Speakers

Alexandra Leff
CEI MERIDIAN DIRECTOR & CEI EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF ARTS EDUCATION

Alexandra is the Director of the MERIDIAN program and the Executive Director of Arts Education at The Center for Educational Innovation. She has presented at national conferences on utilizing a differentiated arts-integrated approach and is dedicated to bringing the arts to all student populations. Alexandra founded CEI's Arts Education Department and creates and oversees a wide range of K-12 arts integration programs. With 20 years of experience in the field of arts education, Alexandra is committed to creating innovative programs and forging partnerships that bring resources, experiences, and opportunities to a wide range of student populations. 

Keynote Speaker - DAY ONE
Jeffrey Allen Murdock, Ph.D
GRAMMY MUSIC EDUCATOR OF THE YEAR 2021

Jeffrey is internationally known as a conductor and clinician. He currently serves as Associate Director of Choral Activities and Assistant Professor of Music at the University of Arkansas. He is the 2016 Connor Endowed Faculty Fellow in the J. William Fulbright College of Arts and Science, the 2019 Most Outstanding Faculty at the University of Arkansas, and the 2021 GRAMMY Music Educator of the Year. His research interests include Culturally Responsive Pedagogy in the Choral Classroom, Music in Urban Schools, and Social Justice in Music Education. Jeffrey holds a Bachelor’s degree in Music Education and a Master of Music degree in Choral Conducting, from the University of Southern Mississippi, and a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Music Education from the University of Memphis.

Keynote Speaker - DAY TWO
Susan Coll-Guedes, M.Ed

INCLUSION FACILITATOR AND FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE  ART AND SPECIAL EDUCATION INTEREST GROUP, NATIONAL ART EDUCATION ASSOCIATION

Susan Coll-Guedes is a dynamic speaker and passionate disability advocate, who inspires communities to cultivate inclusive schools through Arts Integration and Universal Design for Learning (UDL). As an Inclusion Facilitator for the NJ Coalition for Inclusive Education and adjunct faculty at Moore College of Art & Design and Temple University, she empowers educators and school leaders to implement strategies that foster accessibility and support for all learners. Susan's engaging presentations and innovative ideas leave a lasting impact, fueling change and a deeper understanding of the value of inclusive education.

Rachel Gawell Burns

CEI MERIDIAN MUSIC EDUCATOR

From rock bands to chamber music ensembles to experimental music, cellist Rachel Gawell Burns distinguishes herself by pairing a rigorous conservatory skill set with expanding what is possible on her instrument. A multi-instrumentalist, Rachel studied classical cello with a focus on contemporary repertoire at Peabody Conservatory and Rotterdams Conservatorium (The Netherlands). She has performed onstage on Broadway in Six (guitar) and Waitress the Musical (cello/guitar), and in the pit orchestra at Frozen (cello) and Funny Girl (cello). Rachel has served as a teaching artist in New York City through several organizations including the New York Philharmonic's Very Young Composers program, Brooklyn Arts Council, and The Center for Educational Innovation. Rachel encourages her students to unlock their artistic expression through improvising and writing their own songs. She is committed to paying forward what she has received from her teachers and fostering a love of music in the next generation.

National Spotlight
Leah Jorgensen-Moore

 SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHER, BALTIMORE CITY PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Leah Jorgensen-Moore has been a special education teacher for four years. She teaches a self-contained classroom for grades 3-5 students. Leah has a passion for the arts and holds a degree in Music Education from the Eastman School of Music, but chose to become a Special Education Teacher and joined Teach for America in 2019 due to her passion for special education. Leah was one of the participating teachers in the CEI MERIDIAN 2023 program.

National Spotlight
Karla Monge Montañez

SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHER, SAN JUAN EDUCATIONAL REGION

Karla L. Monge Montañez has been a Special Education teacher for five years. She currently teaches students in a classroom full time (self-contained) from 1st to 4th grade in Carolina, Puerto Rico. In addition to having a bachelor's degree in Special Education, she has certifications in Educational Therapy and Neuroscience applied to education. She also has a master's degree from the University of Puerto Rico in Curricular Theory, Design and Evaluation.

Karla L. Monge Montañez es maestra de Educación Especial desde hace cinco años. Actualmente enseña a estudiantes en un salón a tiempo completo (contenido) de 1ro al 4to grado en Carolina, Puerto Rico. Además de poseer un bachillerato en Educación Especial, cuenta con certificaciones en Terapia Educativa y Neurociencia aplicada a la educación. También posee una maestría de la Universidad de Puerto Rico en Teoría, Diseño y Evaluación Curricular. 

National Spotlight
Sarah Rodrigues. M.Ed

SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHER, BRIDGEPORT PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Sarah Rodrigues is a first-year special education teacher in Bridgeport, CT. She teaches a self-contained classroom for grades 1-4 students. Sarah has completed the post-Baccalaureate program from Southern Connecticut State University in Special Education to become a certified teacher. In addition, she has a Master of Education in Sports Management from Springfield College and a Bachelor's in International Business from the University of Bridgeport. Sarah has two daughters and thirteen students in her class who she loves to do art with! Sarah was one of the participating teachers in the CEI MERIDIAN 2023 program.

National Spotlight
Jonathan Cruz Colón

SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHER, ROCHESTER CITY PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Jonathan A. Cruz Colón is a certified Bilingual Special Education teacher who has been working with students with disabilities in the Rochester City School District for the last 5 years. 

Jim Pugliese

CEI MERIDIAN MUSIC EDUCATION SPECIALIST

Jim Pugliese has had over 25 years experience creating and directing music education programs and for the past six years has served as the Music Education Specialist and Curriculum Developer for CEI's Meridian and Education Through Art programs. Over the years, Jim has led educational programs and projects which have won numerous awards including the "MetLife Award" for running one of the top three Arts Education Programs in the country. Jim is a drummer, percussionist, composer and international recording artist on over 150 CD's of Jazz, Rock, Avant Garde and Film music. As a drummer/percussionist he has performed with The New York Philharmonic Horizon Series (guest artist), as a soloist or performer on numerous new music and jazz festivals in Europe, Japan and the USA and he has toured and recorded with The Philip Glass Ensemble, John Zorn, Marc Ribot and many others. 

Angelina Amankwa

CEI MERIDIAN VISUAL ART EDUCATOR

Angelina Amankwa is a visual artist who has worked with students and teachers in CEI's arts integration programs since 2019.  She has been an arts educator for over 25 years with K-12 students. Angelina received her Master of Fine Art from the Art Institute of Chicago.

Beth Seldin

CEI MERIDIAN MUSIC EDUCATION SPECIALIST

Beth Seldin is a Music Educator with 14 years of Music classroom teaching experience, varying from Birth to 8th grade in General Music, Orff, Band, Orchestra & Recorder Ensembles. She holds a Master of Science in Music Education and a Bachelor of Arts in Music Education from CUNY Queens College and training in Orff levels 1 & 2.

As a Music Teacher for the NYC DOE and a Teaching Artist for various non-profit educational programs, she has worked with many students for several school districts around NYC in the General Education & Special Education populations. Additionally, Beth has taught private music lessons for over 20 years to novices/beginners of ages 4 through senior citizens for piano, flute, & recorder.

Over her diverse career, she has helped to start and revitalize many schools with failing music programs across NYC by helping to write/develop, teach & maintain the music curriculum. Beth is also a mother of a special needs child who will enter Kindergarten in the NYC public school system in the Fall. Currently, she is a Music Teaching Artist & Curriculum Developer for CEI Music Arts integrated projects in the MERIDIAN program.