Conference Speakers
Alex Javna
Alex Javna is the School Social Work Specialist at the Virginia Department of Education, where she focuses on topics such as school social work, safe and supportive schools, attendance improvement, and community schools. Prior to her current role, Alex worked as a school social worker and as a middle school teacher. She serves as an adjunct instructor for the Master of Social Work program at Virginia Commonwealth University, currently teaching Human Behavior in the Social Environment. Alex is passionate about trauma-sensitive schools, tiered systems of support, and school social work.
Dr. Alex Wagaman
Dr. Wagaman has worked over the last decade in partnership with youth and young adults at the local, state and national levels to conduct research, design and evaluate programs, and advocate for policy that focus on preventing and ending youth homelessness. She takes a participatory action research approach, being led by the expertise of young people. Dr. Wagaman teaches social work at VCU, and currently is serving as Special Advisor on Youth Homelessness to the US Interagency Council on Homelessness.
Angie Rockwell
Angie is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who has served as social worker with the McKinney Vento team since July 2023. Prior to joining the McKinney Vento team, Angie served as a school social worker with Henrico County Public Schools for 18 years. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and English from the University of Virginia and her Master’s degree in Social Work from Virginia Commonwealth University.
Caitlyn Owens
Dr. Caitlyn R. Owens is an Assistant Professor at James Madison University in the Department of Graduate Psychology. She received her doctoral training in School Psychology from North Carolina State University. During her tenure, she completed an NICHD T32 predoctoral fellowship at the Carolina Consortium on Human Development, where she trained in an inter-institutional and multi-disciplinary community dedicated to understanding the complex development of people in context, ranging from families to culture. Dr. Owens is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist and specializes in young children’s mental health. She is trained to conduct therapy as well as psychological evaluations. Dr. Owens is a strong believer in supporting children through interventions that also help the family unit.
Her research focuses on exploring the causes and consequences of family distress on child development. She has spent much of career working with families experiencing homelessness as well as families involved with the child welfare system. Dr. Owens research is very applied in nature and often involves partnering with community agencies and schools to understand how to best meet the needs of families in real-world settings. Dr. Owens uses her work and expertise to help bridge gaps between research, clinical work, and policies.
Claudia McDowell
Claudia McDowell, LCSW, been part of Fairfax County Public Schools since 2012. She was a school social worker at Lynbrook Elementary for 11 years before moving to her current role as an Attendance Specialist supporting the Homeless Liaison Office. Claudia has supported school teams to incorporate trauma informed strategies with students. Claudia partners with schools and families to develop attendance plans that are strength based and student focused. She was selected National School Social Worker of the Year by the School Social Work Association of America in 2022. Prior to joining the school system, Claudia spent 14 years with the Fairfax County Department of Family Services supporting at-risk families and children in foster care. She performed direct services, as well as working in management and program design.
Clifton Wise
Clifton Wise joined the Virginia Department of Education in 2023, bringing over a decade of experience in early childhood education and program administration. Prior to his current role, he spent eight years as a federal Child Care Director, overseeing the day-to-day operations of installation-based child care programs. Throughout his career, Clifton has held various roles, including Camp Director, School-Age Counselor, Camp Counselor, Preschool Teacher, and Child Care Center Director. Clifton holds a B.A. in Psychology from the University of Mary Washington and a Master’s degree in Industrial-Organizational Psychology from Liberty University. He has always been passionate about working with children, which extends beyond his professional career. He has led mission groups to support Native communities on the Standing Rock Indian Reservation and has served on numerous nonprofit boards dedicated to fostering inclusion, positivity, and access to essential resources for families and children. Education equity and access to high-quality early childhood programs are at the core of Clifton’s work. He believes that every child deserves the opportunity to attend early care and education programs that set them up for lifelong success. Outside of work, he enjoys spending time with his family and creating lasting memories together.
Dawn Hendricks
Dawn Hendricks, Ph.D., is the Early Childhood Special Education Coordinator for the Virginia Department of Education. In this role, she provides technical assistance to local school divisions, agencies, private facilities, and parents on the provision of special education and related services, federal and state requirements, as well as effective practices for implementing students’ Individualized Education Programs. Prior to the VDOE, she spent five years as Director of Training at the Virginia Commonwealth University Autism Center for Education, provided consultative services to families and schools through her private practice, and worked in both private and public-school systems. Dr. Hendricks has a Ph.D. in Special Education Policy and Leadership. Throughout her career which has spanned over 28 years, her primary focus has been on supporting young children with disabilities and their families to develop skills needed to be successful in school and life.
