DR. KRISTIE
PRETTI-FRONTCZAK

INCLUSION THOUGHT LEADEREDUCATORS’ EDUCATORFIERCE PLAY ADVOCATE

A highly sought-after speaker, accomplished author, and educators’ educator. Dr. Kristie Pretti-Frontczak began her career as an early interventionist and then spent 16 years as a tenured professor at Kent State University. Since 2013 she has followed her true passion for designing and delivering transformative professional development. As a result, she has accumulated over 50,000 hours of helping educators and leaders work from a place of compassion, hope, and love in locations from Cincinnati to Singapore.

DR. Julie CAuston

MAGICAL INCLUSION EXPERTPROLIFIC AUTHORKEYNOTE STORYTELLER

A best selling author, inspiring speaker, and inclusion advocate, Dr. Julie Causton began her career as an educator and then 14 years as a tenured professor at Syracuse University. In 2012 she founded Inclusive Schooling, a premiere company solely devoted to delivering professional development which transforms schools and lives. She has spent the past 25 years nearly obsessed with discovering innovative practices and teaching others about inclusive education through her wildly engaging presentations.

what is inclusive schooling?

At Inclusive Schooling, Julie and Kristie partner with school districts from across the world to deliver transformative and engaging professional development using a unique four step process, which starts with identifying a school’s inclusive education dreams!

Julie and Kristie are committed to creating learning environments where all students flourish and to reimagining educational systems, practices, and spaces. Their aim is to strengthen inclusive mindsets, heartsets, and skillsets of educators and school administrators.

read our definition of inclusion

WE SUPPORT ADMINISTRATORS, EDUCATORS AND PARAPROFESSIONALS WHO WISH TO CREATE MORE LOVING, CREATIVE INCLUSIVE
SCHOOLS FOR ALL LEARNERS.

OUR TEAM

DR. KATE macleod 

Secondary Education ExpertEquity AdvocateAccessibility Wizard

Kate MacLeod is founder and consultant at Inclusive Schooling. A former high school special education teacher in New York City, she has expertise working with adolescent students with complex support needs. She is an educational consultant who works with schools and families to create more inclusive practices for all. Her research is focused on best practices for the inclusion for students with complex support needs and understanding the culture of inclusive schools.

We work closely with inclusive school administrators, lawyers, and self-advocates to provide real life solutions
for your most pressing challenges.

Otto Lana, Photo by Beth Dubber

OTTO LANA

Entrepreneur
Unexpected Baller and Legend
Member of the Mod $quad

Read Full Bio

Otto Lana: A high school student in San Diego, and self-advocate who champions the right to communicate. Otto walks the walk and talks the talk. He has presented at several conferences and served as a Department of Rehabilitation youth leadership delegate in 2021. He lends his voice to policymakers in the California Department of Education in the Build Back Better planning. He has been a guest speaker in college classrooms (San Francisco State University) for graduate students and virtual classrooms (Inclusive Schooling- the gals who started it all for him) for professionals and educators. He has also received some accolades from big names in the disabled community. He is a recipient of the inaugural Heumann-Armstrong Award for Excellence (yes, that is right…Judy Freaking Heumann) and the Harry Servidio Memorial Leadership Award for his work with the Department of Rehabilitation. When he’s not busy with honors courses and public speaking he runs a successful e-commerce website www.ottosmottos.com with his unique brand of wit and positive energy, selling waterproof letterboards he designed for his active lifestyle and apparel sporting the motto “Everyone Belongs Here”. Nothing is more important than the sharing feeling of belonging. And everyone loves merch with a meaning. He does this all using text to talk software. Otto has autism and apraxia. These diagnoses describe him but do not define him. Proceeds from his website fund non-profit organizations that support the right to communication for disabled individuals and provide letterboards to people who cannot afford them. We is you and me. “WEEEEEEEE!” is the feeling of being included. Find your WEEEEEE. Feel the WEEEEEEE. He helps you remember the feeling of a hands up roller coaster flying with no brakes screaming “WEEEEEEEE!” That is what inclusion done right feels like. His most recent work involves changing the depictions of disabled individuals in the media. One of Otto’s Mottos is “Be the type of change you wish to see in others.” He is collaborating with Hollywood’s best to change this image of disabled people on your screens. He wants leading roles for the neurodiverse community, not victims of bullies or caricatures of disheveled nerds.  

Patrick G. Radel 

Father
Advocate
SPED Myth Buster

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Patrick G. Radel is a member of the law firm of Getnick Livingston Atkinson & Priore, LLP, located in Utica, New York.  He received his law degree summa cum laude from the University at Buffalo Law School, where he was the Executive Editor of the Buffalo Law Review. From 2002 to 2004, Mr. Radel served as confidential law clerk to the Honorable William M. Skretny, United States District Judge for the Western District of New York. Mr. Radel is passionate about the rights of people with disabilities and has been honored to represent families of students with disabilities at CSE meetings, in due process proceedings, and in federal court. He is admitted to practice before the United States Supreme Court, the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, the United States District Court for the Northern and Western Districts of New York, and in the courts of New York State.
 
Mr. Radel is a member of the Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates (COPAA), New York State Bar Association, and Oneida County Bar Association. He is a Fellow of the New York Bar Foundation and he is a frequent speaker on the legal rights of students with disabilities. He lives in New Hartford, New York with his wife, Mary Snyder Radel, Esq., and their three sons.

Our Support Staff

Liz Bremer

A Certified Professional Organizer and the owner of Put it Simply Organizing, LLC. Liz is a task master, contributing spirited productivity and love for details.   She can assist you with all your billing and contractual needs.  She is passionate about inner peace, compassion, and connection which totally jives with the values of Inclusive Schooling.

Lisa Connally

I’m a wife, a mom of three and a virtual assistant living in upstate New York. The experience of having a child with a disability defined who I am, what I believe in and launched my passion for inclusion. When I’m not supporting the team at Inclusive Schooling you might find me creating educational and at home supports for my youngest daughter or enjoying a much needed latte.

WE WORK TOGETHER TO OFFER YOU LIFE-CHANGING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT ON ALL THINGS INCLUSION

Julie and Kristie and the team at Inclusive Schooling were AMAZING! I am SO thankful we hired them! The staff loved the presentation and they have been so supportive of me personally!

The most rewarding, amazingly resourceful, and the
best professional
development we’ve ever had

We’re thrilled to help you to achieve
your inclusive dreams
Together, we’ll make inclusive
magic for your school.