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Special Education State Advisory Committee (SESAC)

The Maryland Special Education State Advisory Committee (SESAC) is established in accordance with the provisions of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), Part B. The mission of the SESAC is to advise and assist the Maryland State Department of Education, Division of Early Intervention and Special Education Services in administering, promoting, planning, coordinating and improving the delivery of special education and related services to assure that all children with disabilities, three through 21 years of age, and their families have access to appropriate education and related services. SESAC membership conforms to the requirements of Federal and State regulations. The majority of the members shall be individuals with disabilities or parents of students, ages birth through 21, with disabilities.

SESAC Bylaws


SESAC Members (School Year 2022-2023)

  • Co-Chair - Parent -  Marjorie Guldan (Carroll County)
  • Co-Chair -  Parent - Pamela Talley (Prince George’s County)
  • Co-Vice Chair - Parent -  Sheila Billups (Baltimore City)
  • Co-Vice Chair - Parent -  Dawn Greenberg (Baltimore County)

  • Agency - Angela Sittler ( The ARC Northern Chesapeake Region, Inc.)
  • Parent - Chiara Jaffee (Montgomery County)
  • Agency - Christine Spangler (Maryland Coalition of Families)
  • Agency - Dorie Flynn (Maryland Association of Nonpublic Special Education Facilities)
  • Agency - Emily Dow, PhD (Maryland Higher Education Commission)
  • Agency - Jade Gingrich (Maryland Department of Disabilities)
  • Parent - Jennifer Brekke-Miles (Baltimore County)
  • Parent - Karleen Spitulnik (Baltimore County/Decoding Dyslexia Maryland)
  • Agency - Katherine Lander (Maryland Department of Labor)
  • Parent - Kathleen Barazotto (Frederick County)
  • Agency - Keisha Peterson (Department of Human Services)
  • Parent- LaShonda Scott (Calvert County)
  • Parent - Leanne Carmona (Anne Arundel County)
  • Parent - Martha Goodman (Baltimore City)
  • Agency - Maura Taylor (Maryland State Education Association) (DESIGNEE)
  • Agency - Melissa Surgeon (Title I Program Improvement & Family Support, MSDE)
  • Parent/Agency - Neal Lichter (Baltimore County/Pathfinders for Autism)
  • Agency - Rachel London, Esq. (Maryland Developmental Disabilities Council)
  • Agency - Rene Averitt-Salzone (The Parents' Place of MD)
  • Parent/Military - Rita Lung (Howard County)
  • Parent - Tiffany Williams (Baltimore County)
  • Parent - Tyese Dillard (Montgomery County)
  • Agency - Shelby Webb (Department of Juvenile Services/Juvenile Services Education Program)
  • Agency - Tashawna Miller (SEED School)
  • Parent - Tiffany Williams (Baltimore County)
  • Parent - Tyese Dillard (Montgomery County)
  • Parent - Vittoria Aiello (Montgomery County)
  • Ex-Officio: Kathy Kaufman (Carroll County Public Schools)
  • SESAC Staff - Carmen Brown (Division of Early Intervention/Special Education Services, MSDE)

Meetings

All SESAC general meetings are open to the public in accordance with the Open Meetings Act.  General Meetings will be held between September 2022 and June 2023 and will provide SESAC members, families, partners, and interested stakeholders the opportunity to provide comment regarding Maryland's system of early intervention and special education services.  Time will be provided for public comment at each meeting and requires that each guest register at least 24 hours prior to the meeting start time.  Members of the public who participate virtually will be able to hear the content of the meeitngs in real-time.  SESAC encourages the public to submit public comments in writing to carmen.brown1@maryland.gov and this information will be distrubuted to SESAC members. 

Requests for accommodations, including interpreters, must be made at least 10 business days before each meeting to allow for arrangements to be made.

Please contact Carmen A. Brown via email at carmen.brown1@maryland.gov to register to provide public comment, to request accomodations, or to receive the link to access the meeting virually.


Agendas 

Minutes


Contact

Carmen A. Brown, LCSW-C
Chief, Interagency Collaboration Branch
Division of Early Intervention and Special Education Services
Maryland State Department of Education
Phone: 410-767-7197
Email: carmen.brown1@maryland.gov