Felicia Preston
Felicia Craig Preston is the Director of Pupil Personnel Services for Martinsville City Public Schools. She has been a longtime employee of the school division. She holds a B.S. in Psychology, M.S. in Counseling and Human Development, and a EdD in Education from Radford University. She also holds an Endorsement in School Administration from James Madison University. Prior to working in the school system, Felicia worked in the community mental health sector with children and adolescents for two years. As a former School Counselor, she is dedicated to building relationships with students and families as well as addressing the whole child including their social-emotional needs. She enjoys spending quality time with her husband and four children, They are truly her inspiration!
Gaelin Elmore
Gaelin Elmore is a dynamic and nationally sought-after keynote speaker, trainer, and thought leader. He works with organizations and people to become belonging-informed in order to help children overcome trauma and unleash their potential. Gaelin's passion and energy for his work stems from his heart for justice and his own lived experience. His own belonging journey has led Gaelin to the National Football League, and now stages, board rooms, and organizations, all across the country, aiming to inspire, encourage, and equip others to think differently about their work and its long-term impact on others. Gaelin now lives in Burnsville, MN, where he gets to experience the purest form of belonging as a husband to his wife, Micaela, and dad to their three children, Laniah, Tatum, and Gideon!
Janelle Taylor-Johnson
Dr. Janelle Taylor-Johnson is the Homeless Liaison and Coordinator for the Center for Families in Transition (C-FIT) at Richmond City Public Schools. She holds a Ph.D. in Organizational Leadership from Liberty University and has over 14 years of teaching experience. Dr. Taylor-Johnson has spent nearly two years in her current role, leading and serving with love. She is deeply passionate about bridging gaps, providing HOPE, and advocating for our most vulnerable students and families.
Jasean Robertson
Jasean Robertson is a passionate advocate for unaccompanied homeless youth, inspired by personal experience growing up with an incarcerated parent and facing challenges similar to those that many young people experiencing homelessness encounter. His commitment to improving access to education for vulnerable youth stems from his own struggle with systemic inequities and limited opportunities due to unstable living situations. Jasean is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences at Howard University, where he has been recognized multiple times on the Dean’s List. He is also a recipient of various prestigious scholarships, including the TMCF Be U & Lowe’s Scholar and UNCF Home Depot Scholar. In addition to his academic success, Jasean is committed to leadership development and community service, serving as the Executive Parliamentarian for the NSLS, the Co-Chair of the Special Events Committee for the Howard University NAACP and Director of Undergraduate Elections for the Howard University Elections Commission.
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His professional experiences range from his role as a Pharmacy Technician Apprentice at Walgreens to assisting in contract negotiations and developing housing solutions at Howard University. Jasean is also involved in public service programs, including the CIA Immersion and the TMCF Boeing Immersion Program.
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Through his academic background and personal story, Jasean’s research aims to shed light on the barriers unaccompanied homeless youth face in education and advocacy. His work seeks to create transformative policy and practice that ensure these students receive the support and education they deserve.
Kade Goldin
Kade is a second year PhD student in the School of Social Work at VCU, where they focus on LGBTQ+ students and their experiences with care at school. Kade has a master’s degree in Special Education (2011) and Social Work (2018), with previous professional experience as a high school teacher in California and school social worker in Oregon.
Kate Miller
Kate Miller is the Training and Communications Specialist for Project HOPE-Virginia. Kate works to design sustainable training tools and programming for liaisons and local school staff across the state so they feel empowered to effectively identify students experiencing homelessness and connect them to needed supports. Kate is also passionate about developing creative approaches for raising awareness around the issues faced by students and families experiencing homelessness. Currently, she is helping to develop communications for various target audiences; this includes messaging across social media platforms. Additionally, Kate helps to facilitate Communities of Practice where McKinney-Vento liaisons across Virginia can share best practices and troubleshoot barriers they commonly face. Kate is also the editor of Project HOPE-VA’s quarterly newsletter, The Hope Chest-Virginia.
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Kathi Sheffel
Kathi has been the Homeless Liaison for FCPS for 25 years.
Kryslyn Fehr
Kryslyn is a a Co-researcher with RISE and a Permanent Supportive Housing Case Manager at Valley Community Services Board.
