Nancy Wolf, M.A., President. Ms. Wolf was the Head of School for Odyssey School from 2000 to 2007, and she now serves as the Board President. Ms. Wolf came to Austin from Waco where she was an Educational Diagnostician in the public schools for 8 years. Ms Wolf has a B.S. in Elementary Education/Special Education from the University of Texas and an M.A. in Communication Sciences and Disorders with a specialization in Learning Disabilities from Montclair State College in Upper Montclair, New Jersey. Ms. Wolf is also a Certified Learning Consultant (NJ) and Educational Diagnostician (TX.) Under her leadership, the Odyssey School expanded its curriculum, integrated the teachings of Dr. Mel Levine, initiated portfolio assessments to supplement traditional tests scores and grades, and was instrumental in Odyssey School’s award winning Service Learning program. Ms. Wolf also serves as an advocate for foster children through CASA Travis County (Court Appointed Special Advocate) since 2007.
Ed Schleicher, Vice President. Mr. Schleicher retired from IBM after serving for many years in Austin and Houston as an internal consultant in software development, quality and reliability engineering, business controls, engineering purchasing and procurement, and also as a subject matter expert and master instructor at IBM’s Quality Institute in New York. Since leaving IBM, Ed has served on the board and as a reader for Recording for the Blind and Dyslexic, has worked as a professional “voice over” actor, and participates in the Homeless Outreach program at St. David’s Episcopal Church. In addition, Ed has provided consulting and training services for several firms in the high tech industry including Motorola, 3M, and Seagate. Ed holds a Master’s Degree in Applied Statistics and Mathematics from North Carolina State University and a B. S. in Mathematics from The University of Miami. Ed has served on the board of Odyssey School since 2005.
Barbara McEachern, Treasurer. Ms. McEachern graduated from the University of Texas with a B.S. in Education. She worked in banking for six years and was a business manager in real estate investments for 19 years. She has extensive volunteer experience and served as Board Treasurer for Austin Junior Forum, Pediatrics AIDS League, Doss Elementary School PTA, and now Odyssey School.
Linda Classen, M.A., Director. Ms. Classen is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and a well-known and respected expert on Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). She holds a Master of Education Degree in Counseling and Guidance from Texas State University and is licensed by the Texas State Board of Examiners of Professional Counselors. She received her Bachelor of Science Degree from The University of Texas at Austin where she specialized in Elementary Education. Now, Ms. Classen specializes in counseling with parents and consulting with teachers and other school personnel nationwide using both one-on-one and seminar formats. In addition, she is in demand as a valuable liaison in specific case situations with physicians, psychologists, attorneys, and mediators. Ms. Classen served as an elementary school teacher for five years before becoming a member of the Austin ISD School to Community Liaison Program and specializing in the ADHD field. She has studied extensively with Dr. Russell Barkley, a world renowned authority in the field, and completed training in ADHD at Harvard Medical School Continuing Education Department. She retired from her position as Austin ISD’s Section 504 Coordinator and consultant in ADHD to create an ADHD Clinic with colleagues in psychiatry and psychology. Ms. Classen also founded the Austin Chapter of Ch.A.D.D. (The National Association for Children and Adults with Attention Deficit Disorders).
Stacey Reese, Director. Ms. Reese received a B.S. from The University of Texas at Austin in 1995 and continued on to receive her Masters in Education in 1997. In 2006, she attended the University of Houston Law Center and now practices law with McGinnis, Lochridge & Kilgore, L.L.P. Stacey represents both plaintiffs and defendants in a wide variety of litigation matters and has supported clients in a variety of practice areas, including employment, intellectual property, oil and gas, water, healthcare, and real estate. Prior to becoming a lawyer, Stacey taught elementary students with severe emotional and behavioral disorders for Austin ISD and was the administrator of an all special education school in Round Rock ISD.
Jeff Savage, Director. Mr. Savage received an Associate’s Degree in Electronics from Iowa Central Community College. In 1986 after moving to Austin he started work at PC’s Limited, later known as Dell Computer Corporation. Serving over 4 years at Dell Computer, his career spanned from starting out as a bench technician to leading numerous design teams on some of Dell’s most successful products before retiring in August of 2000. Jeff was also one of three founders of Charity Partners of Austin, a volunteer-run organization that supports local nonprofits through the production of musical and artistic events.
Rita J. Sherbenou, Ph.D., Director. Dr. Sherbenou received her doctorate in Education in 1979 from the University of Idaho. Dr. Sherbenou taught at Purdue University (1979-81), Sam Houston State University (1981-83), and as an adjunct faculty member at the University of North Texas and Texas Women’s University (1983-88.) Dr. Sherbenou served as Head of School for the Winston School of Dallas – a coeducational college preparatory school for students with learning disabilities and/or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder – from 1989 to 1999 and was interim director at The Girls’ School of Austin 2006-2007. She is also a coauthor of 3 nationally standardized tests used in the identification of exceptionalities.
F. Scott McCown, Director. Named one of “The 25 Most Powerful People in Texas Politics” in both 2005 and 2011 by Texas Monthly (which calls him the “voice of the voiceless”), Scott McCown, Executive Director of the Center for Public Policy Priorities, has worked in public policy for approaching 30 years.
Scott retired as a state district judge to become director of the center in 2002. As a judge, Scott presided over some of the state’s most difficult cases, including the public school finance litigation. At the center, Scott directs a staff of about 20 engaged in nonpartisan public policy analysis and advocacy.
Scott earned a Bachelor of Science, cum laude, in 1976 from Texas Christian University, and a Doctor of Jurisprudence, with Honors, in 1979 from The University of Texas School of Law.
In recognition of his legal accomplishments, the American Law Institute elected him to membership. Among many awards, in 2007, the U.T. School of Social Work presented him its Vision and Valor Award of Distinction for his exemplary accomplishments in the promotion of social justice.
