Break-Out Session 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 middle school teacher. She serves as an adjunct instructor in the Master of Social Work program at Virginia Commonwealth University, where she currently teaches 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.
Brittany Everett
Brittany Everett serves as a Postsecondary Access and Success Specialist with the Virginia Department of Education and the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia, where she leads statewide initiatives that expand equitable access to college and career opportunities.
Bryanda Monge-Vega
Healthy Families Rappahannock Area provides expecting parents and families who have recently welcomed a baby with the support, community resources, and partnerships they need to thrive. By helping families identify their strengths and build confidence, HFRA empowers parents to create safe, nurturing environments where their children can reach their fullest physical and cognitive development. No family should have to navigate the early stages of parenthood alone—and HFRA ensures they never have to.
Cindy Moussavou
Cindy joined the Housing Families First direct services team in 2014, providing families in emergency shelter and community housing programs with housing case management support.
​
In 2018, she became the first Program Director for HFF, where she created strategies to develop Critical Time Intervention models of housing counseling as a direct means of increasing housing opportunities and access to stabilization financial assistance—proven pathways to ending homelessness.
​
Throughout her social work career, Cindy has combined 15 years of service in the housing and homelessness sector, working with families and single adults in emergency shelter, rapid re-housing, permanent supportive housing, and transitional housing programs.
​
Over the past year, in her role as Deputy Director of Programs, she has continued to assist HFF in regional partnership efforts to manage, pilot, implement, and expand programs. Cindy aims to enrich organizational growth through sustainable staffing solutions and hopes to empower, encourage, and inspire service providers in their work to functionally end homelessness.
Kristin Riddick
Kristin joined the team at Housing Families First as a case manager in 2018 and discovered a passion for working with households experiencing homelessness. In her current role as Senior Manager of Community Outreach and Housing Programs, she supports the Rapid Rehousing, Key Hunters, and Bringing Families Home school partnership programs by providing guidance to the case management team, managing private and public grants, establishing and leveraging inter-agency partnerships, and maintaining agency standards for data, files, and best practices. Kristin enjoys meeting broader community needs by building innovative programs to serve underserved client populations, collaborating with regional partners, and engaging in policy work as chair of the Greater Richmond Continuum of Care System Policy and Process Committee.
​
Kristin holds a Bachelor of Social Work degree from James Madison University and earned her Master of Social Work degree from Virginia Commonwealth University. She is certified as a Homeless Specialty Housing Counselor by the Virginia Association of Housing Counselors. While she loves her job, her most important work is raising her three future JMU Dukes. When she has time, she enjoys reading, making music, and cultivating her green thumb.
Holly Angle
Holly Angle is an educator and social services professional with over 15 years of experience in child welfare, family support, and educational equity. She currently serves as the McKinney-Vento Specialist for Loudoun County Public Schools, where she leads district-wide efforts to support students experiencing homelessness through compliance, collaboration, and program oversight.
​
Previously, Holly held leadership roles with the Loudoun County Department of Family Services and worked in child welfare and youth services in Michigan. She holds a BSW from Saginaw Valley State University and an MS in Organizational Leadership with an MBA Certificate from Shenandoah University and is passionate about removing barriers to student success.
Jamie Porter
With over a decade of dedicated experience in counseling and college access, Jamie has effectively empowered students to successfully navigate their educational journeys. As a seasoned professional, she has served as a School Counselor, Virginia College Advising Corps Site Supervisor, and GEAR UP Virginia Regional Manager, contributing to the growth and development of countless individuals. Her passion lies in cultivating a culture of higher education and supporting students’ career aspirations.
Kate Miller
Kate Miller is the Training and Communications Specialist for Project HOPE–Virginia. She designs sustainable training tools and programming for liaisons and local school staff across the state, empowering them to effectively identify students experiencing homelessness and connect them to needed supports. Kate is also passionate about developing creative approaches to raising awareness of the issues faced by students and families experiencing homelessness.
​
Currently, she helps develop communications for various target audiences, including messaging across social media platforms. Additionally, Kate facilitates Communities of Practice where McKinney-Vento liaisons across Virginia can share best practices and troubleshoot common barriers. She is also the editor of Project HOPE–Virginia’s quarterly newsletter, The Hope Chest–Virginia.
​​
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. A school psychologist by training, Laura has over nine years of experience in homeless education. She has worked alongside children and families experiencing homelessness in nonprofit and local government settings in various capacities along the continuum of care.
​
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. She also oversees youth initiatives.
