Education Committee
The Education Committee of CHADD is established to address and enhance educational opportunities and support systems for individuals with ADHD. The committee's scope encompasses a broad spectrum of activities aimed at advocating for and advancing educational policies, practices, and resources that benefit individuals with ADHD in various educational settings.
Chris Foster, EdD, Co-Chair
Chris Foster, EdD, has been a public school teacher for over twenty-five years. Certified in multiple subject areas, she is currently teaching culinary arts in high school (mainly baking and pastry, because who doesn't like to bake?). Writing her dissertation on teacher turnover, with an emphasis on neurodivergent teachers, led Foster to build on this research with further studies on neurodiverse educators and neurodiversity in education and the workplace. She is an adjunct professor at Wichita State University and teaches concurrent credit through WSUTech. Her son and stepson both graduated from college in May 2022; she also has a “bonus daughter” (stepdaughter) with ADHD in high school and two four-legged children. Foster has an insatiable appetite for travel, photography, and learning. She enjoys the outdoors and spending time working with others. Her personal ADHD journey began at age forty-six. Learning more about her "superpower" has made her even more passionate about helping students, teachers, families, and communities to understand the neurodiverse and learning differences.
Kristin Austin, EdD
Kristin Austin, EdD, is a lover of learning and unlearning. Her goal is to catalyze individuals and structures to question, "Who is at the table? Who is missing from the table? For whom was the table built? And who is unaware the table exists?" Dr. Austin has pursued answers to these questions via twenty-plus years of administrative and faculty higher education roles domestically and internationally, as well as by leading organizations and teams through equity, inclusion, and belonging-oriented education. Currently, she serves as vice president of IDEAs (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Access) at Rewriting the Code, a national nonprofit organization dedicated to disrupting and dismantling racial and gender inequality in the technology sector by equipping and empowering college women in tech. Along with her professional work, Dr. Austin engages in speaking, teaching, and pushing visibility for many inclusion topics, especially those related to neurodiversity. Holding identities of ADHD and learning disabled, she loves to create and hold space for “neurospicy” brains—like hers, and maybe yours. She holds a doctorate in higher education leadership and administration; a professional certificate in diversity, equity, and inclusion; a master’s degree in counseling; and a bachelor's degree (her favorite degree) in social work. She is also blessed to learn from three small and forgiving professors, ages fourteen, twelve, and eight, and is married to a fellow education professional. For these reasons, her favorite getaway is to Target… alone.
Vida Carey, MEd
Cindy Goldrich, EdM, ADHD-CCSP
Ashley Harding, MA
Letizia Hendrickson, MS
Shadi Jahrani
Jeffrey S. Katz, PhD
Dr. Katz is a clinical psychologist in private practice in Virginia Beach, Virginia. He has many years of involvement with CHADD. Dr. Katz presently serves on CHADD's board of directors, he is a co-chair of the public policy committee, and is a member of CHADD's professional advisory board. Dr. Katz specializes in the evaluation and treatment of children, adolescents, and adults with an emphasis on ADHD as well as other behavioral and learning issues. In addition, Dr. Katz frequently attends school meetings, bringing his knowledge of ADHD, learning disabilities, and school-based interventions, together with his knowledge of educational regulations, to ensure that students receive the support they need. Furthermore, Dr. Katz is an expert in evaluating individuals who are requesting accommodations on high-stakes testing, such as the GREs, in medical school and for attorneys sitting for the bar exam.
Jean Tidd, LISW-S, ADHD-CCSP, SAP
Jean Tidd, LISW-S, ADHD-CCSP, SAP, received her bachelor’s degree in social work from Ohio University and her master’s degree in social work from The Ohio State University. She has been a licensed independent social worker since 1998. She has spent twenty years as adjunct faculty, teaching in both the undergraduate and graduate social work programs, at The Ohio State University. For the past twenty-seven years, she has been perfecting her craft as a therapist and coach with a specific focus and specialty in evaluating, diagnosing, and treating people with ADHD. Her current professional endeavors include creating Badass ADHD Evaluation, Coaching, Consultation and Training, a division of Holistic Consultation. The mission of this effort is to create opportunities for people with ADHD to move beyond living to thriving. By helping people with ADHD embrace their unique blend of brilliance, resilience, and fearlessness, they can feel truly successful in every sense of the word. Believing it is critical to offer support and care to couples and families challenged with ADHD, she created numerous programming opportunities within her membership-based Badass ADHD Powerhouse Collective. With many years of experience as a trainer and teacher, Tidd offers learning opportunities and continuing education credits to other professionals interested in anything related to ADHD. She holds memberships in several ADHD organizations, including CHADD, APSARD, and ACO. Perhaps most importantly, she is a card-carrying member of the ADHD community, as she too has been diagnosed with ADHD, as have two of her three children.
