Our LDAO Team

The LD@school and TA@l’école initiatives are supported by a skilled and diverse team at the Learning Disabilities Association of Ontario (LDAO). With expertise in education, linguistics, project management, content development, leadership, and community engagement, this team is deeply committed to equity and accessibility.

Together, they develop and refine evidence-informed resources and professional learning opportunities that:

  • empower educators, school leaders, and system leaders,

  • foster inclusive, accessible classrooms, and

  • support the diverse needs of students with learning disabilities (LDs) and co-occurring conditions such as attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

Below is an alphabetical listing of the LDAO team members who contribute to these initiatives:

Kelli Cote is the Public Policy and Education Consultant at LDAO, supporting its LD@school resources. With 30+ years in education, Kelli has held leadership roles such as Principal and Student Services Coordinator with the York Region District School Board. Passionate about supporting individuals with LDs and ADHD, she works to reduce stigma and advocate for assistive technology. A former guest lecturer at Niagara University and LDA York Region board member, Kelli specializes in policy development, advocacy, and knowledge mobilization. Her qualifications include certifications in Reading, Special Education, and Mathematics, along with a Supervisory Officer’s Certificate. She enjoys collaborating with families, educators, and communities to promote equity and inclusive learning environments. 

Allyson Grant is the French Consultant for LDAO, supporting its TA@l’école resources. With almost two decades of experience as a speech-language pathologist, Allyson has worked at the Conseil des écoles publiques de l’Est de l’Ontario (CEPEO), supporting children and adolescents with communication challenges, including speech, language, reading, and writing difficulties. She collaborates with educators and special education staff to integrate effective strategies for supporting students with special needs in the classroom. Allyson has also taught courses on language development and literacy interventions at the University of Ottawa, the University of Alberta, and Laurentian University. Passionate about fostering inclusive education, she specializes in speech, language, reading, and writing disorders as well as augmentative and alternative communication. 

Amanda Cruise is the Producer of French Educational Content for LDAO, supporting its TA@l’école resources. She received an Honours Bachelor of Arts degree in French Studies from the University of Guelph and a Master of Arts degree in French Language, Literature, and Culture from the University of Victoria. An avid traveller, Amanda enjoys connecting with educators from across Francophone Canada and learning about the latest research on LDs. Her favourite part of her job is keeping up with new research on inclusion practices. 

Jack Jeyakumaran is an Office Administrator for the operational and administrative work of the Learning Disabilities Association of Ontario (LDAO) and its flagship initiatives, LD@school and TA@l’école. He brings over 30 years of experience in finance and operations, including leadership at the Schulich Executive Education Centre (York University). His background includes finance, IT, HR, and strategic planning, as well as international development and infrastructure design, and he is a Chartered Management Accountant with a foundation in industrial engineering. Jack offers a systems-oriented approach and a deep commitment to equity. He also has strong family ties to the learning disabilities and ADHD communities.

Solen Lefeuvre-Pauly is the bilingual Office Coordinator for LDAO, supporting the LD@school and TA@l’école resources. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Marketing, Digital, and Communication, as well as a Master’s degree in International Negotiation and Business Development from Rennes School of Business in France. Solen is passionate about coordinating events and projects that empower educators to better support students with learning disabilities. She brings a wealth of expertise in organization, communication, and outreach to her role, ensuring LDAO’s resources reach diverse audiences. She enjoys collaborating with colleagues and stakeholders to foster inclusive learning environments.

Nathalie Paquet-Bélanger is the French Consultant for LDAO, supporting its TA@l’école resources. She has a bachelor's degree in Special Education and a Master's of Education Science from the University of Quebec at Rimouski. She holds a certificate in ICT integration in education (TELUQ). She is also a sessional instructor in education at the UQAR.  Her current position is as a teacher consultant in the area of Québec city about students experiencing learning difficulties. Nathalie is glad to bring her contribution and expertise to the LDAO team and to network with teachers sharing the same passion for the success of students with LDs. 

Cindy Perras is an English Language Educational Consultant for LDAO, contributing to its LD@school resources, including the Educators' Institute. With over 40 years of experience in public education, Cindy has held numerous roles supporting students with exceptionalities, including Special Education Co-ordinator, Special Programs Consultant, and Itinerant Teacher with the Peel District School Board. She previously served as Educational Consultant with LD@school from 2013 to 2019, leading professional learning initiatives for Ontario educators. Cindy holds a Master of Education from Brock University, a Bachelor of Education from OTEC (Ontario Teacher Education College), a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Windsor, and Specialist qualifications in Special Education. A long-time leader within the Council for Exceptional Children, Cindy is known for her deep expertise in inclusive education, assistive & adaptive technology, and system navigation for students with complex learning needs.