Kyla Patterson
Kyla Patterson, M.S., is the program manager for Virginia’s Part C early intervention system (Infant & Toddler Connection of Virginia) at the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health & Developmental Services. With over thirty years of early intervention experience, she has worked at all levels of the system: from a developmental screener and educator in hospital-based programs, to a service coordinator and developmental services provider in a community-based program, to the state lead agency. The scope of her experience at the state level has spanned all major functions, including technical assistance, monitoring, professional development, data and policy.
Laura Hackett
Laura Hackett is the Assistant State Coordinator for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth in Virginia and serves as the state point of contact for foster care educational stability. Laura is a school psychologist by training and has over nine years of experience in homeless education. Laura has worked alongside children and families experiencing homelessness in non-profit and local government in various capacities along the continuum of care.
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Laura provides training and technical assistance and can help with questions related to eligibility, school selection, and other services for students experiencing homelessness, students transitioning to higher education, and the dispute resolution process in Virginia. Laura also oversees youth initiatives.
Leslie Hytonen
Leslie Hytonen is currently the Community Outreach Coordinator and McKinney Vento liaison for York County School Division. She began her career as an elementary teacher in 2005. Since then she has held several positions in the education field. She started working with McKinney Vento families in 2019 in Las Vegas, NV before moving back to Virginia in 2021.
Lisa Ann Abernathy
Lisa Ann has served students who are at-risk in Henrico County Public schools since 2010. The 2024-2025 school year marks her eighth year serving students and families who are experiencing housing instability. During her with the McKinney-Vento team, she has focused on streamlining data collection, developing a robust program of professional development - including a course on ensuring equity in the classroom for students experiencing housing instability and created the McKinney-Vento Learning Library to serve as a resource for school personnel to help ensure compliance. She has written grant proposals resulting in the addition of a social worker dedicated to the team’s mission and in the production of a professional development course on trauma informed classroom responses. She is a member of the National Center for Homeless Education (NCHE) Advisory Panel. Lisa Ann is a servant at heart, a life-long learner and is passionate about leveling the playing field for students whose housing situations leave them vulnerable for falling behind in school. She is a Suma Cum Laude graduate of the Robertson School of Media and Culture of Virginia Commonwealth University, has completed work towards a master’s in special education at Liberty University, and is a certified trauma professional. She is a native of Richmond, VA where she currently lives with her husband Mark and their son, Graysen.
Malora Horn
Malora Horn M.S. has been with Roanoke City Public Schools since 2003 as the coordinator for the McKinney-Vento Program. Malora’s professional career has always been centered around working with youth and families. Prior to working at RCPS, she spent over 10 years as a mental health clinician and case manager with the local CSB.
She obtained her B.S. Psychology from Virginia Tech and a M.S. Criminal Justice, with a concentration of the study in domestic violence, from Radford University. Malora serves on various advisory boards in the community as well as the state advisory council for Project HOPE-VA.
Martha Crockett
Martha Crockett, PhD. recently completed the K-12 Educational Policy, Planning, and Leadership doctoral program at William & Mary. In her dissertation, she explored factors that help students experiencing homelessness graduate high school. As the research and community development specialist, Martha focuses on contributing new research findings to academic literature and school practitioners, as a means of deepening understanding and knowledge related to child and youth homelessness and its impact on academic achievement and well-being. Additionally, her efforts center around increasing the collection of data at both state and local levels in order to improve decision-making related to the prevention and intervention of homelessness. Martha is also working to strengthen existing community relationships and develop new community partnerships to aid students.
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Before coming to Williamsburg, Martha worked as a French teacher for 9 years, most recently at Miss Porter’s School in Connecticut. She completed her undergraduate studies in French and Latin at the University of Richmond and a Master’s in Education, with a focus on Social Foundations of Education, at the University of Virginia.
Melissa Gaona
Melissa Gaona is a United States Army veteran and a journalist for CBS affiliate WDBJ7 in Roanoke, Virginia. After doing multiple stories on the issue of human trafficking in Virginia, Melissa took a position with The Lampstand, a safehome in Virginia for children who have experienced trafficking and exploitation, as the Communications Coordinator in 2021.
In her role with the non-profit, she is certified to teach prevention education inside area schools. She also provides professional trainings for businesses, law enforcement, coalitions, and organizations around the Commonwealth.
