2007-2008 Board Members

President: Paul Wisneskey
Software Developer, Science Applications International Corporation
Paul is a software developer and telecommutes full-time from home for SAIC, a technical services company based in San Diego. In addition, he runs a consulting business that provides custom software development to local organizations. He has held several management and directorial positions overseeing new technology development in areas including online information search and retrieval and document imaging. Paul worked many long hours with other parents and volunteers to design and build the school's (in)famous ramp and is was originally the Facilities Coordinator for Abeona. He juggles, is learning to unicycle, and is an aspiring carpenter. Paul is dad to Will (preschool room) and Kate (1s).

Vice President: David Ross, MA
Law Student, Tulane University
David holds a masters in Managerial Economics from University of Oklahoma and an undergraduate degree in Biology from Georgia Tech. He is currently a first year law student at Tulane, having just left his active duty role with the Marine Corps and a post-Katrina deployment to the horn of Africa. Though he is currently an intelligence reserve officer, he spent most of his military career in financial management working with audits, cost controls, operating procedures, and activity-based costing models. David worked many weekends, and late nights, getting Abeona ready to open, and is responsible for sturdy modifications including the handrails, shelves, bulletin boards, and doorknobs. David is dad to Jamie (preschool room) and Jonathan (1s). (Board member since Oct 2006)

Secretary: Chrissie Roux, MSW
Social Worker, Jewish Family Service of Greater New Orleans
Chrissie was born and raised outside of Orlando, Florida. She attended New College of Florida, a small liberal arts college in South Florida, and the University of Pennsylvania, where she pursued an advanced degree in music theory, before moving to New Orleans in 2001. She holds a Master's degree in Social Work from Tulane University and is currently employed as a clinical social worker at Jewish Family Service of Greater New Orleans. She has experience in various social service settings, including work with individuals with developmental disabilities, case management, supported employment, inpatient psychiatric work with children and adolescents, and individual and group psychotherapy. She is an active member of the National Association of Social Workers and the Louisiana Association of Clinical Social Workers. She lives Uptown with Cade and Sydney (2s) and is expecting Roux #2 in July 2008. (Board member since January 2008)

Treasurer: Paulette G. Carter, MPH, LCSW
Director of Grants and Contracts, Children's Bureau of New Orleans
Paulette is a founding member of the board, and brings with her well-grounded knowledge of the nonprofit sector in New Orleans, as well as experience working with infant and children's issues specifically. She holds two masters degrees – one in public health, and the other in social work. Before taking her current position with the Children's Bureau, Paulette was director of Project LAST, an Office of Public Health counseling service for families who lose children to SIDS. Paulette is mother to Alex (2s) and Abeona graduate, Gabby. (Board member since Oct 2005)

Marci Johnson, Ed.M.
Marci has worked in the field of education both domestically and internationally for more than sixteen years. She graduated with highest honors from both UCLA with a BA in English/Creative Writing, and from Harvard Graduate School of Education with a Master of Education where her central focus was early education, specifically, the Reggio Emilia program. She taught Creative Dance Therapy to children with AIDS for nine years, and has taught, researched, and consulted with preschoolers and early educators nationwide and internationally. (Board member since Oct 2006)

Judith Kieff, Ed.D.
Professor, Early Childhood Education, University of New Orleans
Judith Kieff, a Professor of Early Childhood and Childrenís Literature at the University of New Orleans, teaches undergraduate and graduate courses through the Department of Curriculum and Instruction. Her teaching background includes 15 years of classroom experience, ranging from an inclusive hospital-based child care program to teaching third grade. Her fondest memories are from teaching kindergarten in a lab-school in Western Oregon. Judith's research interests include the use of play as a strategy for learning and the development of advocacy skills among early childhood professionals. She is the author of several text books focusing on early education and numerous articles related to both early education and children's literature, and she serves on various committees of professional organizations including Association for Childhood Education International, National Association for the Education of Young Children, and the National Association for Teachers of Early Childhood Education. (Board member since Oct 2006)

Maxine B. Kimbrell, MSW, LCSW-BACS
Statewide Social Work Consultant, Louisiana Office of Public Health
Maxine has over 25 years experience working with youth. She has worked as a high school language arts teacher, has managed programs in teen suicide prevention, worked as a school guidance counselor and social worker, taught clinical coursework for allied health professionals, and provided individual support to youth and families.† She recently became the Statewide Social Work Consultant for the Louisiana Office of Public Health. Her professional interests include family-centered service provision and transition from early intervention to preschool services.† She is Grandmother to Finley (2s).(Board member since January 2008)