Stakeholder Council Member Bios
Cindy Duch
Cindy Duch is the PTI Project Director for the PEAL Center, Pennsylvania’s Parent Training and Information Center. Cindy is active in the Allegheny County (AIU3) Local Task Force (LTF) and was a previous Chairperson for that LTF. She currently serves as a Commissioner on the Employment First Oversight Commission. Cindy graduated from Robert Morris University with a BSBA in Economics. She lives in Allegheny County with her husband and two sons.
Nancy Geist Giacomini, Ed.D.
Nancy Geist Giacomini, EdD (she/her pronouns) has been a contract mediator and facilitator with the PA Office for Dispute Resolution for over 10 years. Prior to this she mediated special education disputes and facilitated dialogue in Delaware with the Conflict Resolution Program, part of the University of Delaware’s Institute for Public Administration. Nancy teaches online graduate conflict and human resource management curriculum and provides subject matter expertise as a published author, editor, and thought leader in the field. In 2020 Nancy volunteered to mediate for the City of Philadelphia Eviction Diversion Program to ease landlord/tenant COVID hardship under the direction of CORA Good Shepherd Mediation. Today she provides administrative leadership as the full-time CGSM senior program manager and landlord liaison maintaining a weekly mediation calendar of 70+ remote sessions. The Eviction Diversion Program is credited with reducing eviction filing rates in the City by nearly half and continues to serve as a national model.
Nancy earned her terminal degree in educational leadership at the University of Delaware. Doctoral research, “Enhancing the Collaborative Capacity of Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) in Delaware Schools”, helped shape sustained state-wide IEP facilitation and training. Nancy holds degrees in counseling and psychology and training certificates across conflict resolution process options including IEP and group facilitation, conflict coaching, mediation, restorative victim/offender conferences and higher education due process hearings. She is certified to administer the Conflict Dynamics Profile (CDP) and teach Becoming Conflict Competent curriculum developed by Eckerd College.
Dr. Giacomini’s conflict practice is grounded in educational, restorative and social justice values. Her allyship and advocacy journey began at the University of Delaware while assistant dean of students responsible for student conduct administration. Over a decade of campus leadership included chairing and advising the inaugural student mediation committee, appellate judicial board, council for student judicial affairs and sexual assault awareness weeks. She provided direct support to students, families and faculty related to conflict, crisis, and disability. Nancy’s leadership beyond campus included careerlong service in the Association for Student Conduct Administration (ASCA) where she provided leadership as elected president, conference and training institute chair, foundation board member, conflict resolution and diversity task force strategic planning, and community of practice for women founder/chair. Nancy was awarded the institutional award for women’s equity for campus advocacy related to diversity, access and inclusion and the ASCA Gehring award for sustained leadership.
Mary Beth Gustafson, Ed.D.
Mary Beth Gustafson, Ed. D. (Betsy) retired on June 30, 2020, as the Assistant Superintendent for Special Education from the Pocono Mountain School District in Swiftwater, Pennsylvania. Dr. Gustafson worked in the Pocono Mountain School District for 29 years as an IST Teacher, Educational Consultant, Assistant Principal, and Assistant Superintendent for Special Education. She is an Adjunct Professor for Drexel University teaching graduate courses in Special Education and related fields.
In addition to her teaching responsibilities, Dr. Gustafson serves as member of the Office for Dispute Resolution (ODR) Stakeholders’ Council. She is a member of the Council for Administrators for Special Education (CASE), and Pennsylvania Association for Gifted Education (PAGE). Her degrees include a Bachelor of Science Degree in Special Education, Master of Education Degree, Reading Specialist Certification, Special Education Supervisor Certification, Principal Certification, and a Doctorate in Educational Leadership.
Dr. Gustafson is the owner of a consulting company called Hire2Inspire LLC. She provides consulting, guidance, and support services to administrators in education to assist them in developing skills to lead their organization with courage, compassion, and confidence.
Dr. Gustafson has a daughter, Jamie, who lives in Texas with her husband, Johnny and their daughter, Gussie Rae. Dr. Gustafson and her husband, Ken, recently relocated to Texas to be closer to family. Dr. Gustafson enjoys physical activity, reading, healthy cooking, volunteering at her church and other community organizations.
Luz Hernandez
Mrs. Luz Hernandez is the founding Executive Director of HUNE located in Philadelphia, PA since 1998. HUNE assists families of children with disabilities and youth with disabilities in obtaining an appropriate public education and achieving their life-long educational and career goals. Mrs. Hernandez has been a member of SEAP (State Education Advisory Panel) since 2008. She received her MCGA with a concentration in Translation Studies from University of Denver, BBM from the University of Phoenix and her AS in Management from CCP. She has received several awards, including Delaware Valley’s Most Influential Latinos, Hispanics In Philanthropy and OSEP. Mrs. Hernandez lives with her husband, adult son with disabilities and two daughters in Bucks County, PA.
Conny James
Bio coming soon.