Michelle Swisher
Michelle Patton Swisher, is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with Spotsylvania County Schools. She has been working with homeless students in the school setting for over 16 years. Michelle holds a Master's degree in Social Work from Virginia Commonwealth University. She is a strong advocate for students and their families who experience homelessness. She is proud of her work in establishing and developing Treasure House and the community wide events that bring homelessness to her community. Michelle holds a certificate in TF-CBT and certificate from the McCain Institute for International Leadership on Human Trafficking. She is an active member of the Continuum of Care and the Human Trafficking Task Force for Planning District 16. She was recognized as Hometown Hero with the Allen, Allen, Allen and Allen in 2014, NASW of Virginia Social Worker of the Year in 2015, Outstanding Program from the National Association for the Education of Children and Youth in 2017, Fredericksburg Elks Educator of the Year in 2019 and Government Leader of the Year by Fredericksburg Advance in 2024 .
Paige Walters
This is my second year as a McKinney Vento Liaison but I've been with Montgomery County Public Schools for 20 years, eleven as a school counselor and eight as Tiered Intervention Specialist. I graduated from Virginia Tech with a degree in Management and got my masters in Counseling from Radford University.
Patricia Popp
Patricia A. Popp, Ph.D. is Virginia’s state coordinator for the education of homeless children and youth, a clinical associate professor at the William & Mary School of Education, and a liaison to Virginia’s Department of Social Services for educational stability of students in foster care. She received her Ph.D. in Educational Policy and Planning from William & Mary, her M.Ed. in Learning Disabilities from Virginia Commonwealth University, and her B.S. in Elementary and Special Education from Boston University. Her research interests include students experiencing homelessness and high mobility and students with disabilities. Her publications include Students on the Move and Reading on the Go for NCHE and West Meets East for ASCD. She has presented in the areas of highly mobile and homeless students, classroom management, and teacher effectiveness. Pat is a past president of the Virginia Council for Learning Disabilities and the National Association for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth (NAEHCY). Pat is the recipient of the 2024 NAEHCY Sandra M. Neese Lifetime Achievement Award.
Rachel Wheeler
Mrs. Rachel Wheeler is serving in her second year as Coordinator of Student Support Services for Caroline County Public Schools. In this position she oversees school counseling, social-emotional learning, mental health supports and special student populations.
Mrs. Wheeler has served in public school education for 16 years as a school counselor, director of school counseling and as an assistant middle school principal. Within CCPS she has served as leader of the CARE team, member of the CTE advisory group, budget advisory and a strategic planning focus group. Mrs. Wheeler is an active member in the Virginia School Counselor Association with the professional development team.
Mrs. Wheeler earned her Bachelor's degree in Psychology from Bryan College in Dayton, TN. Her Masters is in Counselor Education from Virginia Commonwealth University, where she also earned a post-master's certificate in administration and supervision.
Renee Devall
Renee DeVall is the Transportation Coordinator at Charlottesville City Schools since 2023. She retired from Albemarle County Pupil Transportation in 2023 after 24 years of service starting out as a school bus driver and working up to the Routing and Planning Manager.
Sara Shaw
Sara Shaw, PhD is a senior research scientist at Child Trends. Her work focuses on using mixed methods and community-based research to promote housing and educational justice for families experiencing housing and economic insecurity. Her work includes research that helps connect families and youth experiencing housing insecurity and homelessness to high-quality education programs. For example, at the local level, she served as co-PI on an evaluation of the South Ward Promise Neighborhood in Newark, NJ, which included an explicit focus on families experiencing homelessness. She is also currently co-leading an evaluation of New Jersey’s Education for Homeless Children and Youth program. At the national level, Dr. Shaw is PI on a project exploring the child care needs and preferences of families living in public housing developments. Sara holds a PhD in human development and family sciences from the University of Delaware.
Sarah Bazemore
Sarah Bazemore is the Coordinator of Behavioral Health and Instructional Supports at the Virginia Department of Education. Sarah has over 20 years of experience in the field of education. Prior to joining the VDOE, Sarah was a school counselor, school counseling coordinator, behavior interventionist, special education teacher, and middle school math teacher. Additionally, she has served as an adjunct professor at Virginia Commonwealth University and was the Virginia School Counselor of the Year in 2019. In her role at the VDOE, she works with school divisions and school-based mental health professionals throughout the state to promote best practices in the development of students’ academic, career development, behavioral, and social-emotional needs. When not at work, she enjoys spending time with her husband and two daughters, playing soccer, and exploring the outdoors with her pups.
