Special Education Mediators

Karen Asaro – Virginia Beach, VA

Practicing mediator since 1980. Degree in social work with graduate work in conflict resolution studies; Coordinator of City of Virginia Beach Mediation Program; adjunct professor at Christopher Newport University teaching mediation courses since 1998; roster mediator handling child dependency cases for Virginia courts, ADA cases for DOJ, employment cases for USPS and fee dispute cases for Virginia State Bar; recipient of "Excellence in Prevention" award from Dept. of Justice for high school peer mediation program.

Terri Colby Barr – Norfolk, VA

Practicing mediator since 1990. President of a mediation and dispute resolution service organization (Consensus); PhD and Masters degrees in dispute resolution, social work, and counseling, and urban studies. Adjunct professor; mediator and arbitrator for public and private sector including education; roster mediator for EEOC and employment cases for USPS. Past-President of Virginia Mediation Network. Trainer for Dept of Defense.

Jerryanne Bier – Ferrum, VA

Practicing mediator since 1993. Trainer/ consultant in mediation/ communication/conflict management. Degrees in communications arts, public relations, and guidance & counseling. Formerly, school division coordinator of volunteer services and community relations; elementary guidance counselor; and parent resource specialist.

H. Russell Harris – Chesterfield, VA

Practicing mediator since 1995. Ombudsman for Chesterfield County for 15 years; Special mediator for the United States Postal Service; Arbitrator and mediator for the Virginia Office of Consumer Affairs; Certified consumer arbitrator and mediator for the Central Virginia Better Business Bureau; Past Chair Richmond Dispute Resolution Center; Mediator for the Virginia Department of Employment Dispute Resolution; Trained community facilitator; Graduate Leadership Metro Richmond.

Samuel S. Jackson – McLean, VA

Practicing mediator since 1995. Attorney and mediator with extensive experience in helping to resolve community, business and family disputes; former president of Virginia Mediation Network; vice chair, Virginia Alternative Dispute Resolution Joint Committee, adjunct professor, George Mason and Georgetown law schools.

Jerry Minskoff, Mediator Emeritus – Harrisonburg, VA

Practicing mediator since 1984. Professor of special education at James Madison University for 24 years. Affiliated with the Community Mediation Center. Professor at other universities; worked at U.S. Department of Education; instrumental in starting peer mediation programs in two school divisions; presenter at conferences on special education mediation. EdD in special education.

Regina Olchowski – Vienna, VA

Practicing mediator since 1993. Trainer and guest lecturer on conflict resolution. Formerly, teacher of children with emotional disabilities; conducted courses in parenting skills and workshops for school personnel in conflict resolution. Degrees in counselor education and business administration.

Richard Vacca – Richmond, VA

Practicing mediator since 1997. Professor of education law at Virginia Commonwealth University. Formerly, teacher and college administrator. Co-author of Law and Education; senior fellow, Commonwealth Educational Policy Institute. EdD in education with two years post-doctoral study at T.C. Williams School of Law, University of Richmond.

Claiborne Winborne – Ashland, VA

Practicing mediator since 1997. Formerly, a special education supervisor; director of education for a psychiatric hospital school; director of personnel; and assistant superintendent for administration; lobbyist and policy consultant for VSBA.

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