Andi Bonge is an experienced educator and occupational therapist who has made a significant impact in the field of acquired and developmental disabilities, working with both adults and children. For more than three decades she has served a wide range of educational programs and school districts in the Kansas City area, including Kansas City, MO, Grandview, and Orrick School Districts. She has been recognized for her exceptional ability to design and implement personalized programs that maximize independence and improve the quality of life for her clients.Andi’s expertise spans a variety of therapeutic and educational settings, where she consistently collaborates with interdisciplinary teams to create adaptive strategies and solutions tailored to each individual’s needs. Her knowledge of assistive technology, sensory processing, neurodiversity, and life skills training has equipped her to work effectively with diverse populations, providing meaningful support across age groups and abilities.
Andi’s commitment to advanced training includes areas such as functional nutrition, sensory processing, reflex integration, and rehabilitation modalities. Her certifications in integrated listening systems, therapeutic listening, cranial sacral therapy, primitive reflex integration, and yoga underscore her holistic approach to therapy, where the mind and body are equally prioritized in her interventions.
In addition to her clinical work, Andi excels in transdisciplinary collaboration, bridging gaps between education, therapy, and family support. She is known for her ability to develop individualized education plans (IEPs) and daily therapeutic programs that are practical, innovative, and tailored for long-term success. Her leadership roles, particularly in supervising occupational therapy staff and directing life skills programs, have further allowed her to mentor and train the next generation of professionals.
Her career highlights include authoring curriculum for sensory-motor programs, directing life skills camps that foster essential independence skills, and providing consultation and program development for students with special needs. Andi’s work ethic, coupled with her empathetic nature, drives her mission of promoting personal growth and independence in every individual she serves.

Erica Taylor-Murff is passionate about identifying resources and growth opportunities for organizations and businesses. She attended the University of Kansas (KU) where she earned her Master’s degree in Applied Behavioral Science, with a concentration in Community Health and Development research, evaluation, and case studies.  

During her tenure at KU, she had the opportunity to serve as a Job Coach and cultivated innovative processes to match the unique learning style of whom she was coaching.  Her career background is in government and public health policy & administration, with a key focus on community-based violence prevention operations (including grant writing and research/evaluation), and overall health equity.  She has a proven track record in relationship development, leveraging strong interpersonal skills to build and maintain strategic partnerships and collaborations.  

To serve her community in a greater capacity, Erica left the corporate world in January 2024 and launched Community Impact Solutions (CIS), LLC. Through CIS, she’s able to serve organizations and businesses across 4 areas: resource identification/development; strategic planning; research/evaluation; and leadership & team development. Through a combination of visionary thinking and practical execution, Erica has consistently delivered results that contribute to organizations’ success and sustainability.

Why TTA is important to me:

All students, regardless of ability, deserve the opportunity to reach their full potential.  TTA provides this opportunity to students who are historically depreciated because of learning ability.  They go beyond basic services to this key population of students, and excel in opening doors of opportunity across career options, college choices, technical education, and more.  I’m fortunate to be a part of this dynamic team, and hope to witness the future growth of this organization.  Go TTA!

Kim Riley is a social entrepreneur based in Kansas City, MO. She has worked extensively in higher education, health care and nonprofits. She founded a nonprofit, The Transition Academy (TTA), in 2019 as a solution to the confusing and poorly-designed postsecondary preparation process for students with disabilities – a problem affecting her family and others like hers. In 2021, she began developing North Star, a college and career planning tech product for these same youth. Kim earned a Bachelor of Journalism degree from the University of Missouri and an Executive MBA from the University of Missouri-Kansas City.

Lorena Montesinos is an advocate for diverse education pathways and brings her passion for teaching students to The Transition Academy as a Program Associate. She earned a Bachelor’s degree in Art Education from the University of Kansas, specializing in painting and ceramics, and has showcased her artistic talents in numerous exhibitions across the Kansas City area, including notable displays at JCCC and KU student art shows. She hopes to combine her interests in education and art to pursue a career as a high school art teacher. Lorena grew up in Olathe, but she was born in Bolivia. Her unique perspective as someone who immigrated to the U.S. will help her connect with many of the youth she will serve in our community. Lorena also brings her passion and creativity to the classroom, helping our uniquely abled students focus on achieving their goals.

Shelley Coulter is a seasoned advocate and a dedicated agent of transformation, with an unwavering commitment to positively impact individuals facing challenges from diverse backgrounds. With over twenty years of experience, she has ardently supported students and families in urban core communities both locally and globally.

Her roles have included serving as the Executive Director of the KCKPS Education Foundation, where she successfully secured scholarships from esteemed sources such as legacy Alumni, the Brandmeyer Family, Bill Self Assist Foundation, Hall Foundation, General Motors Foundation, and the Will Shields to Succeed Foundation. Additionally, she was the Community Engagement Director at Bishop Ward High School, overseeing The Academy of Finance. She was also a board member of the Global One Foundation in Nairobi, Kenya where she was instrumental in constructing schools, ensuring access to clean water, cultivating gardens to feed over 200 students, and providing access to education, food, and clothing for those in need.

Shelley has earned a master’s degree in organizational leadership and a bachelor’s degree in organizational management from the University of Arizona.