Mary Jane Rapport, PT, DPT, PhD, FAPTA is a Professor and serves as DPT Program Director in the Doctor of Physical Therapy Program, Graduate College of Health Sciences, at Hawai’i Pacific University, Honolulu, HI. Dr. Rapport has been a physical therapy educator and researcher for many years while continuing to provide PT services, working with children and their families, in a career spanning more than four decades. In addition to entry level DPT education, Dr. Rapport is involved in PT residency education and professional development. Dr. Rapport is serving as President (2023-2026) of APTA Academy of Pediatric Physical Therapy. She received the APTA Lucy Blair Award for service in 2009 and was selected as a Catherine Worthingham Fellow of the APTA in 2013. Dr. Rapport was named the 2023 Outstanding Physical Therapist by APTA Colorado. Dr. Rapport has more than 60 peer-reviewed publications and has experience presenting at state, national, and international conferences. 

Karen Tartick, PT, has been providing physical therapy services in a variety of pediatric settings, including early intervention, acute care, NICU, and in both the North Carolina and New York school systems. Karen is an APTA Advanced Clinical Instructor and served as mentor for the school-based portion of the pediatric residency program at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and Duke University Health System. Karen contributed to several fact sheets on behalf of the APTA Pediatrics School SIG. Karen presents nationally on various topics, including motor needs for children with autism, embedding physical therapy interventions in school settings, adaptive equipment for children with complex needs, and the role of school therapists in successfully transitioning from high school.

Maura Doyle, PT, DPT, PCS, is a Senior Physical Therapist and the Site Coordinator of Clinical Education at the New York City Public Schools. She has been a school-based physical therapist for 24 years, and an ABPTS Board-Certified Specialist in Pediatric Physical Therapy since 2009. Dr. Doyle has co-authored peer-reviewed publications on determining needs for school-based physical therapy services and on norms for tests of mobility for school-aged children. She is currently a student in the Doctor of Philosophy in Health Sciences program at Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions.

Kimberly D. Wynarczuk, PT, DPT, PhD, MPH, is Program Director and an Associate Professor in the School of Rehabilitation Sciences at Moravian University in Bethlehem, PA. She is a Board-Certified Pediatric Clinical Specialist (emeritus). Dr. Wynarczuk started her physical therapy career as a school-based physical therapist for 11 years and currently serves as the School-Based SIG representative to the APTA Pediatrics Research Committee. She has been a full-time faculty member in graduate-level physical therapy programs since 2011. Dr. Wynarczuk has conducted, published, and presented research on a variety of school-based physical therapy topics, including goal development and the participation of students with disabilities in school trips.

Hilary Terhune, PT, MPT, DHSc, MSc has been a school-based physical therapist since 2009 and has been a strong advocate for supporting the needs of children and families in Maine and New York State. In addition to her Board-Certified Clinical Specialty in Pediatric PT, she has taught pediatric content at the State University of New York at Buffalo, Daemen University, and the University of New England (Portland, ME). Hilary’s scholarship interests and her Doctor of Health Science scholarship project are focused on how PTs can support youth as they transition between high school and adult environments.

Amy Barr, PT, DPT is a school-based therapist and Special Education Liaison for Cherry Creek School District in suburban Denver.  She has 28 years of experience working with adults and children and has spent over 20 years serving preschool through transition-age students in school-based practice.  Amy has a passion for improving her practice as a pediatric therapist and helping others to do the same. She is a member of the PT/OT Advisory Council for the Colorado Department of Education.  Amy currently serves as a director on the Board of the APTA Academy of Pediatrics.

Erin Kinsey, PT, DPT, PCS, is a school-based physical therapist for Aurora Public Schools in Aurora, Colorado. She has 12 years of school-based experience and prior to that completed the LEND Fellowship through JFK Partners at the University of Colorado. She is a member of the PT/OT Advisory Council for the Colorado Department of Education, and previously served as the Vice President of the Colorado APTA Pediatric Special Interest Group. Erin enjoys spending time in the pediatric labs as associated faculty at the University of Colorado Physical Therapy Program, and mentoring physical therapy students and new school-based physical therapists.

