Meet the Team
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Shannon O'Grady, M.Ed.
Shannon is an experienced elementary special education teacher with a passion for helping children overcome reading challenges. As a certified Wilson Dyslexia Practitioner with a Level 1 certification in the Wilson Reading System, Shannon has dedicated her career to supporting students with reading difficulties, including those with dyslexia and other learning disabilities. She provides structured, multisensory instruction tailored to each child’s unique needs, helping them build the skills and confidence to become successful and independent. Shannon holds a BSE in Elementary and Special Education from SHU and an M.Ed. in Teaching Writing from WPU. Shannon has taught all grades Pre-K through 6th in general, special education, and gifted and talented education settings.
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Jaclyn Basso, MA Ed.
Over the last decade, Jaclyn has invested her time in many facets of education. She has served as both an Instructional Aide and Elementary School Teacher for the last ten years of her career. Most recently, she has transitioned into the role of an Elementary Literacy Coach. Her educational certificates allow her to teach PreK-Grade 6, English as a Second Language, and Students with Disabilities. In addition, she has obtained her Orton Gillingham Certification. Jaclyn also holds her Master's Degree in Educational Leadership from Georgian Court University and is pursuing her Doctorate Degree in Curriculum and Instruction from the American College of Education in January of 2025. When Jaclyn is not working, you can find her spending time with her family. Jaclyn is a wife to Mark and a mom of two beautiful sons, Dylan and Chase. In her free time, she enjoys reading, listening to music, and learning.
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Anita Cimera, M.Ed.
Anita has been in the education world for a decade. She has worked with pre-schoolers, and has taught in both sides of the classroom; general education and special education. She obtained her Masters degree in special education. She taught elementary school for many years, including K-2 special education. Anita is Orton Gillingham certified and heavily believes in this approach as she has taught many students to read and watch students blossom from it. She believes that not every student learns the same but a multi-sensory approach can educate a vast majority of students. She loves working with kids, being funny, engaging, and connecting with students to help them feel supported while helping build their self-esteem.
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Giorgi Sorrentino, Ed.D
Giorgi has been teaching special education in a middle school setting for the past 7 years. As a teacher, she is committed to helping students grow into confident, successful learners. Supporting students in a way that makes learning feel accessible and engaging is something that Giorgi is passionate about. Her educational certificates allow her to teach K-Grade 6, Mathematics, Science, Technology and Students with Disabilities. Giorgi has also received her doctorate degree in Educational Leadership from Rider University. In addition, Giorgi is trained in Orton Gillingham.
When she is not in the classroom, you can find her enjoying a long walk with her rescue dog or getting lost in a good book!
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Meagan Drapkin, M.Ed.
Meagan currently serves as the Director of Curriculum and Instruction in the Dunellen Public School District. Meagan is and will always be a teacher first and her vision has always been "Student Centered...Equity Driven." Meagan began her teaching career in 2006 as a 3rd grade teacher in the Matawan-Aberdeen Regional School District and then transitioned to the Lakewood Public School District where she served as a 3rd grade SIOP teacher, interventionist for all areas, literacy coach, and K-12 data coach. During her time in Lakewood she became Wilson Level 1 certified and received her Dyslexia Practitioner Certification. She then moved to the Manchester Township Public Schools, where she became an interventionist and Assistant to the Principal at Whiting Elementary School. In the summer of 2019, Meagan entered educational leadership in the Keyport Public School District as the Supervisor of Language Arts and then the Director of Curriculum and Instruction/Supervisor of PreK.
Meagan received her undergraduate degree from Ramapo College of New Jersey with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and teacher's certification. While in her first year of teaching, she pursued her Masters of Science in Sports Psychology from Capella University and believed that more high schools would have a need for sport psychologists in the future. However, as a new teacher she was provided with the opportunity to learn about and write curriculum, and that's when she realized her love for strong instructional practices and guiding students to take risks and achieve was her true passion. After completing her Masters, she received her Supervisor certification from Georgian Court University in 2013, her Principal certification from Rowan University in 2018, and will be headed back to school this Spring for her Superintendent Certification at Monmouth University. Meagan prides herself on being a listener and learner in the ever-evolving and changing educational world and making decisions backed by data and research.