Stephen Herrera
Stephen Herrera is a researcher for the RISE (Researching Insights into Students Experiencing Homelessness) with lived experience.
Sunny Sun
Sunny Sun, MPH, is a Project Management Specialist at Child Trends. Her areas of focus are housing, neighborhoods, and the built environment; racial, social, and environmental justice; and health equity. She has experience working with government agencies, service-providing organizations, and foundations to support and evaluate programs for children and families experiencing homelessness or housing instability and families impacted by the child welfare system. She was the Project Director and Qualitative Lead for an evaluation of Virginia’s Education for Homeless Children and Youth program and a rapid cycle evaluation for a rapid rehousing initiative in Atlanta. She recently supported a study that explored the out-of-pocket costs spent on child care by families who receive housing vouchers. Sunny firmly believes that communities have the power to create change and that research and work for communities should wholly partner with and include the communities involved. She is passionate about equitable and intersectional action to support communities affected by injustice.
Ta-Tanisha Walton
Ta-Tanisha Walton is an industrious educator from Baltimore, Maryland with thirty-one years of experience with Norfolk Public Schools. Ta-Tanisha grew as an educator in NPS due to her roles as a teacher and as an administrator. She was recognized as Tidewater Park Elementary’s Teacher of the Year in 1999. She was also the recipient of the School Bell and Apple for the Teacher awards. Ta-Tanisha has always had a steadfast passion for helping others, especially those in need. She volunteered in the Union Mission pantry as a Norfolk State University student where she earned her undergraduate and graduate degrees. She is active in the NSU Alumni Spartan Legion and participates in a plethora of alumni activities to assist current college students and the university. She continues to support Norfolk citizens in need by participating in her church’s community outreach projects such as the shower ministry, food pantry, clothing closet, and toy giveaway. This is her eighth year serving as the division’s Homeless Liaison and seventeenth year working in the Title I. office.
Taundwa Jeffries
Taundwa Jeffries serves as the Executive Director of the Head Start Collaboration Office for the Virginia Department of Education. With a remarkable tenure spanning 20 years in the Head Start Program, Taundwa brings a wealth of experience and expertise to this vital role within the Division of Early Childhood Care and Education. In a range of diverse roles within the Head Start community and as a former Kindergarten educator, Taundwa quickly developed a deep passion for working with young children and their families. The hands-on experience as an educator provided invaluable insights into the developmental needs of children and the importance of creating a nurturing and stimulating learning environment. This foundation has laid the groundwork for her future endeavors in early childhood education for state government.
Under Taundwa’s guidance, the Head Start Collaboration Office continues to make significant strides in advancing the mission of the Head Start program. The vision for the future includes expanded access to comprehensive services, enhanced program quality, and increased professional development supports for educators. By forging strong collaborative partnerships and key systems building, she is working to create a brighter future for Virginia’s children and families.
Tiffanie Meehling
Tiffanie Meehling joined the Virginia Department of Education in August 2020, initially as an Early Childhood Specialist working in PreK Programs and now as the Associate Director of PreK Programs. She came to Virginia from Denver Public Schools in Colorado, where she served as the supervisor of Early Childhood Special Education. Tiffanie has worked early education for nearly 20 years. She has taught both general education and special education. She worked primarily in public school settings, but has spent time in Head Start and private settings as well. Tiffanie has a B.A. degree in Psychology and Criminology from Norwich University, a Master’s Degree in Early Childhood Special Education from the University of Colorado, and an Education Specialist Degree in Educational Leadership and Special Education Administration from the University of Northern Colorado. She is passionate about education equity, inclusion, and access.
Tyler Thompson
Born and raised in Winchester, VA. He received his Bachelor's degree from Virginia Tech, and his Master's degree from WVU. He has worked over 35 years serving and advocating for our youth in the educational field, of which 25 years has been spent at Frederick County Public Schools in Winchester, VA. He has served as the FCPS' Homeless and Fostering Connections Liaison for the past 12 years. He has served on various community boards such as: The Shenandoah Alliance for Residences, Healthy Families of the Northern Shenandoah Valley, The Judges Youth Alliance, Shenandoah Valley COC and Aids Response Effort.
