National Inclusive Education Research Collaborative (NIERC)
Mission Statement:
The mission of the National Inclusive Education Research Collaborative (NIERC) is to advance research, scholarship, and innovation in the area of Inclusive Education. Our dedicated team seeks to engage in rigorous research that will continue to glean meaningful and practical information around the multi-faceted components needed for the effective implementation of best practices in Inclusive Education. Our main goal is to bridge the research-to-practice gap and ensure our work directly impacts schools and communities working towards ensuring ALL individuals are valued, included, and supported in reaching their goals.
Meet the Team
Cristin Montalbano, Ph.D.
Research and Evaluation Manager
New Jersey Coalition for Inclusive Education
Cristin Montalbano, Ph.D., is a manager of research and evaluation for NJCIE. Cristin began her career as a special education teacher in New York City and received her Master’s in Special Education from CUNY Hunter College. After six years of teaching, Cristin pursued training at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where she received her Ph.D. in School Psychology. Cristin is trained in both school- and clinic-based assessments and interventions for students with various neurodevelopmental, psychological, and medical needs. Cristin is committed to researching, implementing, and supporting the use of evidence-based practices with schools, families, and communities.
Fred Buglione, M.A., M.Ed.
Chief Executive Officer
New Jersey Coalition for Inclusive Education
Fred Buglione is the Chief Executive Officer of NJCIE and has been leading the organization since 2014. Fred has 20 years of experience supporting the education and inclusion of students and adults in the tri-state area. He is currently on several state and national working groups seeking to increase access to inclusive education.
Julie Lang, M.A.
Inclusion Facilitator
New Jersey Coalition for Inclusive Education
Julie is an Inclusion Facilitator for NJCIE. She earned her M.A. in Reading Education from Rowan University. She has 24 years of experience teaching and coaching in the NJ public school system. Her areas of expertise are teaching and co-teaching in an inclusive classroom, literacy development, and literacy instruction.
Rhonda Bondie, Ph.D.
Research Collaborator
Associate Professor, Special Education, Director of Hunter College Learning Lab
Rhonda Bondie is the Director of the Hunter College Learning Lab and an associate professor in special education. Throughout her career, she has focused on ensuring all learners are valued, engaged, and stretched in inclusive classrooms. Rhonda began teaching as an artist-in-residence and then spent over 20 years in urban public schools as both a special and general educator. Rhonda’s co-authored book, Differentiated Instruction Made Practical, is used by teachers in more than 30 countries to support their work of ensuring all learners are thriving every day. Rhonda’s research examines how teachers develop inclusive teaching practices and differentiated instruction expertise throughout their career using new technologies.
Francesca Ciotoli, Ph.D.
Research Collaborator
Assistant Professor, St. Thomas Aquinas
Inclusion Specialist, New Jersey Coalition for Inclusive Education
Francesca Ciotoli, Ph.D., is currently an Assistant Professor of Education at St. Thomas Aquinas College and an Inclusive Education Consultant for NJCIE. Before obtaining her Ph.D. from Montclair State University and master's degree from Fordham University, Francesca was trained as an opera singer at the Manhattan School of Music. Francesca also taught elementary and middle school students in New York City Public Schools. Throughout the course of her career, Francesca developed a specialty in learning diversity and curriculum development. She has led many workshops and authored many scholarly articles and book chapters on these topics. Francesca is dedicated to continually learning and progressing in the field of inclusive education.
James Coviello, Ed.D.
Research Collaborator
Assistant Professor, Instructional Leadership
St. John’s University
James Coviello is an Assistant Professor of Educational Leadership at St. John's University in Queens, NY. He received his Doctorate in Education at the University of Texas at El Paso. His research examines the intersection of equity, leadership, and policy implementation in K-12 schools. His current projects focus on the equity leadership efforts of urban superintendents as well as school-site leadership and inclusion for students with disabilities. Before pursuing his doctorate, Dr. Coviello was a classroom teacher for ten years in New York and New Jersey.
Jessica McQueston, Ph.D., BCBA, LBA
Research Collaborator
Assistant Professor, Sam Houston State University
Dr. Jessica McQueston is a disabled scholar (identity-first preferred) who uses her own experience with disability to ground her work in teaching, research, and service. She is an assistant professor at Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, Texas. She earned a Ph.D. in Special Education from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2020. Her research focuses on the following themes: (a) understanding and addressing barriers to inclusive education for students with disabilities, particularly those with extensive support needs, (b) support planning to enhance the inclusion of students with disabilities, and (c) effective training practices for school staff supporting students with disabilities.