About Our Leadership Team
Destiny Pacha, Ed.D.
Educational Degrees
Doctoral Degree
Special Education
Master's Degree
Educational Leadership
Bachelor of Science Degree
Elementary Education
Certifications
Educational Leadership
Exceptional Student Education/ Special Education
Elementary Education
Gifted Education Endorsement
ESOL Education Endorsement
Destiny Pacha, Ed.D. is the president of EmpowerED Solutions, an organization dedicated to providing educational consulting, IEP advocacy, and support for families and professionals navigating the complex needs of children with Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) and other genetic disorders in school settings. Through EmpowerED Solutions, Dr. Pacha works closely with families to ensure children receive appropriate educational, behavioral, and health services, while also collaborating with professionals to improve awareness and best practices for supporting students with rare disorders. She is currently finalizing a parent training series set to be piloted in collaboration with the Prader-Willi Syndrome Association (PWSA|USA).
In addition to her work with EmpowerED Solutions, Dr. Pacha is a member of the PWS Lab within the Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) Online Department at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology. Her research focuses on increasing awareness, fostering inclusion, and identifying best practices for educating children with PWS. She recently co-authored Prader-Willi Syndrome: A Primer for School Psychologists, published in Children and Youth Services Review.
Dr. Pacha is a sought-after speaker on PWS and its educational implications, frequently presenting at national conferences and offering training sessions to school districts. Previous presentations include PWS: An Intro for BCBAs and ABA Practitioners (Wisconsin Association for Behavior Analysis), Safety + Support = Success: Does Your Child’s IEP Add Up? (Foundation for Prader-Willi Research Family Conference), and Educational Implications of Prader-Willi Syndrome (PWSA|USA National Convention). She has also hosted webinars for parents of children with developmental delays, ensuring families have access to the latest research and advocacy strategies.
An active member of the Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates (COPAA) and the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC), Dr. Pacha is dedicated to empowering educators, families, and professionals to ensure children with PWS receive the support and inclusion they deserve. She previously served on the Board of Directors for Chance 2 Dance, an inclusive and accommodating dance studio, for five years and currently serves as an Advisory Board Member.
Dr. Pacha is also the author of It Starts With Hello: Katie’s Story About Prader-Willi Syndrome, the first and only children’s book about PWS. The book became a #1 Bestseller in Juvenile Nonfiction through IngramSpark and has received multiple accolades, including a Readers' Favorite Five-Star Review, First Place at The BookFest Awards in Children’s Learning & Education, and the International Impact Book Award in Children’s Education in December 2024.
Danielle Stevenson, M.Ed.
Lead Education Consultant
Educational Degrees
Master's Degree
Educational Leadership
Bachelor of Science Degree
Elementary Education
Certifications
Educational Leadership
Elementary Education
Reading Endorsement
Gifted Education Endorsement
ESOL Education Endorsement
Danielle Stevenson brings over 13 years of experience as a dedicated classroom teacher and is passionate about empowering the whole child. Before joining the EmpowerED team, Danielle specialized in social-emotional learning by working one-on-one, with small groups, and designing classroom lessons to champion students’ emotional and social growth.
She aspires to be the steadfast presence you and your family can count on for unwavering support and solutions for a variety of educational demands. She is passionate about advocating for the needs of all learners and is committed to supporting families in addressing their child’s educational, social and emotional needs. She excels in fostering a nurturing and effective environment tailored to each student’s unique requirements.
sheri Mills, PWS Mom
PWS Family Support Coordinator
Sheri Mills brings the experience of a Prader-Willi Syndrome (PWS) mom to our team. She is a mom of two children in the public school system. Her youngest, Lyra, is in elementary school and living with PWS. For the past four years, Sheri has navigated special education and school support from a Prader-Willi mom’s perspective. She believes in sprinkling information about PWS in every meeting, and both meeting a child where they are but looking ahead at the future and preparing the team for what is to come. Sheri understands that trust might not be established between school and family right away but takes good communication and time. Sheri aspires to be a support to PWS families in their IEP process, and beyond. Be researching state programs and support(s), or finding other local families and or medical team contacts.
Sheri is passionate in her advocate work, standing as an ambassador advocacy with PWSA (The Prader-Willi Association USA). She advocates both federally, on Capitol Hill, and on the state level. Important advocacy topics to her include building a rare disease community at the NIH (National Institute of Health) FDA (Food and Drug Administration) and CDC (Center for Disease Control), access to Medicaid, quicker FDA review times, and access to healthcare both in your state and out of state. Sheri is also a governor appointed council member for her state DDC (Developmental Disability Council). She believes that getting involved and standing on committees is a great way to access information and make change.
Sheri looks forward to supporting your child and family, their education, and beyond.