Missy Alexander is the Director of Education at The Parents’ Place of Maryland, has been with the organization since 2002. She is the mother of an adult daughter with an Autism Spectrum Disorder, who was educated in the St. Mary’s County Public Schools for her entire academic career. She is the Co-Chair of the St. Mary’s County Local Management Board, serving as a community member. She is an active member of the Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates (COPAA), serving on its Board of Directors where she was the first advocate to serve as Board Chair. Missy’s approach in working with families is driven by the firm belief that parents are the best advocates for their children, and she provides them with the information, support and encouragement to empower them to do so.

Theresa Sester, a mother of three, including one child with Autism and another with ADHD, has firsthand experience navigating the California public school system. She specializes in a broad range of services, from advocacy and dispute resolution to vocational planning for young adults. Theresa's deep understanding of federal and state laws enables her to bridge the achievement gap, ensuring that children with special needs receive appropriate educational programs and services. She actively participates in IEP meetings, reviews evaluations, and, when necessary, advocates for additional assessments. Theresa also excels in facilitating positive relationships between families and school districts, offering parent coaching and linking families with essential community resources. Her comprehensive approach and dedication to advocacy make her an invaluable asset to parents navigating the special education system. Beyond her advocacy, Theresa is an active member of the Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates (COPAA) and serves as the Co-Chair on the Parent Committee. 

Laura Kaloi, MPA - With over twenty-five years of DC-based experience, she is an accomplished public affairs executive with keen interest and demonstrated results in Prek-16 education and health policy. Laura creates partnerships, alliances and opportunities for clients to expand and strengthen their policy prowess, funding capacity, leadership, visibility and organizational effectiveness on key priorities. Laura has worked for health and education-focused nonprofit organizations as a senior executive as well as the private sector. As a nationally recognized policy expert and child advocate, she has led and consulted on successful initiatives with the U.S. Congress, federal agencies, and with the White House. Throughout her career, she has successfully influenced PreK-16 education, career and technical education, disability and workforce laws. With a focus on vulnerable children and adults, Laura is recognized for her policy and advocacy successes in early learning, early literacy, education assessments and accountability, elementary and secondary education. Laura is a published writer and enjoys public speaking, especially when she is training new advocates to find the power of their story. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of Utah and a Master in Public Administration from Brigham Young University, Romney Institute of Public Management where she currently advises MPA candidates and serves on the Executive Advisory Board. Laura is a volunteer mentor to young women ages 12-18, proud public high school varsity basketball parent, avid reader and especially loves to harangue her family into watching musicals.

Andrew Feinstein, Esq. (Connecticut) - Andrew has represented children with disabilities as an attorney for the past 20 years. For the past eight years, he has practiced out of Mystic, Connecticut. He now has an office in Manchester, Connecticut, as well, with two lawyers in it. He co-chairs the Governmental Affairs Committee of COPAA and is an adjunct professor in the School of Education of both Central Connecticut State University and Southern Connecticut State University. Attorney Feinstein was graduated from Wesleyan University in 1972 and the New York University School of Law in 1975. He completed the Senior Manager in Government Program at the Kennedy School, Harvard University, in 1983. He has served as a professional staff member of the House Committee on Armed Services and Chief Counsel of the House Civil Service Subcommittee.

Chris Roe serves as Director of State Policy for the Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates. In this role, he supports COPAA members in advocating for policies that support students with disabilities at the state and local levels. In addition, Roe currently serves as the co-chair of the Special Education Advisory Council for New Orleans Public Schools and co-founded Sunshine Parents, an advocacy and support group that empowers parents and guardians of students with disabilities to successfully advocate for their students at the school and district level. Roe is also the founder and President of EnAbled Learning Partners, which supports families, organizations and agencies in strengthening special education programs and policy. Roe received his Master’s of Public Policy from the University of California-Berkeley Goldman School of Public Policy and his B.S. from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Roe lives in New Orleans, Louisiana where he and his husband are raising two young boys, both of whom attend public schools and have a range of learning disabilities. 

