CEI Staff
Katherine
Gaudet, M.Sp.Ed, is the
President and Founder of the Center for Education Innovation at Friends
Academy, which opened in the fall of 2011 through a generous grant from Al and
Kate Merck. She facilitated the pilot partnership with Hayden McFadden
School in New Bedford, MA. She is also responsible for establishing
partnerships with Abraham Lincoln Elementary School and Elwyn Campbell
Elementary School for 2013-14. Ms. Gaudet intends to bring this program to all
New Bedford schools within the next four years. Fundraising and implementation
are both underway.
In 2008, Ms. Gaudet founded Sally Borden School at Friends Academy, a school-within-a-school for children with language-based learning differences. She has taught in many different capacities since embarking on her career in 1974, including as an online coach for WIDE World online courses developed through the Harvard Graduate School of Education. She has also been in private practice as an educational consultant, child advocate, and tutor for children with learning differences.
In 2008, Ms. Gaudet founded Sally Borden School at Friends Academy, a school-within-a-school for children with language-based learning differences. She has taught in many different capacities since embarking on her career in 1974, including as an online coach for WIDE World online courses developed through the Harvard Graduate School of Education. She has also been in private practice as an educational consultant, child advocate, and tutor for children with learning differences.
Blinn Dorsey is a Technology Coach for the Center for Education Innovation and a fourth through eighth grade teacher for the Sally Borden Program at Friends Academy teaching children with language based learning differences. Blinn has been teaching middle school math and science for over 20 years, and teaching other teachers for over 10 years. His interests are in middle schools, social justice and place-based education, and particularly uses Smart Technology and Google Classroom in his own work.
Jonathan Felix is a Technology Integrationist and Coach for the Center for
Education Innovation and a technology
integrationist and strategist at Friends Academy. A classroom teacher for 14
years, he has been working with teachers for the past 6 years on integrating
technology into their curricula. When he’s not in the classroom, he’s
facilitating workshops, providing technical support and assisting in the procurement
and deployment of new technologies. Mr. Felix pilots and teaches classes
for children and adults in robotics, programming, video and audio production,
digital photography, graphic art, and web design.
Chris Perry is a Technology Integration Specialist and Coach for the Center for Education Innovation. Chris has been in the technology field for over 15 years teaching basics in technology for 6 years. Chris is passionate about technology integration in the classroom and believes that anyone at any age can learn to use technology tools more effectively. When not in the classroom he teaches Martial Arts and created a karate program specifically for special needs children.
Laura Velazquez is a Technology Coach for the Center for Education
Innovation and a fifth grade
teacher for the Sally Borden School at Friends Academy. She teaches children
with language based learning differences and has held this position for three
years. Previously, she has worked in Spanish bilingual education and has taught
in both public and private settings. In addition to her teaching
responsibilities, Ms. Velazquez supports teachers in the Sally Borden program
as the Mathematics Coordinator and develops curricula with her fifth grade
colleagues using WIDE World’s Teaching for Understanding framework. She
is a technology enthusiast and utilizes it in the classroom and in her personal
life on a regular basis.
