Safety Matters Advisory Council

Colby Allen

Police Athletic League of Jacksonville, Education Director
Jacksonville, FL

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Colby Allen is the Education Director with the Police Athletic League of Jacksonville, Inc. As the Education Director he oversees the strategic vision, budgetary development and programming management to provide innovative and engaging programs for our youth. Prior to joining JaxPAL in 2016, he worked in traditional and proprietary education for over 15 years where he excelled to become a Campus Executive Director. Colby also has many years of non-profit experience linking small businesses with major corporations. Colby has always been a coach and mentor who is passionate about youth and desires to serve the community, which will allow him to impact and positively change lives. He also serves on the VyStar and Business Ownership High School Advisory Committee and is the Co-Founder of The Rock Jax, a youth basketball and mentoring non-profit.

Candace Balzano

kNot Today Program Director
Filmore, Indiana

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Candace Balzano is overseeing prevention efforts in the state of Indiana by focusing on strategic leadership, capacity-building, and system-wide collaboration to advance child sexual abuse prevention efforts. Candace brings an incredible depth of expertise and dedication to child abuse prevention work, having spent the past 15 years of hands -on, front line work, with 9 of those years developing, directing and delivering impactful, prevention services at Susie’s Place Child Advocacy Center as their Education and Outreach Program Manager.

Candace holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Lee University and has worked as a Center Director and Case Manager for families involved with Child Protective Services in Indianapolis, IN. Candace completed Forensic Interviewing training in March 2016 and served as a Forensic Interviewer at Susie's Place before moving into her role as Prevention Education and Outreach Manager full time. Candace is an Authorized Instructor of MBF Child and Teen Safety Matters and a Facilitator of Darkness to Light Stewards of Children. Candace is also a Certified Facilitator of the Nurturing Parenting Program and a Keeping Kids Safe Trainer with Children’s Trust.

Dr. Kelly Baudo

Buffalo Public Schools, Assessment and Instruction
Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum
North Tonawanda, NY

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Kelly A. Baudo, Ph.D., serves as the Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum, Assessment and Instruction for the Buffalo Public Schools, the second-largest school district in New York State. In her current position, Dr. Baudo has oversite of 15 instructional departments ranging from Pre-Kindergarten (PreK) to Career and Technical Education (CTE), including all core and encore subject areas.She has worked for the Buffalo Public Schools for 22 years, rising from the position of High School Chemistry and Biology teacher, and a Middle Level Science (Physical Science and Life Science) and Health teacher, to that of Supervisor and then Director of Science Education, and then Assistant Superintendent.

In addition to working for the Buffalo Public Schools, she served on leadership and science focused committees with New York State Department of Education (NYSED) as a consultant and was a Co-PI on multiple National Science Foundation (NSF) grant opportunities in partnership with The State University of Buffalo. Dr. Baudo also served her community as the City of North Tonawanda Mayor appointed representative for the Niagara County Board of Health.
Her academic journey includes a Doctorate (Ph.D.) and Master of Science (MS) degree from Niagara University, along with two Bachelor of Science (BS) Degrees from The State University College at Buffalo.

Lakesha Burton

JSO Assistant Chief, Retired
Tesha’s Hands, Inc, Founder
Jacksonville, FL

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Lakesha is a twenty-four (24) year veteran retired law enforcement officer. As a police officer she rose in rank quickly and has the distinctions of being the 4th African American female police assistant chief in the history of the agency and the first female Executive Director to lead the Police Athletic League of Jacksonville. After an extraordinary career, she retired, and audaciously ran as the first woman candidate for sheriff in Duval County, Florida. Lakesha continued her service to our city as the Crime and Safety Analyst for WJXT Channel 4 News. She was appointed to Mayor Donna Deegan’s Executive team as this city’s first Director of Community Initiatives and served the City of Jacksonville in this role until 2023.

Lakesha has a master’s degree in criminology. She’s an alumnus of Leadership Jacksonville and Lifeworks Leadership. She’s championed many causes and served on over 20 civic boards, the Safety and Crime Reduction Commission; and the Delores Barr Weaver Policy Center are to name a couple. She has been recognized over the years for her extraordinary service. She was presented with a Lifetime Achievement Proclamation from the Jacksonville City Council and recognized for her leadership nationally on the Harry (Harry Connick, Jr) show.

