Meet the LASARD Team
The LASARD team comes together with years of experience to help you learn the ins and outs of providing education and learning for students with disabilities.
Ali Kowitz
LASARD Project Director
Education, Transition, and Community Initiative Interim Director
Hi y’all! I’m a LASARD Facilitator in the New Orleans area. I have a B.S. – Elementary Education from Louisiana State University (Geaux Tigers!) and a Master of Education – Special Education (grades 1-12) from Northwestern State University. My experience includes: special education teacher, special education coordinator, Section 504 coordinator, PBIS chair, SBLC chair, and IEP Facilitator. Additionally, I am an Educational Therapist (ET/P) and I focus on children and adults with ADHD, learning disabilities, and executive functioning skills. I am an advocate for inclusive practices and I love working with schools to build inclusive and accessible environments for all learners. When I am not working, you can find me out on the water; doing other outdoorsy things; and, hanging out with my family, two dogs (Louie & Echo), and Cactus the Bearded Dragon.
Chris Champagne
Facilitator
I have been designing and implementing projects to support teachers of students with disabilities for over 20 years. I have a passion for equity and love problem solving solutions and supports to help teachers succeed in providing students with disabilities the opportunities they deserve to thrive in the classroom. When I am not working I love exercising, spending time outdoors, and hanging out with my cats.
Donna Hammons
Facilitator
Hey everybody! When it comes to work experience, I have worked as a director of training and case management programs for youth and adults with developmental disabilities, a director of children/youth programs, a special educator, and for the past 11 years as a LASARD facilitator. Each career experience has allowed me to continually gain on-the-job training and real life application. One of the most valuable tools in my toolbox is my ability to be flexible and practical when working alongside the adult learner to tackle changes in practice and implementation.
In addition to a full work life, I have been married for over 32 years and have 2 beautiful daughters, Morgan and Meagan. David and I are empty nesters now—except for Thor and Sadie (a Shar-Pei and miniature Dachshund).
Melinda Luna
Facilitator
Hello! I’m a LASARD facilitator in the New Orleans area. I have a dual certification in Elementary Education and Mild/Moderate Special Education. I have been working with individuals with disabilities since 2011 and working closely with other educators on supporting student needs in the school setting. I started working with Pre-K programs across Louisiana in 2020 and have fallen in love working with the younger kids. Creating and implementing visual supports for kids of all ages is a passion of mine. During my classroom observations, I look forward to seeing the “aha” moment when the visual is effective for the student and the teacher realizes that the strategy actually works! Outside of work, I love spending time with my family and going on fun adventures around the city. I have two energetic boys, Logan and Reid, and many pets of all shapes and sizes!
Amy Ward
Facilitator
Hey everyone! I’m one of the LASARD facilitators located in North Louisiana and am a certified special education teacher. I have been working with students with disabilities for 10 years. I also have experience as a classroom teacher, testing coordinator, and school administrator. My first degree is in accounting, so working with Excel and creating schedules are my jam! I love hanging out with my family and spending time planting flowers in my backyard.
Lisa Davison
Facilitator
Hi everyone! I am a LASARD facilitator in the North Louisiana area. I have been working in the educational setting with children with disabilities since 1996; initially as an Occupational Therapist for 18 years then as an autism specialist. I love working with school staff on implementing strategies that have big impacts on a student’s success both academically and in real life application. Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with family, lounging on the beach, and reading. I am married and have three adult children and one grandson.
Jennifer Boyter
Facilitator
Hello! I am a LASARD facilitator located in the Northwest part of the state. My career path has been diverse, but it has always involved education! I started as a classroom teacher (years ago) and quickly learned that I needed training for serving students with unique learning differences. I studied School Psychology at LSU Shreveport and worked in Pupil Appraisal for our local school district. My work in school psychology led me to a strong desire to collaborate with teachers serving students with autism and the study of Applied Behavior Analysis. I was fortunate to work as an Autism Specialist and BCBA for our local school district. I am excited to collaborate with school districts to build capacity and support teachers and students.
My husband and I have four adult children. Our daughter and son-in-law and two of our sons are living and working in beautiful Oregon. Our youngest son is currently in law school at the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville.
Fun fact: all three of our boys are engaged to be married within a year of each other!!
Our home life now involves our husky rescues (Stella and Teddy), a little poodle (Geoffrey), and a cat (Huckleberry). We enjoy mountain biking, time with friends, and dreaming and scheming on ways to spend time with our kids!
Constance Alphonse
Facilitator
Greetings! I am honored to serve as a LASARD facilitator in the New Orleans area! With over 16 years as an educator, I have served as a special education teacher, instructional facilitator, and administrator. In addition to being certified in special education (1-12) and elementary education (1-5), I am also a reading specialist and National Board Certified Teacher. I am passionate about creating equitable, high-quality learning opportunities for ALL students, particularly students with diverse needs. As a LASARD facilitator, my goal is to support and build the capacity of educators to help students reach their maximum potential by developing respectful, diverse, and inclusive environments.
My hobbies include reading and spending time with my husband and two children.
Maia Thibodeaux
Facilitator
Hi, Friends! I’m proudly serving as a LASARD Facilitator in the central Louisiana region. My background is in the area of communication sciences and disorders where for the past 20 years, I’ve worked as a licensed speech language pathologist in a variety of medical and academic settings. I’m proud to share my knowledge and experience in service to my community, and I find my greatest satisfaction in working to improve the lives of children and their families. I believe empathy is my greatest strength and superpower. When not at work, I can be found enjoying the outdoors, thrifting, or binging true crime documentaries. I also enjoy learning new things, fixing what’s been broken, and finding things that have been lost.
Tara Lark
Facilitator
My name is Tara Lark, and I am a Louisiana Licensed Professional Counselor Supervisor (LPC-S). For the last 12 years, I have worked within schools either as a school counselor, or in support of school-aged youth. I am passionate about education and believe that if a child is going to spend the bulk of their days at school, then the school environment should be safe, warm, loving, and a place where needs are met.
My husband and I live in the New Orleans area (born and raised) with our two children. I love sports, listening to podcasts, and New Orleans in the spring!
Krista James
Facilitator
Krista James has worked with students and teachers for the last 20 years as a special education teacher, autism specialist, administrator, and professor. She has a B.S. and M.Ed. in Special Education from Wilmington University, and an Interdisciplinary Ph.D. in Education, Leadership, & Cross-Cultural Studies from the University of Alaska Fairbanks. She has recently moved back to the United States after living and working in International Schools in Cambodia, Guatemala, and Italy. She lives in Slidell with her children and is happy to be back home, near family, after being away for so long.
Tracy O'Donnell
Facilitator
Tracy O’Donnell is a LASARD facilitator serving Southern Louisiana. She has 20 years’ experience as an educator: Biology teacher, special education teacher, instructional coach, interventionist, and IEP facilitator. She earned a +30 (towards PhD) in Educational Leadership at University of Louisiana Monroe, a Master of Special Education from Southeastern Louisiana University, and a Bachelor of Science from University of Holy Cross, New Orleans. Tracy loves helping teachers create fun and inclusive learning environments for all diverse learners!
She spends her free time at home in the Faubourg St. John neighborhood of New Orleans with her husband (Doctor Gumbo), 2 youngest children (Sally and Fionn), and their AmStaff rescue dog (Elsa). Or, you can find her family traveling to spend time with their 2 adult girls (Susan and Layla), both in college. Susan is an LSU grad currently attending the LSU School of Veterinary Medicine (GEAUX TIGERS!), and Layla attends Texas A&M in Galveston (GIG ‘EM!). Tracy also loves working with her plants, checking out new restaurants, and traveling the world.