Eden Staff

Since 2005, Dr. McCool has served as President/CEO of the Eden Family of Services, based in Princeton, New Jersey. Eden provides a broad array of services to children and adults with autism and their families.

From 1996 to 2005, Dr. McCool served as the Vice President of Development and Government Relations for Devereux nationally. From 1985 to 1996 Dr. McCool was the Executive Director of Devereux California with responsibility for Clinical, Residential, Recreational, and Educational/Vocational Programs for 235 developmentally disabled children and adults.

Dr. McCool received a Doctor of Education Degree in Educational Leadership from Fairleigh Dickinson University's Institute for Leadership Studies in Hackensack, New Jersey, and a Masters of Education Degree from West Chester State University, West Chester, Pennsylvania.

Dr. McCool was a gubernatorial appointee to the California Interagency Coordinating Council, is a Founding Commissioner of the National Commission on Accreditation of Special Education Services, and founding member of the National Association of Residential Providers of Adults with Autism. He served on the MIND Institute Advisory Board, is also a member of the Autism Society of America and the National Association of Private Schools for Exceptional Children (NAPSEC).

Dr. McCool has presented at numerous professional conferences including the National Association of Private Schools for Exceptional Children, and ASA's National and International Conferences on Autism.

Carol Markowitz, M.A., M.Ed. is the Chief Operating Officer at Eden Family of Services in Princeton, NJ. Ms. Markowitz graduated from Rutgers Preparatory School in 1969. She then went on to receive a Bachelors degree in psychology from Douglass College, a Masters degree in Special Education from Rutgers University and a second Masters degree in Education Administration from The University of Phoenix. She holds New Jersey Certifications as a Teacher of the Handicapped, Supervisor of Instruction and Principal.

Ms. Markowitz has been with the Eden Family of Services since it’s inception in 1975, as a teacher, Program Supervisor, and Director of Education. More recently she has assumed the position of Chief Operating Officer. As COO, she is responsible for the day-to-day operation of the Eden Programs in New Jersey and Florida as well as wide-ranging strategic planning and budgetary initiatives at the schools, the early intervention program, adult services program, and group homes. She conducts pre-service and inservice training at Eden for both faculty and parents. She has conducted teacher training and program consultation on a state and national level.

Ms. Markowitz is currently an Instructor at Princeton University in the psychology department. She developed the autism program for Brick Township schools, and has served on statewide steering committees for the New Jersey Department of Education to develop “Autism Program Quality Indicators” and to develop and monitor the state’s Alternate Proficiency Assessment. She lives in Monmouth Junction, New Jersey with her son, a freshman at George Washington University and her husband Jeff, CEO of the Life Skills Resource Center and author of the Cassie O’Malley mystery series.

Anne Holmes is the Chief Clinical Officer for the Eden Family of Services, located in Princeton, New Jersey. Ms. Holmes received her Master’s degree in Speech Pathology from Douglass College and holds a Certificate of Clinical Competence as well as New Jersey licensure, and is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst. She is also an adjunct faculty member of the College of New Jersey. In addition, Ms. Holmes is on the Autism Society of America’s Panel of Professional Advisors. Ms. Holmes has worked in the field of autism for over 30 years and is responsible for oversight for monitoring standards of care including staff development and student/participant outcomes by means of a comprehensive quality management system; as well as supervision of Outreach diagnostic, evaluative, and consultative services. In addition, she is the primary consultant to families, schools, and agencies, locally and nationwide. Ms.Holmes has written numerous papers and articles and is the primary editor of Eden’s curriculum.

Rachel Tait, M.A., M.Ed., currently works as Director of Educational Services at Eden Institute. She completed her undergraduate degree in Elementary Education at Elizabethtown College in 1999. She then completed a Master's degree in Special Education and Educational Administration, both from Rider University in 2003 and 2007 respectfully. Rachel has her elementary education and special education teaching certificates, along with a supervisors and principal certification.

Rachel began working at Eden Institute in 2000, where she started in the Pre-Vocational classroom as a teaching assistant. The following year, she became Head Teacher of the same classroom, before moving into the Coordinator of Middle Childhood Position for two years. In 2004, she became the Assistant Director of Family Support services, until becoming Assistant Director of Educational Services. During that time, she ran the extended school year residential program, assisted with school supervision and hired new staff members. In 2008, she became the Director of Educational Services, where she oversees all school activities, including supervision of classroom teachers, oversight of the extended school year program, IEP and curriculum monitoring and budget development.

Rachel has been an active member of both ASAH and NAPSEC since 2004. She has completed NCASES site team training and has participated in site reviews for other public schools. She is also a member of the NAPSEC conference committee.

Diane Van Driesen is the Director of Wawa House Services for the Eden Family of Services. Ms. Van Driesen received her Master's degree in Speech Pathology from Rutgers University and holds a Certificate of Clinical Competence. In addition, she is licensed by the state of New Jersey as a Speech and Language Specialist. Ms. Van Driesen is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst. With over 20 years experience in the field of autism, Ms. Van Driesen currently oversees Eden's Early Intervention Program as well as supplemental therapy services.