruction, intervention, explicit instruction, and assessment at the ISD.
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Margaret McGlinchey, Ph.D.
Implementation Specialist
Ottawa Area ISD
13565 Port Sheldon Street
Holland, MI 49424Phone: 269-929-8249Email: mmcglinchey@mimtss.orgMargie’s focus in the TA Center is working with District Implementation Teams to build capacity for leading and supporting MTSS. Prior roles in education include assistant superintendent, Co-Director of Michigan’s Integrated Behavior and Learning Support Initiative, and School Psychologist.
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Michelle McQueen, M.A.
MDE MTSS Regional Consultant
Ottawa Area ISD
13565 Port Sheldon Street
Holland, MI 49424Phone:Email: mmcqueen@mimtss.orgMichelle’s focus is to provide guidance to ISDs and district leadership for MTSS implementation. Additionally, she supports the exploration of scaling up MTSS in early childhood. Michelle was a classroom teacher, central administrator, and ISD coordinator in a large urban district.
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Meranda Miller
Kalamazoo RESA
1819 E. Milham Avenue
Portage, MI 49002Phone:Email: mmiller@mimtss.orgMeranda’s focus in the TA Center is working as a website coordinator and is part of the Administrative Assistant Unit.
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Tamara Morrow
Implementation Specialist
Tuscola ISD
1385 Cleaver Road
Caro, MI 48723Phone: 810-240-0950Email: tmorrow@mimtss.orgTami’s focus in the TA Center is working with District Implementation Teams to develop the capacity to implement, use, and sustain an integrated behavior and reading MTSS model. Prior to coming to the TA center, Tami practiced as an outpatient mental health clinician as well as a social worker/behavioral consultant at Genesee ISD. Tami also worked at her ISD as a coach and trainer assisting school and district teams in setting up systems and practices to support their PBIS/MTSS infrastructure and implementation.
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Sarah Moss
Ottawa Area ISD
13565 Port Sheldon St.
Holland, MI 49424Phone: 616-422-1344Email: smoss@mimtss.orgSarah works with the Administrative Assistant Unit for the TA Center. Prior to coming to the TA Center, Sarah worked in retail manufacturing in an administrative role and in healthcare administration.
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Melissa Nantais, Ph.D.
Professional Standards and Universal and Targeted Technical Assistance Administrator
Kalamazoo RESA
1819 E. Milham Avenue
Portage, MI 49002Phone: 269-605-9933Email: mnantais@mimtss.orgMelissa's focus in the TA Center overseeing the professional learning as well as the MTSS universal and technical assistance provided by the MiMTSS TA Center. Prior to joining the TA Center, Melissa worked as a school psychologist, educational consultant, and university professor.
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Julie Nixon
Professional Learning Specialist
Kent ISD
2930 Knapp NE
Grand Rapids, MI 49525Phone: 616-915-7470Email: jnixon@mimtss.orgJulie’s focus in the TA Center is on Content Development in early literacy. Prior to coming to the TA Center, Julie taught first grade, was a Reading Specialist, and a District MTSS Coordinator. Julie has worked on developing a K-5 literacy curriculum, School and District Improvement Plans, and State and Federal Grants.
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Allison Olivo, Ed.S.
Professional Learning Specialist
Ottawa Area ISD
13565 Port Sheldon St.
Holland, MI 49424Phone: 810-423-4131Email: aolivo@mimtss.orgAllison’s focus in the TA Center is on content development and training in the area of positive behavior supports at Tiers 1, 2, and 3. Prior to coming to the TA Center, Allison worked as a School Psychologist, including coaching MTSS in elementary and secondary buildings.
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Ruthie L. Payno-Simmons, Ph.D.
Professional Learning Specialist
Ingham ISD
2630 W. Howell Road
Mason, MI 48854Phone: 517-244-1270Email: rpaynosimmons@mimtss.orgRuthie’s focus in the TA Center is collaborating with staff, leadership, and various national TA Center partners to inform professional learning and technical assistance that centers educational equity and culturally sustaining practices within the MTSS framework. Ruthie has served as a teacher, teacher educator, principal, and executive director of curriculum and staff development. Her leadership experiences include policy analysis, strategic planning, coordination of K-12 educational programs, instruction, curriculum, staff professional development, continuous improvement, district accreditation, and system evaluation.
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Keriann Poquette
Intensive Technical Assistance Administrator
Eaton RESA
1790 Packard Highway
Charlotte, MI 48813Phone: 616-690-3291Email: kpoquette@mimtss.orgKeriann’s focus in the TA Center is overseeing the MTSS intensive technical assistance provided by the MiMTSS TA Center. Prior to working with the TA Center, Keriann worked as a District MTSS Coordinator, an elementary general education teacher, and a special education teacher for students with specific learning disabilities and autism spectrum disorders.