Lisa Ann Abernathy
Lisa Ann has served at-risk students in Henrico County Public Schools since 2010. The 2025–2026 school year marks her ninth year serving students and families under McKinney-Vento. During her time with the McKinney-Vento team, she has focused on streamlining data collection, developing a robust professional development program—including a course on ensuring equity in the classroom for students experiencing housing instability—and creating the McKinney-Vento Learning Library, a resource for school personnel to help ensure compliance. Along with her team, she is dedicated to increasing attendance and engagement for students experiencing housing instability. Lisa Ann was a member of the National Center for Homeless Education (NCHE) Advisory Panel and currently serves on the National Customer Advisory Board for EverDriven Transportation.
​
Lisa Ann is a servant at heart, a lifelong learner, and passionate about leveling the playing field for students whose housing situations put them at risk of falling behind in school. She is a Summa Cum Laude graduate of the Robertson School of Media and Culture at Virginia Commonwealth University, has completed coursework toward a master’s in special education at Liberty University, and is a certified trauma professional. For their approach to student engagement and attendance, her team is a two-time award recipient from the National Association of Counties, and their work has been highlighted by Attendance Works. Lisa Ann has shared her team’s vision and work with local, state, and national audiences. She is a native of Richmond, VA, where she currently resides.
Malora Horn
Malora Horn, M.S., has been with Roanoke City Public Schools since 2003 as the coordinator for the McKinney-Vento Program. Her professional career has always focused on working with youth and families. Prior to joining RCPS, she spent over 10 years as a mental health clinician and case manager with the local Community Services Board (CSB).
​
Malora earned her B.S. in Psychology from Virginia Tech and an M.S. in Criminal Justice, with a concentrationof the study in domestic violence, from Radford University. She serves on various advisory boards in the community as well as the state advisory council for Project HOPE–Virginia.
Marsha Granderson
Marsha Granderson is the Title IV coordinator. In that role, she provides policy interpretation and compliance oversight for Title IV, Part A (Student Support and Academic Enrichment Grants) and Title IV, Part B (Nita M. Lowey 21st Century Community Learning Centers). She coordinates the 21st CCLC annual grant competition process, providing technical assistance, reviewing applications and monitoring reports, and offering programmatic guidance and fiscal oversight to both school divisions and community-based organizations.
Michelle Patton Swisher
With over 17 years of experience serving vulnerable populations, Michelle Patton Swisher is a dedicated Licensed Clinical Social Worker with Spotsylvania County Public Schools. Specializing in trauma-informed care, she is certified in Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) and has spent her career advocating for and supporting students and families navigating complex life circumstances.
​
In addition to her clinical work, Michelle serves as both the McKinney-Vento Coordinator and Foster Care Liaison, ensuring that students experiencing homelessness or foster care receive equitable access to education, stability, and support services. She is passionate about building systems of care that uplift underserved communities and create safe, inclusive learning environments for all children.
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 role, she oversees school counseling, social-emotional learning, mental health supports, and special student populations.
​
Mrs. Wheeler has 16 years of experience in public school education, serving as a school counselor, director of school counseling, and assistant middle school principal. Within CCPS, she has served as leader of the CARE team, a member of the CTE advisory group, and on the budget advisory and strategic planning focus groups. She is also an active member of the Virginia School Counselor Association, contributing to the professional development team.
​
Mrs. Wheeler earned her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Bryan College in Dayton, TN. She holds a Master’s in Counselor Education from Virginia Commonwealth University, where she also earned a post-master’s certificate in administration and supervision.
Paige Walters
Paige is in her third year as a McKinney-Vento Liaison and has been with Montgomery County Public Schools for 20 years—eleven as a school counselor and eight as a Tiered Intervention Specialist. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Management from Virginia Tech and her master’s degree in Counseling from Radford University.
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.
Sarah Boies
Sarah Boies is a seasoned educational leader and community advocate with over 16 years of experience in education. Currently serving as the Supervisor of Outreach Services for Loudoun County Public Schools, Sarah oversees a team of 95 family liaisons across 100 schools, 125+ interpreters and translators, and leads initiatives supporting students experiencing economic hardship or facing other barriers to education. Sarah oversees the division’s Community School initiative and leads a variety of strategies to support meaningful family and community engagement across the division.
Prior to her work in K-12 education, Sarah held multiple leadership roles at Laurel Ridge Community College, including Director of Student Support Programs. Sarah holds a B.A from James Madison University, and an M.S. and Ed.D. from Shenandoah University. A passionate advocate for equity and access, Sarah brings a deep commitment to empowering underserved communities through education, collaboration, and innovation.
