EDUCATION CONSULTANTS
Our team has a wide range of cultural backgrounds, expertise, qualifications, training skills and national and international experience. We match the best mix of consulting and training talent with every client project, along with staff who ensure support systems are strong and adaptable to changing needs.
Dr. Saman Hassan holds a Doctorate in Education Leadership from Spalding University. Expertise includes in education methods, diversity, education law, research practices and introduction to education. She conducts research and writes about responsive pedagogy, theories of change, and how to create a more compassionate, reflective classroom. Dr. Hassan has also served on school boards and international and competitive paper review committees for various academic conferences. She is currently a member of Advanced Education Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Council on Accreditation and School Improvement (Sacs Casi) team for both public and private school accreditation in the United States. She has presented at 50+ local, national and international conferences around the Globe from Boston to Dubai, helping to garner attention to issues in education and non-profit reform; the most recent being the Diversity Conference in Vancouver, Canada. She is presently working on various research projects including: developing leadership workshops on conflict resolution, cultural diversity, and Inter- faith communication.
Dr. Barbara G. Foster, an expert on learning theories, instructional design, and classroom management, makes presentations at international, national, and state conferences. As a teacher educator for more than 12 years, she teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in classroom management and instructional design. With over 25 years of experience in public and private schools as an effective teacher and principal, Dr. Barbara Foster provides support and professional development for novice and experienced teachers. Her unique ability to guide classroom teachers in learning how to cope with the complexities of teaching and behavior management led to the publication of How to Cure the Classroom Management Blues: A Self-Help Survival Guide for Teachers.
Dr. Cheryl Chedester has served as a Superintendent of Schools in Kentucky and Vermont working with seven boards. These years of chief executive leadership opportunities provided tremendous avenues for advancing teaching and learning throughout the organizations she served and in these states. She was selected by her peers to serve in leadership positions within her regional group of superintendents. Hallmarks of her administrations were collaborations, partnerships, and progressive change in policy development, communications, professional development and instructional strategies, technological innovations, and financial stewardship. Cheryl has continued her lifelong learning through her advanced academic course work at Spalding University to earn a Doctor of Education degree. Her dissertation topic is focused on finding correlations among the financial allocations and student academic achievements in reading, mathematics, and sciences to assess the status of adequacy in Kentucky’s public schools.
Dr. Catherine Timmerman received her Master of Arts in Teaching degree from Bellarmine University in 2000 and her doctorate in Leadership Education from Spalding University in 2007. Dr. Timmerman has worked in the communications, political, marketing, retail and education fields. She has been employed by the Jefferson County Public Schools since 1998 and is currently an early primary educator. Dr. Timmerman is an adjunct faculty member of Ottawa University. She is a recruiter for the Jefferson County Teacher’s Association and serves on the JCTA Membership Committee. In addition, Dr. Timmerman is a member of the Kentucky Education Association’s Membership Work Team. She serves on the J. B. Atkinson Academy for Excellence in Teaching and Learning Site Based Decision Making Council.
Dr. Jill Young has taught on-campus and online undergraduate and graduate courses since 2006. While teaching graduate courses in education and theories of online learning, she has been involved in curriculum and course development in the design of undergraduate management and human resources courses. She also has participated in an exploratory committee to create new degree programs at Strayer University in Louisville, KY. Dr. Young received her Doctorate in Leadership Education from Stayer University, and her MBA and M.A. in HR Management from Webster University in Louisville, KY. Currently, she teaches online courses at four online universities and has vast experience with various online course delivery formats.
Dr. Farzana Hassan Shahid completed her Doctorate in Education from the University of Phoenix in 2010. She is an educator and author based in Canada and writes a weekly column for the Toronto Sun. She has written extensively on anti-bullying strategies and gender discrimination in religious schools. She has also worked as a consultant to the Peel District School Board in Mississauga, Ontario on faith accommodations in Peel region schools. She is currently developing strategies to counter bullying in schools. She is also working toward developing curricula in religious schools that foster respect for diversity and tolerance for competing worldviews.
