Speakers

Meridian Program Director
Alexandra Leff

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 developing innovative programs and forging partnerships that bring resources, experiences, and opportunities to a wide range of student populations. 

Keynote Speaker - DAY ONE
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.

Keynote Speaker - DAY TWO
Jeffrey Allen Murdock, Ph.D

Jeffrey Allen Murdock was Grammy Music Educator of the Year 2021, and 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. Jeffrey is the 2016 Connor Endowed Faculty Fellow in the J. William Fulbright College of Arts and Science, and the 2019 Most Outstanding Faculty at the University of Arkansas. 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.

Visual Art Therapist and Curriculum Consultant
Holly Oberacker, LMHC, ATR

Holly Oberacker is the co-founder of Navigating ADHD and a licensed Mental Health Counselor. She has a Master's degree in Arts Education from the University of Illinois. She has co-authored Navigating ADHD: Your Guide to the Flip Side of ADHD, ADHD ARTGuides, Navigating Screens and ADHD, and Navigating ADHD’s Guide to School Meetings. Holly has served on the Meridian curriculum development team.

Music Therapist and Curriculum Consultant
Yi Xia

Yi Xia is a board-certified music therapist. She holds a master's degree in music therapy and a master’s degree in piano performance. She has served as a Curriculum Advisor on the CEI Meridian curriculum team, ensuring that there is a music therapy component. Yi has served on the Meridian curriculum development team.

National Teacher Spotlight
Amber Palmer - BALTIMORE CITY PUBLIC SCHOOLS (MD)

Amber has been an educator in Baltimore City Public Schools for 6 years and is currently the Early Learning teacher for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing program. She teaches students from 3 years to 5 years old who are all diverse in their sound access, English skills, American Sign Language exposure and educational needs. She teaches in a bilingual format that uses total communication with English and American Sign Language. She is always ready to think creatively to make sure that her students are never left out and have full access to the same opportunities as their hearing peers. 

National Teacher Spotlight
Zulma Ruiz Sotomayor - SAN JUAN EDUCATIONAL REGION (PR)

Zulma Ruiz Sotomayor is a classroom teacher of K-2 students with IEPs in San Juan, Puerto Rico, with 27 years of experience. She has a master's degree in Special Education from the Interamerican University of PR. She has worked with students from preschool through middle school.She participated in the Meridian professional learning program in school year 2024-25.

National Teacher Spotlight
CaiCai Zha - NEW YORK CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT 75 (NY)

CaiCai Zha is a bilingual Chinese Special Education teacher in District 75, New York City, currently teaching students with autism from kindergarten through second grade. Now in her third year, she is deeply committed to creating culturally responsive and inclusive classrooms where all students, regardless of ability or background, can thrive. Passionate about equitable education, she collaborates closely with her team to foster environments that celebrate diversity and promote meaningful learning.

National Teacher Spotlight
Courtney Smart - ROCHESTER CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT (NY)

Courtney Smart is a dedicated Special Education Kindergarten Teacher at Dr. David and Ruth Anderson School #16 in the Rochester City School District. Courtney brings warmth, patience, and expertise to her classroom every day. With 12 years of teaching experience, Courtney has developed a deep passion for helping young learners reach their full potential, particularly those with unique learning needs. Her commitment to creating an inclusive, supportive environment reflects her belief that every child deserves the opportunity to thrive academically, socially, and emotionally. 

Meridian Music Educator and Curriculum Developer
Jim Pugliese

Jim Pugliese has over 25 years of experience creating and directing music education programs and 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 that 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, featured on over 150 CDs 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. 

Meridian Visual Art Educator and Curriculum Developer
Theresa Rosinski

Theresa Rosinski has served as a visual art educator with CEI's Meridian and Education Through Art programs, as a teaching artist, visual art specialist, and curriculum writer for many years. She is a photographer and visual artist and has more than 25 years of experience in the implementation of arts integration programs, both as a teaching artist and curriculum writer.  Theresa has a breadth and depth of knowledge in the execution of different teaching modalities, having worked with diverse populations, including more than 20 years of experience with ASD populations. Her photographs have been featured in national print music magazine publications and several group exhibitions around New York City.  Throughout her career, she has worked with numerous institutions, including the Children’s Museum of the Arts, Columbia University, and BMCC.

Meridian Music Educator and Curriculum Developer
Beth Seldin

Beth Seldin has served as a music teaching artist and curriculum writer with CEI's Meridian and Education Through Art programs. She holds a Master of Science in Music Education from CUNY Queens College and is trained in Orff levels 1 & 2. Beth is a music educator with 15 years of classroom teaching experience (infants to grade 8), in General Music, Orff, Band, and Orchestra & Recorder Ensembles. For over 15 years, she has been teaching with NYC DOE and educational non-profits, working with students of all ages (SWD/Gen Ed). Beth has taught private music lessons in piano, flute, and recorder for over 20 years to students of all ages. Over her diverse career, she has helped to start and revitalize many schools with failing music programs across NYC by helping to write/develop, and teach the music curriculum. Beth is also a mother of a rising first-grader with special needs who attends NYCDOE public schools.

Meridian Visual Art Educator
Angelina Amankwa

Angelina Amankwa has served as a visual art educator with CEI's Meridian and Education Through Art programs, as a teaching artist, visual art specialist and curriculum writer since 2019. Angelina has been an arts educator for over 25 years working with K-12 students. Angelina received her Master of Fine Arts from the Art Institute of Chicago and is a visual artist who explores a variety of media, including painting and drawing.

Meridian Music Educator and Curriculum Developer
Patrick Adams

Patrick has served as a music educator with CEI's Meridian and Education Through Art programs, as a teaching artist and curriculum writer for many years. Patrick Adams is a musician and educator based in New York City. His passion for music and teaching has brought him around the globe and has connected him to several leading organizations in the world of education, including the Center for Educational Innovation and the Harmony Program. Patrick holds a B.M. in Jazz Trumpet Performance from the Oberlin Conservatory of Music.