Susan Salvucci
With over 35 years of dedicated service to the community, I am a passionate educator and advocate committed to supporting student success. I have been with the Fairfax County Public Schools Homeless Liaison Office since 2013, where I specialize in supporting unaccompanied homeless high school seniors as they navigate the path toward graduation and postsecondary success. I provide support and resources that include addressing basic needs, navigating the college admissions process, and securing financial aid through FAFSA and scholarship opportunities. By maintaining ongoing check-ins throughout the school year, I offer dedicated mentorship to help vulnerable students successfully transition into their next chapter.
Tomika L Brown
Tomika L. Brown (she/her) leads strategic efforts in strengthening relationships between the University or Virginia and high-need high schools and communities across the Commonwealth, with the goal of increase access to educational opportunity. She has nearly two decades of experience leading education access initiatives that expand opportunity for students from marginalized and underserved communities. A proud graduate of the University of Virginia (B.A. in History), she began her career as a history teacher in Richmond Public Schools before moving into college access and career readiness leadership roles in Pennsylvania, Washington, DC, and Virginia.
​
Her work has spanned coordinating academic and financial aid support for students experiencing housing instability, directing large-scale scholarship and internship programs, and cultivating partnerships across schools, community-based organizations, and state agencies. Before joining UVA Enrollment, Tomika served as Director of ECMC’s The College Place–Richmond and Alexandria, where she led statewide projects to advance postsecondary readiness. She also holds graduate degrees from Virginia Commonwealth University and the University of Pennsylvania. She serves on the Board of Directors for Big Brothers Big Sisters Services and Project HOPE Advisory Board, mentors through Shineforth’s Project LIFE Foster Youth Program, and is an active member of the Virginia College Access Network (VCAN) and the Potomac & Chesapeake Association for College Admission Counseling (PCACAC).
Tyler Thompson
Born and raised in Winchester, VA, Tyler earned his bachelor’s degree from Virginia Tech and his master’s degree from West Virginia University. He has spent over 35 years serving and advocating for youth in the educational field, including 25 years at Frederick County Public Schools in Winchester, VA. He has served as FCPS’ Homeless and Fostering Connections Liaison for the past 12 years.
​
He has also served on various community boards, including the Shenandoah Alliance for Residences, Healthy Families of the Northern Shenandoah Valley, the Judges Youth Alliance, the Shenandoah Valley Continuum of Care (COC), and AIDS Response Effort.
.
Latonia Anderson
Latonia Anderson provides technical assistance and support to the Title I, Part A, to Title I coordinators in Regions I and II. She provides guidance, technical assistance, compliance clarifications, fiscal oversight, and educational programming support. Latonia also provides support and guidance to regions in Virginia for the Title V, Part B, Subpart 2, Rural and Low-Income School Program as the SEA REAP Coordinator. Before joining the Department, Latonia worked at the school division level as an elementary school principal, division professional development coordinator and Gifted Resource and classroom teacher.
Chad Breeden
Chad Breeden is a JMU graduate with a degree in psychology and has worked in the Harrisonburg/Rockingham community for 24 years. He began his career working as a substance abuse case manager for the Virginia Alcohol Safety Action Program and transitioned into child welfare after seven years in the field of substance use and addiction.
​
Chad began his career at Social Services in 2008 as a front-line worker investigating allegations of child abuse and neglect in this community. He is currently working as a supervisor for the investigative unit for Child Protective Services as well as an active member of the Multi-Disciplinary Team.
Chad works diligently in his efforts to ensure that one of our most vulnerable populations are protected. He has extensive experience in finding unique ways to overcome many of the challenges our families face, including homelessness, that influence a family’s ability to be successful.
Sara Kiser
Sara Kiser is a graduate of Eastern Mennonite University with a degree in Social Work. A native of Rockingham County, she has spent the majority of her career in the child welfare field, serving at-risk children and families in her community. Sara has held a variety of positions at Harrisonburg Rockingham Social Services over the past 25 years, with experience as a CPS investigator, a foster care prevention in-home services worker, and currently as one of the supervisors of the in-home services unit for the past 12 years.
Sara is passionate about family engagement, supporting at-risk families, and finding creative ways to address problems. She has extensive experience partnering with families facing hardships such as poverty, homelessness, substance abuse, mental illness, and domestic violence, among other challenges.
​
​
