susanluger, Author at Susan Luger Associates

Jeanne Stone, Educational Advocate
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Jeanne Stone, Educational Advocate

Jeanne Stone has been advocating for children for over twenty-five years. As a licensed school psychologist and speech pathologist, she has provided services for students in both public and private school settings, conducted numerous evaluations and worked with all age students from pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade.

She has received extensive New York State training in the CSE process and is a recognized leader in conducting and chairing meetings as well as other related special education services. Her goal has been and remains, “Always working to do what is best for children and their special needs. We need to ensure a level playing field for all students.” Jeanne has attended years of special education law conferences and seminars, has presented on a variety of special education topics and has consulted on a number of difficult of cases where she was instrumental in collaborative decision making.

Jeanne has established and directed early childhood centers with a variety of special needs students, she has created collaborative settings for children with autism, she has served in public school settings as a district chairperson, coordinating services between regular and special education, which when combined with her speech and psychological background offers parents and children a complete range of special services.

“I want to spend this time in my career insuring that children receive the best possible services they are entitled to, so they can fulfill their potential.” Jeanne is excited to be part of Susan Luger Associates, dedicated to these same goals.

Jeanne Stone, Educational Advocatesusanluger2016-11-22T22:57:48+00:00

Kimberly Coleman Tavares, Esq.
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Kimberly Coleman Tavares, Esq.

Kimberly graduated magna cum laude from Fisk University in Nashville, TN, with a B.A. in English and a concentration in French. She obtained her J.D. from Tulane Law School in New Orleans, LA and has been practicing law for over 11 years.

She is admitted to practice in the States of CA and NY. Kimberly has appeared and litigated cases before the CA Workers Compensation Board; NY State Workers Compensation Board; Los Angeles County Superior Court, NY Supreme Court and the Third Department Appellate Division.

Her commitment to the equality of education for all children led to her practice of Special Education Law. As a consummate professional and seasoned litigator, Kimberly is committed to assisting parents in their struggle to obtain access to a quality education for their children.

Kimberly Coleman Tavares, Esq.susanluger2016-12-22T23:14:34+00:00

Deborah Ezbitski, Esq.
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Deborah Ezbitski, Esq.

Deborah began her legal career over 25 years ago as a trial attorney with the Criminal Defense Division of The Legal Aid Society in New York City. She was also the Division’s Director of Training and Staff Development.

Both her professional interest in learning and her personal experience with special education brought her back to the practice of law and to representing parents of children with special needs.

Deborah Ezbitski, Esq.susanluger2017-01-16T17:47:55+00:00

Joseph M. Fein, Esq., Senior Affiliated Attorney
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Joseph M. Fein, Esq., Senior Affiliated Attorney

Joseph M. Fein is a 1994 graduate of Yeshiva University’s Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law. His extensive experience as a litigator began as an Assistant District Attorney in Queens County and later on as Deputy General Counsel for New York City Off-Track Betting Corp.

In 2004, Joseph opened his own legal practice focused on special education advocacy and litigation. As the father of a special needs child, Joseph understands the unique challenges facing our parents. Joseph is fluent in Hebrew.

You can visit Joseph’s website at www.educationalesq. com.

Joseph M. Fein, Esq., Senior Affiliated Attorneysusanluger2018-02-23T00:28:58+00:00

Arthur Luger, CFO
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Arthur Luger, CFO

Arthur Luger is SLA’s CFO. While it is true he got his job through nepotism, there have been no regrets about hiring him.

After obtaining a Ph.D. In Physics, Art worked for many years as a consultant on Wall Street, specializing in Risk Management. In 2007, he thought it might be a good time to retire and take it easy. His wife (Executive Director Susan Luger) had a better idea. In need of a business manager for SLA, Susan realized she knew the perfect candidate. And the rest is history.

Art is an essential member of the SLA Team. With his skills in project management, he has done a masterful job of organizing the business side of SLA. He and his business office team keep everything humming on the third floor so the advocates on the second floor can better serve our clients.

Arthur Luger, CFOsusanluger2019-08-19T17:16:32+00:00

Louis Chi
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Louis Chi

Louis Chi has been the Impartial Hearing Manager at SLA since 2009. In addition to serving as Impartial Hearing Coordinator, Louis is now actively assisting Art with tasks relating to client reimbursements. Louis is fluent in Mandarin and Cantonese.

