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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 2020-2021)

  • Co-Chair - Parent -  Wendy Balda (Howard County)
  • 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)
  • Parent - Vittoria Aiello (Montgomery County)
  • Parent - Kathleen Barazotto (Frederick County)
  • Parent - Jennifer Brekke-Miles (Baltimore County)
  • Parent - Leanne Carmona (Anne Arundel County)
  • Parent - Tyese Dillard (Montgomery County)
  • Parent - Martha Goodman (Baltimore City) 
  • Parent - Parent/Military - Rita Lung (Howard County)
  • Parent – Chiara Jaffe (Montgomery County)
  • Parent/Agency - Neal Lichter (Baltimore County/Pathfinders for Autism)
  • Parent - LaShonda Scott (Calvert County)
  • Parent/Agency - Christina Spangler (Charles County/Maryland Coalition of Families)
  • Parent - Karleen Spitulnik (Baltimore County/Decoding Dyslexia Maryland)
  • Parent - Tiffany Williams (Baltimore County)
  • Agency - Lindsey Goodrich (Juvenile Services Education)
  • Agency - Rene Averitt-Sanzone (The Parents’ Place of Maryland)
  • Agency - Emily Dow, PhD (Maryland Higher Education Commission)
  • Agency - Bobbi Pedrick (Anne Arundel County Public Schools/Statewide)
  • Agency - Brian Fausel (SEED School)
  • Agency - Dorie Flynn (Maryland Association of Nonpublic Special Education Facilities)
  • Agency - Katharine Lander (Maryland Department of Labor)
  • Agency - Christian Miele, Esq. (Maryland Department of Disabilities)
  • Agency - Rachel London, Esq. (Maryland Developmental Disabilities Council)
  • Agency - Jill Pierce-Hill (Division of Rehabilitation Services/ Department of Disabilities)
  • Agency - Sue Rattman (The ARC Northern Chesapeake Region, Inc.)
  • Agency - Melissa Surgeon (Title I-Program Improvement & Family Support, MSDE)
  • Agency - Maura Taylor (Maryland State Education Association)
  • Agency - Keisha Peterson (Maryland Department of Human Services)
  • Ex-Officio: Kathy Kaufman (Parent/Carroll County)
  • SESAC Staff - Carmen Brown (Division of Early Intervention/Special Education Services, MSDE)

Meetings

SESAC general meetings are open to the public. Requests for reasonable accommodation should be made at least two (2) weeks in advance of a scheduled meeting. For meeting information or to make a request for reasonable accommodation, please call the SESAC staff in the Division of Early Intervention and Special Education Services at 410-767-7197. SPECIAL NOTICE: Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, meetings scheduled through 2021 will be conducted via videoconference and will also have an in-person option. The public comment portion of the meeting will occur after welcome and introductions. Participation requires prior registration by emailing Carmen Brown at carmen.brown1@maryland.gov. Members of the public who participate virtually will be able to hear the content of the meetings in real-time. SESAC encourages the public to submit public comments in writing to carmen.brown1@maryland.gov and this information will be distributed to SESAC members.


Agendas 

Minutes


Contact

Carmen A. Brown, LCSWC
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