Our Staff
CEO & CHIEF SCIENTIST
Ellen Forte, Ph.D., is our CEO & Chief Scientist at edCount, LLC. Dr. Forte’s work focuses on validity evaluation and on policies for how students, including those with disabilities and English learners, engage in instructional and assessment contexts. She particularly specializes in designing, developing, and evaluating assessments for alignment quality.
PRINCIPAL AND MANAGING ASSOCIATES
Elizabeth Summers, Ph.D.
is our Executive Vice President and Director of Business Development at edCount, LLC. Dr. Summers has extensive experience in assessment validity and alignment evaluation.
Erin Buchanan, M.A.
is a Managing Associate at edCount, LLC. Ms. Buchanan brings with her over a decade of experience in instruction assessment and curriculum development.
Melissa Fincher, Ph.D.
is a Managing Associate and the Director of Assessment Analytics at edCount, LLC. Dr. Fincher guides edCount’s work in the assessment and accountability arena, including the alignment team.
Moriah Martin, M.S.
is a Managing Associate and Director of Administration at edCount, LLC. Ms. Martin is responsible for providing operational leadership and day-to-day support for the business.
SENIOR ASSOCIATES
Tracy Fazio, M.Ed.
is a Senior Associate and Mathematics Specialist at edCount, LLC. Ms. Fazio has extensive knowledge of the Common Core State Standards for mathematics and application in instructional settings.
Bill Herrera, M.S.
is a Senior Associate and Assessment Specialist with edCount, LLC. Mr. Herrera has over 20 years of experience in education as a state assessment director, researcher, and teacher.
Daisy Rutstein, Ph.D.
is a Senior Associate with edCount, LLC. Dr. Rutstein brings with her over 15 years of experience as an educational researcher.
Charlene Turner, B.S.
is a Senior Associate and Assessment Specialist with edCount, LLC. Ms. Turner brings with her over 30 years of experience in education as a state alternate assessment director, special education teacher, and researcher.
ASSOCIATES
Alice Garcia, Ph.D.
is an Associate and English Language Arts Assessment Specialist at edCount, LLC. Dr. Garcia has over 20 years of experience in education, serving in various roles, including as an educator, curriculum writer, and English Learner program coordinator.
Laura Heslop, M.A.
is an Assessment Development Associate at edCount, LLC. Ms. Heslop supports the design and execution of project deliverables for state assessment development and evaluation projects, including assessment items, rubrics, claims, test blueprints, and item/test specifications.
Jasmine Manley, M.Ed.
is an Associate and English Language Arts and Social Studies Assessment Specialist at edCount, LLC. Ms. Manley has 10 years of experience in education, serving in various roles, including as an educator and a test development professional.
Kila Posey, Ed.S.
is an Associate at edCount, LLC, and supports the planning and execution of deliverables for state assessment development, operations and evaluation projects. Ms. Posey has over 21 years of experience in education as a teacher, an education program specialist in Atlanta area public school districts, and as an educational program consultant.
Patricia Richard, M.A.
is an Associate and Deputy Director of Business Development at edCount, LLC. Ms. Richard supports edCount’s business development activities and contributes to project activities by facilitating expert panels, authoring and reviewing reports, instruments, and protocols.
Michelle Shipman, B. Ed.
is an Associate and Science Assessment Specialist at edCount, LLC. Ms. Shipman has over 30 years of experience in education, serving in various roles, including as an educator, test development professional, and instructional design consultant.
PROGRAM SPECIALISTS
Allison Kaczmarski, M.P.P.
is a Program Specialist at edCount, LLC. Ms. Kaczmarski provides support to associates and senior staff in the execution of project tasks, research activities, and report production.
Grace Luguya, LL.B.
is a Program Specialist at edCount, LLC. Ms. Luguya provides support to associates and senior staff in the execution of project tasks, research activities, report production, and proposal development.
Kevin Konort, M.Ed.
is a Program Specialist at edCount, LLC. Mr. Konort provides support to associates and senior staff in the execution of project tasks, research activities, report production, and proposal development.
Samuel Miller, B.A.
is a Program Specialist at edCount, LLC. Mr. Miller provides support to associates and senior staff in the execution of project tasks, research activities, and report production.
Emily Peña, M.S.
is a Program Specialist at edCount, LLC. Ms. Peña provides support to associates and senior staff in the execution of project tasks, research activities, report production, and proposal development.