About Us
Our Team
As a charitable nonprofit organization, our school is supported and advised by a volunteer Board of Directors and managed by a strong Leadership Team with collaboratively over 130 years of education experience. The diversity of our staff is augmented by many passionate educators who thrive to bring their passions and interests to IEA every day.
As a team, we work together on one of our most important focal points which is taking the time to build a positive and supportive climate where everyone feels valued. It’s important that our staff, students, families and guests from our community feel accepted. We ask each staff member to help us find ways to uncover and ignite their passions, so they can build their capacity as an individual and educator. In short, our motto is, “finding ways to feed our souls.” When we accomplish this, people come to work excited and motivated with a contagious energy. This energy not only fosters creative ideas and strong professional growth, it sets the stage for a positive school climate and promotes a feeling of acceptance and value for all.
Leadership Team
Cindy Martin
Interim Executive Director and Director of Education
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“Success is no accident. It is hard work, perseverance, learning, studying, sacrifice and most of all, love of what you are doing or learning to do.”
── Pelé
I come to this position with a broad background in education. I worked for many years as a special education teacher and a middle school teacher in the Bolton Public Schools. I rose to be an administrator there as the assistant principal of PreK-8 and later as the Pupil Services Director. I continued my role as an special education administrator in the Farmington Public Schools and most recently in the Berlin Public Schools. These experiences allowed me to become a leader in special education.
Sister Kristin Johnsen
Facilities & IT Manager
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“May what I do flow from me like a river, no forcing and no holding back, the way it is with children.”
── Rainer Maria Rilke
I have been working at IEA since October 2010, first as IT Support, then in 2011 as a Computer and Network Administrator and Facility Manager. I belong to the congregation of Sisters of St. Joseph of Chambéry and am originally from Norway. I worked for the Diocese of Oslo and ran their Youth and Conference Center. I came to the USA to the sisters province in West Hartford in 2005. I worked the first 5 years for the House of Bread, running their after-school meal program and served suppers to 4 Boys and Girls Clubs in Hartford. After working 25 years as a Certified Chef, I then took courses and certifications related to IT. I have always had an interest in technology, and I love to work at IEA, to be there for students and staff.
Katie Cartnick
Assistant Director of Education
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“Our Greatest Glory Is Not in Never Falling, But in Rising Every Time We Fall”
While working in the Farmington Public Schools over the past 22 years, I have had the privilege of serving in various capacities that have honed my skills in leadership, special education, and student support. I worked for many years as a School Social Worker at the elementary and high school level, and helped to develop school based self-contained programs for students with emotional and mental health challenges. Several years ago, I was selected for an administrative position at Farmington High School, where I was the Department Leader of Special Education. In this position, I regularly collaborated with private Special Education schools like IEA to ensure that students are receiving the programming that best meets their individual needs.
Jackie Colon
Admissions & Community Outreach Coordinator
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With over 35 years of experience in education as a teacher and administrator, I bring a depth of expertise to my role as Admissions and Community Outreach Coordinator. I am passionate about personalized instruction and fostering collaboration to support the success of each student. Joining the Intensive Education Academy, I am thrilled to contribute to its growth and dedication to student success. Beyond work, I enjoy spending valuable moments with family and friends. I have a passion for photography, chasing golf balls on the course, and kayaking. As a Boston Red Sox fan, I relish in the excitement of baseball season, though I'll happily support my family's allegiance to the Yankees and Mets during spirited rivalries.
Cori DiMaggio
Educational Consultant for Curriculum & Instruction
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“I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”
── Maya Angelou
Cori-Ann DiMaggio is a passionate, lifelong educator and learner who is currently a consultant and IEA’s Director of Curriculum and Instruction and is proud to have been in education for thirty-nine years. Cori holds a Bachelor’s Degree in elementary and special education, a Master’s Degree in special education, a Sixth Year Degree in Administration, and a Superintendent’s Certification. She was a special education teacher for thirteen years, a building principal ( middle and elementary levels) for over twenty years, a Director of Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment for six years before she retired from the teacher’s Retirement Board. As mentioned earlier, she is now consulting and working at IEA.
On a more personal note, Cori is married and is the mother of three daughters ( two of which are twins), and the grandmother of two grandsons. She loves traveling, working out, reading, cooking, shopping, boating, going to the beach, and most of all, spending time with family.