Christa Jones
Christa is a mother of children with IEPs and a parent in recovery from addiction in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. She is an advocate and trainer for families raising children with special education, behavioral health, and mental health challenges. In her professional capacity, Christa is the Administrative Supervisor and Parent Advisory Board Coordinator at Allegheny Family Network (AFN) in Pittsburgh. Her life mission is to educate and advise child-serving systems about how to serve families while respecting Family Voice and Family Choice
Christa is a resident of Tarentum, PA with her children, Robert, 21, Anthony, 18, and Ruth, 15. She is a sitting member of the Local Task Force for Special Education at the AIU3, the Allegheny Valley Hospital Patient and Family Advisory Council, the Tarentum Environmental Advisory Committee, and the Highlands Partnership Network Steering Committee. Christa received her associate degree in Business Management and is a Certified Parent Peer Support Provider by FREDLA. She is also credentialed as a Strengths-Based Family Worker Supervisor from Temple University.
Christa presents at local, regional, and national mental health conferences about parent peer support. She advocates for students with special education services and parent accessibility strategies. Christa is actively involved in her own children’s educational obstacles and understands the implications.
The Office of Dispute Resolution Stakeholder Council offers Christa the opportunity to draw on her lived experience. Christa labors to facilitate and advocate for families raising children with mental health needs or disabilities within education systems. Her purpose and goal as a mother of impacted children is to solve problems in a more progressive and family friendly way while bringing all perspectives to the table of discussion.
Staci Kenney
Staci Kenney, Ed.D is the Division Chief of Eastern Operations and Monitoring with the Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) Bureau of Early Intervention Services & Family Supports (BEISFS). Staci oversees the monitoring and operations of Eastern Infant Toddler (Part C) and Preschool (Part B) Early Intervention programs. Before Staci came to OCDEL, she was a special education teacher (K-12) and a Preschool EI Director. Staci lives in Northeastern Pennsylvania with her husband and teenage daughter. Staci graduated from the University of Maine with a BS is Elementary Education and an M.Ed in Special Education. Staci obtained an Ed.D in Special Education from the University of Virginia.
Heidi B. Konkler-Goldsmith
Heidi B. Konkler-Goldsmith joined McAndrews Law Offices, P.C. in 1999. She became a Shareholder of the firm and Managing Shareholder of the Reading Office in 2006 and was named Supervising Partner of Special Education in 2010.
Ms. Konkler-Goldsmith is a frequent lecturer to the Pennsylvania Bar Association and parent groups in Pennsylvania and Delaware. Prior to joining McAndrews Law Offices, P.C., she amassed extensive experience in both litigation and legal writing.
Ms. Konkler-Goldsmith offers substantial expertise in the area of Special Education Law and handles a wide variety of special education matters, civil litigation cases and criminal justice issues. She has gained the respect of professionals throughout the administrative processes and the courts in the course of her comprehensive and capable handling of cases in her frequent appearances before the courts and administrative law judges.
Amy McShane
Amy Davis McShane has worked in the education field for over 30 years and is currently employed with the Allegheny Intermediate Unit based in Homestead, PA. She serves as the Career Ready PA Lead and Western PA Gifted Liaison, both initiatives with the Pennsylvania Department of Education. As well as working in those areas, Mrs. McShane coordinates Academic Competitions and Events for the region’s students and is the State Coordinator for the STEM Design Challenge.
Dr. Gina R. Scala
Dr. Gina R. Scala is Chair and a Full Professor in the Special Education/Rehabilitation Department at East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Scala teaches in the undergraduate and graduate programs. She is a faculty member in the Professional Development Schools program assigned to schools within the collaborative training model. She supervises student teachers and coordinates administrative opportunities for the Special Education Supervisory candidates. Dr. Scala is a member of the Special Education State Advisory Panel (SEAP), Interim President of PA Council for Administrators for Special Education (PaCASE), a board member of Pa Council for Exceptional Children (PaCEC), a PaCEC Region Co-Director, and coordinates the awards for the organization. Dr. Scala is a compliance monitor for PDE and is active in the Creating Agreement initiative in PDE. She is a member of the Leadership Initiative for Administrators in conjunction with PDE and PaTTAN. Dr. Scala has been appointed as the Research Liaison for international CASE and an Executive Board member. She presents frequently at state and national conferences. She is a consultant to many school districts in various states. Dr. Scala received her Bachelor’s degree from Bloomsburg University, her M.Ed., Ed.S., and Ed.D. from Lehigh University as well as numerous certifications. She worked at Centennial School for 13 years before her employment at ESU. She is very active in her local community and is married and the mother of two daughters.
Edward Titterton
Edward Titterton has been practicing law since 1975, entering special education law almost at its inception and now serving as counsel to ODR. Mr. Titterton represented parents/students at due process hearings in those early days, and then served on the Special Education Appeals Panel from 1989 to 2005. He is a graduate of LaSalle University and Villanova Law School, and also works for Resolute Management, Inc., part of Berkshire Hathaway, handling environmental pollution and asbestos claims.
Jane Williams
Ms. Williams is a partner in the education law firm of Sweet Stevens Katz & Williams, LLP, and chairs the special education department of the firm. For over twenty-five years, she has provided assistance to public school entities in proactive preventative strategies as well as litigation defense. She has served as a hearing officer and advisor to school boards in student expulsion matters, and provided in-service programs to school boards and administrative teams in all areas of special education and student issues. Ms. Williams has served on numerous committees and advisory panels as well as leadership roles within the Pennsylvania School Boards Solicitors Association, including that of President. Ms. Williams received her J.D. from the Emory University School of Law, Atlanta, Georgia, and her B.A. from Northwestern University, Illinois.
September 2024