Executive Leadership

Eric M. Isselhardt, Ph.D., has over 25 years of experience as an educator and administrator in both secondary and post-secondary educational settings. Dr. Isselhardt received his B.A. in Chinese Language and Philosophy from Bennington College, and both his M.S. and Ph.D. in Educational Administration and Policy Studies from the State University of New York at Albany (SUNY-Albany).

As director of a Vermont Upward Bound program, vice-president of a college in southern Vermont, and later working in the SUNY-Albany School of Education Dean’s office, Dr. Isselhardt completed several large state-wide systems analysis and program projects, as well as working to expand educational opportunities for inner-city and at-risk students. During those years, Dr. Isselhardt was instrumental in developing the Excelsior School—a New York state-wide school for high achieving math and science students.

Before coming to Kingsbury, Dr. Isselhardt was the Headmaster at a K-12 school for learning disabled students in Tennessee, and most recently was the Headmaster at the Norbel School—a prominent K-12 school for students with learning disabilities in the Baltimore area. While at Norbel, Dr. Isselhardt also served as a University Supervisor for the Johns Hopkins School of Education, was a founding Board member and Development Chair for the Carroll County Public School Foundation, a Board member of Camp Attaway in Howard County, and was a frequent University of Maryland lecturer on the topics of teaching learning disabled students and educational best practices. In addition to that work, Dr. Isselhardt has published many articles on learning disabilities and other education issues.

Marlene Gustafson, M.A., is the Associate Head of School for Kingsbury. She holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Illinois in history and Russian language, as well as an M.A. in special education from George Washington University. Prior to coming to Kingsbury, Marlene spent many years teaching and directing programs in numerous special education settings. She taught elementary level students with learning disabilities and emotional problems in the Arlington County Public Schools for eight years. She was both a teacher and director of the Reginald S. Lourie Center for Infants and Young Children, where she developed a therapeutic nursery program for children at risk for developmental delays and social-emotional problems. Marlene has also served as an adjunct professor at Johns Hopkins University and a graduate assistant at George Washington University, teaching courses in special education programming, parenting the special needs child, and behavior management for special needs children.

Renee Cottman-Reyes, M.Ed., is the Director of the Lower School at Kingsbury. She is certified in the areas of special education, elementary education (K-8), and School Leadership and Administration I & II. She earned her Master’s degree from Goucher College and her Bachelor’s degree from the University of Maryland. As she approaches almost 20 years in the educational field, Renee has worked as a classroom teacher, academic coach, educational program director, and education specialist for the Maryland State Department of Education. Specific experiences working with children with language-based deficients include teaching in the classroom setting, residential camp, and serving as educational director for a Learning Disabilities academic program (K-12) in the Washington-Baltimore area for approximately 120 children.

Jessica Lux is the Director of the Upper School (6th-12th grades) at Kingsbury. In 2002, Jessica, along with key faculty and consultants, developed the high school program and has helped over 50 students graduate from our accredited program. She has taught both learning disabled and emotionally disabled students in the DC area. Prior to formally working with schools, Jessica was the Director of Education at the Empower Program where she developed and taught violence prevention education programs in both public and private schools. Jessica earned her B.A. from Yale University with a double major in Religious Studies and Environmental Studies and completed her M.A. in School Leadership and Administration from George Washington University in 2008.

Anne Hoover, M.A., CAS, is the Director of Kingsbury's Tutoring program. Anne has a post-graduate specialty in reading from Harvard University, a master's degree in learning disabilities from DePaul University, and a B.A. in elementary education from St. Mary's College. Anne is responsible for overseeing the work of more than 80 Kingsbury tutors, teaching the Kingsbury Tutor Training courses, developing educational courses for children, creating workshops for parents and teachers, as well as managing the Teachers and Tutors Program in the District of Columbia Public Schools. She developed the curriculum for the learning disabilities programs in the suburbs of Chicago and Boston and taught their first classes of learning disabled students. She was an adjunct professor at Boston College in the graduate school of education. Anne began her work at Kingsbury as a tutor in 1983 and has directed the Tutoring Program since 1990.

Cherryl Smith, Ph.D., is Kingsbury’s Director of Diagnostic and Psychological Services. She earned her doctorate in clinical psychology at the University of California, Los Angeles. Prior to joining Kingsbury, Dr. Smith spent a year as a clinical psychologist in the D.C. Public Schools program for severe learning disabled students. She has also worked in a variety of treatment settings where she provided diagnostic evaluations, individual, family and group psychotherapy and consultation to a wide variety of treatment providers, school personnel and lawyers. Dr. Smith has written grants, conducted training and program consultation, and served as adjunct professor at several local colleges and universities. As Director of DAPS, Dr. Smith is responsible for supervising the provision of psychotherapy services to KDS students as well as managing all activities related to the diagnostic services offered within Kingsbury and to the larger community. In addition, she coordinates admissions testing here at Kingsbury, administers the financial aid program with DAPS and oversees the Mobile Clinic contract. More recently, Dr. Smith has focused on expanding the range of diagnostic and psychological services provided within Kingsbury as well as to the Washington community. She is licensed as a psychologist in D.C., Maryland and Virginia.