Dr. Nadia Siddiqui is a qualified Chartered MCIPD with a distinction in Training and Development, and a medical doctor with a master’s qualification (Honors) in Human Resource Business and Pharmaceutical Marketing from the Institute of Business Management in the United Kingdom. She has experience in leading training and development at Pfizer, Corin, and Unilever (FMCG), and in developing training programs for classrooms and e-learning projects. Her areas of expertise include training interventions and learning styles, KOLBS, NLP, buy-in and implementation strategies, project management, sales team training, and learning management system support and administration. She has launched four learning management systems to date. Nadia has also extensive knowledge in the areas of analyzing performance gaps and training needs, creating proposals, content development, course design, interviewing, and budget management.
Dr. Brittany Watkins is the Health Policy Analyst for the Louisville Metro Department of Public Health and Wellness. She is also faculty in the Department of Health Care at the University of Phoenix, Louisville, KY campus. Since 2006 she has been a public health practitioner. Her prior responsibilities included: Program Specialist for the NCI Community Cancer Program at Norton Healthcare; Health Educator III for the Bullitt County Health Department; and Coordinator of the Drug Free Communities (DFC) coalition, Bullitt County Partners in Prevention, in Bullitt County, KY. Previously, she served as a contracted bioterrorism planner for the Indiana State Department of Health, and an Immunization Epidemiologist with the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services. She was awarded by the Kentucky Commissioner of Health for her service at the state RSS during the H1N1 pandemic of 2009, and in 2012, she founded Visions Public Health Research & Consultation, LLC. She earned a doctorate in Public Health from Walden University in Minneapolis, Minnesota, a Bachelor’s degree in Health Sciences, and a Master’s degree in Public Health, both from the University of Louisville.
Corissa Phillips is a nonprofit professional helping organizations succeed, and is committed to the ideals of lifelong learning, gender equality and social change. She currently directs grant-based fundraising efforts for a nonprofit organization working to end intimate partner abuse. Past experiences have included management of art appreciation, new technology, and career development programs. A lively speaker and skilled facilitator, Phillips teaches undergraduate composition, humanities, and history courses for adult learners. Throughout her career, Phillips has made more than a hundred presentations and media appearances to build community support for public causes. Recently delivered professional training workshops have addressed media engagement, effective storytelling, and social media topics. Phillips earned a Master of Arts degree from the University of Louisville, where her studies examined the art, artists and social influences related to the Harlem Renaissance. She is a graduate of Focus Louisville and the Center for Nonprofit Excellence Emerging Executives program.
Mary I. O’Sullivan is a highly qualified speaker, author, and business owner with over thirty years of experience in the training and development field. She has been an adjunct faculty member at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where she obtained a Master’s Degree in Adult and Continuing Education and taught career development, communication skills, and curriculum design. From 1988-1996, she directed an applied research center in conjunction with the University of Louisville Medical School to study how early childhood experiences affect learning and behavior. Through her company, Quanta Dynamics, Inc., The Sleep Education Company, she delivers customized sleep presentations to improve adults’ and children’s sleep and enhance learning. In addition, as an adjunct faculty member of the University of Phoenix in Louisville, she teaches writing and critical thinking skills.
JD Moore’s academic background is in History and Social Studies. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree in History, and a minor in Political Science from Georgetown College in Kentucky. He read for his Master’s degree in Public History at Arizona State University in the 1980’s, where he became a Graduate Assistant instructor for several undergraduate history courses and a researcher and seminar coordinator for the Arizona Historical Foundation. Currently, after a long career in business with duties focused on information management and employee training tools and systems, he is working as a teacher in the Franklin County Schools system in Kentucky. He serves as a Middle School Academic Team coach, and is actively tutoring high school students for their AP exams and their college entrance tests. He also is on the Curriculum Committee for Bondurant Middle School. As a teacher, JD stresses the need for core content mastery and narrative, and the need for explanations of why things are the way they are for students of any age, so they are able to grasp knowledge and embrace the personal growth that comes from understanding.
Akhtar Hussain is a dedicated Math teacher with 20+ years experience in teaching Mathematics, Coaching, Public Relations, Public speaking and Social Networking. He has extensive teaching experience in different countries including United Arab Emirates, Pakistan, China and Canada and at different levels from secondary to college level subject matter. He worked as a Subject Coordinator, head of School Admission Committee and a head of Discipline Committee for more than 5 years. He has a strong Leadership and Management skills. Recently completed Post Grad Certificate in Project management from Humber Institute of Technology & Advanced Learning Toronto, Canada. At present he is working as Math Tutor in Mississauga, Ontario.
