Dr. Barb Brady, PRESIDENT/ACTING DIRECTOR
MA, LPC, Ph.D
Dr. Brady holds a Ph.D. in Leadership in Educational Administration, MA in School Counseling, and certifications in Superintendent (PK-AD), Supervisor General Instruction (PK-AD), Principal (PK-AD), (PK – Adult), Marriage, Couples and Family Therapy and is a Licensed Professional Counselor.
She has over 30 years of experience building student support systems in public schools. Dr. Brady is also a certified Youth Mental Health First Aid trainer and a certified Connections Matter Trainer.
Dr. Brady served as a school counselor for nearly 25 years, then as the WVDE Coordinator for School Counseling and the Expanded School Mental Health lead for 10 years; developing inaugural school counseling performance standards, state model, and an aligned standards-based evaluation system.
PAST BOARD MEMBERS
Tiffany Pittman, VICE PRESIDENT
MA, LPC, AADC
Tiffany holds an MA in Counseling, specializing in child/adolescent mental health, is a Licensed Professional Counselor, and is a certified Advanced Alcohol and Drug Counselor.
She was named the 2019 Counselor of the Year by the WV Association of Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors. She is currently employed by Marshall University Research Corporation as the School Mental Health Coordinator. With over 20 years’ experience in behavioral health, Tiffany provides school-based technical assistance, evaluation, supervision, and program development on local, regional, and state-level initiatives including Expanded School Mental Health, School-Based Health Centers, telehealth, and Substance Use early intervention and prevention.
Kelly Mordecki, SECRETARY
MA, Ed.S., LPC
Kelly holds a Bachelors in Psychology (BA), a Masters in Counseling (MA), an Education Specialist Degree (Ed.S.) in Counseling Leadership, a Certificate in Leadership Administration (PK-AD), and is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC).
She has dedicated the better part of 2 decades working as a school counselor and student support specialist. She has worked as a school counselor at the elementary, middle, and high school levels and served as a counselor for juvenile placement students.
Lori Dittman
A native of Braxton County, WV. Following graduation from high school, Dittman attended Fairmont State College (now University) where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Education, Social Studies, 5-12.
Dittman began teaching in the Braxton County Schools system as a substitute teacher. She spent several years mentoring adults seeking employment, worked in sales, and ran a successful restaurant. Dittman took a break from working outside the home and spent six years as a stay-at-home mother.
Juliana Dotsenko
Born and raised in Kanawha County. After graduating from Marshall University with a B.S. degree in Criminal Justice, she earned a J.D. degree from Capital University Law School in Columbus, Ohio.
She’s an active member of the bar in West Virginia and Ohio. She practiced law in Ohio for a number of years as a child support attorney, a city prosecutor, a mayor's court magistrate, and a small claims court magistrate. For the past 8 years, Juliana has been in private practice in the Charleston where her focus has been primarily serving as a Guardian ad litem for children in family court cases.
Jody LeRose
A 1998 Graduate of Nicholas County High School in Summersville, WV. During her high school career, she was a basketball player for the Lady Grizzlies.
She was Captain of the AAA First Team All State team, 1998 WV Player of the Year, and the Gatorade WV Player of the Year. These athletic achievements provided Jody the opportunity to play Division I Basketball at James Madison University. Jody earned her bachelors degree in Recreation Management and Human Resource Development.
Amber Lunceford
Currently teaches at Glade Elementary located in Webster County. She graduated from Lewis County High School in 1997 and began her career in education after graduating from Marshall University in 2001 with a Bachelor’s in Elementary Education K-6.
Mrs. Lunceford has assisted in starting an Even Start Program through the Even Start Grant by leading the purchase of all materials and centers age appropriate for 3-5 year olds. Then, she became a Home Resource Teacher through the Early Reading First Grant and brought early literacy activities into the home that were individualized to each enrolled student.
MARYJANE POPE ALBIN
Mary holds a Master of Science and is certified in K thru Adult education, Educational Leadership, Supervision, Curriculum & Instruction, Vocational Education, Cooperative Education, Advanced Facilitator, Coaching for Learning, Instructional Practices Inventory, Covey Trainer, Teacher of the Handicapped.
She is a leader dedicated to student learning through the improvement of professional practice. Mary Jane has served as a teacher, building administrator, county supervisor, assistant director/director and coordinator II, state school improvement specialist, superintendent of county schools and is an innovator.
ERIC MURPHY
After receiving a bachelor’s degree in liberal arts with and emphasis in special education and art education, Eric then earned two Masters Degrees from the West Virginia University: a Masters of Arts in Community Counseling and a Master’s of Science in Community Health Promotion. Between earning my post graduate degrees he worked at various not for profit organizations such as Independent living centers, youth treatment facilities and programming in both disability and the aging communities.
Working in these diverse communities and getting the opportunity to learn about “community” is motivational; Eric might even say it was empowering. Eric continually training to improve and expand my skills by facilitating educational community workshops on topics that the community finds important and providing health education to various organizations. Eric has significant experience assisting families in acquiring new tools to increase their knowledge of resources that could support their ability to be well.
JOHN BARTON
As the parent of three neurodiverse teens, John has extensive experience identifying and addressing the needs of neurodivergent youth, particularly in terms of identifying barriers and solutions. He holds a Master of Arts in School Counseling from Marshall University and a Bachelor’s in Education with certifications in English, Speech, and Theatre from Concord University.
John also has extensive training and experience with Co-Teaching, Precision Teaching, Crisis Response & Intervention, Arts in Education, and Differentiated Instruction. Diagnosed with Autism as an adult, he has personal experience with the struggle to find treatment and support when access is limited and options are few.
Diagnosed with Autism as an adult, he has personal experience with the struggle to find treatment and support when access is limited and options are few.
CARA HENRY
She has worked as an internal auditor for the Department of Veteran Affairs for 14 years. Prior to working for Veteran Affairs, she worked for two years in public accounting. Cara has served on several boards in the past in the treasurer role. She has experience in accounting, auditing, event planning, and fundraising.
Cara is excited to have the opportunity to serve on the Inspiring Dreams Network Board as she loves working with youth and can support IDNs positive youth development efforts through event planning and fundraising efforts. In addition to serving as IDN's Treasurer, Cara is serving as the Co-Chair of the Funding and Philanthropy Committee.
TERESA EPPERLEY
Throughout Teresa’s nearly thirty years as an educator she served in a variety of capacities including classroom teacher, lead academic coach, curriculum coordinator, program director, teacher quality coordinator and regional school support specialist.
Teresa began her career as a teacher in the Raleigh County school system teaching reading and English at the junior high and high school levels. It was during her tenure in Raleigh County that she pursued and achieved National Board Certification, the highest level of achievement a teacher can attain. From Raleigh County, Teresa went to work with the West Virginia Department of Education (WVDE) where she first served as the lead academic coach for Transition to Teaching (TtT) and later in WVDE’s Office of Professional Preparation in the roles of program director (for TtT), curriculum coordinator, and teacher quality coordinator.
CANDACE SMITH
Candace is an advocate for drug policy reform and harm reduction and became a trainer for the WV Regrounding Our Response initiative through the Rural Communities Opioid Response Program (RCORP), becoming a trainer for three of the five program components: Social Determinants of Health, Medical Assisted Treatments, and Comprehensive Health Framework for People with Substance Use Disorders
Due to her valuable contributions to IDN and the perspective she brought as a recent college graduate, Candace was invited to become IDN’s first Student Member.
Candace is a lifelong learner who plans to continue her education through graduate school and work in the public health field. She is currently completing the Community Education Group - CEG’s CHAMPS program that prepare participants to become community health workers.