Edgar Pacheco, Jr. serves as both a special education advocate and a parent liaison who shares his skill as a staff interpreter with National ARD/IEP Advocates and translator. A native of Brownsville, Texas, Edgar experienced firsthand the difficulties faced by students with disabilities in the Texas Valley's public schools. Undaunted, Edgar ran for a position on the Pearland Independent School District Board of Trustees in the 2020 election and garnered 7.511 votes. He has been a delegate for the Texas State Republican Convention and a National Alternate Delegate to the 2020 Republican National Convention. During the 2021 87th Regular Session of the Texas State Legislature, whipped the vote for HB 1252-a bill to extend the statute of limitations for special education due process hearings from one to two years. It should be noted that prior to Edgar's efforts the statute of limitations had been one year since 2004. Thanks to Edgar's relentless advocacy the Texas Legislature changed the statute of limitation from one to two years and renamed the bill The Edgar Pacheco Jr. Act and the Governor signed the bill into law in June of 2021. A graduate of Pearland High School the year before the COVID-19 pandemic, Edgar earned his associates degree from San Jacinto College in 2021 and is currently a student at University of Houston/Clear Lake pursuing a BA in Public Service Leadership.

Mr. Louis H. Geigerman has been a professional advocate since 1995 when he founded National ARD/IEP Advocates. In late 2006 he founded College Disability Advocates in order to assist college students with special needs in acquiring reasonable accommodations from their educational institutions. In the fall of 2007 he became a part-time paralegal with the Philpot Law Office, P.C. He has logged over 7500 hours in IEP and Section 504 meetings, over 400 hours in mediations and resolution sessions and over 500 hours in due process hearings. 

He is a charter member of the Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates (COPAA) and the Texas Organization of Parents Attorneys and Advocates (TOPAA). He has attended numerous training opportunities in special education law conducted by COPAA, The ARC, Advocacy Inc. and the Learning Disabilities Association of Texas. He has spoken to a number of groups regarding special education services including, The ARC of Houston, The Texas State Autism Conference, The Council of Parents, Attorneys and Advocates ( COPAA), The Learning Disabilities Association of Fort Bend County, Future Horizons the Houston Young Lawyers Association and The Northwest Houston Chapter of the Autism Society of America. He was also active in lobbying efforts for the 2004 reauthorization of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. 

In the summer of 2007, he was featured in a chapter on advocacy in the newly released book by Scott Teel, Defending and Parenting Children Who Learn Differently: Lessons from Edison's Mother for Praeger Publishers. In 2014 he helped establish an annual endowed lecture series entitled "The Benjamin J. Geigerman Lecture through the University Of Texas Health Science Center in Houston. In 2015 he assisted in the successful effort in passing legislation in the Texas Legislature to mandate the installation of surveillance cameras in the self-contained special needs classrooms. He is a past president of The Sean Ashley House, and a former board member of the Greater Houston Chapter of the Autism Society of America and The Texas Organization of Parents, Attorneys and Advocates. He has been an adviser for a continuing series of reports on KRIV-TV Fox 26 in Houston regarding special education and the public schools. 

In March of 2020, he was named a recipient of the 2020 Diane Lipton Award for "Outstanding Educational Advocacy on behalf of Children with Disabilities" by the Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates, Inc. at the organization's national conference in Baltimore, Maryland. He is the proud father of Benjamin that passed away in July of 2011 and a daughter Kayla who is employed in the marketing division of a major cybersecurity company.

Since 1999, Mr. Goodmark has dedicated a majority of his practice to representing families, teachers and students in their pursuit of equality, fairness and justice in Georgia’s schools.  Mr. Goodmark provides full service legal representation in all types of education law proceedings ranging from appearances at educational planning meetings to representing clients in complex federal litigation.

In addition, Mr. Goodmark works with a variety of stakeholders to ensure that students with disabilities in the most vulnerable circumstances, including court involved youth and those with mental illness or developmental disabilities, received their federally mandated right to free, appropriate public education.  Working within the educational, juvenile justice and child welfare systems, Mr. Goodmark has presented to a multitude of stakeholders about the impact of the state and federal education laws on Georgia’s youth with disabilities.

Mr. Goodmark also commits a portion of his practice to securing and enforcing the constitutional rights of Georgia’s citizens.  Mr. Goodmark has represented and secured positive outcomes for many clients seeking relief for the unlawful intrusion on their constitutionally guaranteed civil rights.  From students unlawfully detained while at school, to teachers illegally terminated after exercising their First Amendment rights to freedom of speech, Mr. Goodmark has worked to ensure access to justice through the both state and the federal court system.

