Meet Our Staff & Executive Board
Helen Roussel
Executive Director
|
Helen Roussel founded the Dyslexia Advocacy Action Group to advocate for children, youth, and adults at risk of dyslexia to ensure equitable access to education, job training, or meaningful work. She advocates for foster care-experienced children pro bono and low-income families on a sliding scale. Helen promotes effective, evidence-based literacy programs within an MTSS framework in public schools. As a founding member of Decoding Dyslexia New York, she works to pass literacy legislation and expand parent support groups across the state. Helen was appointed to the New York State Department of Education's Dyslexia and Dysgraphia Task Force, where she works to establish vital literacy policies and recommendations to ensure equitable access to education for children in the public school system.
Helen's ongoing pursuit of knowledge demonstrates her full commitment to this field. She is trained in the Orton-Gillingham approach through the Academy of Orton Gillingham and in The Writing Revolution. Her advocacy skills have been further developed through training at Wright's Law, the Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates, the New York City Bar, and Long Island University. Additionally, she is a member of the New York Council of Nonprofits. Helen holds a Bachelor of Science Degree with Honors in Environmental Studies. She is pursuing a Master's in social work to enhance her support for students with learning disabilities and special needs. |
Christina Buonamano M.Ed AOGA
School District Consultations
|
Christina Buonamano has 23 years of experience in education, during which she has held various roles, including K-12 Specially Designed Reading Instructional Coach, Special Education Teacher, First Grade Teacher, and Reading Specialist with a focus on dyslexia. Her extensive background has deepened her understanding of literacy instruction and empowered her to help students recognize their potential.
As an Associate Level Certified Orton-Gillingham Practitioner currently pursuing advanced certification, Christina is dedicated to enhancing her expertise and training other teachers to reach their potential. Her commitment to education is rooted in a solid foundation of scientifically grounded methods designed to improve literacy instruction, such as establishing data teams and implementing early universal screening. Having personally faced the challenges of supporting a struggling reader as a parent, Christina understands the importance of collaborating with families in the literacy development process. She actively involves parents, recognizing their essential role in their children's education. Her mission is to build a strong foundation for every student, equipping them with the skills and confidence they need to succeed throughout their academic journey. |
Dr. Fiorella Castillo
Board Member
|
Fiorella B. Castillo, MD, MSPH, FAAP, is a board-certified pediatrician and current fellow in Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics (DBP) at the Children's Hospital at Montefiore/Einstein in Bronx, NY. Dr. Castillo holds a Bachelor of Arts from the Johns Hopkins University and a Master of Science in Public Health from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. She completed her medical degree at Ross University School of Medicine and her residency at Brookdale Hospital Medical Center, where she served as a Chief Resident.
In addition to her clinical work in the field of DBP, Dr. Castillo's advocacy and research interests include school engagement, learning disabilities, mental health in children with developmental disabilities, and disparities in access to medical and therapy services. She has presented her research at national conferences and published in peer-reviewed journals. She is a member of several professional organizations, including the American Academy of Pediatrics, Society for Pediatric Research and the Society for Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics. |
Professor Rebecca Wiseheart
Board Member
|
Rebecca Wiseheart, PhD, CCC-SLP is an associate professor in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders (CSD) at St. John’s University, with a joint appointment in the Department of Psychology. Her research and clinical interests include linguistic and cognitive processing in dyslexia; concussive injury in college student-athletes with dyslexia; literacy intervention in limited-resource settings; and the development of professional identity through college writing.
Her interest in reading began during her 17 years serving students with dyslexia and other language-based learning disabilities in public schools and clinical practice. Before joining the faculty at St. John’s, she supervised graduate students in the Reading Disorders diagnostic clinic at the University of Florida. Dr. Wiseheart currently Chairs the CSD Department at St. John’s and teaches courses in assessment, cognition and language, and literacy. Previously, she served as the Continuing Education Content Manager of ASHA’s Perspectives in Language Learning and Education. She also represented ASHA on the National Joint Committee on Learning Disabilities (NJCLD) from 2015-2023. |
Sarah McCandless Quinn
Treasurer
|
Sarah McCandless is the Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer at Suffolk Federal Credit Union and was previously Vice President and Controller for Bridgehampton National Bank. Recently honored as one of the Top 50 Most Influential Women in Business, Sarah McCandless is recognized for her professional leadership and business acumen, mentoring and community involvement. Sarah is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA)and New York State Society of CPA’s.
Sarah’s community leadership and service include; serving on the Board of Directors for the Girls Scouts of Suffolk County, treasurer for Sag Harbor Elementary School PTA, former volunteer of the Finance Committee at Most Holy Trinity Church, the Ernst & Young LLP Mentoring Program, the JPMorgan Corporate Challenge, the Association for Retarded Citizens and the Children's Museum of the East End. Sarah resides in Sag Harbor with her two daughters. |