Dr. Irene Countryman Roswurm

Center for Combating Human Trafficking and Institute for Transformative Emancipation
Founder/ Executive Director
Wichita, KS

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Dr. (Karen) Irene Countryman-Roswurm, LMSW, Ph.D. is the Founder/Executive Director of the Center for Combating Human Trafficking (CCHT), Institute for Transformative Emancipation (ITE). She is also a tenured Associate Professor and a frequent consultant for diverse federal and non-governmental agencies striving toward systemic improvement. Cumulatively, Dr. Roswurm has more than 26 years of professional practice expertise in Movements mobilizing others to not only end abuse, homelessness, exploitation, human trafficking, and the adaptive “ism’s” these issues are often rooted in but most importantly, promote holistic healing and prosperity.

A Native Blackfoot (Siksika) woman who remains grounded in her own life experiences of overcoming streets and systems (e.g. child welfare/foster care, criminal/legal judicial systems, state-funded institutions, etc.), Dr. Roswurm is a transformational leader who has committed her life to contemplative, emancipatory practices. Using her various first-hand vantage points, she offers pathways to holistic prosperity for individuals, groups, and communities facing abuse, exploitation, and trafficking through the provision of direct-service programming, education and training, consultation and technical assistance, research, and policy development. Acting as a street outreach worker, program coordinator, therapist, community response organizer, human rights advocate, researcher, educator, capacity builder, and public policy developer, she has walked alongside thousands domestically and internationally.

Dr. Roswurm has served as a forerunner in the Runaway, Homeless, and Anti-Exploitation Movements by advancing prevention, intervention, and prosperity-promoting strategies through her Lotus Emancipation ModelTM. This includes Dr. Roswurm’s therapeutic expertise in culturally-relevant narrative practices to assist trauma survivors re-story their lives. She has more than thirty publications and has facilitated thousands of keynotes, workshops, and critical conversations around the globe. Largely known for her advocacy to reduce the criminalization of young people who are runaway/homeless and who have survived commercial sexual exploitation, dearest to Dr. Roswurm’s heart are opportunities and recognitions that reflect her commitment to journeying alongside survivors as the step into their true identity. Dr. Roswurm often serves as an expert witness on cases regarding human trafficking; she has served as a subject matter expert at the White House National Convening on Trafficking and Child Welfare; is an Indigenous Survivor-Leader Fellow for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Human Trafficking Training and Technical Assistance Centers, Human Trafficking Leadership Academy (HTLA); and the recipient of awards such as the Distinguished Kansan of the Year, Pat Ayars Mentoring Award, and the Martin Luther King Jr. Award.

Wendy Dunlap

Duval County Public Schools
High School Acceleration Programs & Student Support Services
Executive Director
Jacksonville, FL

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Wendy Dunlap is an accomplished educational leader with over 25 years of service with Duval County Public Schools currently serving as Executive Director of Acceleration and Student Support Programs. She oversees a multifaceted body of work that includes high school acceleration programs, school counseling, behavioral health services, graduation initiatives, student records, and truancy, leading a team of more than 80 staff members.With a strong focus on expanding equitable access to advanced academic opportunities, she has driven the growth of dual enrollment, AP, IB, and AICE programs, including the launch of AP Capstone and multiple Early College pathways. Wendy’s leadership also extends to districtwide mental health initiatives, strengthening services for emotional wellness and trauma-informed practices.

A strategic and collaborative leader, she regularly advises senior leadership and guide principals in data-driven decision-making. She manages a multimillion-dollar budget while fostering partnerships with higher education institutions and community organizations. Wendy has dedicated her career to making a difference in education.

