Members at Large
Jennifer Rutland
Member-at-Large
(2022-2023)
Samantha Storey
President (2023-2023)
Samantha L. Storey I have been involved in the field of special education for 15+ years. My passion for the field began with her participation in the Best Buddies program in high school and advocating for students in the Life Skills program. After completing college with a degree in Special Education I began special education teaching career in a public-school setting to a broad range of students I am level one Wilson Certified and trained in Lindamood Bell LIPS. Over the past year I have participated in COPAA’s SEAT 2.0 training. Since leaving the public schools, I am currently offering private tutoring and advocacy services to students and families.
Beth Tremblay-Hall
Treasurer (2023-2023)
Beth Tremblay Hall I truly enjoy my role as a professional Educational Advocate and have been fortunate to be helping children and families for over ten years now. Previously I have served as the V.P. of Programming, Membership Secretary, 1st Vice President, and President of SPaN. I have also been an active member of COPAA. My training consists of an array of workshops with experts in related fields, Fundamentals/Suffolk Law School, Wrightslaw, in addition, I was fortunate to study with two highly respected Advocates as mentors.
Susan Shapiro
Recording Clerk (2022-2023)
Susan Shapiro is a special education surrogate parent, educational consultant, special education advocate, speech-language pathologist and owner of Speaking of Ability, Inc. She has over 30 years of experience working with students, families, educators, specialists, and administrators in an urban public-school setting. Susan completed the Federation of Children with Special Needs Parent Consultant Training Institute and Internship program, SESP and Training the Trainer programs. She is a member of Special Needs Advocacy Network, COPAA and ASHA. Susan maintains currency in the fields of special education and speech-language pathology through professional workshops and courses. Susan looks forward to supporting Special Needs Advocacy Network members, parents, and students by serving on the Special Needs Advocacy Network Board of Directors.
Denise Elliott
Member-at-Large (2022-2024)
I have been working in the field of special education for over 30 years as a teacher and an administrator. My role for the past 16 years has been the Director of Learning Services at a private school in Andover, MA. In this role, I supported families to obtain special education evaluations and advocated for these families in IEP meetings. I would ghost write evaluation request letters, review testing and support families throughout this process. I have also successfully supported families in their requests for IEEs and mediation with public schools in the Merrimack Valley. I recently left this school and I have started my own advocacy practice. I have completed the COPAA SEAT 3.0, the PCTI training with the Federation for Children with Special Needs and a Wrights Law Training on Special Education Advocates Tactics and Strategies along with professional development on EF strategies/coaching, Dyslexia, Dyscalculia, ADHD academic and psychological evaluations.
Marge Sunners
Member-at-Large (2021-2023)
Marge Sunners has been a member of Special Needs Advocacy Network since 1995, when she first became a Federation for Children with Special Needs trained advocate. Since 1997, she has served on the SPaN Board on multiple committees and as a past Treasurer, past Membership V.P. and more recently as a past Member-at-Large. As a professional Special Needs Advocate, in private practice, Marge’s primary focus has been on assisting individuals and their families who have a child with a hearing loss. She is able to communicate in ASL with her Deaf clients and their families, who use American Sign Language, as she is also a parent of a now adult bilingual Deaf son, diagnosed with hearing loss and additional disabilities.
Marge has been a Federation for Children with Special Needs Parent Trainer, and an advisor to the Massachusetts Dept. of Education working along with MCDHH to help promote appropriate policy for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing children in Massachusetts. She has previously served many years on the Advisory committees to Yesodot, Gateway, Sudbury Valley Special Needs Initiative, the Advisory Committee of Bureau of Jewish Education, as well as a past board member of Jewish Family Services of Metrowest, and a past president of Women’s American ORT. Currently Marge serves on two committees outside of SPaN. Marge is a community representative on the Jewish Community Relations Council of Boston, with her personal goal of helping to represent the interests of individuals with special needs within the Jewish Community, and the MCDHH Advisory Task Force, working towards improving life in Massachusetts for those with hearing loss, through legislative and other means.
Ellen McGee
Member-at-Large (2022-2024)
I have served four terms on the Special Needs Advocacy Network’s Board of Directors as a Member at Large and interim Treasurer. I am passionate about Special Needs Advocacy Network’s mission and appreciate the dedication of the Executive Board Members. I wish to continue as a Member-at-Large and progressively contribute whenever I can. I have advocated for children with unique educational needs and disabilities for 16 years. My training started with The Federation for Children with Special Needs. I continue my education through Suffolk University, COPAA, Landmark Outreach programs, Wrightslaw, and Special Needs Advocacy Network programs. I have an affinity for the law and have successfully advocated for educational needs and placement for children with Dyslexia. In my next term as a Member-at-Large, I look forward to serving on the Credentialing Committee and the Legal Bylaws and Policy Committee going forward.
