Exceptional Children Conference 2026 – Summerdale

Brooke is the co-chair of the Saxton & Stump Education Group, leading the team alongside attorney Jeffrey Litts. Together, they bring decades of legal and leadership experience to school districts across Pennsylvania. With more than 20 years of experience, Brooke dedicates her practice to counseling, advising, and defending school districts, intermediate units, and educational contractors across central Pennsylvania. Her practice extends to general school law matters (policy, board procedures, pupil concerns, compliance with the Right to Know and Sunshine laws), special education, gifted education, student discipline, special investigations, and civil rights matters (including Title IX). She also supports county-based services for adults with disabilities. Brooke represents education clients and employers before federal, state, and local courts, as well as administrative agencies such as the Pennsylvania Department of Education’s Bureau of Special Education, Office for Dispute Resolution, and the U.S. Office for Civil Rights. She has also appeared before the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission, and the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, among others. In 2025, Brooke joined Saxton & Stump with other attorneys and professionals from longtime York County law firm Stock & Leader. Before joining Saxton & Stump, Brooke was the chair of the School Law Group at Stock & Leader. Brooke is a recognizable and highly sought-after speaker on education law topics, particularly special education, within and outside Pennsylvania. Recognized for her professional achievements, Brooke was named to the Central Penn Business Journal’s “Women of Influence” list in 2020, and its “Forty Under 40” list in 2014. Law and Politics Magazine selected her as a Pennsylvania Rising Star from 2012 to 2020, and The Legal Intelligencer named her a “Lawyer on the Fast Track” in Pennsylvania. Committed to her community, Brooke serves as president of the board of directors for Logos Academy, a private, faith-based K-12 school in York that primarily serves students at or near the federal poverty level.

Mr. McElligott earned a B.S. from Penn State University, a J.D. from the University of Pittsburgh, and a M.S.Ed. in Secondary Education from Duquesne University, in addition to doctoral studies (ABD) in educational leadership at Duquesne University. He has been involved in special education dispute resolution since 1994, as a member of the special education appeals panel (both as a panelist and a co-Chair) and as a hearing officer. Mr. McElligott holds Certified Hearing Officer status through the National Association of Hearing Officers. He is also trained in special education mediation. Additionally, he has over a decade of experience as an administrator at a school of education, where his duties included high-level knowledge of teacher certification training and requirements in Pennsylvania. He is certified in secondary social studies and English and has taught secondary social studies in public and private high schools, in addition to a wide array of university courses, including school law. He has published book chapters in the areas of school counseling and school law. Over the years, he has made multiple presentations on special education law at numerous professional conferences and to various education groups.

Ms. Bradley is a co-founding Partner of Bradley Goldsmith Law, LLC located in Wyomissing PA. Ms. Bradley represents clients across the state of Pennsylvania in all aspects of special education matters. In addition, she has represented juveniles charged with criminal acts as well as families facing PIAA disputes. Prior thereto, Ms. Bradley was an Assistant District Attorney in Berks County where she prosecuted defendants charged with felony and misdemeanor crimes. Ms. Bradley was also an adjunct professor in the Political Science Department at Albright College where she taught Criminal Law and Civil Liberties. Ms. Bradley graduated cum laude from Villanova University School of Law in 1999. She graduated magna cum laude with honors from Susquehanna University in 1996. Ms. Bradley is a member of the Berks County Bar Association and the Pennsylvania Bar Association. She is active in her church and her community where she volunteers for St. Ignatius Loyola School and Berks Catholic High School. Ms. Bradley also provides trainings to various organizations across the state of PA. She has also published articles for The Pennsylvania Lawyer and The Berks Barrister. In 2024 and 2025 Ms. Bradley’s firm was voted “Top Lawyers” in Berks County in Special Education and Juvenile Law. She was also presented with PBA’s Special Achievement Award for her dedication and commitment to ECC for the past 5 years.