Dr. Nadine Finigan-Carr

University of Maryland, Baltimore Center for Violence Prevention
Executive Director
Baltimore, MD

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Nadine M Finigan-Carr, Ph.D., is a prevention research scientist focused on the application of behavioral and social science perspectives to research on contemporary health problems, especially those that disproportionately affect people of color. She is serving as the inaugural Executive Director of the University of Maryland, Baltimore’s Center for Violence Prevention. The center is a multidisciplinary initiative that connects University and community partners to conduct community‑based participatory research, deliver creative and impactful education, and advocate for policies that strengthen communities to prevent violence and trauma. Its mission is to build resilient and equitable communities through the prevention and intervention of all forms of violence and trauma. Dr Finigan-Carr's scholarship is grounded in theories and methods found primarily in the field of health behavior change among individuals and the environments that support or impede chronic disease prevention or management, injury, and violence. She is an internationally recognized expert on minor human trafficking and sexual exploitation having collaborated with colleagues in the UK, Canada, and the Caribbean. In 2018, she presented a TEDx talk titled, Child Prostitutes Don’t Exist.

She is the Principal Investigator of research projects at both the state and federal levels designed to intervene with system involved youth – those in foster care or the juvenile justice system. Dr Finigan-Carr is the author of Linking Health and Education for African American Students’ Success (Routledge Press). She has served as special guest editor for the Journal of Negro Education (2015), the Journal of Violence and Victims (2020), and Children Youth Services’ Review (2021). She also serves as a Commissioner of Community Relations in the Baltimore City Office of Civil Rights, Equity and Wage Enforcement.

Rich Gerry

Institute for Responsible Online and Cellphone Communication
Founder
Mount Laurel, NJ

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Richard Guerry is the founder of the non-profit organization the Institute for Responsible Online and Cell-Phone Communication (IROC2.org) and one of the nation's most sought-after speakers on digital safety, empathy and mindfulness. His Programs have received the School Safety Advocacy Council’s Exemplary School Safety Program Award, Exemplary School Safety Initiative Award and the National Anti-Bullying Award.

Richard is the author of multiple cyber safety books and has been a featured speaker at numerous national & international conferences. Richard has appeared as an expert on Radio Disney, CNN, FOX, CBS, MTV’s Thin Line Campaign, as well as in Parade Magazine and many local, regional, and international publications to help humans better understand how to wield the power of evolving technology with wisdom and responsibility through solution-oriented concepts critical to anyone using digital tools.

He specializes in topics including cyber cruelty prevention, safe communication in gaming, social media safety, AI & deepfake awareness, mindful use of wearable technology, and promoting empathy in the digital world. His presentations are designed to be interactive, educational, and memorable, leaving audiences with actionable strategies for safer online experiences.

As an internationally recognized Internet Safety Speaker with years of experience delivering engaging and impactful presentations. His mission is to help young people, parents, and educators understand the digital risks they face while fostering responsible online behavior. Richard has worked with schools, organizations, and corporations across the country, earning recognition for his ability to connect with audiences of all ages. His workshops and keynotes inspire positive change, helping communities reduce online risks and enhance digital literacy.

Casie Lee

Forensic Interview Center, Department of Pediatrics
University of Florida, College of Medicine
Program Coordinator
Jacksonville, FL

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Casie Lee is the Program Coordinator for the newly established Forensic Interview Center through the University of Florida Department of Pediatrics in Jacksonville, FL. Casie is leading this pilot project to determine the feasibility of certification and credentialing of child forensic interviewers. This project will also address the need for training with professionals who often receive an initial disclosure from a child victim. Casie was previously with the UF First Coast Child Protection Team for fifteen years, first as a Case Coordinator, and then as an Assistant Team Coordinator. During that time, Casie conducted approximately 2,000 forensic interviews with child victims of abuse and neglect. Casie has been a member of the Victim Assistance Mass Casualty Response Group, Sexual Assault Interagency Council, and the Northeast Florida Human Trafficking Task Force.

Dr. Melissa Mariani

University of Florida, School of Education
Associate Professor of Counselor Education
Tequesta, FL

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Melissa Mariani, Ph.D. is an Associate Professor of Counselor Education at the University of Florida (UF), specializing in School Counseling. Her research and scholarship focus on student success, school climate, evidence-based school counseling interventions, outcome research, school safety and crisis response, and fostering collaboration between higher education and K-12 institutions.
Throughout her career, Dr. Mariani has demonstrated leadership as a Project Manager for three Elementary and Secondary School Counseling grants, where she played a pivotal role in guiding districts to develop, implement, and sustain comprehensive school counseling programs aligned with the American School Counselor Association (ASCA) National Model. Several of these programs achieved the prestigious Recognized ASCA Model Program (RAMP) designation.