Jenny Thorpe is a highly qualified educator who has severed in both public and private schools across the South for the past fifteen years. She holds bachelor degrees in Elementary Education from Eastern Kentucky University, and Leadership and Management in Knoxville, TN. Her advanced degree is in Instructional Leadership. Mrs. Thorpe also holds a Kentucky Principal Certification and is a National Board Certified Teacher. She has facilitated learning opportunities for school-wide and district-wide professional development. She also assisted her school in winning grants and completing research projects to determine the feasibility of different programs. As an involved faculty member, she has served on various decision-making committees, including SBDM, scheduling, technology, CSIP, leadership, among others. Mrs. Thorpe has had an array of supervisory experiences and aspires to obtain her doctoral degree in Educational Leadership.
Daphne Matthews-Johnson possesses a wide range of educational expertise. She has proficiency in chemical dependency treatment, child development research, neuropsychological research, primary education, as well as experience in youth counseling. Currently, she is a teacher at an elementary school in Louisville, KY. Her credentials include fulltime teaching experience in all elementary school grades, and, in addition, she has taught psychology courses for the University of Phoenix and Brown Mackie College in Louisville. Daphne is skilled in writing successful grants, managing support groups and non-profit organizations, budgeting, marketing, and managing small businesses. She is also technologically savvy in using excel, word, publisher, Photoshop, quick books, and other Microsoft software and capable of utilizing iPads, iPhones, document cameras, Smart boards, and Smart Tables. Daphne obtained a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the Kentucky State University, a master’s degree in psychology from the University of Louisville in 2005, and is completing a master’s degree in education from the University of Cincinnati in Cincinnati, Ohio.
Irum Khan holds a Masters degree in applied Psychology and a Bachelor’s degree in Child Development, University of Peshawar, Pakistan. She currently works as a Regional Director with State funded Agency ,The Arc Middlesex. Her areas of expertise are in administration, public dealing, training and educating, crisis management, strategic client development, multi-disciplinary team management, and project delivery. Her skills include constructing and facilitating cohesive teams, interfacing with public agencies, and establishing liaisons. Irum has a solid history of successfully developing multi-faceted communication strategies for government agencies and private sector organizations, managing large cultural Program media relations, and coordinating PR campaigns. In addition, Irum has experience working as a consultant, and has an impressive background in analyzing educational and health policies, evaluating training processes, and providing counseling. She designed an Educational Program Plan & Community Program Plan for families & children in State of California and New Jersey.
Emery Lee completed his Bachelors degree in Radio Broadcasting and Masters degree in Student Personnel and Counseling at Eastern Kentucky University. His first career opportunity was with the Lincoln Foundation’s Whitney M. Young Scholars Program. As Assistant Director, he wrote grants, developed programs, created fundraising initiatives, and counseled parents and youths. As a co-host on the local call-in radio show called “Community Connection,” he presented topics on education, workforce development, relationships, marriage, and spiritual concerns. Later job opportunities included positions with the Kentuckiana College Access Center, and the Louisville Urban Leagues’ Career Development Center. Currently, Emery works as an Associate Pastor with the Historic Lampton Missionary Baptist Church in Louisville, KY., and he is also completing his Doctorate in Educational Leadership from Spalding University in Louisville, KY focusing on Non-profit Leadership Development and Succession Planning.
Through 35 years of experience in public speaking, teaching, and counseling, Jan McKenzie offers a wide range of practical, personal experience in spiritual formation, spiritual discipline, personal growth, health, and reconciliation. Jan holds a European degree in Theology (Hons. BA in Pastoral Studies), with a special emphasis in soul-care in the context of postmodern culture. He has been a featured speaker for adults and teens at seminars in England, Wales, Finland, and Romania. After living and working for nine years in Europe, he returned to the United States in 2009, completing seven years of inner-city pastoral care, focusing on, trauma, addiction, and depression. From 2009 to 2012 he pastored a suburban church in east Louisville, Kentucky. Jan is CEO and founder of the River City Wellness Group, a newly formed faith-based NPO, created to help individuals and groups toward “wellness for life” through a renewed understanding and practice of the essential laws of health in their daily life. In 2011, Jan earned certification in non-profit leadership, covering volunteer management, advanced leadership training, board governance, fund raising, and grant writing. He is now writing a teaching syllabus on spiritual formation for seminars and retreats.
