Joel Singer, Ph.D.
Managing Partner
Joel is the Founder and Managing Partner of The Lifing Group, LLC, started in 2017. He spent five years as a secondary history teacher, varsity baseball coach, and coordinator, and five years working as an academic and career consultant and program director until creating The Lifing Group.
Favorite Inspirational Quote:
“There may be people who have more talent than you, but there’s no excuse for anyone to work harder than you do.”
– Derek Jeter
- B.A. Secondary Education and History, Roger Williams University
- M.A. Secondary Education and History, UMass Dartmouth
- Ph.D. Educational Leadership and Policy Studies, UMass Dartmouth
Dr. Dominique Branco, Ph.D.
Consultant
Dominique was social studies and ELA teacher, as well as a middle school administrator. She’s worked at the district, community and school levels. An expert on the social, emotional and trauma sensitive needs of students, and and special education advocate. A frequent educational conference speaker, she also volunteers to assist immigrant adults attain a GED, and works with the youth court system to get kids back on track.
Favorite Inspirational Quote:
“Be the change you wish to see in the world”
– Gandhi
- BS in Political Science, minor in Sociology, University of Massachusetts Dartmouth
- Master of Science in Judicial Administration, Anna Maria College
- MAT, Teaching History
- Ph.D. in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies, University of Massachusetts Dartmouth.
Dr. Elizabeth Janson, Ph.D.
Consultant
Elizabeth was a high school media director and advised National Honor Society students, assisting them with college preparation and service activities. She was also the AP Capstone teacher helping students develop writing, research, presentation, and problem-solving. A frequent commencement speaker and presenter at national and international educational conferences, she is a contributing author to several books on curriculum. Her debut book, based on helping youth find their voice in an era standardization, Fighting the Pinocchio Effect, came out in 2020, she is also a board member of 3rd Eye Youth Empowerment.
Favorite Inspirational Quote:
“The apple cannot be stuck back on the Tree of Knowledge; once we begin to see we are doomed and challenged to seek the strength to see more, not less”
– Arthur Miller
- BA Writing, Rhetoric, and Communication, University of Massachusetts Dartmouth
- MS Secondary Education and English, University of Massachusetts Dartmouth
- D. Educational Leadership and Policy Studies, University of Massachusetts Dartmouth
Brett Conner, MAT
Consultant
Brett Conner is a Physical Education teacher, head varsity baseball coach, and athletic recruiting mentor. He motivates children ages 3 to 24 through athletic training and confidence building.
Favorite Inspirational Quote:
“Mentors build mentors. Leaders build leaders. When you look at it closely, it’s really one and the same thing.”
– Tony Dungy
- B.A. Communication, Monmouth University
- M.A. Physical Education, Manhattanville College
Dr. Kimberly Barba, Ph.D.
Consultant
Kimberly taught secondary mathematics education at Roger Ludlowe Middle School and Fairfield Ludlowe High School for nine years, including Honors Geometry, AP Calculus BC, and Multivariable Calculus. Currently a Visiting Assistant Professor at Fairfield University and an Adjunct Professor at Fordham University teaching advanced mathematics. Her work as been published in the Journal of Mathematics Education at Teachers College.
Favorite Inspirational Quote:
“Real change, enduring change, happens one step at a time.”
– Ruth Bader Ginsberg
- B.Sc. Mathematics, Fairfield University.
- M.Sc. Pure Mathematics at King’s College London
- Ph.D. Mathematics and Education, Teachers College, Columbia University
Rebecca Rivera
Consultant
Rebecca has been a practicing school psychologist at New Fairfield High School for three years where she conducts psychological assessments, facilitates individual and group counseling, engages in crisis and behavioral interventions, fosters executive functioning skills, aids in post-high school transition planning, and integrates school-wide social-emotional learning. Rebecca serves on the Executive Board as the Secretary for the Connecticut Association of School Psychologists (CASP). Within this role Rebecca was awarded the Presidential Citation for outstanding contribution to the professional field of School Psychology.
Favorite Inspirational Quote:
“Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the assessment that something else is more important than fear.”
– Franklin D. Roosevelt
- B.A. Social Work, Western Connecticut State University
- M.A. School Psychology, Fairfield University
- S.Y.C. School Psychology, Fairfield University