With a staff of professional educational consultants, each family is guaranteed the benefit of a talented and collaborative team.
Our team of expert consultants is dedicated to supporting a diverse range of learners, equipped with the skills and empathy needed to guide students toward academic independence and self-advocacy. Through weekly meetings, we actively share insights about colleges and their services, ensuring our students are matched with the best resources for their needs. Regular professional development keeps us informed about the evolving legal and social dynamics in education, as well as the latest resources to support our students. We take pride in our in-depth understanding of each college's learning support systems and are committed to helping students find environments where they can thrive.
Judith S. Bass, CEP is an internationally recognized expert in the field of college and postsecondary placement for students who learn differently. For the past 20 years, Ms. Bass has provided comprehensive planning services for students with ADHD, ASD, and other learning differences. Ms. Bass is a contributing author in the recently published book, Navigating the Transition from High School to College for Students with Disabilities.
Tricia enjoys working with students and their families to find the college or post-secondary program that will best help students reach their potential as they transition from high school to the next chapter in their lives. For her this includes focusing on each student’s strengths and helping find programs that will support each student’s unique challenges. Tricia has taught classes and designed curriculum in high schools and elementary schools.
Jessica was inspired by her own experience working with an independent college counselor during high school to become a college admissions consultant herself. She has successfully guided students and their families through the admissions process since 2016. Jessica loves working with students who learn differently and is the parent of a high school student with ADHD and dyslexia who is rapidly approaching college age.
Rachel Kraushaar is an English Professor, Essay Coach, and Educational Consultant who is excited to bring her more than 30 years of experience in secondary and higher education to the Bass Educational family. Having served as Director of Writing and Coordinator of English at private and public colleges, she has read many college admissions essays and helped students from diverse backgrounds compose their own personal statements. She started her teaching career in the early 1990s as a Mentor in a pioneer college program for students with learning disabilities. Her favorite aspect of working with students is learning about them as individuals, helping them find their voice, and witnessing them build confidence in the process.
Matt is a veteran educator who has spent time as a teacher, administrator and teen and young adult mentor. He specializes in working with students with learning differences, social and/or emotional challenges, and as a College and High School Educational Consultant, he strives to connect with his students on a deep level in order to find their best fit college, post-secondary, high school or middle school experience.
Sydney has spent over ten years working with neurodivergent students in her role as director of admissions and co-director of the campus ambassador program at a small liberal arts college specializing in neurodiversity. Sydney can relate on a personal level, as she has had her own journey with ADHD and Dyslexia.
When asked what inspired her to become a professional College Consultant for children who learn differently, Sydney responded, “Getting through high school was difficult, so thinking about what I wanted from a college (or even more from a career) became overwhelming. I was so focused on making it to graduation that I forgot about dreaming of what I wanted in life. Now, having lived through the experience, I feel honored that I can help the next generation and help make dreaming of what’s to come enjoyable and achievable.”
Jonathan is a career counselor with over 25 years of higher education experience at the Community College of Rhode Island and Landmark College (VT). He has an undergraduate degree in history from The King’s College (NY) and a Master’s degree in Adult Education from the University of Rhode Island. In addition to serving as an assistant director of career services for many years, Jonathan also teaches English part-time at the Community College of Rhode Island and formerly at the Community College of Vermont and participates in the Landmark College Summer Bridge Experience. He also currently serves as a college success coach at Onward We Learn (Providence, RI), working regularly with a caseload of students at competitive colleges and universities in the eastern United States. Jonathan is an associate member of the Independent Educational Consultants Association (IECA) and a past member and presenter with the Cooperative Education and Internship Association (CEIA), the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE), and the Rhode Island Career Development Association (RICDA).
Andy Donahue brings a wealth of extensive experience and knowledge to his work with students within the autistic community! With a compassionate approach, he establishes strong connections with this student population and is deeply invested in their successes. Andy recommends beginning a student’s journey in 10th grade, as he aims to build a sturdy foundation in high school to facilitate their transition to college or other post-secondary options.
