Dr. Jill Jacoby – Moderator

Dr. Jill Jacoby began as Assistant Executive Director of Teaching & Learning, Allegheny Intermediate Unit, Pittsburgh, PA in August 2022. Before obtaining this position, Dr. Jacoby was the Superintendent of the Fort Cherry School District, McDonald, PA, from 2014 – 2022 and the District’s Elementary Principal from 2001 – 2014.

Dr. Jacoby began her educational career as a second/third-grade teacher and Dean of Students in Shikellamy School District located in Northumberland, PA. In addition to her elementary career, Dr. Jacoby taught adult education, alternative education, and coached girls’ high school soccer.

Dr. Jacoby gained her Doctorate of Education from the University of Pittsburgh; a Masters of Science in School Administration and Curriculum & Instruction from Bucknell University; and a Bachelors of Science in Elementary Education from Bucknell University.

Dr. Jacoby is committed to educational change and advocacy on a regional, state, and national level by ongoing memberships on various Study Councils and Working Groups, an active member of the Pennsylvania Association for School Administrators, and Executive Council Member on PASA Women’s Leadership Caucus. She is also a collaborative member of AASA Learning 2025, PDE Comprehensive School Improvement, Regional Foundation Work, and Pittsburgh Personalized Learning Network.

Dr. Jacoby lives in Moon Township, PA with her husband (Special Education Teacher) and her three children (ages 11, 14, 17). She is actively involved in her local community through various service organizations and youth sports associations.

Dr. Jacoby is dedicated to making the world a better place for young minds to grow and develop. She is proud to be an innovative educational leader and strives to make positive impacts through system development of educational entities.

Lisa Owens

Lisa Owens is a passionate educator with over 25 years of experience. Lisa is a graduate of The University of Pittsburgh with a BA in English Writing, and master’s degrees in Teaching and School Counseling. She currently serves as the Director of the FAME Teachers’ Academy for the Fund for Advancement of Minorites through Education (FAME) where she is responsible for recruiting and developing aspiring Black teachers. Prior to joining the FAME team, she worked for Urban Impact Foundation. She worked for Pittsburgh Public Schools for twenty years as an English Teacher, and then a counselor. She is committed to helping aspiring teachers develop, and supporting young teachers to help them have long, fulfilling careers in education. She enjoys reading and taking walks on the North Shore of Pittsburgh in her free time.

Dan Richason

Dan Richason has been working with families and children and those who serve them for 30 years. He holds a Master of Education degree and is the co-founder of System 1-2-3 and Meerkat Village. He is the primary designer of progressive approaches for meeting the social and emotional needs of children including Village Driven Care and Pyramid Building. Dan’s most significant contribution to the field is the development of the System 1-2-3 facilitator role. System 1-2-3 facilitators join well over 100 child and family serving teams per year to support forward movement.

Jen Austad

Jen Austad received a Bachelor of Science in Social Work from Slippery Rock University, Master of Social Work Degree from The University of Pittsburgh, and an Infant-Parent Mental Health Post-Graduate Certification from the University of Massachusetts, Boston. She is licensed in Pennsylvania as a Clinical Social Worker, Endorsed by The Pennsylvania Association for Infant Mental Health as an Early Childhood Mental Health Specialist and Registered as a Reflective Supervision/Consultation Provider. Since 1996, Jen has worked in a variety of roles to support children, families and providers to facilitate healthy relationships, promote resilience and support healing from adversity.

Leanna Lawson

Dr. Leanna Lawson has been an educator for more than 33 years. She spent more than half of her career working with youth who had behavioral, social and emotional needs in an Approved Private School/Partial Hospital program. The last 15 years Dr. Lawson has worked for the AIU, an educational service organization located in Homestead, PA. She has provided both training and consultation specific to behavior support in local public schools, and currently leads a team of consultants in bringing evidence-based practices to school personnel to maximize academic, social and emotional outcomes of students with disabilities.

United Way is looking for 211 Resource Navigators!

United Way is looking for 211 Resource Navigators!

Dr. Jill Jacoby – Moderator

Lisa Owens

Dan Richason

Jen Austad

Leanna Lawson