A highly respected and experienced member of the Education Law Bar in Pennsylvania, Amy Taylor Brooks is the administrative partner of Wisler Pearlstine, LLP, a full-service law firm in Blue Bell. She is widely regarded as possessing an exceptional knowledge of Pennsylvania School and Special Education law, having attended hundreds of Section 504 and IEP meetings on behalf of school district and charter school clients. Regularly appearing in front of all of Pennsylvania’s Office for Dispute Resolution Special Education Hearing Officers, Ms. Taylor Brooks’ successful track record has been hailed by colleagues and clients alike who value her extreme attention to detail and passion for strong advocacy. In the courtroom, she routinely litigates for educational entities in administrative and local agency proceedings up through the appeals process. A former teacher and collegiate coach, Ms. Taylor Brooks brings practical and knowledgeable experience from her previous career, and involvement in the educational community, into her practice.

David G. C. Arnold practices in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania. He is also Of Counsel to the law firm Robson & Robson. Mr. Arnold graduated from the Villanova University School of Law in 1987. Mr. Arnold has been admitted to practice law in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the Sate of New Jersey since 1987. Mr. Arnold is also admitted to practice before the United States Supreme Court, the United States Court of Appeals for the Third and Fourth Circuits, and the United States District Court for the Eastern and Middle Districts of Pennsylvania, and the District of New Jersey. Mr. Arnold maintains an active special education practice which is limited to the representation of students and their families. Mr. Arnold brought and won the landmark special education case Lower Merion School District v. Student Doe, 593 Pa. 437, 913 A.2d 640 (2007).  Mr. Arnold lectures frequently on topics related to special education law.

Ms. Skidmore has been active in the field of special education dispute resolution in Pennsylvania since 1994. She earned her undergraduate degree in Special and Elementary Education from Slippery Rock University, her Juris Doctor from Duquesne University, and her Master of Education in a program of general special education from the University of Pittsburgh. Currently a full time special education hearing officer, Ms. Skidmore previously served for fourteen years as an appellate hearing officer in Pennsylvania’s former two-tiered system along with private law practice experience. She was also trained in basic and special education mediation and has experience with collaborative dispute resolution. Ms. Skidmore has been a frequent speaker and lecturer on various aspects of special education and disability law, has co-authored several articles related to due process, and remains active in numerous special education and legal professional organizations.

Macy is Of Counsel with McNees Wallace & Nurick LLC. She advises and represents school and educational entities on complex and sensitive student and school-related legal issues, with a particular focus on special education, student discipline, and pupil services. She has served as lead special education and pupil services counsel, guiding school administrators through day-to-day compliance questions, due process proceedings, investigations, litigation, and appeals. Macy counsels superintendents, special education directors, and other school administrators on compliance with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, and related state and federal education requirements. She advises on school board policies, student handbooks, special education documentation, disciplinary and expulsion matters, settlement agreements, and contracts with service providers. When disputes arise, Macy represents educational entities in Office for Dispute Resolution due process proceedings, Pennsylvania Department of Education complaints and investigations, and related state and federal litigation. Her pupil services work also includes Title IX, truancy, and McKinney-Vento matters. She has served as a board-appointed decision-maker and hearing officer in student disciplinary matters and regularly provides training to school administrators and staff on special education and school law issues. Macy was included in Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® America for Education Law since August 2023 and Super Lawyers: Rising Stars ® for Schools & Education Law (since 2025).

Maria is a licensed attorney specializing in education law and the founder of Vetter Law, LLC, where she represents families in education-related matters. As a founding partner of Thrive Advocacy Group, she also continues to support the Thrive team through outreach, training, and supervision. Maria has dedicated her career to educating and advocating for children and families. She began in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), working in homes, early intervention programs, summer camps, extended school year (ESY) programs, and religious schools to ensure children had access to inclusive environments. She went on to work in public, private, and specialized schools, and then as an education consultant and advocate, before her passion for education and professional development fueled her transition into law. Throughout her career, she has provided trainings and lectures for education professionals, medical clinicians, and parents. Maria holds a B.S. in Education from The Pennsylvania State University and a Juris Doctor from Temple University Beasley School of Law. In addition to her education law practice, she serves as an expert witness and advocates within the family law system on issues related to educational decision-making. Her expertise spans Autism, ADHD, language-based learning differences, gifted support, and a wide range of medically complex, developmental, sensory, and behavioral needs. Maria chairs SOS (Specialists of Schools), serves on several professional boards, including the Kinney Center for Autism Education and Support at Saint Joseph’s University, and presents locally and nationally on education, law, and advocacy.