Deb sincerely believes the heart and soul of coaching rests upon the partnership between client and coach, and the coaching experience enables students to ultimately empower themselves—to understand how they learn and to value and utilize their strengths. Through thought-provoking questions and caring support, Deb guides her students to experience self-discovery and experimentation with their ideas in areas such as managing time, balancing life and academic responsibilities, and developing useful habits and routines. She helps them to create their own individual strategies and solutions as they make changes, create options, and achieve meaningful goals for themselves. Deb does this with optimism, respect and empathy.
Brad has over 20 years experience in independent school education as a counselor, administrator, and teacher. In addition to working in schools, Brad also has his clinical counseling license and works with adolescents and adults to support their social-emotional needs. Brad brings his expertise and experience to BES to support students in both academic coaching and college placement. He uses a strengths-based and student-centered approach to help students develop their executive functioning and study skills.
Diane thrives on helping people in their teens and early twenties to successfully reach their goals. As a gifted student muddling her way through school with undiagnosed ADHD, Diane understands the common challenge many students face – feeling “smart enough to do it” but not being able to “get it done.” After years of doubting herself and mistrusting friendships, Diane’s late ADHD diagnosis and treatment plan helped her grow healthy relationships and think positively about herself and her peers. She has spent over 300 classroom hours training with the ADD Coach Academy (ADDCA) and is working towards her Professional Certified Coach credential (PCC).
Kathy’s love of coaching college students and adults with ADHD/executive function and learning differences is built upon her vast experience and expertise working in a college exclusively for students who learn differently. As a founding faculty member of Landmark College, the premier college for students who learn differently, and with 36 years of experience in teaching, administration, advising, and coaching, Kathy understands the cognitive, emotional and developmental processes and the issues and concerns of neurodiverse individuals.
Karen’s professional experience includes over 20 years working with gifted, high ability, and multi-diverse students, K-12, in the role of educator and administrator. As the District Coordinator for the Gifted and Talented program at McKinney, TX ISD, Karen enjoyed working with educators and parents to support the gifted and multi-diverse students. Today, she provides coaching for high ability students struggling with executive function, her area of expertise and passion. She believes a strength-based approach is critical for helping students develop skills and strategies to strive and thrive in a neurotypical world, both socially and educationally.
Denise Higgins has extensive experience in working with teenagers and adults who want to examine goals and increase self-awareness in academic, personal, and professional settings. She holds the conviction that all people have the capacity to become their most desired selves and is passionate about joining clients on their journeys to increase awareness, create strategies for success, and achieve the personal and professional goals they desire. Denise has completed the JST Coach Training Program and holds an MAT in History Education and an MS in Academic Advising. She recently retired from Landmark College after 33 years of service.
Paige is a certified ADHD/Executive Function and Family-Trained Coach, licensed Learning Behavior Specialist and a Trauma-Informed practitioner. Over the past several years, Paige has been training with the ADD Coach Academy (ADDCA) while obtaining her specialty coaching certification. Based on her background in special education, Paige has found her speciality working with clients with moderate to severe cognitive and developmental delays. Her most recent endeavor involves a certification in Positive Psychology (CAPP) to best support her students as they explore their best assets and utilize their strengths to conquer life’s challenges.
Jenn specializes in guiding young adults, who think differently, through major life transitions. As an ADHD Coach, she helps individuals to build self-confidence, recognize their strengths, overcome obstacles, and reach their full potential. In addition to extensive training in executive function and social communication coaching, Jenn has spent the last 25 years working with college students to develop their skill sets with time management, work- life balance, leadership, and organization. Her coaching style is engaging, fun and interactive! She always takes a positive approach with her clients and truly meets them where they are to achieve progress and success.
Samantha has spent the last nine years as a College Reading & Learning Association (CRLA) Certified Master Tutor, homeschool teacher, mentor and curriculum creator. She is an ADDCA Associate Certified Coach and has completed over 150 classroom hours at the ADD Coach Academy with special training for families impacted by ADHD. Samantha has led English language chat sessions for Raritan Valley Community College, received advanced training in tutoring for college admission essays, and has written various curricula ranging from collegiate-level ESL to primary school speech & composition.
Meghan worked for seven years as a middle-grades classroom teacher. Students with ADHD, ADD, ASD, dyslexia, and dysgraphia found her to champion their needs and help them thrive in ways they never thought possible. Throughout her career in education, she has written three textbooks for middle-grade, diverse, multi-ability classrooms to help teachers and students break away from the traditional and embrace new ways of thinking about school.
