Staff Bios
Nicole Bucka is a MTSS Implementation Specialist who brings diverse professional experiences to her technical assistance, training development, and coaching. Nicole began her career in California as a special educator, secondary English teacher, and English Language Development teacher evolving to hold a variety of leadership positions. Returning to Rhode Island in 2010, Nicole supported Response to Intervention technical assistance statewide and the merger with Positive Behavior Intervention and Supports to form Multi-Tiered System of Supports. Her work with MTSS continued as she transitioned to district implementation and action research of both RTI/academics and the infusion of social emotional learning into the tiered continuum. In her current role as MTSS Implementation Specialist, Nicole supports the statewide implementation of Data-Based Individualization (DBI) and contribute to the development and facilitation of online professional learning for BRIDGE-RI.
Ellen Reinhardt is a MTSS Implementation Specialist who works with schools and districts throughout Rhode Island providing face to face as well as online professional learning and coaching supports. Prior to her work in MTSS implementation, Ellen was a school psychologist. In this capacity she served students with and without disabilities in grades K – 12. Ellen provided evaluation as well as individualized services for students with disabilities. It was during this time that Ellen's interest in systems improvement first began. She successfully coached her schools in the implementation of school-wide Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports and Response to Intervention. Ellen is a trainer of restorative practices and has served as adjunct faculty at Rhode Island College, teaching coursework in functional behavior assessment and classroom management.
Lindsay Scarpaci is the MTSS Technology Specialist. In this role, Lindsay supports the administration of BRIDGE-RI and the creation of online coursework for RI educators. As an Instructional Designer, Lindsay has created dozens of hours of online coursework on the implementation of a multi-tiered system of supports. Prior to her work on MTSS, Lindsay co-taught in a 5th grade inclusion classroom in Atlanta, GA and provided direct support and instruction to individuals with developmental disabilities in Western Massachusetts. She completed her Master's in Education Policy from Harvard University's Graduate School of Education and returned to her native Rhode Island to work on state-wide implementation of professional learning on the use of data under Race to the Top.
Michele Walden-Doppke is a MTSS Implementation Specialist who has worked with schools across RI for over 10 years supporting implementation of MTSS and RTI frameworks. Trained as a school psychologist and ABA therapist, she has worked in alternative, residential and public school settings. Michele has been trained as a certified brain injury specialist, in restorative practices and as an endorsed PBIS trainer through NEPBIS. She is also a certified Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) trainer. Currently she works with building and district level teams, as well as MTSS coaches, providing on-site support for implementation of MTSS and as a coach for Data-Based Individualization (DBI). She also contributes to the development and facilitation of online courses and Communities of Practice for BRIDGE-RI.