Inclusive Special Education: Moderate Disabilities (5–12)

Linda teaches in the special education programs in the Graduate School of Education. Her work has focused on supporting persons with complex needs, considered to have severe disabilities in inclusive environments. Before entering higher education, she supported persons with severe disabilities and their families in school, work, employment, and home settings. Linda also has an extensive history of advocacy activities, supporting IEP teams, as well as advocating for systemic and policy changes. Previous to coming to Lesley, Linda was a faculty member in higher education for over 15 years.

Education

BS, Pennsylvania State University
M.Ed., University of Pittsburgh
PhD, University of Pittsburgh

Gail Cahill teaches in the Special Education Department in the Graduate School of Education. She also serves as a senior advisor to PhD students in several programs. Gail joined the Lesley community after many years in the public education sector. She has taught at various grade levels as well as held several administrative positions, including special education administration and school-based administration. She has also worked at private facilities such as McLean Hospital and the Guild School.

Throughout her career, Gail has been an adjunct instructor in Massachusetts and New Hampshire. She has taught courses in special education, administration, reading, assessment, and curriculum. She has served on the International Council of Exceptional Children, CEC Elections Standing Committee. 

Education: BS, Fitchburg State University; M.Ed., University of Massachusetts, Boston; M.Ed., Boston University; EdD, University of Massachusetts, Lowell (Educational Leadership)

Christina is director of academic advising and student services in the Graduate School of Education, where she is also advisor for the Special Education and Collaborative Internship programs.

She earned a BA in American Studies from the University of New England and a Master's degree in Higher Education Administration from Suffolk University. She joined Lesley in 2007 after serving in a professional advisor capacity at other local universities. A presenter at the National Academic Advising Association (NACADA) regional conferences, Christina’s research interests include topics such as student engagement and empowerment and organizational behavior. She is the co-founder and current co-chair of the Lesley Professional Academic Advisor Committee, a university committee connected to best practices in academic advising at both the graduate and undergraduate levels.

Stephanie Spadorcia is Interim Associate Dean in the Graduate School of Education. Her research and teaching focus on literacy instruction for students across the disability continuum; assessment of reading and writing; and using technology to support literacy instruction. She has published articles and book chapters, and presents nationally. She is a researcher with the Center for Literacy and Disability Studies at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, conducting research and development on literacy instruction for students with disabilities. She does work in schools in providing literacy instruction for all students, and the role of assessment in a literacy program.

Education

BS, Lesley College
M.Ed., University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
PhD, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Barbara is the program director for the Inclusive Special Education Programs in the Graduate School of Education at Lesley. She has had experience teaching, supervising, designing programs and teaching educators in both general and special education. She is interested in neuroscience research and the implications for education, effective learning strategies for students with disabilities, executive function, differentiated instruction practices, the development of inspiring mentoring skills, and the collaborative educational process.

Education: B.Ed., State University of New York, Buffalo; M.Ed., Lesley College; PhD, Boston College

Abby Hanscom is an adjunct instructor in the Moderate and Severe Special Education programs in the Graduate School of Education. Her favorite course to teach is Collaboration with Professionals, Families, and Communities, especially when it is the capstone course in a student's program at Lesley. Her full time job as the Director of Student Services in the Westwood Public Schools and twenty years in the field of special education inform how she teaches the Collaboration course. Her goal is to help students prepare to enter their future professional roles as special educators with the knowledge, skills and confidence to be active and effective team members.

Education

B.A., University of Massachusetts, Amherst (Elementary Education)
M.Ed., Boston University (Special Education)
M.S.W., Boston University (Clinical Social Work)
CAGS in Educational Administration, University of Massachusetts, Boston

Pasquale Puleo teaches in the special education programs in the Graduate School of Education.

Embracing a brain-based developmental method of education emphasizing hands-on-learning, collaboration, and social interaction.

Pasquale has been an adjunct professor at Lesley since 2007. He is also Mathematics and Science Specialist at the Riverbend School in Natick, MA, and was previously Mathematics and Science Specialist in the Newton Public Schools for 35 years.

Education

Master of Education, Boston University, Boston, MA, 1978
Mechanical Engineering Diploma, Istituto Tecnico Industriale, Messina, Italy, 1966

Beverley Cush Evans teaches in the special education programs in the Graduate School of Education. She has worked with students with Autism Spectrum Disorder for over 30 years, and has been a consultant for the Pennsylvania State Department of Education for Inclusive Education. She has served in higher education for 18 years, first at Duquesne University and most recently at Lesley University. Prior to her entrance into higher education she worked in both segregated and inclusive settings as a special education teacher for 14 years.

In 2021, The Run Around, created by youth designers in partnership with Beverley, iThrive Games, and Transition HOPE’s Janelle Ridley, won a gold medal in the category of Educational Tabletop Games at Serious Play Conference’s 2021 Serious Play Awards. The game authentically communicates the emotional, mental, and spiritual bondage the juvenile justice system creates. 

Education

BA, Marquette University
MS in Education, Duquesne University
PhD, University of Pittsburgh

Nadene Stein teaches in the special education programs at Lesley. She began working for the Waltham Public Schools in 2001, when she was hired as the principal of Northeast Elementary School/ She began her journey as an educational leader over 20 years ago as a principal at a residential program for middle and high school-age adolescents with social, emotional, behavioral and learning difficulties. After leaving Wayside Union Academy, she worked as an Assistant Principal at the Fuller Elementary School in Gloucester.

Dr. Stein has been the Administrator of Pupil Personnel Services for the Waltham Public Schools since July, 2015. With each professional move, Dr. Stein has worked to build and develop opportunities where teachers and students flourish as leaders and learners.

Dr. Stein's doctora dissertation is titled, “The Role of Elementary School Principals Supporting Teachers in The Instruction of Reading for English Language Learners.” In addition to her adjunct teaching for Lesley, she is a RETELL (Rethinking Equity and Teaching for English Language Learners) Instructor for Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.

An active member of the Waltham community, Dr. Stein is the president of both the Board of Directors of Healthy Waltham and the Waltham Land Trust. She also serves on the Advisory Board of the Charles River Community Health Center. A favorite activity of Dr. Stein’s is playing the baritone horn with the Waltham High School Band. When not working, volunteering or making music, she enjoys spending time with family and friends, reading, knitting and gardening.

Education

BA in English, Boston University
M.Ed. in Elementary Education, Boston University
M.Ed. in Special Education with Specialization in Transition from School to Adult Life, University of Massachusetts, Boston
CAGS in Educational Leadership, University of Massachusetts, Boston
PhD in Education with Specialization in Educational Leadership, Lesley University