Barbara Friedlander is a National Board-Certified Special Education Teacher, educational consultant, and professional learning specialist. Her work focuses on advancing inclusive practices by equipping teachers with the tools to create engaging, scaffolded learning environments where all students can thrive—not just be placed—in general education settings. She is the co-author of Powerful Writing Strategies for All Students and has presented at local, state, and national conferences on topics including writing instruction, equity and leadership, school improvement, and co-teaching.

Barbara currently serves on the Maryland Council for Exceptional Children Board and in 2024 she was honored as the Learning Disabilities Association’s Sam Kirk Educator of the Year in recognition of her outstanding contributions to the field.

Dr. Ashley Barkel is an educational consultant with over two decades of experience spanning roles as an elementary general and special education teacher, GED instructor, researcher, and Associate Professor of Practice. She earned her Ph.D. in Learning, Literacies, and Technologies from Arizona State University, specializing in learning disabilities and English learners.

Ashley loves collaborating with and learning from fellow educators, with a strong commitment to bridging research and practice. Her work focuses on school-based interventions, writing instruction, and practice-based professional development, with a particular passion for Self-Regulated Strategy Development (SRSD).

She serves on the Council for Exceptional Children’s (CEC) Professional Standards and Practice Committee. Her co-authored work is published in Teaching Exceptional Children and Reading and Writing: An Interdisciplinary Journal and she has presented her work at conferences such as the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC), the Pacific Coast Research Conference (PCRC), and Teacher Educators for Children with Behavior Disorders (TECBD).