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 2022-23
| Josh Goldstein | Co-Chair |
| Jenny Klein-Sosa | Co-Chair |
| Eliza Spaulding | Co-Chair |
| Jessi Champion | Secretary |
| Vacant | Treasurer |
| Kim Bourdeau | Board Member at Large |
| Suzanne Buchko | Board Member at Large |
| Jill Canelli | Board Member at Large |
| Kim Gallagher | Board Member at Large |
| Robin Richardson | Board Member at Large |
SEPAC Liaisons 2022-23
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. Contact Liaison Coordinator Kim Gallaugher if you would like to volunteer or have questions. All emails to the coordinator (NewtonSEPACLiaisons@gmail.com) will be distributed to individual schools as needed.
Preschool
| NECP at Aquinas | Sharon Kunder & Jacquelyn Orleck |
Elementary Schools
| Angier | Cara Colgate, Jill Hempen-Anthony, Renee Krikorian |
| Bowen | Ellen Taverna |
| Burr | Eliza Spaulding |
| Cabot | Anna Claeys |
| Countryside | Jill Canelli |
| Franklin | Yael Mito |
| Horace Mann | Kim Bourdeau |
| Lincoln Eliot | Winko An |
| Mason Rice | Lindsay MacAuley |
| Memorial-Spaulding | Jenny Klein-Sosa & Karina Simonian |
| Peirce | Jessi Champion |
| Underwood | Stacey Hero |
| Ward | Tabatha Flores & Jordyne Wu |
| Williams | Naz Nami Yenmez & James Rosenblum |
| Zervas | Maureen Forry |
Middle Schools
| Bigelow | Brigitte LaMarche & Rocio Calvo |
| Brown | Kim Gallaugher |
| Day | OPEN (Kim Gallaugher – temporary) |
| Oak Hill | Hannah Schuwarz |
High Schools
| Newton North | Lori Melchionno |
| Newton South | Kim Gallaugher & Karina Simonian |
| Central High | OPEN |
Out of District Families – Ann Rounseville
SEPAC Committees 2022-23
The Newton SEPAC runs committees and working groups, each focused on specific areas of need or interest. Members are welcome to join 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.
Transition Working Group
Chair – Suzanne Buchko
Committee Members – Kim Gallaugher, Kim Bourdeau
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 programing 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
By-laws Update Working Group
Chair – Jenny Klein-Sosa
Committee Member – Josh Goldstein
The Newton SEPAC’s most recent by-laws are from 2017 and should be reviewed. All SEPAC members are welcome to participate in this working group tasked with drafting an updated version, with the goal of a final vote during school year 2022-23.
SEPAC Awards Committee
Chair – Eliza Spaulding
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!
Click here to access the NPS Student Services & Special Education website, where you may find program overviews and staff contact information.
Newton, MA SEPAC 