Our Leadership

BA, Psychology – Trinity University
Doctoral Studies, Organizational Behavior – Claremont Graduate University

Jessica Rall, Co-Founder and CEO/Executive Director, built her career working at a school dedicated to academic enrichment and support for neurodiverse students, giving her a firsthand understanding of how varied learning profiles show up in the classroom and how much relationship-building matters in meeting them. That professional expertise is matched by personal experience: Jessica is the parent of a twice-exceptional child, and knows firsthand how hard it can be to find a school where a 2e student’s needs are fully met and their gifts are truly celebrated.

BS, International Business and Spanish – Trinity University

Kristen Dauphinais, Co-Founder and President of the Board, spent 25 years in corporate insurance, specializing in cybersecurity and technology, where she built and led teams — including two built entirely from the ground up. She brings that same strategic, operational, and leadership expertise to Sage’s board, alongside board experience of her own, including chairing the Risk and Capital Committee for QBE’s North American board. Like Jessica, Kristen is the parent of a twice-exceptional child, and her family has lived through the challenges of navigating school environments, assessments, and therapy — and knows firsthand why community matters so much for these kids and their families.

BS & MS, Elementary and Special Education – Duquesne University
EdD, Mental and Physical Disabilities – University of Pittsburgh

Dr. Mandi Skerbetz, Co-Founder and Head of School, has spent more than 20 years in special education — as a special education and gifted teacher, and later as a mentor and instructor of future educators at Carnegie Mellon, Johns Hopkins, SMU, and the University of Pittsburgh. Neurodiverse students and their families have been at the center of her work for two decades, and leading a school where students’ strengths are genuinely enhanced and their needs genuinely supported has been her long-held dream.

Stephanie Maland is an Executive Director at Raytheon’s Naval Power strategic business unit, where she leads a diverse product portfolio after more than 30 years at the company — starting as a co-op student. She previously led the development of Raytheon’s Program Leadership learning curriculum as the business unit’s Learning and Career Development Manager, and brings deep financial expertise and strategic decision-making skill to the board. As the parent of a neurodiverse child, Stephanie understands firsthand the challenges families face, and is passionate about building an inclusive, supportive environment where students can thrive. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Applied Engineering Sciences from Michigan State University and an MBA from the University of Texas at Dallas.

Todd Jirovec, Vice President at PwC Strategy&, has over 30 years of experience in strategy and operations consulting, primarily in the power and utilities sector. He advises senior leadership and boards on strategic planning, business models, performance improvement, and mergers and acquisitions, and has served as an expert witness before regulatory bodies. Todd holds a B.S. in Accounting from Arizona State University and an M.B.A. from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, and has lectured at ASU’s W.P. Carey School of Business.

Will Radke is Managing Director and Head of Portfolio Strategy for Brio Real Estate, a Blackstone portfolio company. Before joining Brio, he spent 18 years at Goldman Sachs, including serving as the firm’s first Global Head of Portfolio Management for the real estate platform within Asset and Wealth Management — a role that took him to Singapore, Tokyo, and Hong Kong. Will brings deep expertise in global real estate portfolio management, asset management, and operational transformation across multiple market cycles and geographies. He holds a Bachelor of Arts from Austin College, with a double major in International Economics and Finance and Asian Studies. Will is also the parent of a twice-exceptional child, bringing yet another firsthand family perspective to the board’s work.

Dr. Carol Wooten, co-founder, Superintendent, and CEO of Propel Schools, brings decades of district and school leadership experience — including curriculum and instruction leadership — to Sage’s strategic and academic planning.

Dr. Elizabeth Kline, a special education specialist with a doctorate from the University of Pittsburgh and current classroom experience as a Life Skills and Autistic Support Teacher, contributes deep expertise in supporting students with disabilities and designing inclusive learning environments.

Erin Evans, an independent school educator with over 15 years of experience and dual master’s degrees in mathematics education and educational leadership, brings hands-on expertise in math curriculum design — and, as the parent of a neurodivergent child, a personal commitment to individualized instruction.

Garth Orr, founder of EducatOrr, LLC, brings over 15 years of experience in personalized tutoring and a strong commitment to equitable access to quality education.

Dr. Heather Haynes Smith, Associate Professor of Education at Trinity University and a dyslexic academic herself, brings research-backed expertise in special education, inclusion, and Universal Design for Learning directly into how Sage approaches accessible instruction.

Dr. Hennah Abubaker, CEO and founder of Smart Schooling LLC, holds a doctorate in Mind, Brain, and Teaching from Johns Hopkins University and brings deep expertise in neuroeducation, culturally responsive teaching, and STEAM curriculum design — informed by years of curriculum design and equity work in Dallas private schools.

Dr. Justin Aglio, Associate Vice President for Penn State Outreach and Executive Director of the Readiness Institute at Penn State, led development of one of the first K–12 AI programs in the country and brings national expertise in personalized learning, STEM, and innovation in education.

Kelly Miller, an educational and therapeutic consultant and founder of Wolf Strategic Advice, brings a background spanning crisis management and child and family psychology to Sage’s approach to family support and post-secondary planning.

Dr. Keri Guilbault, Director of Gifted Education and Doctor of Education programs at Johns Hopkins University and a former NAGC Board member, brings national leadership in gifted and twice-exceptional education, academic acceleration, and the social-emotional development of exceptional learners.

Dr. Kristin Shapiro, a high school science teacher and Gifted & Talented Coordinator whose doctoral research focused on gifted education access in rural areas, contributes practical, classroom-tested expertise in gifted programming.

Dr. Matthew Zakreski, founder of The Neurodiversity Collective and a clinical psychologist who has spoken over a thousand times worldwide on supporting neurodivergent kids, brings direct clinical expertise in the social-emotional needs of gifted and neurodivergent students to Sage’s student support model.

Dr. Rachael Cody, a postdoctoral scholar at Oregon State University with a PhD in Educational Psychology focused on giftedness, creativity, and talent development, contributes current research on gifted student agency and learning outcomes for diverse learners.