Our Team

Sherrye Dotson, M.S., President

 Sherrye is often referred to as “a change agent.” She began her career as a classroom teacher in Texas.  Sherrye spent 15 years teaching math at the middle school and high school level and later served 19 years as Assistant Superintendent,  Associate Superintendent and as a Deputy Superintendent. Sherrye and Joan co-authored the book Synergy and Synthesis for Teaching in the 21st Century.   Sherrye, in addition to serving as President of Core 21 and a senior consultant, is an adjunct professor for SUNY Buffalo State teaching graduate level curriculum and leadership courses.

Joan Della Valle, Ed.D., Vice President

Joan brings over 40 years of public education service to the Core 21 team. She began her career in the New York City public schools and spent 20 years on staff: first as a teacher and then as Curriculum Director for the 28 schools in her district. For the next 20 years she held the position of Elementary School Principal in a suburban school located on Long Island, New York, where she provided leadership for both the school and the district.  Joan has also worked in several colleges and universities teaching graduate level courses in curriculum and leadership. Currently,  Joan serves as Vice President of Core 21, is a senior consultant and adjunct professor for SUNY Buffalo State. 

Mike Albritton, Ed.D., Senior Consultant

Mike has held many positions in the field of education. He has worked as an Elementary Principal, an Assistant Principal and as an Academic Dean coordinating and developing new programs for students. His work has been in parochial and private schools, and has also been a volunteer in schools for the disadvantaged. His most recent position was Administrator and Director of Student Services in a large urban district. He is an expert in data analysis and his work is always focussed on student outcomes.

Wanda Dean, Ph.D., Senior Consultant

Wanda, a life long resident of Mississippi, began her work in education as a teacher for students with disabilities. She then held the following positions:  Director of Special Education Services, Primary Assistant Principal, Elementary Principal, Middle School Principal, and Director of Curriculum and Instruction.  She has also served as an adjunct assistant professor in the Educational Leadership Department and the Curriculum and Instruction Department at the University of Mississippi. She currently serves as an adjunct assistant professor for the State University of New York at Buffalo. Wanda has just been named Distinguished Alumni for the College of Education, Mississippi State University.

Meredith Harbord, Ed.D., Senior Consultant and Technology Advisor

Meredith has been in education for over 30 years as a teacher, an administrator and curriculum writer. She has taught Art and Design in a wide range of different educational systems including the Australian, the English, and the American International Schools . After spending 15 years in  Brunei, Darussalam and the Sultanate of Oman, her focus is on the International Baccalaureate Middle Years Program. She has trained kindergarten and elementary teachers from all over Australia through Curtin University in “Early Childhood Art for the Classroom teacher” based on developmental creativity for Montessori teachers. Meredith and her co-author Sara Khan published an amazing book n 2020; Design Thinking for Schools; Ethical Dilemmas. The publisher, John Catt Educational Ltd, will be releasing two versions—one for the International Baccalaureate Middle Years Program (MYP.) and one using Common Core Standards and the Core 21 PBL model. Concurrently, she is working as an adjunct professor teaching graduate level education courses for SUNY Buffalo State

Josh Stewart, Consultant and AI Advisor

Josh is a champion for student access, equity, and success.  He brings over two decades of service in higher education focusing on enrollment management, student affairs, and administrative operations.  Additionally, his experience in analytics, digital technologies, artificial intelligence, predictive modeling, and data innovations has enabled us to offer clients training and information necessary to to update all levels of educational institutions with the newest methodologies.

Carol Carter, Consultant

Carol is an expert in science. She began as a classroom teacher, and eventually specialized in science and mathematics. She has held the position of Science and Mathematic and Coordinator for several school districts, both urban and suburban. Her training skills were noticed and she became the Regional Lead Consultant for Full Options Science Systems (FOSS.) She then worked for the Carolina Biological Company as a trainer for Building Blocks of Science 3D and Smithsonian Science for the Classroom. She is now a full time consultant.

Razan Irshaidat, MS., Consultant

Razan is currently a Teacher Trainer and a biology teacher in Amman Jordan. She has held multiple positions in the field of science, including environmental science. She is also the marketing director for Core 21 and is our resident Arabic translator.

Maria Samir Nemat, MS., Consultant

Maria resides in Amman Jordan and is currently both the MYP Coordinator for her school and is the Upper Primary School Head, for grades 4 - 7. She is multilingual and has earned several certificates in Leadership from the Harvard Graduate School of Education.

Dan Pardy, Consultant

Dan is District Coordinator for 21st Century Learning at Qatar Foundation Schools in Doha, Qatar. He has 18 years experience in Education, 13 of which are in Leadership positions. Dan is a Google Certified Trainer, and regularly presents for Google Partners around the world. He has worked as an Adjunct Professor for State University of New York for 4 years, and coordinates a site in Doha. 

Concetta Russo, Ed.D., Consultant

Connie specializes in all areas of learning disabilities. She sits on multiple boards as an advisor and was a full-time assistant professor at Seton Hall University and St. John's University. Connie was the of Director of Special Education for the Massapequa Public Schools on Long Island for 19 years. During that time period she developed many innovative programs for children with autism and learning disabilities. Concetta is the author of RTI Guide: Making it Work, Strategies=Solutions.

Demi Dotson-Wilkins, Consultant

Demi is an early childhood - grade 12 special education consultant. She currently serves as coordinator for testing and Response to Intervention instruction. . She is an instructor for the National Cheerleader Association and works with Avid, a program that prepares diverse and under represented demographic groups who are going off to college. This program uses inquiry based and student -centric instruction inspiring students to take control of their own learning.