CRAIG GOODMARK AT A GLANCE

•    Education Law Attorney•    Represents Families, Teachers and Students with Disabilities•    Focus on Special Education Matters in Georgia•    Constitutional/Civil Rights Practice for Georgia’s citizens•    Student/Educator First Amendment Claims•    Fourth Amendment Search/Seizure Claims•    Open Records/Open Meetings Act Issues

Dr. Brandi Tanner is a Licensed Psychologist in the state of Georgia, Nationally Certified School Psychologist (NCSP), and former special educator with two decades years of experience in her fields. After attending hundreds of IEP, 504, and Student Support Team (SST) meetings and witnessing the stress faced by overwhelmed parents, she founded Your IEP Source as a way to demystify the complexities of the IEP process and empower parent-advocates.

Dr. Tanner received degrees in elementary and special education from West Virginia University and was awarded her Ph.D. in School Psychology from the University of South Florida. She worked in the public school setting for several years, giving her insider knowledge of special education rules and procedures. With experience as an educator and psychologist, Dr. Tanner is highly qualified to provide interpretation of psychoeducation evaluations and as well as information on appropriate educational interventions and services. Along with Your IEP Source, Dr. Brandi runs a private psychology practice specializing in psychological evaluations for children and adolescent

Cheri Belkowitz is the Managing Member and founder of Belkowitz Law, PLLC. She is an education attorney who practices throughout Virginia and in Washington, D.C. Cheri is a zealous advocate for children with disabilities and their families in all school-related matters. She represents families in special education law matters arising under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. 

Cheri is active in the special needs community, and she served four terms as Chair of the Fairfax County Public Schools Advisory Committee for Students with Disabilities (a school district with approximately 28,000 students with disabilities). She also served as a member of the Fairfax Equity Stakeholders Committee and as a Director on the Board of The Arc of Northern Virginia. Cheri is presently the Vice-Chair of the Fairfax County Police Civilian Review Panel, and she currently serves on the Board of the Fairfax Special Education PTA (“SEPTA”). Among other recognitions, Cheri received the JCC of Northern Virginia (“JCCNV”) Finkelstein Award for her service, leadership, and program development in the special needs community and the SEPTA “Community Champion Award” in 2020 for her exceptional commitment to the special needs community in the public schools. In 2022, Cheri received the SEPTA “Genie” Award for her outstanding educational programming for the special needs community.
 
Cheri is a sought-after presenter, and she speaks multiple times a year on various topics related to special education, including special education for military families. Cheri was invited by the Secretary of the Air Force as a civic leader to participate in the National Security Forum at Air War College at Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery, Alabama, to share perspectives with senior military officers on strategic leadership, national security, and global security. Cheri has presented on various topics, and she has presented many times for military families, JAG attorneys, and other professionals by speaking at COPAA Conferences, at Exceptional Family Member Program ("EFMP") events, as a faculty member in the PELE Clinic’s Military Boot Camp through William and Mary Law School, and as a presenter for the American Bar Association. Most recently, she served on the faculty at the 78th Annual Legal Assistance Course at the Judge Advocate General's Legal Center and School where she taught special education law to JAG attorneys from all military branches.
 
Cheri graduated cum laude from Brandeis University, and she earned her Juris Doctor, magna cum laude, from Syracuse University College of Law. Cheri served as Notes and Comments Editor of The Syracuse Law Review and was a member of the Justinian Honorary Law Society. At graduation from law school, Cheri was awarded the Dean’s Most Outstanding Contribution Award. Cheri grew up in Livingston, New Jersey, and she currently lives in Fairfax Station, Virginia. She and her husband, Harold, have three children.

Melissa K. Waugh (she/her/hers) is a skilled attorney in practice for over twenty years. She has practiced special education law for the last thirteen years. Melissa represents parents at IEP meetings, in mediation, with state and federal complaints, in due process hearings, and in federal and state litigation. Her representation includes matters arising under the IDEA, the ADA, Section 504, and Title IX. Melissa graduated cum laude from the University of North Texas with a Bachelor of Applied Arts and Sciences degree with a focus in biology, chemistry, and physics. Melissa received her Juris Doctor degree, cum laude, from the University of Houston Law Center in 2000. While attending law school, Melissa served on the Houston Journal of International Law as Articles Editor, the Student Bar Association as 1st Vice President & Section Representative, the Honor Court as a Justice, the Health Law Organization, and the Public Interest Law Organization. She also won first place in the Tom Newhouse Mediation Competition. Melissa also holds a Master of Public Health degree from the University of Texas-Health Science Center. Melissa and her husband, Lt. Col. Bryan "Marty" Waugh (Ret.), are the parents of two amazing children who happen to have special needs. After adopting their children from foster care in 2010 and being exposed for the first time to special education and IEPs, Melissa quickly realized how complicated this area of the law is and the dire need for more attorneys representing the interests of parents of children with disabilities in our schools. Melissa started her own law firm to assist families of children with disabilities and has served as a Guardian ad Litem for children in court. She joined Belkowitz Law, PLLC in 2018. Melissa regularly presents to parent and professional groups and has served as faculty for COPAA, the Institute for Special Education Advocacy at William & Mary Law School, VPLC Annual Statewide Legal Aid Conference, the University of Richmond School of Law Special Education Symposium, and the National Business Institute. She is a long-time member of COPAA, and a member of the Special Education Advisory Committee (“SEAC”) for Loudoun County Public Schools. Melissa is licensed to practice law in Virginia, Maryland, and Washington, D.C.

