CASE Conf 2025

Teresa Cherry-Cruz
CEO, Founder of Cherry Cruz Consultants
Cherry Cruz Consultants LLC


Teresa Cherry-Cruz is the CEO and founder of Cherry Cruz Consultants, an educational consulting firm dedicated to empowering special education leaders, speech-language pathologists, and service providers to build high-performing IEP teams that deliver equitable, student-centered outcomes. With over 30 years of experience as a certified and licensed Speech-Language Pathologist, Director of Speech Language and Hearing , and systems leader, Teresa is known for helping school communities transform collaborative practices and reimagine special education service delivery. Teresa’s work integrates her expertise in Conversational Leadership, executive coaching, and team dynamics to address the communication barriers that hinder effective IEP team collaboration. She partners with school administrators and IEP teams to cultivate trust, shared accountability, and courageous conversations that result in compliant, student-focused educational programs. Her signature C4 Communication Framework—Create, Cultivate, Communicate, Connect—guides teams through a process that moves collaboration from routine meetings to meaningful engagement. As the former Director of Speech-Language and Hearing Services for Bridgeport Public Schools in Connecticut, Teresa designed and led multidisciplinary teams implement innovative service models that advanced both compliance and quality. Her leadership has earned her numerous awards, including the Louis M. DiCarlo Award for Outstanding Clinical Achievement from ASHA and the Distinguished Alumni Award from Southern Connecticut State University. At the heart of Teresa’s mission is the belief that “Conversation is the catalyst for connection, collaboration, and change.” Those who understand the dynamics of conversation can inspire collective action, foster meaningful relationships, and transform how IEP teams design and deliver services.

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