About
Janet Ferone
Educational Leadership
Is an educational consultant, speaker, higher education faculty member, and former school administrator with more than three decades of experience supporting inclusive, culturally responsive, and student~centered educational practices across K~12 and higher education.
As President of Ferone Educational Consulting, Janet works with schools, colleges, districts, and organizations on Universal Design for Learning (UDL), culturally responsive educational practices, special education systems, autism and mental health supports, and inclusive program development. Her work bridges educational leadership, faculty development, and practical classroom implementation.
Consulting & Professional Development
Janet currently serves as a Lecturer and Field Supervisor at Curry College in graduate education programs. She helped design Curry College’s Diverse and Equitable Instruction (DEI) master’s program and teaches graduate courses focused on culturally responsive educational practices, autism and neurodiversity, transition planning, and teacher preparation. She has also taught teacher preparation courses at Lesley University focused on meeting the needs of diverse learners.
Higher Education
Janet also served for decades in leadership roles within Boston Public Schools and has long been recognized for advocacy and program development supporting adolescents with disabilities and other historically marginalized learners. Her work has included development of programs supporting students experiencing depression, anxiety, suicidality, trauma, and school disengagement, as well as leadership in inclusive and substantially separate educational programming.
Advocacy & Inclusion
Janet also served for decades in leadership roles within Boston Public Schools and has long been recognized for advocacy and program development supporting adolescents with disabilities and other historically marginalized learners. Her work has included development of programs supporting students experiencing depression, anxiety, suicidality, trauma, and school disengagement, as well as leadership in inclusive and substantially separate educational programming.
Areas of Expertise
Culturally responsive education, inclusive practice, Universal Design for Learning
Special education systems design, postsecondary transition
Neurodiversity~affirming practices centering autistic voices
Charter school special education program development, compliance, audits
Complex learners, behavior and mental health supports, suicide prevention
Professional development, leadership coaching, instructional support
Recognition, Publications & Featured Work
Received the Goldin Foundation Award for Excellence in Education
Graduation Speaker, Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship Program, Boston University
International consultant, keynote speaker, presenter on ESL, HIV/AIDS education, women's empowerment, mental health in New Zealand, Moldova, Azerbaijan,South Korea
Heralded as one of 28 Shapers of Public Policy in Women in Citizen Advocacy
Guest Lecturer alongside Barney Frank at the Harvard Kennedy School
Recognized by the Gates Foundation for development of a program for depressed and suicidal teens
Speaking & Professional Learning
Janet is a keynote speaker and workshop presenter known for dynamic, practical presentations that connect educational research with real~world implementation. Her presentations focus on Universal Design for Learning, culturally responsive educational practices, neurodiversity, student mental health, inclusion, identity, belonging, and actionable strategies educators can immediately apply in classrooms, schools, and organizations.
Her featured keynote, Inclusive by Design: Universal Design for Learning for Student Success, focuses on equity, access, learner variability, and student engagement.
Janet’s approach is grounded in the belief that effective instructional design benefits all learners while reducing the need for retrofitted accommodations.
Community Leadership
Janet is co~founder of Milton Mosaic, a community initiative focused on multicultural programming and intergenerational community engagement through arts, culture, and education. Her longstanding leadership and advocacy work has included service with organizations focused on education, gender equity, leadership development, and public policy, including the Goldin Foundation for Excellence in Education, the Northeast Coalition of Educational Leaders (NECEL), the National Organization for Women (NOW), the Women’s State~wide Legislative Network of Massachusetts, and The Nature Connection.
She also leads the online educator community E2 Equity Educators, which shares resources and strategies related to equity, inclusion, UDL, and culturally responsive practice.
Education & Credentials
Certificate of Advanced Educational Leadership (CAEL), Harvard University
Master of Education, Hofstra University
Massachusetts DESE Certified PDP Provider
Licensed principal, special education teacher, and special education administrator in Massachusetts, with additional credentials in English as a Second Language (ESL).
What Educational Leaders Are Saying
“Janet is intelligent and powerful — an amazing administrator who was successful with the most difficult students, and an exceptional writer and communicator.”
Stephen Grace, Sr
Former Assistant Headmaster, Boston Public Schools
“NECEL was an organization to empower women leaders in education, but when Janet became president, we finally reached our goals.”
Lorraine Greenfield
Director, Curriculum & Instruction, Lesley University
“Janet provided students with a much~needed voice, systematically strategizing the means to ensure success for even the most challenging students. She created an environment that allowed both students and staff to thrive.”
Ted Curley
Teacher, Boston Public
Schools