About the Presenters

Prior to joining Boston Public Schools as the Sr. Director of Opportunity Youth, Brian Marques served as Executive Director of Community Lifeline Center in McKinney, TX where he guided the implementation of a new dental assistance program, a no-cost farmers market, and enhanced client services. While serving as Director of Network Initiatives for SER-Jobs for Progress National in Irving, TX he helped spearhead a new dual-language early head start program, an accredited online high school and accompanying post-secondary career certifications, and various job training and work readiness programs. Brian received his Master of Arts in Industrial/Organizational Psychology at Fairfield University in Connecticut and his Bachelor of Science in Psychology from James Madison University in Virginia. He completed Executive Education in Leadership and Management at Southern Methodist University’s Cox School of Business. In 2015 Brian was among the inaugural class to complete the New Strategies Program for nonprofit executives at Georgetown University.

Aspen Florence has been in education for the past 22 years. She has worked in almost every position from a special education paraeducator to a director of student advocacy. She is passionate about the production and sustainability of quality education through building efficacy and maintaining dignity for all stakeholders. She currently works as an Attendance Specialist for the Utah State Board of Education as well as consults throughout Utah on MTSS for behavior and social-emotional learning with Solutions Through Consulting. She holds a B.A. in psychology, a special education teaching license, an M.Ed. in curriculum design and instruction, an M.Ed. in organizational leadership, and is an Ed.D. candidate for leadership and policy. She is also a mom of four kids whom she is beyond proud of.

Cecelia Leong is the Vice President of Programs at Attendance Works. Since joining Attendance Works in 2011, she has helped expand the technical assistance resources available to communities across the country. In addition to providing high-quality professional development through webinars and online learning, Cecelia works closely with the Attendance Works team to identify emerging technical assistance needs in reducing chronic absence and creating innovative tools to address those needs. Prior to joining Attendance Works, Cecelia worked for a variety of organizations that focus on district and school reform initiatives such as Pivot Learning Partners and Berkeley Policy Associates. Cecelia has an AB from Harvard University and a master’s degree in public policy from the University of California, Berkeley.

Nicole DellaRocco is a Senior Account Director at Panorama Education. She currently supports districts in Utah, Iowa, and Virginia. Before joining Panorama, she worked at Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) designing and implementing statewide data systems to support and improve educator effectiveness. She holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in education from Boston College and Brown University.