Certified Staff
Emily Mitchell
High School Teacher
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"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover."
── Mark Twain
I am a very caring, patient and passionate teacher. I received my Master’s in Elementary Education from Quinnipiac University in 2015 and then my Master’s in Special Education in 2018. I am a certified Elementary Education Teacher (Kindergarten - 6th grade) and Special Education Teacher (Kindergarten - 12th grade). I have been teaching Special Education for 6 years. Prior to being a teacher I worked as a Paraprofessional and a Math Tutor. As a student growing up I disliked math, but I made it a goal of mine to help students overcome anxieties towards math. Recently, I became certified with The Wilson Reading System to better support my struggling readers.
When I am not teaching, I enjoy spending time with my husband and my son. We enjoy skiing in Vermont, playing golf and going to Cape Cod. We also enjoy playing with our two cats, Cali and Boomer.
Diane Neely
Middle School Teacher
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"Be Kind"
Hello, it’s me Diane Neely. My career as a teacher has been rewarding to me. Each day as I continue to learn, I give this learning to my students. I am a Hartford native. I earned my Bachelor's degree in special education from Virginia State University. I earned my Master’s degree from Central Connecticut State University. My hope is, each day my students return home, they feel that I have given them my best as their teacher.
Stefanie Melanson
Elementary Teacher
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“Creativity is like a puzzle, and people contribute different pieces to create a bigger picture.”
── Kermit the Frog
Mrs. Melanson has been at IEA for 30 years. She loves to teach all subjects and seeing her students grow in all ways.
Tamara Doyle
Middle School Teacher
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Hello, I would like to introduce myself, my name is Tamara Doyle I am so excited for a fantastic journey of learning and growing, the success of my students academically and emotionally is my top priority. It is my goal to create a family of learners who are supported and encouraged through collaboration with families and staff. I previously taught Special Education in Bridgeport Public Schools for 5 years and most recently in Bristol Public Schools as a long term substitute. I currently have a Bachelor of Science degree from Old Dominion University in Sociology, a Post Baccalaureate Certification in Special Education in grades K-12 from Southern Connecticut University and most recently I received my Master’s Degree in Elementary Education grades K-12 from Grand Canyon University. I believe that every child has to be cared for mentally, physically and emotionally to be successful inside and outside of school. I served 8 years in the great United States Navy and completed two overseas tours. I also enjoy working out, hiking, reading and spending time with my teenage daughter.
Stacie Berube
High School Teacher
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"Think left and think right and think low and think high. Oh, the thinks you can think up if only you try!"
── Dr. Seuss
Stacie is certified in both Special Education and Elementary Education, with a Masters Degree in Special Education, concentration in Urban Education. She has been teaching a diverse population of learners for 20 years.
She is married, has two children, and a dog that she loves spending time with. Her interests include gardening, reading, and DIY projects.
Arun Ranganathan
High School Teacher
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Teaching was something other people saw in me that I didn't really see in myself. In 2003 I was running a record store, volunteering at local youth music programs and earning money at night as a DJ. To earn extra money, a friend got me a job as a paraprofessional in Willimantic. I began to appreciate and value this field and my career in education began. After graduating from SCSU with my BS in Special Education, I left my paraeducator job in New Haven and began to teach in Meriden. Eventually, I completed my Masters degree in Multiple Intelligence theory and this is what my philosophy of education is based on. Every student has a special gift, something they were meant to share with the world, earn a living, go far and if it's done right a person can learn to love where they are in life.
Allison Kosmala
Applied Behavior Analyst
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"Be the change you wish to see in the world!"
Hi my name is Ally Kosmala! My journey to become a teacher began when I was a little girl and loved to play pretend teacher with my stuffed animals. As I got older I got more interested in human behaviors and mental health, and ended up getting my Bachelors in Psychology at the University of New Hampshire in 2021. After getting my Bachelors, I started working at a special education school as an ABA therapist. I realized that teaching in special education combined my childhood love of teaching with my passion to help others that may have behaviors or mental health struggles. While getting my Masters in Special Education and Elementary Education at Arizona State University, I continued to work as an ABA therapist and a Long Term Substitute at a public school. I graduated with my Masters in May of 2024, and I am excited to be at IEA! My goal as a teacher is to have a safe and flexible environment where students are able to work on their goals and grow. In my time outside of work I love trying new art mediums, spending time outdoors, or spending time with friends and family!