Dr. Mariani actively contributes to professional development, regularly providing training for school staff on diverse topics related to counseling and student well-being. As a lead researcher and national trainer for the Student Success Skills (SSS) curriculum (www.studentsuccessskills.com), she co-developed SSS for SEL Success, extending the program’s impact on social-emotional learning. Additionally, she coauthored the influential book Facilitating Evidence-Based, Data-Driven School Counseling: A Manual for Practice with Dr. Brett Zyromski (Ohio State University), offering a practical guide for implementing evidence-based practices in school counseling.

Dr. Mariani’s dedication to advancing the field is evidenced through multiple publications, securing grant funding, and active involvement in professional organizations at the local, state, and national levels. 

Alejandra Montoro

National Center for Missing and Exploited Children
Prevention Program Manager for Outreach & Prevention
Alexandria, VA

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Alejandra Monroy serves as the Prevention Program Manager for Outreach & Prevention at the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC). In this role, she leads the implementation of NCMEC’s prevention education programs, ensuring they align with the latest trends and best practices in child development and protection. Prior to joining NCMEC, Alejandra worked as the Bilingual Prevention Specialist at Safe Shores, D.C.'s Children's Advocacy Center. There, she facilitated child sexual abuse prevention trainings and led Spanish-language caregiver support groups, utilizing a psychoeducational curriculum to assist caregivers of children who have experienced abuse.

Alejandra is currently pursuing a Master’s in Education with a focus on Human Development at Harvard University. She also holds a Master of Science from Georgetown University’s Health and the Public Interest program and a Bachelor of Arts in Government and Politics from the University of Maryland, College Park.

Fay Noil

Carrollwood Day School
Certified School Counselor
Tampa, FL

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Fay Noil is a certified school counselor at Carrollwood Day School. Her experience at a Title 1 high school and a middle school, along with her previous experience with the County Clerk court system, provide insight into the challenges faced by a diverse population of students and the need for targeted interventions in the K-12 school system. As a 30-year Air Force veteran, she is credited with leading in various roles that support numerous process changes and mission accomplishment through a strategic focus. Fay actively contributes to the Florida Counseling Association, having co-presented at the 2023 conference as a student leader and now serving as a board member on the newly formed school counseling division. Fay also plays a crucial support role in the execution of the Florida School Counselor Association (FSCA) and its annual convention. She brings a unique perspective and diverse expertise to the conversation.

Karen Nowak-Drabik

Monroe One BOCES
School Psychologist
Macedon, NY

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Karen Nowak-Drabik is a dedicated School Psychologist with 23 years of experience in public education. She holds dual bachelor’s degrees in Psychology and Health and Human Services from the University at Buffalo, where she participated in research on Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and began working with adults with developmental disabilities—a passion that has shaped her career. Karen earned her Master’s degree in School Psychology from the University of Kentucky, where her research focused on post-secondary outcomes for graduates with developmental disabilities.

After relocating to Rochester, New York, Karen began her career as a district School Psychologist, specializing in assessment, counseling, and intervention. She later transitioned to Monroe #1 Board of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES), where she has dedicated herself to working with students with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD). Karen is a tireless advocate, providing academic and social-emotional support to her students while collaborating with families to connect them with community resources that enhance lifelong success.

In addition to her role as a Trauma-Informed Care trainer, Karen became a certified facilitator for the Monique Burr Foundation’s Child Safety Matters (CSM) and Teen Safety Matters (TSM) programs. This sparked her interest in prevention education for students with I/DD, an area often overlooked. Karen partnered with MBF to create a guidebook for adapting the CSM and TSM curricula to meet the needs of students with I/DD, ensuring accessibility and understanding. Her expertise was later instrumental in developing Child Safety Matters+, the first prevention program specifically designed for students with special needs. Karen’s work reflects her commitment to fostering inclusion, understanding, and lifelong success for all students.