Dr. Steven Reid is the President and CEO of LDAO, supporting its LD@school and TA@l’école resources. With extensive experience as an educator, administrator, and policy leader, Steven has held roles across urban and rural school settings, including Superintendent and Associate Director. He has also served as Chief Assessment Officer with EQAO and teaches at the University of Toronto. An award-winning leader, Steven was recognized for his commitment to students with exceptionalities. Steven's research explores knowledge mobilization, leadership, math anxiety, and equity, including systemic barriers and anti-racism in schools. He is passionate about addressing systemic barriers and empowering students with LDs to achieve their full potential. 

Heather Sears is an English Language Educational Consultant for LDAO, supporting its LD@school resources.  With over 30 years of experience in public education, Heather has held progressive leadership roles including Coordinating Superintendent of Curriculum and Instructional Services at the York Region District School Board. A skilled facilitator of adult learning and equity-minded leader, Heather has co-developed system-wide strategies such as YRDSB’s De-streaming Strategy, Caring and Learning Plan, and System Improvement Learning Cycle. She holds a Master of Education from the University of Toronto and a Supervisory Officer’s Certificate, along with qualifications in French, Special Education, and Health & Physical Education. Heather is passionate about fostering culturally responsive, inclusive learning environments and building educator capacity through research-informed practice.

Martin Smit is the English Language Educational Consultant for LDAO, supporting its LD@school resources.  He has over 30 years of experience as a classroom teacher, music teacher, administrator and system principal for the Hastings and Prince Edward and Greater Essex district school boards as well as the Provincial and Demonstration Schools branch.  Martin is an experienced workshop facilitator and has presented at a number of education conferences including Quest, Educators’ Institute and ASET. Martin is a strong advocate for all students and supports school-wide, data-driven strategies for addressing learning needs. 

Contact us:

  • English curriculum and content inquiries: Email info@ldatschool.ca for more information.
  • French curriculum and content inquiries: Email info@taalecole.ca for more information.       
  • Other inquiries: Email Solen for more information.

LDAO's Advisory Committee - LD@school/TA@l’école Advisory Committee (LTAC).

The success of LD@school and TA@l’école is supported by the expertise and guidance of LDAO’s Advisory Committee - LD@school/TA@l’école Advisory Committee (LTAC). This dedicated group includes English and French educators, administrators, psychologists, and specialists from across Ontario. Their insights play a vital role in shaping the direction of these initiatives, ensuring that planning and implementation align with the evolving needs of educators, school leaders, and students. Through their contributions, LTAC helps foster inclusive and accessible learning environments for all.

Below is an alphabetical list of our 2024-2025 LTAC members: 

  • Valerie Arsenault, Principal, Rideau Public School, Limestone District School Board 
  • Amal Boultif, Professor, Faculty of Education, University of Ottawa 
  •  Karyn Bruneel, Director, Bruce-Grey Catholic District School Board 
  • Jody Chong, Assistant Professor, Department of Applied Psychology and Human Development, OISE and Special Education Teacher, TDSB 
  • Andrea Coke, Chief Speech-Language Pathologist, TCDSB 
  • Julie Cull, Director of Social Services, Conseil scolaire public du Nord-Est de l'Ontario (CSPNE) 
  • Annie Demers, Associate Executive Director, Consortium pour les élèves du nord de l'Ontario (CÉNO) 
  • Star-Michelle Lepage, Safe Schools Coordinator, Conseil scolaire de district catholique des Aurores boréales (CSDCAB) 
  • Idrine Matenda-Zambi, Part-time Professor, Windsor Campus of the University of Ottawa and Principal, Conseil Scolaire Catholique Providence 
  • Deanna Mayfield, Lead Psychologist, Hastings and Prince Edward District School Board 
  • Amanda Pegg, Principal, Roywood Public School, Toronto District School Board 
  • Élisabeth Taschereau, Principal, Consortium Centre Jules-Léger (French Language Demonstration School) 

Interested in joining our advisory committee? Email info@ldatschool.ca for more information.