Dr. Diana Naddeo is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist. Dedicated to seeing “the whole child,” she takes a special interest in pediatric psychological assessments that focus on emotions, personality, learning, and behavior. She integrates all of this information to understand her patients in a culturally sensitive manner.

Dr. Naddeo is well versed in psychiatric diagnosis, educational assessment and a wide range of treatment approaches, using this information to create a useful and effective plan for patients and their families. She also values the relationship between herself and her patients, and strives to create a warm, accepting and easy-going atmosphere while also emphasizing the need to undo old patterns of behavior that are barriers to healthy fun

Stacey Tié is a professional Non-Attorney Special Education Advocate at the Law Office of Laura Heneghan, LLC. Stacey has been practicing Advocacy professionally since 2019. She has completed coursework related to special education advocacy through the Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates (COPAA) Special Education Advocacy Training (SEAT) 2.0. She also completed Wrightslaw’s Special Education Law & Advocacy Training. Stacey received her certification in Mental Health First Aid USA through the National Council of Behavior Health. She has completed 60+hours of training in Orton Gillingham. She is a member of the Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates (COPAA). Stacey has an associate’s degree in Theater from the American Musical and Dramatic Academy and a Bachelor in Business Finance from Pace University.

Sandra Dixon Shove is a former elementary educator, a non-attorney special education advocate in private practice, and a longtime Autism Society affiliate leader.

 She has 12 years of experience teaching, 13 years advocating for children with a variety of disabilities, and more than 14 years supporting and mentoring parents, as well as developing and presenting community awareness programs countywide as an Autism Society leader.

Ann Simun, Psy.D. has been working professionally with children with learning and behavioral challenges since 1989. She is a licensed psychologist (PSY20113), with a specialization in neuropsychology. She is also a credentialed and experienced School Counselor, School Psychologist, and Licensed Educational Psychologist, making her eligible to conduct IEEs for school district matters. 

Dr. Simun is a member of the American Psychological Association, National Academy of Neuropsychology, and International Neuropsychological Society. She regularly presents at conferences nationwide and provides training for school districts, parents, advocates, and nonprofit disability agencies. Dr. Simun conducts neuropsychological and psychoeducational assessments, provides expert witness and consultation services, conducts formal observations, and teaches psychoeducational assessment at the graduate level.

Dr. Brandi Tanner is a Licensed Psychologist in the state of Georgia, Nationally Certified School Psychologist (NCSP), and former special educator with two decades years of experience in her fields. After attending hundreds of IEP, 504, and Student Support Team (SST) meetings and witnessing the stress faced by overwhelmed parents, she founded Your IEP Source as a way to demystify the complexities of the IEP process and empower parent-advocates.

Dr. Tanner received degrees in elementary and special education from West Virginia University and was awarded her Ph.D. in School Psychology from the University of South Florida. She worked in the public school setting for several years, giving her insider knowledge of special education rules and procedures. With experience as an educator and psychologist, Dr. Tanner is highly qualified to provide interpretation of psychoeducation evaluations and as well as information on appropriate educational interventions and services. Along with Your IEP Source, Dr. Brandi runs a private psychology practice specializing in psychological evaluations for children and adolescent

Ashley Barlow’s passion for special education advocacy stems from her experiences as a general education teacher and from advocating for a more inclusive educational placement for her son, Jack, who has Down syndrome. She has attended and presented at many national conferences for special education attorneys and advocates, including the Institute of Special Education (faculty in 2020, 2021). She also holds a certificate of Training in Advocacy and is on the State Advisory Board for Exceptional Children in Kentucky.