Wyatt Parlette

Boys and Girls Club of Jacksonville
Chief Operating Officer
Jacksonville, FL

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Wyatt Parlette is a seasoned nonprofit leader with over 15 years of experience in operations and youth development. As the Vice President of Operations at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Northeast Florida, Wyatt oversees strategic planning, staff development, and budget management, ensuring programs empower young people to achieve their full potential.
Throughout his career with the Boys & Girls Clubs, Wyatt has held key roles, including Vice President of Programs, Area Director, and Unit Director, where he consistently demonstrated leadership in program development, staff training, and community engagement.

Wyatt holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Painting and Drawing from the University of North Florida. His passion for fostering positive environments and achieving measurable outcomes makes him a dedicated advocate for youth and community impact.

Jason Reyes

Academy for Independent Learning and Leadership
Bronx School of Hip Hop, Principal
Yonkers, NY

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Born and raised in the Boogie Down Bronx, Jason Reyes is the inaugural principal of the Bronx School of Hip Hop, opening Fall 2026. For the first time in history, a New York City public high school is being built on the elements of hip-hop through hip-hop pedagogy. Not inspired by the culture — built on it.

Jason previously served as the Principal of M.S. 129, the Academy for Independent Learning and Leadership in District 12. He began his career in the New York City Department of Education in 2003 as a per diem substitute math teacher and throughout his tenure he was fortunate to become a certified math teacher, dean, and assistant principal. Jason’s passion and commitment to the educational success of his scholars is rooted in social justice and activism. He believes that leading a school that seeks to empower scholars can be a force of change in communities that have been historically overlooked and left out. As a Bronx native he values the inherent genius and excellence that his students bring with them into the classroom and truly feels that they can be the change needed to bring about systemic change and justice to their communities. In 2016, Jason received Lehman College’s Aspiring Educational Leadership Award while pursuing his Master’s in School Building Leadership. This was largely in part to his leadership philosophy, he states “An effective educational leader is one who places an emphasis on social change, targeting students who have been historically marginalized. These students need a leader whose objective is to challenge injustice and inequity while raising student achievement in the process.”

Stacy Schultz

National Center for Missing and Exploited Children
Senior Resource Specialist
Alexandria, VA

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Stacy Schultz works as a Senior Resource Specialist with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children’s (NCMEC) Child Sex Trafficking Recovery Services Team. As a Resource Specialist, Stacy provides case-based assistance and support to child welfare professionals and other multidisciplinary team members in the development of trauma-informed and victim-centered recovery plans for survivors of child sex trafficking who are reported missing from child welfare care to NCMEC. 

Stacy holds a MA in Conflict Transformation and Social Justice from Queens University Belfast, UK (2017) and a BA in Fine Arts with a minor in Psychology from St. Cloud State University, MN (2007). In addition to her tenure in youth work, Stacy is also a certified conflict mediator and works as a freelance theatre artist in her spare time.

Ilisa Seda

Miami-Dade County Public Schools
Physical and Health Education Instruction K-12
District Supervisor
Miami, FL

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Ilisa Seda has been employed for 29 years in Miami-Dade County Public Schools in various roles, including Physical and Health Education Teacher, Curriculum Support Specialist, Assistant Principal, and District Supervisor. In her capacity as District Supervisor, she oversees and provides support to more than 600 Physical and Health Education instructors across Elementary, Middle, and High Schools. Our district has more than 400 educational institutions. As a district supervisor, her primary responsibilities include developing instructional resources for all aspects of physical education and health education, delivering information and updates via workshops throughout the academic year, collaborating with principals and school operations to assign teachers to school sites, and consistently updating our website and online learning platform for students. She collaborates with Adaptive Physical Education instructors in a program named Sports Ability, where they organize events throughout the academic year, like bowling and field day for ESE kids. 

Since 2019, our district has partnered with the Monique Burr Foundation, and all our educators have been trained as facilitators for the Child/Teen Safety Matters curriculum. Each year, we have educated over 52,000 kids on human trafficking prevention utilizing materials from the Monique Burr Foundation. A graduate of M-DCPS schools, Florida International University (Bachelor of Science), and Nova Southeastern University (Master's degree). She was a student-athlete and have three children who are also student-athletes. Her daughter Courtney participated in high school softball and has recently graduated from college; her son Chris plays college baseball in Ohio, and her son Liam plays high school basketball and she has been married to my wonderful husband, John for four years.