Rita is the Instructional Specialist for our team. She provides direct transition services to students throughout our service area, such as assessments and seminars. She also provides a variety of direct services to teachers, staff, parents, and community members, such as technical assistance, training, and coaching. Rita has always been about helping people to be the best they can be regardless of their challenges and providing the supports necessary to help them achieve their goals. In addition to the work she does with our team, she also serves on a variety of state and local transition council boards, and is currently a CEC Liaison and Membership Chair for the Florida Division on Career Development and Transition Executive Board. Over the span of her career in Education, she has presented at a variety of state wide and nationally recognized conferences. Prior to joining our team in 2015, Rita taught in a Lee County center school for almost 20 years. While teaching, she was honored to be selected as a Golden Apple Finalist and as the Lee County High School ESE Teacher of the Year. Rita holds a bachelor of Science degree in Special Education K-12 and a Masters of Education in Curriculum and Instruction, with a focus in Instructional Technology, both from Florida Gulf Coast University. She previously received her national board certification as an Exceptional Needs Specialist. She resides in SW Florida with one very entertaining Boston Terrier, Roxie, and one feisty American longhair cat, Peaches. When not working, Rita enjoys spending time with her fur babies, creating works of art, cooking, cycling, reading, and binge watching a variety of shows.
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Rita Ellis, MEd, NBCT
Instructional Specialist
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Cheyney Cushing, MS
Behavior Specialist
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Cheyney Cushing is a Behavior Specialist and has been working with the grant since 2015. Her passion began in 2007, working with young adults who have the most significant disabilities to support each individual as they grow and define their life outside of high school. She believes in the importance of ensuring a level of independence that is individualized to each person and suits both their interests and needs. Cheyney holds a bachelor’s degree in special education from Florida Gulf Coast University and a Master of Science in Applied Behavior Analysis from Simmons University. She sits on the Highlands Interagency Transition Team (H.I.T.T.), currently leads the Glades Hendry Community Transition Council (GHCTC), and is a CEC Liaison for the Division on Career Development and Transition (DCDT) Executive Board in the state of Florida. She has presented at multiple state-wide professional conferences on topics related to transition and supports for staff in schools. She supports schools in the region both virtually and in-person, providing student seminars, transition assessments, trainings, and technical assistance to support positive post-secondary outcomes and increase graduation rates for students with disabilities. When she is not working, Cheyney can be found at home with her furry kids, a Boston terrier, Bridget and a tuxedo cat, Ollie, enjoying new foods and experiences, spending time with friends and family, or traveling.
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Damien is an inspirational/motivational speaker, corporate trainer and educator who has dedicated his life to leading, training, empowering, and motivating others to pursue their passion and purpose in life (personal and professional). Damien holds a graduate degree in Education Leadership from Keiser University and a bachelor’s degree in Human Services from Lynn University. Mr. Hunte is also dually licensed as a General and Business Chaplain and ordained minister and certified in Suicide Awareness and Prevention from Aidan University and American Chaplains Association. He has over 15 years of training students, professionals, leaders, and soldiers. He has over 15 years of experience teaching multiple subject matters and Exceptional Student Education (ESE) (students with disabilities). Damien is especially passionate about mentoring and coaching young people and professionals. He has coached multiple amateur and professional athletes during his 20-plus -year coaching career. True to his passion for mentoring, Damien was instrumental in creating and developing the mentoring program of Keiser University Multidisciplinary Center where he currently serves as the School Support Officer, of which services 8 counties within the state of Florida. Damien is proud to serve on the Board of Directors for Palm Beach School for Autism. In addition to committing his life to mentoring, Damien faithfully served our country for 8 years in the United States Army, and a Service Member Award recipient for his deployment during Operation Iraqi Freedom. Damien is married to his wife Faith-Simone for 15 years, and they are proud parents of 2 children, their son Jai (pronounced JY) and their daughter Caris.
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Damien Hunte, MSEd
School Support Officer
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Dr Christopher Groves,
Education Consultant
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Dr. Groves is an Education Consultant with over 20 years of experience in various levels of education. He enjoys working in education in any capacity and believes it's most important to position people for success in whatever path is necessary. Ensuring the right amounts of supports are wrapped around each person. Success can be a wonderful outcome. His academic achievements have included a bachelor's degree in psychology, a master's degree in education with a focus on special education, a certificate of advanced study in educational leadership, and finally a PhD in educational leadership. He is currently located in South Carolina as he and his family relocate to Florida. He enjoys fitness, surfing, his furry friends (dogs), scholarly journal writing, and off roading in his jeep.
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Malena Zamora is our BCBA/Coordinator. She works directly with teachers and school staff to identify and decrease occurrences of problem behaviors while teaching appropriate replacement skills to students. She loves seeing the impact that evidence-based interventions can have on the lives of students and those surrounding them. She is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst and has a Master of Science in Psychology. She is currently located in Miami, but visits schools all over central and south Florida. Her goal is to improve the quality of life of students and ensure they're able to get the full benefits of their education.
