Syntiro Staff Bios

Kathryn Markovchick, President

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Kathryn Markovchick brings more than 30 years of experience conducting and overseeing systemic change activities. She has worked as a special education teacher, administrator and university faculty member and now, as the President of Syntiro. The scope of her work is extensive, from designing and delivering statewide professional development to managing myriad state and federal contracts. Kathryn earned her doctoral and undergaduate degrees in learning and behavior disorders and experiential education from the State University of New York at Buffalo. Currently, she serves as director of the Maine State GEAR UP Program under contract from the Maine Department of Education. As President of Syntiro, Kathryn oversees more than $2 million dollars in grants, contracts and fee-for-service activities in professional development, college access projects, technical assistance and organizational development activities. She is credited, with colleague Corda Ladd Kinzie, with developing the research-based Celebratory Learning model of engaged teaching and learning. Her mission is to facilitate the change process with care, thought and purpose. Kathryn is a vibrant leader, facilitator, educator and mentor who uses a balance of "hands-on/heads-on" experience and theory in all of her work.

Therese Bernier Burns, Assistant Director

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Therese Bernier Burns is the Assistant Director of Syntiro. Therese has been an integral member of the network since its inception. Therese consults state wide in a number of areas including positive behavioral support, differentiated learning, Autism Spectrum Disorders, and developing personalized school improvement plans. She serves on the state Response to Intervention (RtI) team and collaborates to help all schools receive RtI support. Therese will also facilitate Syntiro's recent award of a grant to create digital textbooks. She oversees the production of the Syntiro Winter Retreat, an event which draws educators from Maine and nation wide. The Annual Winter Retreat is known by educators from around the state as an event to remember!  Therese earned her master’s degree in special education with an emphasis on positive behavioral supports. She is currently enrolled in a doctoral program through Walden University. Therese’s professional background includes 25 years of meeting the needs of learners in the classroom. Therese leads professional development on multiple topics, but is best known for her work in supporting students with behavioral challenges, implementing Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS), helping students on the autism spectrum succeed, and creating engaging and inviting Celebratory Learning environments. She is the current President of the Maine Federation of CEC.  

Corda Ladd Kinzie, Director of Professional Development and Learning Design 

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Corda Ladd Kinzie is an educational consultant to teams, teachers, schools, school committees, districts and businesses. Her mission is to facilitate the change process with care, thought, and purpose. She is a seminar/workshop facilitator who uses a balance of "hands-on/heads-on" experience and theory. Corda’s areas of expertise include: using current brain research to inform learning, understanding the change process, generating strategies for teaching all learners, social skills and team development, parent/professional relationships and standards-based learning. At Syntiro, Corda works on Positive Behavior Supports and Interventions, Cooperative Learning and Life Coaching programs. Corda raised 3 sons, Brooks, Spencer, and Arthur. She is proudly grand-parenting 4 grandsons, MacKenzie, Roland, Nathan and Matthew. She loves "camp"in Oakland where she watches eagles and osprey and listens to loons with all the boys!

Debbie Gilmer, Assistant Director for Project Development, and Director, Center for Self Determination, Health & Policy

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Debbie Gilmer is the Associate Director of Syntiro where she also directs of the Center for Self-Determination, Health & Policy, The Maine High School Equivalency Program (HEP), and Co-Director of the Maine State GEAR UP program. Additionally, Debbie is the Project Director of Employment for ME Workforce Development System, funded by the Maine Departments of HHS and Labor. She previously worked at UMaine where she was the Associate Director of the Center for Community Inclusion and Disability Studies and worked statewide to build the capacity of schools to support all students in inclusive classrooms. She has directed numerous state and federally funded projects in the areas of employment, transition, health care, inclusive education and positive behavior supports and is a well-regarded presenter and teacher.