Ashley owns a law firm, Meier & Barlow Law Firm, that focuses on special education and special needs estate planning, as well as an on-line business, Ashley Barlow Co., which was established to empower IEP team members via a podcast, on-line courses, many other resources. Prior to practicing law, Ashley was a teacher in Jefferson County and Cincinnati Public school systems and a professor at her alma mater, Miami University. Ashley attended Salmon P. Chase College of Law.

When not working, Ashley is normally at the pool with her husband and two sons or grabbing a coffee in her 1975 Volkswagen bus.

Melissa K. Waugh (she/her/hers) is a skilled attorney in practice for over twenty years. She has practiced special education law for the last thirteen years. Melissa represents parents at IEP meetings, in mediation, with state and federal complaints, in due process hearings, and in federal and state litigation. Her representation includes matters arising under the IDEA, the ADA, Section 504, and Title IX. Melissa graduated cum laude from the University of North Texas with a Bachelor of Applied Arts and Sciences degree with a focus in biology, chemistry, and physics. Melissa received her Juris Doctor degree, cum laude, from the University of Houston Law Center in 2000. While attending law school, Melissa served on the Houston Journal of International Law as Articles Editor, the Student Bar Association as 1st Vice President & Section Representative, the Honor Court as a Justice, the Health Law Organization, and the Public Interest Law Organization. She also won first place in the Tom Newhouse Mediation Competition. Melissa also holds a Master of Public Health degree from the University of Texas-Health Science Center. Melissa and her husband, Lt. Col. Bryan "Marty" Waugh (Ret.), are the parents of two amazing children who happen to have special needs. After adopting their children from foster care in 2010 and being exposed for the first time to special education and IEPs, Melissa quickly realized how complicated this area of the law is and the dire need for more attorneys representing the interests of parents of children with disabilities in our schools. Melissa started her own law firm to assist families of children with disabilities and has served as a Guardian ad Litem for children in court. She joined Belkowitz Law, PLLC in 2018. Melissa regularly presents to parent and professional groups and has served as faculty for COPAA, the Institute for Special Education Advocacy at William & Mary Law School, VPLC Annual Statewide Legal Aid Conference, the University of Richmond School of Law Special Education Symposium, and the National Business Institute. She is a long-time member of COPAA, and a member of the Special Education Advisory Committee (“SEAC”) for Loudoun County Public Schools. Melissa is licensed to practice law in Virginia, Maryland, and Washington, D.C.

Amy Bonn Esq. is a Nebraska attorney providing legal representation to families of children with disabilities in special education matters. Amy is a summa cum laude graduate of Creighton University School of Law, where she was a member of the board of editors of the Creighton Law Review. She is licensed to practice in state and federal courts in Nebraska. 

Amy is also a proud parent of children with developmental disabilities. She completed a ten-month traineeship in disability advocacy and leadership at the University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities at the Munroe-Meyer Institute, University of Nebraska Medical Center, where her research focus was on parental advocacy in special education.

Luz Santana, is RQI’s co-founder and co-director of democracy-building programs. Luz helped develop the concept of Microdemocracy — the idea that low-income people can begin to participate in their ordinary encounters with public and publicly funded institutions. She is the co-author of Make Just One Change, published by Harvard Education Press in 2011, and Partnering with Parents. Luz has a B.A and M.A. from the Springfield College School of Human Services, and she was chosen as a Community Fellow at M.I.T. Luz is dedicated to finding the simplest ways to make it possible for all people to learn how to think and act more effectively on their own behalf. Her work is informed not only by her personal experience as a former welfare recipient, but also by lessons from people all over the country and beyond with whom RQI has worked for the past twenty years. In the course of her work, Santana has traveled the country as a presenter, facilitator, and keynote speaker — in English and Spanish. Within the past year she has spoken at the ASCD Empower Conference, the Los Angeles Unified School District’s 2018 Parent Summit, the Spring CUE 2018 National Conference, and Columbia University, among other engagements.

Naomi Campbell, Esq. is the director of the Legal Empowerment Program at the Right Question Institute (RQI). She supports legal professionals working in low-income communities, who use RQI's methods to help their clients feel greater self-efficacy and independence, partner more effectively with service providers, and advocate for themselves, in the legal system and beyond. 