Hillary Freeman is the founder of Freeman Law Offices and a nationally recognized special education and disability-rights attorney. For nearly two decades, she has devoted her practice exclusively to children, adults, and families affected by disability, advocating for them in administrative proceedings and in state and federal courts to secure appropriate educational services, community supports, and civil rights protections. Her commitment to this work is both professional and deeply personal. As the sister of an individual with autism, Ms. Freeman has witnessed firsthand the challenges families face in navigating educational systems, accessing services, and planning for the future. That experience drives her conviction that every individual with a disability is entitled to meaningful opportunity, dignity, inclusion, and the supports necessary to reach their full potential. Freeman has represented thousands of families across New Jersey and Pennsylvania and has litigated landmark matters in Nevada. In Rogich v. Clark County School District, she represented a student with dyslexia denied the instructional methodology required by her IEP, and the court held that the district’s failure to provide the required methodology constituted disability discrimination under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. In S.K. et al. v. Clark County School District, she represented a Jewish, autistic, nonverbal student in a matter arising from an antisemitic attack, which settled favorably on behalf of the family. She currently serves as counsel in class action litigation seeking systemic reforms for students with disabilities. Beyond individual representation, Ms. Freeman counsels families on public benefits, Special Needs Trusts, SSI and Medicaid eligibility, and long-term planning for adulthood. She frequently advises family law attorneys to ensure that divorce settlements and support arrangements protect individuals with disabilities without jeopardizing eligibility for critical benefits. A sought-after speaker, Ms. Freeman presents regularly to attorneys, educators, advocates, and policymakers on special education law, disability rights, autism, dyslexia, guardianship, and transition planning, and in 2025 she was invited to present at the international Towards Unity for Health Conference. She has addressed the needs of students with autism at the United Nations and has presented on disability rights under the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), advising government officials in the United States, Ghana, and Liberia on implementing the Convention’s requirements. She also works with state senators to draft and revise legislation advancing the rights of individuals with disabilities. Ms. Freeman is a former President and Vice President of the New Jersey Branch of the International Dyslexia Association and a current member of the School Law Committee of the New Jersey State Bar Association. She was admitted to the Pennsylvania Bar in 2005, the New Jersey Bar in 2006, and the Supreme Court of the United States in 2025. She earned her undergraduate degree from Ithaca College and received her J.D. from Widener University School of Law. Send her an email at [email protected].

Rose McHugh is a trusted advisor to school districts and educational institutions, providing guidance on the many intricate legalities surrounding special education and student services. She works closely with administrators to navigate daily operational challenges, from policy development to potential litigation, and helps ensure that district policies remain compliant with ever-evolving state and federal mandates. Beyond her advisory role, Rose is a veteran of the due process hearing room, offering clients rigorous defense and strategic resolution strategies for complex educational disputes. Her formidable litigation skills are rooted in her foundational prior work with the Bucks County District Attorney’s Office and the Montgomery County Adult Probation and Parole Department. These experiences afford her a level of courtroom aptitude that blends astute legal strategy with the seasoned instincts of a veteran litigator. A recognized and respected authority in her field, Rose is frequently invited to present on best practices at local, state and national conferences. She is a graduate of Widener University School of Law, J.D., and Carbrini College, B.A. Rose is admitted to practice in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and before the U.S. District Courts for the Eastern and Middle Districts of Pennsylvania.

Jonathan D. Steele is the owner of Education Legal Services, a law firm dedicated to advocating for children with disabilities throughout Western Pennsylvania. His practice focuses on ensuring students receive the supports and services they are entitled to under the IDEA and Section 504, including IEP representation, due process hearings, and disciplinary protections. Mr. Steele is a graduate of Duquesne University School of Law and holds a degree in Music Education from Youngstown State University. Before entering the legal profession, he worked as an elementary music educator, a background that continues to inform his client-centered approach. He is admitted to practice in Pennsylvania and before the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania.

