Student Services

Ms. Dionne Young, Student Support Coordinator

I’ve been working in special education for the past seven years, serving in a variety of roles including Special Education Teacher, Crisis Resource Teacher, and currently as a Student Support Coordinator. This is my second year at Randolph Elementary, and I absolutely love being part of this community. Supporting students with disabilities and partnering with families to help them thrive is truly my passion

Mr. Angel Lopez Oetgen, 1st Grade Special Education Teacher & Special Education Lead

Email: [email protected]

Angel Lopez is a dedicated 1st Grade Special Education Teacher at Randolph Elementary with 6 years of experience helping students succeed. He came to APS as a student from Mexico in second grade and, as the son of immigrants, witnessed the sacrifices his parents made to give him the opportunity to learn. Seeing himself in his students and their families drives his commitment to providing every child with the best education possible. He strives to deliver supportive and effective instruction where all children are challenged, encouraged, and given the tools they need to thrive.Angel holds an M.Ed. in Curriculum & Instruction with a specialization in English as a Second Language from Marymount University and is committed to ongoing professional growth. Outside of teaching, he enjoys road trips, trying new restaurants, going to concerts and plays at the theater, and spending time with his wife, family, and friends.Angel looks forward to a fantastic year of learning, growth, and collaboration with students, families, and colleagues.

Mr. Leo Ribeiro, Sped Resource Teacher

Leo is excited to return to Randolph Elementary School as a special education teacher. Born and raised in Brazil, he moved to Arlington in 2007 and has proudly called it home ever since. With experience in both general and special education across public and private schools in Maryland and Northern Virginia, he is dedicated to supporting the whole child through inclusive, student-centered classrooms where every child can thrive, and he values strong collaboration with families and colleagues to ensure student success. Leo holds a Master’s degree in Education with a focus on Curriculum and Instruction. Outside of school, he enjoys cooking, hiking, traveling, and spending time with family, friends, and his two cats.

Ms. Emily Jones,  1st and 2nd Sped Resource Teacher

Email: [email protected]

I am beyond lucky to have the best job in the world! For the last five years, I taught in non-public schools for students with special needs. I loved teaching all the subjects (especially reading) and helping out during P.E. and art classes. I am eager to join the Randolph community and work in an IB school because the students, families, and staff are the best! When I am not at school, I love being outside, walking my two little dogs, and working on jigsaw puzzles. I can’t wait to get to know all of you!

Mr. Julian Mejia, 5th Grade SpEd Teacher

Email: [email protected]

Julian Mejia is a Special Education Teacher at Randolph. This is his 4th year at Randolph. Prior to coming to Randolph, he was a bilingual education teacher for 12 years in Houston, Tx. Mr. Mejia received his undergraduate degree from Fairleigh Dickinson University and his master’s degree in special education from the University of Texas. In his spare time, he enjoys traveling, hiking, and playing tennis.

Ms. Andrea Joe, Sped Resource Assistant

Email: [email protected]

Andrea Joe is a Sped Resource Teacher at Randolph. She obtained her Master’s degree in Education from the University of Virginia. She has been teaching for 14 years. In her spare time, she enjoys baking and traveling.

Ms. Adrienne Michaud, Self-Contained K-2

Instructional Assistants:  Rita Amponsah, Fatima Bousaid, Annie

Email: [email protected]

Aroosa Noreen, SpEd Resource Teacher

Jill Eskenas, SpEd Resource Teacher

Diego Del Carpio, SpEd Resource Teacher

Ms. JoAnne Krisko, Self Contained 3 – 5 SpEd Teacher
Email: [email protected]

JoAnne Krisko is a special education teacher for grades 3rd, 4th, and 5th with 25 years of experience. This is her 8th year at Randolph. She grew up in Upstate, NY, having also lived in Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, and Colorado. Ms. Krisko earned her Master’s in Special Education from the University of Massachusetts Boston and has found one of the greatest joys of her career in teaching the Randolph Stars. She loves sparking curiosity in her students as much as she loves diving into a great book or exploring new places around the world with her husband, Luis. This year, Ms. Krisko will focus on fostering student confidence and independence, helping each learner take meaningful steps toward achieving their personal best, both academically and socially.