Dr. Sandra Ribeiro is an Assistant Professor at LaGuardia Community College, specializing in Neurological Rehabilitation, Public Health, and Anatomy and Physiology. She is a licensed Physical and Recreational Therapist with advanced training as a Pediatric Clinical Specialist accredited by the APTA. Dr. Ribeiro has extensive experience in clinical instruction and mentorship, having served as a senior instructor at the NYC Department of Education and in various community settings. She is actively engaged in APTA at both state and national levels, including in the House of Delegates and as the New York State Pediatric Advocacy Liaison (SPAL). Her research focuses on collaborative and interprofessional practices within community settings. She has contributed to a book “Interprofessional Perspectives for Community Practice” published by Slack Incorporated and presented at the IPEC Poster Fair in 2024. Dr. Ribeiro has also presented at the National APTA Pediatric Academy in 2023 and 2024 on topics such as best evidence approaches for individuals with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy and Lower Limb Loss. Her research highlights the benefits of a “10-minute exercise routine” for school-aged students with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Amy Schlessman is the Director of ADEPT (Accelerated Development of Excellence in Physical Therapy), a student success program, at Tufts University. She has over 23 years of experience as a school-based physical therapist. Her research is focused on embedding physical activity throughout the school day/health promotion, collaborative practices, and best practices in teaching. Amy has delivered over 65 professional presentations at national, state, and regional conferences, and over 100 invited speaker presentations. Amy serves the Academy of Pediatric Physical Therapy as the Treasurer and State Advocacy Liaison for Ohio. Amy serves on Ohio PT Association's Pediatric Special Interest Group leadership team.

Laurie Ray has 25 years of experience in school-based physical therapy practice in North Carolina. Dr. Ray has served North Carolina as the Physical Therapy Consultant for NC Department of Public Instruction (NC DPI) since 2005, Medicaid Consultant since 2006 and serves as Adapted Physical Education Liaison. The NC School-based PT website offers many helpful resources and is utilized by school-based practitioners across NC, as well as nationally and internationally.

She received her MPT and PhD (Special Education focus) from UNC Chapel Hill. She is an Associate Professor in the Division of Physical Therapy at UNC-Chapel Hill, teaching in the DPT program and Pediatric Residency. Laurie was a founding officer of the APTA NC Pediatric SIG and served as Communication Chair. For the APTA Academy of Pediatric Physical Therapy, she served as Special Interest Groups (SIGs) Leadership Coordinator, Coordinator of the Innovations in School-based PT Annual Conference (10 yrs), Region V Representative, Chair of the School SIG (6 yrs) and on the Policy, Payment and Advocacy Committee.

Dr. Ray previously served on the Boards of the National Alliance of Medicaid in Education and the NC Vocational Rehabilitation Council. Laurie co-founded www.seekfreaks.com, a web-based resource that reaches across the US and internationally to support best practice for related services, evidence-based practice, and knowledge translation. Dr. Ray’s expertise on: school and pediatric practice of physical therapy, Medicaid cost recovery for public schools, anti-discrimination law, ethics, adapted physical education, and related topics, is highly sought across the US. She is a reviewer for Pediatric Physical Therapy and on the editorial board for Pediatric Occupational and Physical Therapy.

Susan Cecere, PT, MHS has over 25 years of experience in schools, both as a provider and an administrator. After retiring from full-time work, she started Sequoia School-based Therapy Solutions, LLC., which offers individual mentoring and professional development to therapy staff and administrators. She is a frequent speaker on various school-based topics and a faculty member of Apply EBP, LLC. and Education Resources, Inc. Sue is a founding member of the Maryland State OT/PT Steering Committee and an active member of the Academy of Pediatric Physical Therapy, APTA, where she previously served as Vice President. Sue has co-authored two state practice guides, numerous APTA Peds Academy fact sheets, and a book chapter on IDEA Under Parts B & C in “Guide to Pediatric Physical Therapy: A Clinical Approach.” She resides in Cape Charles, Virginia.