Lubna Panjwani is one of the resource persons from SPELT and British Council cadre of master trainers. She has been serving the noble cause of education for more than 18 years. She is a seasoned master trainer and has trained thousands of educationists during her career as an ELT practitioner for over 18 years. She has successfully designed, coordinated, and conducted ELT workshops and courses at the primary, secondary, and tertiary levels across Pakistan. She has cascaded and conducted several training programs for the British Council and SPELT Pakistan. Ms. Panjwani is currently working as the Vice-Principal and Head of the English Department, Shaheen Public School System. She is also the Regional Director, Pakistan Montessori Council. Ms. Panjwani holds a Masters in Linguistics, diploma in Early Childhood Education and COTE-RSA Certificate from Cambridge University. She is a British Council certified ETTE, TKT-E, Mentoring and Peer Support Master Trainer. She is also a PMTA and PMC Certified Montessori Directress and ECD trainer. She has the honor of being Hornby Scholar in Sri Lanka and Pakistan. She has also taken a number of international training from: Sri Lanka, Nepal, Uzbekistan, India, and USA. Twice she has been awarded with “Award of Excellence,” for her excellent school leadership and management. Ms. Panjwani has been on the board of advisory for KFC Teacher's Convention 2013. Also she is SPELT Past Conference Coordinator. She has organized several International conferences and seminars. Currently she is also the SPELT Program Committee Member. She has worked on a number of USAID funded educational projects. Ms. Panjwani is a social activist and a firm believer of social reforms through various social media platforms. She is passionate about empowering educationists and youth and has been contributing her expertise in these areas as a public speaker. She is often invited as guest speaker, Jury and panelist, at various events.
Farheen Khan holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, Master of Arts in Teaching, and teacher certification in Elementary Education for K-6 from the Pennsylvania Department of Education. Since 1995, she has a served as a classroom teacher, administrator, program director, and curriculum developer for various educational institutions. In 2007, Farheen began conducting professional development for educators and has presented at numerous national educational conferences on topics such as student motivation, classroom management, and school-home communication. As an educational professional, Farheen is guided by a strong student-centered focus and believes in fostering each student holistically, encouraging continual strives towards maximum potential, maintaining a positive attitude, and eventually becoming contributing citizens. Currently she serves as an editor and curriculum developer for an international textbook publishing and distributing company.
Diane Sharon holds a bachelor degree in Nursing from Walla Walla University in Washington. As a consultant and educator Diane is committed to professional healthcare, meeting patient and family needs. She has been teaching coping skills, life skills, and preventative healthcare maintenance skills. Diane has been facilitating motivational interview techniques and behavior modification theories of communication. She has been certified by the American Heart Association as a core instructor and has been providing ongoing support for basic life support for caregivers. She has been in the medical profession for over 20 years and has managed programs in health care facilities in the state of California, Washington, Oregon and Hawaii.
Barbara Blackstone possesses a wide range of business and teaching experience. She is a certified yoga instructor and has taught Hatha yoga for five years, with a pedagogical emphasis on the art of connecting mind, body, and spirit. She inspires her students to manage the stresses of life through moving meditation. Barbara owns her own successful yoga business, Peace of Work, which she operates out of historic Spalding Hall Chapel in Bardstown, KY. She is also a part owner of Millicare, an environmentally-friendly textile and carpet care company. Barbara spent twenty years in southern California, where she learned the ins and outs of Fortune 500 companies, such as ABM and Sempra Energy Solutions, and became one of the nation's top 1% income-producing women. Currently, she is Vice President of Business Development at MCI/AST, a women and minority-owned facility services company. Barbara is an authority on helping people to peacefully and purposefully balance career, family, and wealth. She is the mother of two children, ages eight and eleven.