Chantelle Carter is the Ohio Ombudsman for Equitable Services and an Education Program Specialist at the Ohio Department of Education. She has been in the ombudsman role for over a year and has been in the Office of Federal Programs providing support to private schools and districts for over five years. Prior to her work at with the Ohio Department of Education, she was a decorated classroom teacher and a director of educational operations at a nonprofit learning center. Mrs. Carter earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education from Urbana University and her Master of Science degree in Educational Administration from the University of Dayton.

Nichole  is the Arizona Equitable Services Ombudsman and an Education Program Specialist at the Arizona Department of Education. She has been supporting the ombudsman role for the past year, working to implement additional support systems for private schools who work with districts across Arizona. Prior to her work with the Arizona Department of Education, she was a classroom teacher, reading interventionist, Title I coordinator, and principal. Mrs. Enriquez earned degrees from Arizona State University in Family Studies, Elementary Education, and Educational Leadership. She looks forward to continuing her support of children’s education.

LaNetra Guess is ombudsman of private nonprofit school (PNP) equitable services at the Texas Education Agency (TEA). As the agency’s PNP ombudsman, she also leads the Texas PNP Workgroup. Comprised of staff from districts, PNP school officials, and education service centers, the workgroup provides TEA with recommendations regarding its equitable services processes, procedures, and guidance. Ms. Guess earned her BA and MA from the University of Kansas. She has worked for nearly two decades in both Kansas and Texas providing statewide guidance and program support for federal grant programs such as Title I, Part A and Title I, Part D.

Melissa Schroeder is the Nevada ESEA Equitable Services Ombudsman and Education Program Professional at the Nevada Department of Education. Melissa has been serving in the Ombudsman role for over a year working collaboratively with local education agencies and private schools across the state to ensure that private school children, teachers, and other educational personnel receive services equitable to those in public schools. Before working at the department, she managed multiple federal grant programs at the College of Southern Nevada and taught high school English.