Newton Special Education Parent Advisory Council
c/o Office for Student Services
Education Center
100 Walnut Street
Newton, MA 02460
Email: info@newtonsepac.org (NOTE: If you receive an error response, please email newtonsepac@gmail.com.)
SEPAC Board 2025-2027
| Sarah Riccardi-Swartz | Chair |
| Maka Bubashvili | Secretary |
| Sri Sridhar | Treasurer |
| Alena Reva | Communications Chair |
| Lindsay Klump | Liaison Chair |
| Sahar Zaheer | Program Chair |
| Jenny Klein-Sosa and Eliza Spaulding | Board Emeritae |
SEPAC Liaisons 2025-2026
Each Newton school has one or more SEPAC Liaison(s) who serve as school-based parent contact(s), send communications and announcements to school communities, and organize events and gatherings that support families with students who have IEPs/504s.
Preschool
| NECP | Kris Ferreira & Jacquelyn Lykken |
Elementary Schools
| Angier | Leigh Janczak |
| Bowen | Seema Joshi & Jordyne Wu |
| Burr | Kris Ferreira & Eliza Spaulding |
| Cabot | Sam Sexton |
| Countryside | Janet Jackson & Sahar Zaheer |
| Franklin | Yael Mito & Britney Riordan |
| Horace Mann | Erica Remi |
| Lincoln Eliot | Jacquelyn Lykken |
| Mason Rice | Chris Callanan |
| Memorial-Spaulding | Jessica Gashin |
| Peirce | Elizabeth Scott |
| Underwood | Katherine Bilbo |
| Ward | David Mahlowitz |
| Williams | Jessica Harkiewicz |
| Zervas | Maureen Forry-Sorrell & Jacquelyne Orleck |
Middle Schools
| Bigelow | Vacant |
| Brown | Eliza Spaulding |
| Day | Vacant |
| Oak Hill | Jenny Klein-Sosa & Lucia Kamm |
High Schools
| Newton North | Norah Ferry, Rocio Calvo & Spencer Poole |
| Newton South | Irene Katz |
| Central High | Vacant |
Out of District Families – Hannah Schuwarz
SEPAC Committees
The Newton SEPAC runs ad-hoc committees and working groups, each focused on specific areas of need or interest. Members are welcome to join or suggest new topics at any time! Just email info@newtonsepac.org for more information about how to join an existing committee or working group, or if you have an idea for creating a new one. See below for examples from previous years.
Transition Working Group
Chair – TBD
Committee Members – TBD
The “Big T” Transition Working Group focuses on supporting families of students with disabilities who are moving from high school or transition programming into early adulthood and beyond the support of the K-12 system.
Discussion topics have included:
– Post-high school education, such as traditional college, college programming for students with disabilities, career and vocational training.
– Alternative pathway for young adults to reach their goals of employment and an independent life through job skills development and internship/employment opportunities
– Programming for adult services to enhance opportunities for adults with disabilities to become fully engaged members of their community
– The application process for federal benefits, such as Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Disability Insurance Benefits (DIB), as well as programming offered by the State through the Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission (MRC) and the Department of Developmental Services (DDS)
– Options for housing
– Recreational and social opportunities for young adults
– Life skills development
SEPAC Awards Committee
Chair – TBD
Committee Members – TBD
At the end of each school year, the SEPAC strives to acknowledge the hard work and dedication exhibited by our extraordinary NPS staff in supporting our students with special needs. The SEPAC collects nominations from parents and families for specific staff members, and we organize letters of recognition and publish public notices highlighting the excellent work and important contributions that these individuals make in students’ lives. In years past, we have held an Awards Ceremony, where leadership, families, fellow staff, and other community members have gathered to celebrate award recipients. This year, we will hold our Awards Ceremony virtually, and we welcome ideas and assistance in making this another successful event!
Newton, MA SEPAC 