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Tawny Smith
Implementation Specialist
Clinton County RESA
1013 S. US-27 Suite A
St. Johns, MI 48879Phone: 989-224-6831 x2329Email: tsmith@mimtss.orgTawny’s focus in the TA center is working with District Implementation Teams to build their capacity to install, use, and sustain an integrated behavior and reading MTSS model. Prior to working with the TA Center, Tawny held positions as an ISD MTSS Coordinator, MTSS school leadership team coach, Special Education Supervisor, School Psychologist, and Secondary Teacher.
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Annette Snyder
Clinton County RESA
1013 S. US-27 Suite A
St. Johns, MI 48879Phone: 989-224-6831 x2319Email: asnyder@mimtss.orgAnnette works with the Administrative Assistant Unit for the TA Center. Prior to working with the TA Center she was a local district secretary. Annette was in healthcare prior to coming to the education field.
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Nicole Stapleton-Coleman
Professional Learning Specialist
Ottawa Area ISD
13565 Port Sheldon Street
Holland, MI 49424Phone: 269-598-2825Email: ncoleman@mimtss.orgNicole’s focus in the TA center includes the development of content focusing on secondary literacy. Prior to working with the TA Center, Nicole was a classroom teacher in an urban school district and an instructional coach at an ISD.
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Kelly Tuomikoski, Ph.D.
Model Demonstration and Alignment Administrator
Copper Country ISD
809 Hecla Street
Hancock, MI 49930Phone: 906-482-4250Email: ktuomikoski@mimtss.orgKelly’s focus within the TA Center is overseeing the model demonstration and research grant projects as well as aligning support from the TA Center with MTSS specific priorities of MDE. Prior to working with the TA Center, Kelly was a school psychologist, MTSS coordinator, reading instructional coach and an elementary classroom teacher.
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John Vail
Professional Learning Specialist
Kalamazoo RESA
1819 E. MIlham Avenue
Portage, MI 49002Phone: 269-250-9223Email: jvail@mimtss.orgJohn’s focus in the TA Center is on the development of training content for adolescent literacy. Prior to coming to the TA Center, John served as a middle school principal, instructional coach and trainer, interventionist, and school psychologist.
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Valerie Vandlen
Professional Learning Specialist
Clinton County RESA
1013 S. US-27 Suite A
St. Johns, MI 48879Phone: 989-224-6831 x2336Email: vvandlen@mimtss.orgValerie’s focus in the TA Center is on content development and training in the area of behavior. Prior to coming to the TA Center, Valerie was a special educator (K-5) and teacher consultant (K-12).
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Meagan Walsh, Ph.D
Implementation Specialist
Ottawa Area ISD
13565 Port Sheldon
Holland, MI 49424Phone:Email: mwalsh@mimtss.orgMeagan’s focus within the TA Center is on supporting the implementation of data-based individualization and the development of training content to support intensive intervention. Prior to working with the TA center, Meagan worked as an elementary special education teacher and was a member of a research group developing and testing intensive reading interventions.
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Sarah Weaver
MDE MTSS Regional Consultant
Charlevoix-Emmet ISD
08568 Mercer Blvd.
Charlevoix, MI 49720Phone: 585-746-7563Email: sweaver@mimtss.orgSarah’s focus in the TA center is to support the scale-up and the successful use of an MTSS framework across the state of Michigan. Prior to working with the TA Center, Sarah was a school psychologist and PBIS Coach in the states of Oregon and Iowa.
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Tennille Whitmore
Professional Learning Specialist
Ingham ISD
2630 W. Howell Road
Mason, MI 48854Phone: 517-244-1270Email: twhitmore@mimtss.orgTennille’s focus in the TA Center is on Content Development in early literacy. Prior to working with the TA Center, Tennille worked as a classroom teacher, a reading specialist, and a district Title 1 Director. Tennille has worked on developing K-5 literacy curriculum, School and District Improvement Plans, and State and Federal Grants.
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Sheila Williams-White, Ph.D.
Implementation Specialist
Macomb ISD
44001 Garfield Road
Clinton Township, MI 48038Phone:Email: swhite@mimtss.orgSheila’s focus in the TA Center is on the development of District Teams to install Interconnected System Framework (ISF). Prior to coming to the TA Center, Sheila worked at DPS(CD) as a school psychologist, special education coordinator, and behavior specialist.
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Michelle Wilson
Fiscal Coordinator
Macomb ISD
44001 Garfield Road
Clinton Township, MI 48038Phone: 586-612-8431Email: mwilson@mimtss.orgMichelle’s focus in the TA Center is fiscal coordination. Prior to coming to the TA Center, Michelle managed federal grants and capital projects in the public sector.