MO SW-PBS Summer Institute 2024 Invited Speakers
DR. JASON SEFRIT has a passion for teaching and leadership that was kindled in a household in which both of his parents dedicated their lives to public education. With a career spanning 28 years, his journey through the educational landscape has been marked by diverse and impactful roles. Currently at the helm of the St. Charles R-VI School District for six years, Sefrit takes immense pride in leading a school district rich in both tradition and excellence.
DR. RODNEY LEWIS is an educational thought leader, speaker, and author who has inspired countless students and young adults. He is energetic about personal leadership; Guts, Resilience, Intensity, and Tenacity (G.R.I.T.); and learning outcomes. He believes all children have the opportunity to attain greatness if educators direct them toward the right path. Lewis currently serves as associate superintendent of human resources for the St. Charles R-VI School District.
DANIELLE STARKEY is the multi-tiered systems of support for behavior (MTSS-B) supervisor for the Omaha Public Schools. Her district serves nearly 52,000 students across 95 schools and programs. Starkey has been involved with multi-tiered behavioral supports for more than a decade and previously served as a senior research associate for the MU Center for SW-PBS.
DR. DANIEL RECTOR has more than 15 years of experience in education having served as a teacher, building administrator, school-improvement consultant, and SW-PBS statewide coach/district facilitator. Rector currently serves as the director of student services for the Fulton School District, providing programmatic oversight and support to the student experience from enrollment to graduation including the district’s efforts to implement SW-PBS.
DR. SARA ESTRAPALA is an assistant research professor in the Department of Special Education at the University of Missouri. Her research focuses on developing and studying school-based behavioral interventions for high school students with challenging behaviors and targeted Tier 2 self-regulation interventions. She is particularly interested in equipping teachers with simple, effective behavioral interventions that will enable students to experience emotional, behavioral, and social success in school.
DR. LISA POWERS is a senior research associate with the MU Center for SW-PBS. She has been involved in special education for the past 30 years and has taught students with emotional and behavioral disorders in elementary and middle school. She also has been an SW-PBS facilitator and an administrator. Her areas of focus include building district leadership for implementation efforts, best practices in professional learning, and connecting culturally proficient practices to a tiered-systems framework.
JAMIE GRIESHABER is a senior research associate with the MU Center for SW-PBS. Prior to MU, she worked as a trainer, coach, and facilitator in planning and development with the Special School District of St. Louis County. She has worked on interdisciplinary teams across diverse settings to support, advocate for, and give voice to families and youth. For the past 14 years, she has worked with schools to embed a strengths-based approach to partnering with youth and families across all tiers.