Staff Directory

Jennifer Borrelli, MA

Andrea Dunckel, MA

Jane Hines

Jane is a certified SIM Professional Developer for Content Enhancement, and has worked as a middle school teacher in both the private and public sectors for over 20 years. While in the classroom, Jane was a mentor for new teachers and those seeking alternative certification. She has experience as a social studies, language arts, and reading teacher and as a co-teacher in "History-Arts." As a social studies content expert, Jane has worked on several teams to create instructional materials and summative assessments.

Her areas of focus at FDLRS include: The Strategic Instruction Model Content Enhancement and reading instruction.

Mia Laudato, MS Ed

Rani Maharaj

Rani earned a Master's degree in Varying Exceptionalities (Poverty & Diversity) and graduate certificate in Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) from the University of Central Florida  and Bachelor's degree in Psychology & Substance Abuse Counseling from Ramapo College of New Jersey.  Her certifications are in Exceptional Student Education (ESE) K-12, Elementary Education K-6, Primary Education PK-3 and she holds endorsements in English Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) & ASD. As an ESE Teacher of students with varying exceptionalities for over 10 years, Rani taught in separate class & inclusive settings.  She has served as a Behavior Specialist, Staffing Specialist, MTSS coach, 504 coordinator and provided school-wide, class-wide & individualized behavior support and interventions. 

As an EBD Program Specialist & District Staffing Specialist, her roles included  professional development, coaching and problem solving for behavior supports, crisis prevention intervention, trauma informed response, ESE compliance and the development of processes, plans & online content related to behavior. After 20 years as an educator, Rani joined the FDLRS Action Behavior Team as a Learning Resource Specialist.  She provides professional development, coaching and support  to districts, schools, teachers, staff, and families, which ultimately & indirectly serves students.  

Elizabeth McAulay M.Ed.

Elizabeth began her teaching career in 1997.  She attended the University of Central Florida and earned a Masters of Education in Varying Exceptionalities.  Her teaching experience includes working with students with physical impairments, significant cognitive disabilities, and autism in both structured classroom and inclusive environment settings.  Elizabeth broadened her reach as an educational professional while working as an Instructional Support Teacher at the district level supporting teachers and schools throughout Orange County Public Schools.  Her role in this position included working with teachers, school staff, parents and administrators in creating effective learning environments for students with disabilities.  Additionally, Elizabeth has been a certified CPI (Crisis Prevention Intervention) instructor since 2004.  

Elizabeth’s areas of focus at FDLRS include: Behavioral MTSS at the school wide, classroom and individual student levels; instructional practices for students with significant cognitive disabilities; instructional practices for students with autism spectrum disorder, high functioning autism & Asperger’s syndrome; and ESE compliance to include Quality IEP, Facilitated IEP, Matrix, and Accommodations trainings.

Anjanette McGee-Cason

Anjanette McGee-Cason has worked in the education field for over 21+ years. She has served in many roles in her professional educational experience in the private and public sector. Anjanette has been an Elementary Teacher (K-5), Pre-K Varying Exceptionalities Teacher, Reading Intervention Specialist, facilitated Professional Development workshops and served as an Administrator in schools. She is also a certified college professor in the College of Education and the Arts and Science. Here at FDLRS, Anjanette will focus on Child Find and Parent Resources. She will assist parents through workshops that empower them to become active participants in their child's education and provide professional development workshops for educators and educational providers.

Anjanette is also our certified Gifted Specialist.  She has done extensive research regarding gifted and talented students delivery of instruction, program strategies, criteria and assessments.  Anjanette provides professional development for educators and administrators, curriculum review and strategies for parents to work with their children in the gifted and talented programs.

Melissa Mulock

Melissa Mulock began her teaching career in 1999. As a Learning Resource Specialist, Melissa leads professional learning opportunities and coaches educators throughout the state of Florida in the areas of Reading, the Strategic Instruction Model and cooperative learning. Prior to leaving the classroom, she spent 12 years teaching reading and learning strategies to middle and high school students.

