Jennifer has worked in the fields of education and mental health for 20 years, supporting children and youth. She is Director of Intensive Behavior Intervention in the Division of Specialized Instruction and Student Support in the New York City Department of Education. She began her career as a child and family therapist and led and coordinated summer and after-school programs for students with mental health disabilities, before becoming a school social worker. Jennifer later transitioned to the classroom as a special education teacher in a District 75 and in a community middle school classroom before moving into leadership roles. She was a special education coordinator, unit coordinator, Assistant Principal, and an Administrator of Special Education. She has training in Life Space Crisis Intervention (LSCI), Therapeutic Crisis Intervention for Schools (TCIS), Strategies for Crisis Intervention and Prevention, Trauma Systems Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and basic principles of Applied Behavior Analysis. Jennifer holds Master’s degrees in Social Work, Special Education, and School Building Leadership (with a School District Leadership certificate), and is working towards a PhD in Social Work.

Jennifer received Pace University’s Award for Outstanding Achievement in Special Education- Alternate Certification. She is a Master trainer for LSCI and is a contributing author for the NYC LSCI curriculum. She has presented at the LSCI international conference, at local conferences on social work and social justice, and in graduate-level classrooms on disability rights, special education practices, and trauma-informed practices. Jennifer is a co-author of the chapter: “Education Policy, Kindergarten Through High School” in Social Welfare Policy in a Changing World (SAGE Publications, 2020).