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.
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.
SENIOR ASSOCIATES
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.
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.
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.
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.
Moriah Martin, M.S.
is our Director of Administration at edCount, LLC. Ms. Martin is responsible for providing operational leadership and day-to-day support for the business.
Melissa Cantrell, M.B.A., PMP
is a Program Management Specialist at edCount, LLC. Ms. Cantrell oversees the design, development, implementation, and evaluation of large-scale alternate assessments.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Kila Posey, Ed.S.
is an Associate at edCount, LLC, and supports the planning and execution of deliverables for state assessment development 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.
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.
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.