Melissa earned her degree in Exceptional Student Education from the University of Central Florida. She has a passion for inclusion of students with unique needs, and credits quality content instruction using SIM Learning Strategies and Content Enhancement Routines paired with Kagan Cooperative Learning Structures as essential tools for making inclusion a success socially and academically for the benefit of all students. Melissa has experience in creating inclusion models and inclusive scheduling.

Melissa has earned the elite status of a certified Strategic Instruction Model Professional Developer for the University of Kansas Center for Research on Learning since 2003 and as a National Board Certified Teacher in 2004. Melissa is a certified Kagan Cooperative Learning Associate Trainer and has a reading endorsement for the state of Florida. She has a strong desire for learning, mentoring, and leading others to build positive relationships and provide quality instruction.

Brandi Parker M.ED

Brandi Parker graduated from the University of Central Florida with a Master’s Degree in Exceptional Student Education specializing in Autism Spectrum Disorders. In addition to her master's degree, Brandi holds a bachelor's degree in Speech and Language Pathology. 

 She is certified in K-12 Exceptional Student Education (ESE), Elementary Education K-6, Autism (ASD), English as Second Language Learners (ESOL), and Reading Endorsement. 

 A majority of her career has been in an ESE separate classroom setting where creating independent successful learners was the goal. Her passion for student communication and accessible technology started here and followed throughout her career. She utilized assistive technology and AAC as a powerful tool in the classroom to enhance receptive language skills, reduce frustration, facilitate social interaction, support learning and cognitive skills and to increase overall enjoyment and engagement of life. Her role as a Support Facilitator allowed her to foster an inclusive learning environment from all backgrounds by fostering inclusivity and building the confidence of students with diverse learning needs. In the General Education classroom, her biggest focus was removing educational barriers by integrating UDL strategies and differentiating instruction to meet the diverse needs for all. She is dedicated and passionate about teaching students with Autism and related disorders, she loves creating an inclusive and innovative learning environment. She strongly believes in leveraging modern educational technologies to enhance student access and growth. She has also mentored and advised UCF students and other teachers within the classroom with technology and instructional supports. As a Technology and Learning Resource Specialist at FDLRS, she provides development and coaching support for teachers, therapists, administrators, and staff on Universal Design for Learning (UDL), Instructional and Assistive Technology (AT), Accommodations, Accessible Educational Materials (AEM), IEP Goal Writing, Data Collection, ASD, teaching students with Significant Disabilities and more. 

 Her role at FDLRS is Technology and Learning Resource Specialist. She is passionate about creating a nurturing and inclusive educational experience for all students by supporting school staff and parents in removing barriers, enhancing communication, empowering students, and creating the integration of accessible technology.

Pam Taylor

Pamela Taylor graduated from the University of Central Florida with a B.S. In Exceptional Student Education K-12. She has taught in the field of education for over fifteen years. Her experience ranges from primary to secondary levels. Pamela was chosen to be part of a special education team to set up an ESE program to partner with businesses in the area to employ students with disabilities. Her dedication to the educational system paved a way for her to be nominated for teacher of the year. After teaching as an IND teacher, she became a support facilitator in elementary schools. Pamela mentored ESE teachers on PEER, ESE procedures, and scheduling. In September 2018, Pamela became a trainer with FDLRS specializing in the area of compliance and parent engagement.

Her areas of focus include: Compliance.

Denise Bagnerise

Her areas of focus at FDLRS includes: purchasing, budgets, and  administrative support.

Arelis Valentin

Arelis has worked in the field of education for 12+ years. She has experience in the following areas: payroll services, administrative support, and media resource support.

Her areas of focus at FDLRS includes: payroll, front office support, data collection and media resource support.

Craig Stephens

Craig has been working with computers for 30+ years. He has experience in almost every area of computers including computer repair, end-user support, network administration, programming, database creation and administration, web design and programming, business and graphics software training.

His areas of focus at FDLRS includes: database administration, web site administration, registration system administration and inservice points reporting.