Phil Strain

Dr. Phil Strain has spent 50 years in the Early Childhood Special Education field, developing comprehensive inclusion service delivery systems, replicating inclusive systems at over 250 sites across the U.S., and advocating for children diagnosed with disabilities and their families. 

He has been a consultant to the U.S. Department of Education, state and local school systems, and international organizations in Ireland, Italy, Poland, China, and Argentina. He has directed inclusive systems, designed measures to track fidelity and outcomes, and published over 350 chapters, journal articles, and books. 

Dr. Strain brings specialized expertise in coaching, supporting children with the greatest needs, and addressing the intersection of race, ethnicity, culture, and disabilities. 

Lisa Grotting

Lisa Grotting has been an administrator and director in Early Learning since 2008. She began her career in rural Oregon and later became the Early Learning Director for the Multnomah Early Childhood Program in Portland, Oregon, where she oversaw services for children and families across eight school districts. 

Currently, Lisa serves as the Director of Early Learning for Mesa Public Schools in Mesa, Arizona. Under her leadership, Mesa’s Early Childhood classrooms have undergone transformative change, with all 91 classrooms now operating as fully inclusive settings. Her unwavering commitment to inclusion ensures that every child, regardless of ability, has access to high-quality education and support. 

Jeanett Sealy

With over 20 years of dedicated experience in early childhood special education, Jeanett Sealy has made a significant impact as a provider, classroom teacher, and program director. Passionate about fostering inclusive learning environments, she has worked tirelessly to support the unique needs of children and their families. Jeanett combines a deep understanding of developmental milestones with a commitment to advocacy, ensuring that every child has the opportunity to thrive. She believes in the power of collaboration and continues to inspire others in the field through her innovative approaches and unwavering dedication.

Edward (Ted) Bovey, MA.

Ted Bovey, MA. has been working with young children, young children with autism and children with other developmental disabilities and their families for over 25 years. Ted is the implementation coordinator for the LEAP Preschool Model for young children with autism and provides training and coaching to programs and classroom teams in the implementation of the LEAP Model and the development of program systems to support sustainability. Ted was also an original contributor to the development of the Pyramid Preschool Modules and he continues to work on the development and implementation of the Pyramid Model practices to support inclusion in early childhood education settings. Ted has extensive experience working with community early childhood providers and providing training and coaching in the implementation of Pyramid Model practices, the LEAP Preschool Model and in the remediation of high intensity challenging behaviors.

LEAP Coaching Team

Our LEAP coaching team collectively brings over 150 years of experience in expanding high-quality inclusion across the U.S. They have taught in LEAP classrooms, coached dozens of replication sites to fidelity, and published numerous studies validating LEAP practices. 

In addition to their expertise with LEAP, the team also draws upon their experience with the Teaching Pyramid Model, supporting family members as active participants in their child’s education, coaching with cultural competence, and evaluating the impact of service systems on provider well-being.