Prior to joining RQI, Naomi was a legal fellow with Centro de los Derechos del Migrante (CDM) in Mexico City, where she supported migrant workers in defending their rights as they moved between their home communities in Mexico and their places of work in the United States. She has also represented asylum-seekers and was a teaching assistant for cross-disciplinary negotiation and dispute resolution courses. She earned her J.D. cum laude from Harvard Law School and is a member of the New York Bar.

Kevin Riera is the program coordinator for RQI’s Legal Empowerment Program. He supports the Legal Empowerment Program through outreach and by helping bring RQI’s methods and strategies to various members of the legal community. Kevin graduated from Stanford University with a bachelor’s degree, with honors, in anthropology. His honors thesis focused on linguistic anthropology — pursuing a better understanding of the lived experiences of Ecuadorian migrants in Minneapolis in relation to race and ethnicity. During his undergraduate career, Kevin was involved in a variety of organizations, including the Student Immigrant Empowerment Project. He has also spent time in Ecuador and Colombia for teaching fellowships, where he gained an appreciation for teaching and education. Prior to joining RQI, he worked as a research associate at Thomson Reuters, where he handled due diligence and document retrieval requests for numerous firms and businesses.

David Beinke, former Director of Advocacy with the Cirkiel Law Group from 97-2021, now Advocate Nomad, provides a unique brand of support for children with disabilities and fellow advocates in their educational and community environment in the state of Texas and beyond in his “ Hotel Prius” After serving in the Marines, his career path started when he began working at Denton State School in 1977 in the Texas mental health/intellectual disability system.

David helps families in all areas of IDEA, as well as entitlement and benefits such as State VR, SSA, Medicaid Waiver Program, etc. As a musician, he frequents the various summer musical venues in the Central Texas area as a drummer. He is a long-time COPAA member, co-chair of the COPAA Advocate Committee, TOPAA Board member, and former COPAA Board of Directors sitting member.

Charmaine Thaner has been called a change–maker by parents, teachers, administrators, and students. Her 30+ years of advocacy have changed her son, Dylan’s life, and hundreds of students with disabilities so they may have richer, more inclusive lives. She was a special educator for 15 years, then became a general educator for 15 years, and throughout her teaching career, she was committed to including traditionally marginalized students.

After retiring as a teacher, she was the Education Specialist at PEAK Parent Center and an adjunct special education instructor at the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs. Charmaine has presented at national conferences for TASH, CADRE, ARC, and the National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities. Charmaine is the author of the #1 Amazon Best Selling book, The Art of Advocacy: A Parent’s Guide to a Collaborative IEP Process. She writes, produces, and hosts the Facebook live show, The Art of Advocacy.

Missy Alexander is the Director of Education at The Parents’ Place of Maryland, has been with the organization since 2002. She is the mother of an adult daughter with an Autism Spectrum Disorder, who was educated in the St. Mary’s County Public Schools for her entire academic career. She is the Co-Chair of the St. Mary’s County Local Management Board, serving as a community member. She is an active member of the Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates (COPAA), serving on its Board of Directors where she was the first advocate to serve as Board Chair. Missy’s approach in working with families is driven by the firm belief that parents are the best advocates for their children, and she provides them with the information, support and encouragement to empower them to do so.

Christa Gabriel is a dedicated Special Education Advocate with over a decade of experience advocating for youth with disabilities and their families. Currently serving as an Education Advocate at Disability Rights Montana, Christa is committed to empowering students with disabilities across Montana. She has a successful track record of advocacy within IEP meetings, effectively resolving disputes between parents and school districts while ensuring the rights of students with disabilities are both protected and enhanced. Christa is a firm believer in equipping and empowering students and families with the necessary information and tools to navigate immediate conflicts and foster lasting self-advocacy into adulthood and community living.

Tal Goldin is a Helena, MT, based civil rights attorney. He is the Supervising Attorney for Education, Employment, and Benefits at Disability Rights Montana, the State’s Protection and Advocacy organization. Tal is the former Director of Advocacy at Montana Legal Services Association (MLSA), where he co-lead a team of over 25 public interest lawyers addressing the civil legal needs of low-income Montanans. Prior to his work at MLSA, Tal was the Supervising Attorney for the Education Unit at Disability Rights Montana. Tal has taught Special Education Law, Policy, and Practice at the University of Montana, Phyllis J. Washington College of Education and Human Sciences, served as an adjunct professor at the University of Montana School of Law, and presented throughout Montana and nationally on the civil rights of students with disabilities. He is a member of COPAA’s Board of Directors, co-chairs COPAA’s membership committee, and serves on the amicus committee. Tal is admitted to practice law before Montana state and federal courts, Washington state courts, and the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. He is a member of the Order of Barristers, the American Association for Justice, and the Montana Trial Lawyers’ Association.