During her younger years, Meghan struggled with tests and homework until high school when a teacher helped her use movement when studying. This change in how she learned was a breakthrough that allowed her to thrive.
Matt is a dedicated special education teacher employed by Montgomery County Public Schools. He holds an undergraduate degree from the University of Maryland and a Master’s degree in Special Education from Johns Hopkins University. Currently, Matt is teaching in the Learning and Academic Disabilities (LAD) program, which caters to students requiring specialized support, strategies, and guidance from a special education teacher.
Jessica McLaren has an undergraduate degree in Psychology from Marist College and a Master’s degree in Social Work from Columbia University. She is an active board member of the Learning Disabilities Association of Maryland Montgomery County. As a board member she assists and educates teachers, administrators, and parents about learning disabilities and the different services available.
Marissa Mosley is an English teacher and academic coach, specializing in asset-based instruction. Marissa’s mission as an educator is to support students’ growth as learners and as individuals by highlighting their strengths, nurturing their gifts, and contributing to their ability to both recognize and fulfill their potential to be difference-makers in the world around them. She holds strongly to the belief that every student, regardless of their challenges, has been gifted with unique strengths, passions, and personality that can be utilized to achieve great things both in the classroom and beyond.
With over 25 years in education, Marci Rubin brings both experience and heart to her role as an ADHD Life Coach/Mentor and certified special education teacher. For the past eight years, she has worked with young adults aged 18-21 in a transitional program for students with developmental disabilities, where her understanding of diverse learning needs has flourished. Holding a Master’s in Special Education from Rowan University, an MBA from Rider University, and a Bachelor’s in Psychology and Business from Arcadia University, Marci combines her academic training with PCC and PCAC certifications to offer a compassionate and multifaceted approach to coaching.
Jaclyn has extensive experience in the field of education in the classroom and from a policy perspective. She received a B.A. in Government & Politics and an M.Ed. in Curriculum & Instruction from the University of Maryland. Jaclyn taught 5th grade in MCPS for three years before moving into the world of policy. At the Maryland State Dept. of Labor, Jaclyn worked on building the pipeline for in-demand industries by preparing students for college and the workforce.
Nancy Halsey has a BA degree in English and history from the University of Colorado at Boulder and a Master of Humanities degree from the University of Dallas. She enjoys studying both literature and history, and worked for 20 years as a professional writer and editor. As teacher and tutor, Nancy enjoys helping students to grow as learners. She has tutored young children learning to read, and has tutored middle school students in English language, literature, and PSAT prep. Most recently, she has taught English literature and creative writing with high school students in a one to one classroom setting. Nancy is in her sixth year as an essay coach with Bass Educational Services, a role she finds creatively engaging and incredibly satisfying. Nancy enjoys spending time with friends and family, writing, reading, movies and walking.
Jennifer grew up in Montgomery County, attending Holton-Arms School, where she was captain of the “It’s Academic!” team, and scored 800 on the Verbal portion of the SAT (one of 27 students to do so out of a million tested that year). She graduated magna cum laude from Princeton, and then got her Ph.D. in English from Harvard, where she also worked as a Teaching Fellow in writing, 18th century literature, feminist literary theory, and the history and structure of language. After earning her doctorate, she turned down a professorship to go live in England, where she became a speechwriter, producing talks on everything from women and world peace to endangered oceans that have been delivered at the White House, before Congress, at the UN, and at universities and conferences around the world. Jennifer is not quite as serious as she sounds, however. In addition to speeches, she is writing a series of mystery novels. She has kids of her own with very different learning styles, one at Princeton, the other an independent video game designer. She likes memes, Marvel movies, cool science, theater and digital art.
Lauren is a special education teacher in Montgomery County Public Schools. She has an undergraduate degree in Cybersecurity from the University of Maryland University College and is currently working on a Master’s degree in Special Education from Johns Hopkins University. Lauren currently teaches in the Learning for Independence (LFI) life skills program for students with intellectual disabilities and Autism.
Her passion for education inclusion started over a decade ago. In high school and college, Lauren spent her summers volunteering for the Extended School Year program in Montgomery County to support students with intellectual disabilities. She found how rewarding working with this population could be, because she helped them learn and develop various life skill routines.
