Universal Design for Learning: 3-hour Workshop Saturday April 26 UDL is a framework for designing curricula so ALL students gain knowledge, skills, and enthusiasm for learning. Get info & registration form New Position!: Professional Development  MCIE is expanding its systems change work and developing new resources. We are looking for a professional with a passion for inclusion and experience to share. Contact cquirk@mcie.org. Position Description Board Member Position: Apply to the MCIE Board of Directors  MCIE is looking for individuals who want to support the MCIE mission by contributing as a Board member. Submit an application to mcie@mcie.org. Get application here         Board of Directors President: Mark Martin, Esq. Law Offices of Mark B. Martin, P.A. Treasurer: Rebecca Salon, Ph.D. Vice President Lt., J.P. Kennedy Institute Directors: Tess Blumenthal Principal Valley Elementary School Tonia Ferguson, Esq. Director Education and Legal Advocacy The ARC of Maryland Teresa LaMaster, Esq. Parent Janice Siebenhaar Special Education Resource Teacher Baltimore County Public Schools Administration Joann Sykes Administrative Assistant joann@mcie.org Read Bio... Tess Walter Office Manager mcie@mcie.org Read Bio... Advocacy Services Selene A. Almazan, Esq. Director selene@mcie.org Read Bio... Katherine Carver, Esq. Staff Attorney kcarver@mcie.org Read Bio... Julie Sobin Intake Coordinator jsobin@mcie.org Read Bio... Judy Terle Family Advisor judy@mcie.org Read Bio... Professional Development Services Carol Quirk, Ed.D. Director cquirk@mcie.org Read Bio... Xuan Bui Facilitator xbui@mcie.org Read Bio... Barb Gruber, Ph.D. Project Manager barb@mcie.org Read Bio... Marny Helfrich Facilitator marny@mcie.org Read Bio... Kirsty MacIver kmaciver@mcie.org Read Bio... Michele Valenti Intern michele@mcie.org Read Bio... Biographical Info Selene Almazan the Director of Advocacy Services has worked for MCIE since 1992. She received her Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Maryland, College Park, and her Juris Doctor degree from Antioch School of Law. Before coming to MCIE, she was a Legal Aid Attorney who represented children in foster care with an emphasis on special education matters. Selene is on the Board of Directors for the national Council of Parent Advocates and Attorneys (COPAA). Ms. Xuan Bui Facilitator for MCIE’s Professional Development Services has worked for MCIE since 2001. Previously, she was an educational consultant focused on whole school reform with Conect. She also worked with Success for All developing curriculum as part of a US Department of Education grant for middle school reform and providing technical assistance to middle and high schools. Prior to that, Xuan co-taught and provided supports for students with disabilities in Howard County. Top of Page Katherine Carver joined MCIE in November 2007. She received her Juris Doctor degree from the University of Maryland, School of Law. She has experience advocating for individuals with disabilities in various settings. She previously held positions with the Michigan Protection and Advocacy Service, Inc. and the National Association of the Deaf. Prior to coming to MCIE, she held an associate position with Bowie & Jensen, LLC. Top of Page Barb Gruber is the Project Manager for MCIE’s Professional Development Services, coordinating work on grants and various projects with schools. She has been with MCIE since 1993 and served on the MSDE Task Force on Inclusive Education. Barb is also an instructor at the University of Maryland, College Park, in the Department of Special Education. Previously she worked at the May Institute in Massachusetts where she designed programs and interventions for people with autism and with challenging behavior. Top of Page Marny Helfrich joined MCIE as a Professional Development Facilitator in August of 2006. She has worked with young children with and without disabilities and their families in a variety of school and community settings. Prior to coming to MCIE, she was an Early Childhood Specialist in an inclusive program for children with hearing loss, where she co-taught a preschool classroom, coordinated the parent-infant program, and assisted with research and training efforts. Top of Page Kirsty MacIver joined MCIE’s Professional Development Services in 2007. She has a Masters of Science degree in Behavior Analysis from the University of North Texas where she specialized in Autism Intervention. She is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst who has been working with young children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorders in home, school and community settings since 1999. Kirsty has also worked as an Infant and Toddler Developmental Specialist for Florida ’s Infant and Toddler Program, as an Educational Consultant and Autism Specialist at the Emory Autism Center in Atlanta , GA and at the Center for Autism and Related Disabilities in Gainesville , FL. Top of Page Carol Quirk Director of Professional Development Services, is one of the founders of MCIE. After serving as Board President for its first 3 years, she joined the staff in 1990. She received her B.A. and M.A. degrees from the University of Connecticut, and her Doctor of Education Degree from the Johns Hopkins University. Prior to coming to MCIE, Carol was Executive Director of an adult services agency in Baltimore City; a Consultant to Philadelphia Public Schools; a Director of Technical Assistance Services to Early Intervention programs in North Carolina; and a special education teacher in Connecticut. Top of Page Julie Sobin graduated from The American University School of Nursing with a B.S. in 1980 and worked at Holy Cross Hospital in Silver Spring, MD in Maternal Fetal Medicine until 2000. Her love of advocacy for children led her to MCIE in 2003 as intake Coordinator. In addition to her advocacy work with MCIE, Julie volunteers with a Montgomery County mentoring program in which she mentors a young mother. Top of Page Joann Sykes has worked for MCIE since 1997 as our Administrative Assistant. In addition to her usual variety of clerical duties, she has had an intricate part in setting up our Library which now holds over 600 individual publications. Before coming to MCIE, she had recently retired from the Maryland Transportation Authority, Department of Strategic Development. Top of Page Judy Terle has worked for MCIE since 1997 as a Family Advisor. She received her Bachelor’s Degree in Education from the Ohio State University and her Masters Degree in Rehabilitation Counseling from Towson State University. Before coming to MCIE, she worked at The Arc of Maryland under a “Partners in Policy Making” grant, a Leadership Advocacy Training Program for parents of young children with developmental disabilities. Top of Page Tess Walter joined our team in 2004 as our Office Manager. She came to us highly experienced with many years of management and administrative support. Tess works closely with all aspects of MCIE work, including such areas as business administrationc, conference coordination, and office organization. Top of Page Michele Valenti joined MCIE as Professional Development Intern in October 2007. She received a M.S. in Special Education from Johns Hopkins University. She has worked with children (preschool through high school) and their families in a variety of capacities. Her experiences include: teaching in the classroom, educating and consulting with parents to assist with advocacy for their children, and volunteering in the community. Prior to coming to MCIE, she was an Education Specialist and Family Trainer. Top of Page