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

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/

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

Special Education 101: An Introduction to IEPs and 504s

In the first episode of EmpowerED, the Leadership Academy Fellows speak with two special education legal experts, who discuss the basics of special education rights with a focus on the IEP and 504 processes.

Hosts:

• Samantha Boylan
• Albert Stancil

Guests

• Megan Berger, attorney for students with disabilities and Legal Director at Disability Rights Maryland
• Mallory Legg, disability rights attorney and director of Project H.E.A.L. (Health, Education, Advocacy, and Law) program of the Maryland Center for Developmental Disabilities at Kennedy Krieger Institute