Diane grew up in Montgomery County and attended Seneca Valley High School. She graduated from Carnegie Mellon University with a B.A. in Psychology and Biological Sciences, and then got her Ph.D. in Neuroscience from the University of Rochester. She pursued research on infectious diseases, immunology and mind-body connections, and she now provides scientific guidance to researchers trying to improve their grant applications and get funded for their work. She especially enjoys encouraging younger researchers and helping them find career development opportunities. In addition to spending time with her family, Diane enjoys puzzles, reading, hiking, and martial arts in her spare time.
Ms. D’Angelo has been an educator for over twenty years. She has taught students from three years old to adults. Ms. D’Angelo has a Bachelor of Science Degree from Bloomsburg University of PA in Elementary Education, a Master’s Degree from University of Scranton in Curriculum & Instruction, and a Master’s Degree from Western Governor’s University in Administration and Leadership. She is a certified teacher in elementary (K-6th grade), special education (K-adult), and English (7th-12 grade). Her specialty is SAT/ACT preparation for high school students, who wish to attend college.
Ann has been a mathematics educator and private tutor for 25 years.
She has tutored students with ADHD, Autism, Dyslexia, and Dyscalculia. She’s worked as an academic coach both in and out of school. At Bass Educational Services, Ann strives to continue her passion working one-on-one with adolescents who need extra in-person support, around their executive dysfunction, and thrive by using multiple modalities to learn.
Ann started out with a Theatre Arts Degree. As a person who always loved math, she got her start tutoring math to theater students in college who thought differently, which sparked her interest in tutoring math for neurodiverse minds. After a few years of pursuing theater in Chicago, Ann returned to university to study mathematics and education and received her teaching certificate for grades 6-12 with both Mathematics and Theater Arts concentrations.
Susan Crowther has over twenty years of experience working as a teacher, advisor, and tutor for neurodivergent college and High School students. At Landmark College, the premier college for students who learn differently, she worked in the First Year Department, where students “learn how to learn”—preparing them for success through metacognition, academic strategies, and self-advocacy. Susan created the college course and wrote the textbook, Lifestyles for Learning, which identifies key lifestyle factors and explores their affect on academic performance. She also served as Country Director for the college’s Service Learning program in Costa Rica.
Jean has been a dedicated member of Bass Educational Services since the opening of the Olney, MD office in October 2011. Initially serving as Judy’s assistant and office manager, Jean now holds the role of Director of Client Services. As the first point of contact for most clients, Jean ensures that they feel welcomed, understood, and supported from the very beginning of their journey with BES.
Jean holds a BBA from Loyola College, Md, raised 4 neurodiverse children, and operated her own home decorating business for 15 years before joining BES. As a small business owner and consummate volunteer, she is well-versed in logistics, scheduling, event planning, supply management and customer service. As a parent, she has a great deal of experience in the entire college process from planning to graduation, including academic success and failure, the transfer process, athletics, and the impact of ADHD and EF challenges on learning. These qualities have enabled her to provide professional and personalized support and direction to all facets of BES, to our staff, and to our clients.
Michelle Brown is a steadfast and calm presence in the often chaotic world of finances. As the Account Manager at Bass Educational Services, Michelle oversees all aspects of client billing, payroll, and every financial-related task with precision and expertise.
With decades of experience and as the founder and CEO of Unleashed Financial Advocates, Michelle has built a reputation for helping her clients optimize opportunities and build resilience. Her approach is grounded in financial fortitude, believing that no matter what the goal, it should be accomplished with a strong financial foundation.
At Bass Educational Services, Michelle ensures that our financial operations run smoothly, allowing the rest of the team to focus on serving clients and helping them achieving their educational goals.
Erin joined BES in January 2024 as our Part-time Administrative Assistant. She brings with her over 20 years of Executive Assistant experience. She enjoys putting her skills to use in helping others work more efficiently and effectively. Erin assists with client interaction, client contracts, and ensuring all of the necessary paperwork has been handled to get started on your coaching journey! She holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and is a North Carolina native, residing in Raleigh. She is married to her husband, Steve and together they have 2 beautiful girls, Aubrey and Ashlyn.
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