SESI is led by a team of individuals focused on educating and serving students with special academic, behavioral, and social-emotional needs. The dedication, experience, and vision of our leadership team enable students to thrive within the classroom and beyond.
Dawn ThomasPresident, SESI
Dawn joined FullBloom in August 2022 and serves as President of the SESI Division. MORE>
Dawn Thomas
President, SESI
Dawn joined FullBloom in August 2022 and serves as President of the SESI Division. Dawn has extensive leadership and operational experience across industries. Prior to joining FullBloom, Dawn spent nearly a decade leading operations for large healthcare providers. She served as Division Vice President for DaVita Kidney Care, where she was responsible for over 65 dialysis centers as general manager of the Illinois market. She also led revenue cycle transformation for the University of Chicago Medical Center. In addition to her healthcare experience, Dawn has led teams in the Industrial Supplies Distribution and Telecommunications industries. Dawn has a robust continuous improvement toolkit, with experience in Kaizen and Six Sigma, as well as a broad range of leadership experience in Finance, Warehouse Operations, Systems, Purchasing, and Merchandising.
Dawn is a Chicago native, and holds an MBA from Northwestern’s Kellogg School of Management, and a BS in Management Science and Engineering from Stanford University.
Dave WoodSenior Vice President, Special Education – East
Since 2016, Dave has served as SESI’s senior vice president of business development, responsible for the development and MORE>
Dave Wood
Senior Vice President, Special Education – East
Since 2016, Dave has served as SESI’s senior vice president of business development, responsible for the development and maintenance of SESI business partners. During the previous six years, Dave served as SESI’s chief school director of alternative education. He previously worked as director of program development for The Camelot Schools of PA, LLC, and as director of operations and national director of public education for The Boys and Girls Clubs of the Big Bend. Dave earned his Bachelor of Science in Business Management from Lock Haven University.
Milton A. Alexander Jr., ED.MSenior Vice President – Alternative Education Division
For over two decades, Milt dedicated his career to serving youth in partnership with public school districts across the country. MORE>
Milton A. Alexander Jr., ED.M
Senior Vice President, Alternative Education
For over two decades, Milt dedicated his career to serving youth in partnership with public school districts across the country. In his role as Senior Vice President, he leads SESI’s alternative education schools, programs, and district partnerships, consistently driving exceptional programming, quantifiable outcomes, and robust expansion. He has worked in numerous roles including teacher, professional development coach, principal, and administrator. Milt is an active volunteer, serving communities as the Education Director for his fraternity – Phi Beta Sigma, Inc. Milt earned a bachelor’s degree in business management from Wesley College, a master’s degree in education from Arcadia University and a K-12 Principal post-graduate certificate from Point Park University. Milt also holds a Principal PK-12 professional educator certificate in the State of Pennsylvania.
Diane Myers, Ph.D.Senior Vice President, Special Education – Behavior
Diane joined SESI in February 2020. She leads behavioral initiatives across SESI and oversees implementation of the CASE approach MORE>
Diane Myers, Ph.D.
Senior Vice President, Special Education – Behavior
Diane joined SESI in February 2020. She leads behavioral initiatives across SESI and oversees implementation of the CASE approach (SESI’s multi-tiered behavioral support system). Prior to joining SESI, Diane served as a professor of Special Education at Texas Woman’s University; her academic career began at Assumption College in Massachusetts. Her professional and scholarly expertise focus on positive behavioral interventions and supports, students with emotional and behavioral disorders, and staff implementation of evidence-based practices to support the needs of all students; she has co-authored two books and multiple journal articles on these topics. Diane earned her Ph.D. in Special Education from the University of Connecticut and her M.S. and teaching certification in special education from Southern Connecticut State University.
Ellen Gaske, Ed.D.Senior Vice President, Academics
Dr. Ellen Gaske has served as SESI’s senior vice president of academics since 2014, overseeing the academic needs of students MORE>
Ellen Gaske, Ed.D.
Senior Vice President, Academics
Dr. Ellen Gaske has served as SESI’s senior vice president of academics since 2014, overseeing the academic needs of students in SESI programs. Ellen developed the model and process for Assessment, Curriculum & Instruction (ACI) for SESI programs. She leads the ACI Team in development of process tools for implementation of the model, professional development, and teacher training in specialized interventions related to High Leverage Practices in Special Education. Previously, Ellen served in various roles for SESI since 1998, when she opened High Road Academy in Howard County, Maryland as program director. Ellen then went on to serve as executive director and chief school director of nine mid-Maryland programs. She has also served as an instructor at Johns Hopkins University. Ellen earned her Ed.D. in Special Education and Learning Disabilities from Johns Hopkins University, a Master of Science in Communicative Disorders from Johns Hopkins University, and a Bachelor of Science in Education and Special Education from the University of Maryland. Ellen served a 4-year term on the Maryland Association of Special Education Facilities (MANSEF) Board. Ellen currently serves as member of the University of Maryland Board of Visitors for the School of Education.
Monique RobinsonVice President, Corporate Development and Operations
Monique joined SESI in 2021 as the vice president of corporate development and operations. In this role, Monique leads MORE>
Monique Robinson
Vice President, Corporate Development and Operations
Monique joined SESI in 2021 as the vice president of corporate development and operations. In this role, Monique leads division-wide strategic initiatives with specific emphasis on new program development, acquisition integration, and overall operations strategy. Monique has spent her 20-year career with a focus on children and youth services, first working at non-profit organizations, then as a high school math teacher, and later as an Education Pioneers Graduate Fellow at the George W. Bush Institute. For the last decade, she has been a leader in school system operations, with roles as school operations director and director of the Project Management Office for Uplift Education, and most recently as a senior director of strategy and operations with Relay Graduate School of Education. Monique holds a Master of Business Administration from the University of Dallas and a Bachelor of Arts in Social Science from Michigan State University.
Emily FizerVice President, Recruiting
Emily joined the SESI team in 2020 as the vice president of recruitment. In this role, Emily leads, develops, and executes overall MORE>
Emily Fizer
Vice President, Recruiting
Emily joined the SESI team in 2020 as the vice president of recruitment. In this role, Emily leads, develops, and executes overall talent strategy with a specific focus on recruitment, selection, retention, and development. Prior to this role, Emily spent the last decade committed to expanding educational opportunities for all students. She began her career as a Teach For America corps member, where she taught middle school humanities in Los Angeles. After working as a teacher, instructional coach, community organizer, and recruiter she led talent efforts for KIPP SoCal Public Schools as their associate director of talent acquisition. Emily holds a Bachelor of Arts in History from UCLA and master’s degree in Education from Loyola Marymount University.
Celeste ChatmanVice President, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Talent Management
Celeste Chatman serves as vice president, diversity, equity, inclusion & talent management where she leads the MORE>
Celeste Chatman
Vice President, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Talent Management
Celeste Chatman serves as vice president, diversity, equity, inclusion & talent management where she leads the implementation and evolution of the company’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) plan. She most recently served as director of diversity, equity & inclusion for Stride, Inc., an e-learning solutions company, and previously held talent acquisition and diversity roles for both for-profit and non-profit organizations including the Urban Institute, Tyco, Allergan, Covance, and Prudential Financial. Celeste holds a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Upsala College and a Master of Arts degree in Industrial-Organizational Psychology and Counseling from Kean University and Strategic Diversity Professional certification from Cornell University.
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