Tal lives in Helena, MT with his wife, a licensed clinical social work and Board Certified Behavior Analyst, their two kids, a Saint Bernard, and her unwitting companion, a brown tabby cat. In his spare time, Tal enjoys fly fishing Montana’s many trout streams and exploring its natural beauties.

Michelle Weltman is a lawyer and social worker and has been an advocate for education access issues in Montana, Missouri, and Illinois for the better part of ten years. In 2022, she joined Disability Rights Montana, as an attorney on the education team. Michelle has dedicated her career to individuals with the greatest need and least access to legal representation. She has focused her advocacy on education rights, domestic violence, and other civil rights issues. Previous to DRM, she worked at Legal Services of Eastern Missouri and Land of Lincoln Legal Assistance Foundation (SO IL), on matters of special education, residency, discipline, homelessness, and efforts to disrupt the ‘school to prison pipeline.’ She has presented on educational access issues to groups varying from the National Legal Aid and Defender’s (NLADA) Conference, to a state-wide conference of legal aid service providers, to a cohort of homeless mothers staying in a shelter. Michelle taught the how-to’s of IEP meetings to Missouri’s state-wide CASA conference participants offering multiple sessions reaching over 150 people.

Michelle relocated to Missoula, MT, in 2021 and hasn’t looked back. She received her JD and masters in Social Work (MSW) from Washington University in St. Louis, along with a BS in Business Administration, Marketing.

Sara D. Platenburg (she/her/hers) is a Special Education Advocate (non-attorney) assisting families with the special education process, across multiple states. Sara assists families through all aspects of the special education process including eligibility, IEP development, implementation and progress monitoring, state and federal complaints, and in mediation. Sara Platenberg graduated from Illinois State with a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice Sciences with a focus in Sociology and Juvenile Justice. Sara received her Masters Degree in Education with a focus in Gifted and Talented and Twice Exceptional Populations. She served the public school system in Virginia as a Gifted and Talented Specialist where she focused on Twice Exceptionality and meeting the needs of 2E (twice-exceptional) students while utilizing researched based inclusion strategies. Sara is a mother of three boys, all of which have special needs, including two who also have Type 1 Diabetes. Her years and experience as an educator and experience implementing strategies to meet the needs of students with learning differences, helped support Sara’s journey as a new parent when she began navigating the public school special education system on a personal level. During her first eligibility meeting as a parent, Sara immediately realized the complexities of the special education process for parents and the critical need for advocacy on behalf of parents and students with health and special education needs in the public school system. In 2012, Sara joined Educational Advocacy and Consulting, LLC. Sara presents to parent and professional groups and is an expert witness for special education cases. She is a member of the Council of Parents, Attorneys, and Advocates, the National Association for Gifted Children, and a member of the Special Education Advisory Committee (SEAC) for Loudoun County Public Schools. Educational Advocacy and Consulting and The Dyslexia Center assist families with Advocacy and Consulting, Assessments, and Tutoring across a multitude of states. Sara advocates for students in Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, North Carolina, New York, and Illinois.

Shemica is an instructor for COPAA's SEAT 1.0, SEAT 2.0, The Business of Special Education Advocacy, and also works as a TA. She is also the founder of a Special Education advocacy business called Personalized Learning Solutions. Shemica began her teaching career in 2000 teaching cardiac education classes in two cardiac rehabilitation programs in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex.  She kept advancing her career in the area of Special Education after she received her Principal certification and later gained experience as a Lead Case Manager/Response to Intervention Coordinator at a middle school in Crowley ISD, Special Education Team Lead at a high school in McKinney ISD, and Vocational Adjustment Coordinator in Garland ISD. She also has experience as a Content Mastery Teacher, Homebound Teacher, and In Home Trainer. Shemica has completed the Special Education Advocate Training (SEAT) 2.0 training through the Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates (COPAA) which is a nationally developed and recognized year-long course that will help her better serve current and future clients.  She has attended hundreds of ARD/IEP, 504, and Student Support Team (SST) meetings. Shemica also has extensive training in facilitating Admission, Review, and Dismissal (ARD)/IEP committee meetings which requires effective  communication, problem solving, decision making, and conflict resolution.