Secondary Level (Grades 9-12)

The future Dr. Thornton is a mathematics endorsement carrier, a beacon of light facilitator, special education teacher, Speech & debate team coach in Bloomington, Illinois. He holds a bachelor of science in secondary education mathematics, a master’s in special education, and his Ed.D will be in Special Education from Illinois State University. In addition, Mr. Thornton was a teacher of the year finalist this past school year at Bloomington High School in the midst of the pandemic.

Nick D. Polcini has served as a special educator for about 21 years in the field. He has been a middle school teacher and a high school teacher working with kids with Learning Disabilities and Autism. Nick graduated from West Chester University of PA in 2000 in Special Education and earned his M. Ed. In Special Education with an area of concentration in Secondary Transition at WCU in 2005. Nick currently teaches as a special education teacher at B. Reed Henderson High School in the West Chester Area School District in West Chester, Pennsylvania.

Dr. Sasha Scott has an EDD in Organizational Leadership with an emphasis in Special Education from Grand Canyon University. Dr. Scott was in first grade when she was exposed to a peer who received special education services in the self-contained setting. Outside looking in people saw a helmet, drool, bib, and a nonverbal child. To Sasha, she saw a friend lit up the room with a smile. Sasha’s first-grade teacher always said she would become a special education teacher. And she was right. Dr. Scott continued working with students with disabilities in high school in the classroom.

I am new to the role of special education consulting teacher this school year. Prior to this position, I taught a high school Life Skills program for students with intellectual disabilities. I have a dual certification in elementary education and special education, K-21, and am currently working towards a M.S. in Educational Psychology with a concentration in Applied Behavior Analysis. I have a passion for teaching and facilitating the development of independence.