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Malena Zamora, MS, BCBA/Coordinator |
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Melanie Fernandez, MS, BCBA, LBA
Behavior Analyst
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Melanie Fernandez is a Board-Certified Behavior Analyst with over 14 years of experience working with children and families in homes, schools, centers and community based programs. She received her Master’s degree in Psychology with a concentration in Applied Behavior Analysis from Kaplan University in 2013. She enjoys supporting caregivers and stakeholders by focusing on enhancing their interactions with the children through conversation and play, while implementing antecedent and consequence-based strategies in a way that feels natural and comfortable. She currently reside in the Miami Lakes area and when she is not working, you can find her binge watching shows on Netflix or being a dance mom!
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Yiliana Puerto is a Behavior Analyst who provides services to students through behavioral assessments and interventions, and assists with educating teachers and schools on more efficient ways of meeting their students’ behavioral needs. She is excited to work to benefit students experiencing transitions in their development and academic journey, through collaborations with school administrators, teachers, and paraprofessionals. She has a Master’s Degree in Counseling with a concentration in Advanced Behavior Analysis from Nova Southeastern University, and has has been a Board Certified Behavior Analyst since 2012. Yiliana has worked in the Applied Behavior Analysis field in the capacity of therapist, clinician, assessor, and clinical supervisor for over 16 years. She currently resides in Homestead, Florida, and provides services to individuals and students in behavioral need across South and Central Florida. When she is not working with students, you can find her working towards the completion of her Marriage and Family Therapy PhD dissertation project. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family, cooking, shopping, organizing, and tending to her orchid collection.
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Yiliana Puerto
Behavior Analyst
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Michelle Tano, MEd, EdS
School Psychologist
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Michelle Tano is our lead School Psychologist with over a decade of experience in the fields of Psychology and Education. Specializing in comprehensive psychoeducational evaluations for children in grades PreK-12, she earned her bachelor's degree in psychology from the University of Miami in 2008. In the years following, she taught English as a second language at home and abroad to different aged groups of individuals from Asia, Europe and Latin America. In 2017, she graduated from Georgia State University’s prestigious School Psychology program with a focus on multicultural competence and bilingual assessments. Currently specializing in early intervention and identifying at-risk behaviors in underserved communities. She applies her expertise in mental health, learning, and behavior, to help children and youth succeed academically, socially, behaviorally, and emotionally.
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Felicia Selan is a Speech-Language Pathologist. By means of education and collaboration with others, she finds fulfillment in facilitating the development of one’s communication skills by fostering their functionality and independence. Felicia received her Bachelor of Science degree in Exceptional Student Education and Master of Science degree in Speech-Language Pathology from Nova Southeastern University. She is licensed by the Florida Board of Speech Language Pathology and Audiology and holds a Certificate of Clinical Competence from the American Speech Language Hearing Association. Felicia currently resides in Fort Lauderdale, Florida and enjoys spending time with her dog, staying active outdoors, and loves anything ocean related.
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Felicia Selan
Speech Language Pathologist
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Wade Smith,
Speech Language Pathologist
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Wade Smith is a Speech-Language Pathologist. He has 10 years of experience working with a wide variety of diagnosis and health care settings. Wade is a strong proponent of multidisciplinary teams and enjoys helping others effectively communicate using a variety of communication modalities. Wade received his Bachelor of Science in Communication Sciences and Disorders and Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology from Idaho State University. He holds a Certificate of Clinical Competence from the American Speech and Hearing Association (ASHA) and is an ASHA ACE award recipient. Wade is licensed by the Florida Board of Speech-Language Pathology and the Oregon Board of Speech-Language Pathology. He currently resides in North Miami, Florida where he enjoys being an outdoorsy person and spending time with loved ones.
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Genesis Tosic is a Speech-Language Pathologist with experience in the school and skilled nursing facility setting. She completed a bachelor's degree in English Communication and Linguistics, but her passion for children and language led her to pursue her master's degree in Speech-Language Pathology. Additionally, she completed a graduate certificate in Health of the Mother and Child. As a Speech-Language Pathologist Genesis specializes in Spanish and bilingual assessments for children. Genesis is originally from Puerto Rico, but now lives in West Palm Beach with her family.
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Genesis Tosic,
Speech Language Pathologist
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Keiser University Multidisciplinary Center (KUMDC) is one of six regional FDLRS Multidisciplinary Centers providing a range of services including screenings, transition assessments, mentoring and student seminars for children and youth at risk for or who have been identified as having complex medical, educational, emotional or behavioral problems and other risk factors for poor educational/academic outcomes.
KUMDC also provides services for families, teachers, staff, and other stakeholders:
- Training and Webinars
- Technical Assistance
- Consultations and Case Conferences
- Assessment and Diagnostics
- Behavior Supports
- Speech Language Supports
- School Psychology Supports
The center’s goals support the indicators within the Bureau of Exceptional Education and Student Services (BEESS) Strategic Plan and the Florida Department of Education (FLDOE) Strategic Performance Plan to prepare students with disabilities enrolled in public K-12 programs for high academic achievement and successful postsecondary outcomes.
Our primary service area includes: Glades, Hardee, Hendry, Highlands, Indian River, Martin, Okeechobee and St. Lucie counties, as well as West Palm Beach.
For more information, please visit our website.
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This document was developed by the FDLRS/Keiser University Multidisciplinary Center, a discretionary project funded by the Florida Department of Education, Division of Public Schools, Bureau of Exceptional Education and Student Services.
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