Louis Chisusanluger2016-12-26T18:30:31+00:00

Annie DeLeon
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Annie DeLeon

Annie DeLeon is a certified paralegal with years of experience in special education and dealing with the NYCDOE. Annie works with both the Business Office Team and the Settlement Team. Annie holds a certificate as a Paralegal and an Associates Degree in Human Services. With Annie’s help, we have improved the efficiency of our hearing and settlement processes. As Annie will gladly tell you, her greatest achievement has been the birth of her beautiful daughter Julia in December 2015.

Annie DeLeonsusanluger2016-12-26T18:27:25+00:00

Tom Feola, Parent Representative
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Tom Feola, Parent Representative

Tom Feola worked for over 20 years for the Department of Education as a school social worker where he coordinated the school guidance team and the school peer mediation program. Tom counseled students with special needs on the high school level and is NYS certified. He also has over 10 years experience working as a caseworker at the Veterans Administration Drug Treament program and was coordinator of the VA Post Traumatic Stress Disorder program.

Tom Feola, Parent Representativesusanluger2016-11-22T21:27:43+00:00

Adrienne Schorr, Parent Representative
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Adrienne Schorr, Parent Representative

Adrienne Schorr received a B.A. in Fine Arts and Secondary Education from Lehman College, C.U.N.Y. and an M.A. in Special Education with a focus on physical and multiple disabilities from Columbia University, Teachers College to fulfill her desire to teach art in a more therapeutic/rehabilitative setting.

Adrienne began teaching art at United Cerebral Palsy of New York City’s Brooklyn Teenage and Adult program and subsequently taught in the New York City public schools for 10 years. Her experience in New York City included teaching art to multiply disabled students 5 – 21 years of age and middle school students with a wide range of learning and emotional disabilities and speech and language impairments. She taught art in the Poughkeepsie City School District for the next 20 years. This experience included elementary school for 5 years and then high school. Throughout her years of teaching the “general population” Adrienne specialized in and advocated for those students with special needs who were mainstreamed into her art classes; working closely with their teachers, families and support professionals, and often attending CSE meetings. In addition to her teaching responsibilities she acted as Advisor and Advocate of the Gay/Straight Alliance at Poughkeepsie High School.

Adrienne was an adjunct lecturer at both Queens College and Lehman College, teaching a graduate course “Visual Arts for Students With Learning Problems”. She held summer positions teaching art to incarcerated youth, mentoring teenage gifted girls, and has given private art lessons to an autistic teenager. One of the highlights of Adrienne’s teaching career was the opportunity to share her knowledge and experience in Japan when she participated in a Fulbright Memorial Fund Teacher Program in 2003. She is excited to now use her extensive experiences as an educator to advocate for students with special needs as part of SLA’s team.

Adrienne Schorr, Parent Representativesusanluger2016-12-22T23:09:16+00:00

Rita Ashdale, Educational Advocate
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Rita Ashdale, Educational Advocate

Rita Ashdale is a professionally trained Special Education Advocate and parent of a son with learning disabilities. Since 2011, she has worked for private clients in both New York and Massachusetts and is thrilled to join Susan Luger Associates. She earned a Certification in Special Education Advocacy from William and Mary Law School, PELE Institute in Special Education Advocacy and Wrightslaw in Williamsburg, VA.

She also completed full advocacy training with NSEAI, National Special Education Advocacy Institute, of Wayne, PA. Rita has trained extensively with the Landmark Outreach Teacher Development Program at Landmark School in Prides Crossing, MA, which specializes in teaching students with language-based learning disabilities using scientific research-based methodologies.

Rita earned 196 Professional Development Points in Special Education, General Education and Administration for Reading Comprehension, Writing, Study Skills, Executive Functioning and Special Education Law. When she was young and fair, Rita completed four years at Boston University’s College for the Arts majoring Theatre Arts and Acting. Rita is passionate about helping parents to successfully navigate the treacherous waters of special education.

Rita Ashdale, Educational Advocatesusanluger2019-08-19T17:15:09+00:00

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