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 at edCount, LLC. Dr. Summers has extensive experience in assessment validity and alignment evaluation.
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.
Lisa Rose, M.S., PMP
is a Managing Associate and our Director of Business Development at edCount, LLC. Ms. Rose contributes to edCount’s organizational objectives through intellectual engagement, technical expertise, and staff and company resources management.
SENIOR ASSOCIATES
Erin Buchanan, M.A.
is a Senior Associate at edCount, LLC. Ms. Buchanan brings with her over a decade of experience in instruction assessment and curriculum development.
Jean Clayton, M.A. Sp. Education
is a Senior Associate at edCount, LLC. Ms. Clayton has over 30 years of experience as an educator and alternate assessment expert.
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.
George Ligon IV, Ed.D.
is a Senior Associate and Mathematics Specialist at edCount, LLC. Dr. Ligon works on the New York State Department of Education large-scale alignment evaluation in grades 3–8.
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
Tracy Fazio, M.Ed.
is an 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.
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.
Nicholas Henning, M.S.
is an Associate at edCount, LLC. Mr. Henning supports the planning and execution of deliverables for state assessment development and evaluation projects, the development of research instruments, the collection and analysis of quantitative and qualitative data, and authors reports and presentations.
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
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.
Grace Karani-Luguya, LL.B.
is a Program Specialist at edCount, LLC. Ms. Karani-Luguya provides support to associates and senior staff in the execution of project tasks, research activities, report production, and proposal development.
Austin Heitzinger, M.P.A.
is a Program Specialist at edCount, LLC. Mr. Heitzinger provides support to associates and senior staff in the execution of project tasks, research activities, report production, and proposal development.
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.
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.
Laura Heslop, M.A.
is a Program Specialist at edCount, LLC. Ms. Heslop supports the planning and execution of deliverables for state assessment development and evaluation projects, the development of research instruments, the collection and analysis of quantitative and qualitative data, and authors reports and presentations.
ADMINISTRATION
Beth Smucker, B.S.W.
is our Director of Administration at edCount, LLC. Ms. Smucker is responsible for providing operational leadership and day-to-day support for the business.