Rick Wilson, Operations Coordinator

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Rick Wilson joined Syntiro after 33 years in public education. Rick had been Principal at Manchester Elementary School for the last 18 years and was chaired the Professional Development Committee at the Maine Principals' Association from 2005-2009. Prior to his years in administration, Rick was a K-8 music specialist in Union 42 (Manchester, Mt. Vernon, Readfield and Wayne). He holds a Mus. B from Boston University and an M.ED. from the University of Maine. In addition to being a HEP Regional Facilitator, Rick is RTAC for the Maine State GEAR UP program. He is the facilitator for Professional Development in Washington and Hancock County. Rick's interests and expertise include teacher training and development, educational leadership, team building and school climate.

Beth Lambert, Assistant Director, GEAR UP

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Beth Lambert is the Assistant Director of the GEAR UP program and works in a variety of capacities to increase the support and implementation of GEAR UP goals and objectives across the state. Beth also serves as a steering committee member of the Maine College Access Network. Before joining Syntiro, Beth taught middle and high school in Connecticut and Maine. She holds an Ed.M from the Harvard University Graduate School of Education in School Leadership. Specifically interested in teacher leadership, while a graduate student she worked on the millennium teams project in the Boston Public Schools before moving back to Maine and joining Syntiro. Beth has presented at regional and national conferences on topics such as Universal Design for Learning, Protocols in the Classroom, Differentiated Instruction, Teaching teams, and innovative teaching practices.

Maria Millard, HEP Facilitator

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Maria Millard is Syntiro's HEP (High School Equivalency Program) Regional Facilitator. She earned her bachelor's in sociology from Amherst College where she won the sociology prize for her thesis on social capital and access to higher education. Maria earned her master's from Stanford in Education Policy, Organization and Leadership with a focus on higher education. Prior to joining Syntiro, Maria was the co-director of Kieve's Veteran's Program and facilitated leadership development and team building programs for middle school students. She has also worked on access to education issues in Maine and in Port Elizabeth and Cape Town, South Africa. In Cape Town she worked with the University's Deputy Vice-Chancellor to research affirmative action and admissions policy. Maria is thrilled to be working for Syntiro's HEP program and has seen, first hand, the positive impact it has made on Maine people and communities. 

Coleen Souza, Office Manager 

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Coleen Souza is the Office Manager at Syntiro. She is responsible for maintaining the overall efficiency of all office operations and keeps staff on task and on schedule. She brings previous office management experience to Syntiro, including human resources, payroll, and administrative responsibilities. Coleen is an integral member of Syntiro. She offers clear directives, vision and superb people skills. She is the glue that holds the office together. Her energy keeps the momentum going on Syntiro initiatives. Coleen lives in Winthrop with her husband and daughter. Coleen looks forward to working on her bachelor's degree in Business Management this fall.

Jenny Hartung, Graphic/Web Designer 

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Jenny Hartung is the Graphic/Web Designer for Syntiro. She develops and implements creative programs and design concepts that meet the goals of Syntiro's initiatives-- the creation and maintenance of all initiative websites, including social media sites, the development of successful marketing campaigns that span print and web media and developing Syntiro logos and house styles. Jenny has a B.A. in studio art from Smith College in Northampton, Massachusetts and is working on her M.A. in brand development from Bath Spa University's School of Art and Design, in Bath, England. She has taught classes on Adobe Photoshop, Desktop Publishing, and website design through Maine adult education programs.

Linda Belanger, Accountant 

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Joyce Lang, Cvent Registration

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(207) 522-2315

Joyce Lang has been with Syntiro since 1994. She is an Office Assistant for Syntiro and plays a critical role as the Administrative Assistant for the Maine HEP program. For Maine HEP, Joyce schedules project activities, coordinates travel and works directly with the Project Director and project staff to assure all project timelines and reporting requirements are met. She is also responsible for designing professional development flyers and registration sites for Syntiro and maintains the organizations calendars and address books. She assists with other Syntiro’s initiatives as needed.