Patricia Dubois
High School Teacher
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Started teaching in Wolcott, mostly at the High School in special education. I also taught in Hartford High in a self contained classroom. I was a high school master teacher at Northwest Village School (Wheeler Clinic for many years before coming to IEA. I live in Farmington, CT. and have three grandchildren.
Related Services
Samantha Goyzueta
Psychologist
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Hello! My name is Sam Goyzueta, and I consider myself to be empathetic, outgoing, and a passionate advocate. I am a nationally certified school psychologist with a Master’s and Education Specialist degree in School Psychology from the University of Delaware. At the end of the 2023-2024 school year, I’ll complete three years of being an independent school psychologist. I have a cat named Stuart who takes up a lot of room in my heart! In my free time, I enjoy reading, exploring historical sites, going to museums, traveling, but I especially love trying out new things!
Yolanda Williams
Reading Interventionist
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“Reading is the key that unlocks both knowledge and imagination.”
── Jim Trelease
I was born and raised in Connecticut. I am a proud mother of three. I began my journey in education as a special educator and pursued my passion for teaching reading by becoming a Reading Interventionist. I am a dedicated and passionate educator with a mission to inspire and empower students. My passion is to help students navigate the complexities of reading while instilling a love for reading.
Michelle Kalfayan
School Counselor
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“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”
── Maya Angelou
My name is Michelle Kalfayan. I have been an educator for more than 30 years; I absolutely love working with young people; giving them a safe space where they feel heard and helping them to find their voice and their path in life is at the heart of my work. My professional journey started in business, but I soon realized that my calling was elsewhere. So, I put my bachelors degree in Business Administration in action as a Business Teacher at an all-girls Catholic high school and started work on my masters degree in counseling. I have been a certified School Counselor for 29 years now and I wouldn’t change a thing; it is both challenging and rewarding.
I enjoy spending time with my family, playing cards or board games, or just unwinding with a good movie. I love music and I am a member of my church choir. I love books and reading is my favorite pastime.
Kim Reith
Reading Specialist Consultant
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"Learning to read is not a privilege, but a basic and essential human right."
── Ontario Human Rights Commission
I’m a proud native New Yorker, devoted wife, and mother of two. With over 23 years in education, I'm driven by a passion to elevate both students and teachers to their fullest potential. As a certified Special Education teacher and Literacy consultant, I am a fervent advocate for quality education for all. With Orton Gillingham training, I specialize in providing quality reading instruction for dyslexics and those with reading-based disabilities, helping each learner discover their unique path to success.
Erin Schneider
Speech & Language Pathologist Assistant
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“Everyone deserves a voice”
I have an Associate degree in Disability Specialist with a focus in Speech and Language. I have been teaching speech for 2 years and working as a paraprofessional for 2 years. I am engaged and have a dog named Riley! In my free time, I love to read, paint, and draw. I also love to travel!
Rita Negrao
Reading Interventionist
Megan Kelly
Occupational Therapist
Jenna Waz
Board Certified Behavior Analyst
Special Areas
Adam Barley
Music Teacher
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"If you love what you do and it makes you happy, all the hard work and perseverance will pay off" ── Kobe Bryant
I've been teaching and performing music professionally for over 15 years, hold a Bachelor's Degree in Music Education, a Master's Degree in Vocal Pedagogy/Performance, and have devoted my life to continuously improving as an educator and musician. My primary instruments are guitar, voice and piano. In addition to teaching and performing I also produce, mix and master my own original music (and for other artists) using Ableton Live. Music is a powerful force: I am very thankful to have the ability and privilege to share my love for what has been the most significant passion in my life. When I'm not making music or teaching, I enjoy spending time with my best friend and wife, Katherine. We're both pretty busy so the simplest things like a coffee, a long walk and a nice dinner go a long way!