Ms. Rita Amponsah, Grades K-2 SpEd Instructional Assistant

Email: [email protected]

Rita Amponsah is an instructional assistant at Randolph.  She has been in the school system for almost 4 years. Rita is currently working towards her Bachelor’s degree.  During her leisure time she enjoys watching movies and spending time with her friends.

Ms. Angela Ji, Psychologist (M-F)

Email: [email protected]

Angela is a school psychologist in Arlington Public Schools and this is her first year with Randolph Elementary. She is passionate about viewing each student through a holistic, strength-based lens to foster an inclusive and equitable learning environment.Angela holds an M.A. and Ed.S in school psychology from James Madison University and is committed to ongoing professional development to sustain best practices. Outside of work, she enjoys going on walks with her dogs and curling up with a good book.Angeloa looks forward to a fantastic year of learning, growth, and collaboration with students, families, and colleagues.

Ms. Jen Baitinger, School Counselor

Email: [email protected]

Jennifer Baitinger is the school counselor at Randolph.  Before Randolph she was an elementary teacher at various grades, but loved being a Kindergarten teacher for 4 yearsin Fairfax County. She attended the College of Wooster in Ohio where she majored in psychology. She got her Masters in elementary education from George Washington University and a Masters in school counseling from George Mason University. She has two sons, one daughter, and a dog. She likes traveling and spending time with her family.  She also enjoys going for walks and hanging out with friends.

Ms. Megan Khaerisman, School Social Worker

Email: [email protected]

Megan Khaerisman is a native to the DMV. She did an undergrad degree from JMU in Spanish and Latin American Studies, and has a master’s in social work from George Mason University. She has been an APS social worker since the 2014/15 school year, and before that she worked in family preservation in Montgomery County, MD and briefly as an outpatient therapist. Outside of work she stays busy with three kids, and enjoys partaking in the sights and events that this area has to offer

Ms. Jamie Marin, Occupational Therapist
Email: [email protected]

Jamie Marin is the occupational therapist for Randolph Elementary School.  She graduated from Southwestern University in Texas with a Bachelor’s degree in Child Studies/Language Development and Psychology.  She then attended Texas Woman’s University in Houston, Texas where she received her Master’s Degree in Occupational Therapy.  After passing her board exams, she worked at Texas Children’s Hospital and its satellite clinics in the Houston area for several years.  Upon moving to Arlington, Jamie initially worked in the Adult Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation setting but she always knew that she wanted to work with children again. Approximately three years ago, she was thrilled to be hired by Arlington Public Schools and, even more, to be assigned to Randolph.  In her free time, she enjoys reading, playing guitar and spending time with her husband (Victor), her daughter (Dylan) and her dog (Winnie).

Ms. Abigail Fischbach, Speech Language Pathologist

Email: [email protected]

Abigail Fischbach is a Speech Language Pathologist Clinical Fellow and is so excited to be joining the Randolph team this year! Ms. Abby is originally from New Jersey where she attended Rutgers University for her bachelor’s degree in Linguistics. She then moved to the Arlington area to receive her master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology at George Washington University. During her time in graduate school, Ms. Abby spent time at Randolph as a Speech Language Pathologist Student Clinician so she is very excited to be back! In her free time, she loves spending time with her family and friends, reading a good book, and golfing.

Ms. Kavita Naik, Occupational Therapy Special Services

Email: [email protected]

Kavita is an occupational therapist and is entering her 8th year of practice, and is honored to be a new Randolph star! She received her Masters of Science in Occupational Therapy from Thomas Jefferson University and a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Stockton University. Kavita holds a wide range of experiences including school-based, early intervention, and outpatient pediatric occupational therapy both in the private and public nonprofit sector. This wide range of experience has allowed her to help foster independence, confidence, and functional skills of children of all ages and diagnoses. Outside of work, Kavita loves to travel, hike, read, compete in trivia nights, and attend concerts. She loves to spend time with her family and especially enjoys spoiling her niece.

Andrea Brunk, Physical Therapist

Christine Kennedy, Autism Specialist