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EmpowerED

EmpowerED

Written by: Maryland State Bar Association
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About this listen

EmpowerED, a podcast produced by the Maryland State Bar Association’s Leadership Academy Class of 2024-2025, aims to bridge the gap between families and school systems in Maryland by educating parents on their child’s rights in the classroom; providing tools to advocate effectively for their children’s educational needs, and highlighting that disabilities affecting learning impact families across all backgrounds.Copyright 2025 All rights reserved. Parenting Relationships
Episodes
  • A Parent's Perspective
    May 8 2025

    In the fourth and final episode of EmpowerED, the Leadership Academy Fellows discuss the special education process with an expert education attorney, who is also a parent of children with IEPs, and a former educator.

    Hosts

    • Golnaz Alemousavi
    • Faith Deredge

    Guest

    • Francis Shefter, parent, former educator, and current principal attorney of Shefter Law, P.A. in Rockville Maryland. Contact information for Shefter Law and other resources can be found here: https://shefterlaw.com

    Stress-Free IEP YouTube videos: www.youtube.com/@shefterlawpa

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    26 mins
  • Intersection of Special Education and School Discipline
    May 8 2025

    In the third episode of EmpowerED, the Leadership Academy Fellows discuss the intersection of special education rights and the school disciplinary system with two experienced attorneys, who represent students in school disciplinary proceedings.

    Hosts

    • Michele Hall
    • Kathleen Godwin

    Guests

    • Alyssa Fieo, education attorney at Office of the Public Defender in the Juvenile Protection Division
    • https://m.facebook.com/MDSuspensionRep/
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    47 mins
  • Focus from the Classroom
    May 8 2025

    In the second episode of EmpowerED, the Leadership Academy Fellows interview special education experts within the school system to understand the IEP and 504 process from an educator’s perspective.

    Hosts

    • Maame Nyamekye
    • Bishop Sakyi
    • Jessica Ledingham

    Guests

    • Ama Presno, special education teacher in Prince George's County Public Schools and manager of kindergarten and third grade special education programs
    • Dr. Cavena Griffith, principal of Harriet R. Tubman Elementary School in Gaithersburg, Maryland

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    52 mins
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