Karli Heneghan
Library Media Specialist
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“And every day, the world will drag you by the hand, yelling, 'This is important! And this is important! You need to worry about this! And this!' And each day, it’s up to you to yank your hand back, put it on your heart and say, 'No. This is what’s important.'" ── Iain Thomas
As an educator with nearly twenty years of teaching, instructional coaching, and library media experience, I strive to remain true to my core beliefs as an educator; first and foremost that children come first and that each child has the ability to learn and achieve greatness inside and out of the classroom.My own educational journey includes earning a Master of Science in Education from the University of Pennsylvania with a concentration in urban education in 2005. I spent the next eleven years teaching for the School District of Philadelphia in grades k-2 before joining the non-profit Children’s Literacy Initiative as a Literacy Specialist Instructional Coach for two years. In 2018, my family and I relocated to Connecticut where I re-entered the classroom teaching 5th grade ELA, while earning my licensure in k-12 Library Media. I have served as a Library Media Specialist for several districts in Connecticut before joining the amazing IEA community in August of 2024.
Joel Kibbe
Physical Education and Health Teacher
Administrative Team Members
Kara Alkire
Executive Administrative Assistant, Office Manager, and Finance Liaison
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”Set goals on where you wish to be. If you are unsure of where you are going, the place will be unrecognizable even if you make it there.”
── Steve Bundy
I have been with IEA for three years and currently serve as the Office Manager. I love seeing the students at IEA grow from the moment they first enter the school. Having a background in general education, I never fully appreciated how incredible Special Education could be. I have three wonderful children and a deep love for Disney. In my spare time, I enjoy crafting, knitting, and, of course, visiting Disney.
Deidre Jones
Office Assistant to the Education and Development Teams
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“What now? Is not just a panic-stricken question tossed out into a dark unknown. What now? Can also be our joy. It is a declaration of possibility, of promise, of chance. It acknowledges that our future is open, that we may well do more than anyone expected of us, that at every point in our development we are still striving to grow.”
― Emily P. Freeman, The Next Right Thing: A Simple, Soulful Practice for Making Life Decisions
I joined IEA in September 2024 after moving from Virginia where I worked as a school library assistant. My background is in graphic design and photography which I've used to serve schools and churches in communications roles for over 14 years. My husband and I have a Yorkie named Tuff, and we love exploring the Connecticut trails and parks in our spare time.
Jacob Maglio
ARI Accounting & Human Resources
Marangelis Medina
Human Resources
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"Be flexible, but stick to your principles."
── Eleanor Roosevelt
Eleanor Roosevelt's quote, "Be flexible, but stick to your principles." really resonates with me. It's a reminder to stay true to who I am while also being open to change. One of my favorite places is the Black Sea, in Constanta, Romania, the city where I grew up. When I am not working, you'll typically find me at the gym, spending time with my family and friends, or researching my next travel destination. Some things about me not everyone knows is that I am trilingual, I've traveled to over 20 different countries, and I am one of 6 siblings.
Thomasina Cole
Human Resources
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"The cultivation of kindness is the most valuable asset in the business of life…"
── Samuel Johnson
Early in my professional career, as a social worker in a maternity home in West Hartford, I was blessed to meet a wonderful friend by the name of Sister Helen Dowd. I was so inspired by Sister, and the amazing school she had started, The Intensive Education Academy. She taught me so much about how to motivate and encourage each one of our residents, many of whom struggled with school attendance and academics.Over the course of my career, I have been the Director of Staffing & Recruiting for a major insurance company, and the founder and CEO of a large national Employee Assistance Program and HR Consulting Practice, Work/Life Innovations, as well as Vice President and Practice Leader for a division of Centene Corporation. Following the acquisition of Work/Life Innovations by a large health insurance provider, I have concentrated on HR Consultation, Executive & Career Coaching, and national Leadership and Wellness training programs.
I am an ICF certified Executive, Career and Life Coach, I am honored to have sat on The Board of Trustees of my alma mater, Providence College, for nine years and to currently sit on the Advisory Council for the School of Education and Social Work.
I am so humbled that, in a small way, I can help to continue Sr. Helen’s amazing legacy of love!
We Love Our Staff!
Board Members
Gail Budrejko
Kelly Daly
Sister Sally Hodgdon
Bart Ianantuoni
Kaycee Callahan
Chris Joplin
Erin McGurk
Tim Hindman
Rabbi Levi Schectman
Dona Prindle
Molly Loftus
Pat Staffaroni
Denise Lysak
A very special thank you to Lynn Brooks who served over 25 Years,
Corey Glider who served 9 years, and Michael Lepore who served 8 Years on our IEA Board.