Ms. Alvarado founded Alvarado Law, LLC, a law firm dedicated to representing students and their parents, including Spanish-speaking families, to obtain appropriate special education services and reasonable accommodations for entrance, licensing, and certification examinations. With over 30 years of experience, Ms. Alvarado has secured appropriate special education services, placement in the least restrictive environment, independent educational evaluations, compensatory education, and tuition reimbursement in administrative proceedings and federal court. As a frequent speaker to community groups, bar associations, and advocacy organizations, Ms. Alvarado provides an understanding of students’ rights, access to special education, and the impact of recent legal developments on our educational system. As a member of the Pennsylvania Bar Association Committees of Legal Services for Exceptional Children and the Learning Disabilities Association of America, she addresses issues involving equity in education for low income and culturally diverse populations. She is a 2022 recipient of the Distinguished Service Award from the ARC of Lehigh and Northampton Counties, where she currently sits on the Board. Ms. Alvarado is published in the Pennsylvania Bar Association Quarterly and L.R.P. Publication and is featured in newspapers, podcasts, and Puerto Rican Panorama, a talk show addressing the concerns of the Latinx population. Ms. Alvarado is culturally Latina and is fluent in Spanish.

Nicole is the founding partner of Reimann Law Group and has focused her practice on special education and civil rights since 2015. Nicole began her legal career as a commercial litigator and is a highly skilled courtroom lawyer with extensive experience trying cases to verdict before judges and juries in federal and state court. Since 2015, Nicole has devoted her practice to obtaining appropriate educational programming and placement for hundreds of students through the cooperative process outlined in the IDEA, including the IEP process, informal meetings, and manifestation determinations. In those few instances where the collaborative process falls short, Nicole applies her decades of litigation experience to the dispute resolution process outlined in the IDEA. She has been successful in obtaining compensatory education and tuition reimbursement, has maintained placement in student’s then-current (or pendent) placement, and has been successful in obtaining placement in the least restrictive environment (LRE). In her civil rights practice, Nicole tried to a jury a young girl’s right under Section 504 to use her service dog in school and successfully appealed the trial court’s failure to properly instruct the jury. See Berardelli v. Allied Servs. Inst. of Rehab. Med., 900 F.3d 104 (3d Cir. 2018). In another landmark decision, Nicole represented a young man seeking redress of a school district’s denial of his right to effective communication. The Third Circuit reversed the district court’s judgment for the school district, holding that a denial of FAPE claim under the IDEA can be resolved through an administrative appeal but ADA and Section 504 discrimination claims seeking compensatory damages even if on the same facts, should be resolved through summary judgment and possibly trial. See Le Pape v. Lower Merion Sch. Dist., 103 F.4th 966 (3d Cir. 2024).

Extraordinary Law was founded by Brandi K. Suter following 15 years of professional experience working with children with special needs, disabilities and behavioral challenges. After obtaining her Law Degree from Duquesne University, she has focused her legal career on representing families of extraordinary students. Brandi collaborates with families to determine what services their student needs. This includes examining student records, advocating for educational supports and accommodations, and attending and advocating alongside parents at IEP, GIEP and 504 meetings. Brandi frequently supports family’s in litigation before the Office of Dispute Resolution and manages federal appeals of special education matters. Brandi’s experience and specialized knowledge in special education law have resulted in the creation of many successful educational plans. She earned a Master of Social Work from the University of Pittsburgh and a B.A. in Social Work from Gannon University.

Shawn Lochinger joined Sweet, Stevens, Katz & Williams LLP in 2015 (after over 25 years with his prior firm) with a comprehensive background in special education law and labor and employment law as it relates to school entities. He has extensive experience in due process hearings, in giving day-to-day advice on special education matters, and in working with clients to resolve situations that arise in the special education field. Shawn also has a strong knowledge of gifted matters and has spoken frequently on all of these subjects. He has served as a hearing officer for gifted education as well as expulsion hearings and in student discipline cases, and has represented clients at the administrative level and in federal court, before the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission, the EEOC, the OFCCP, and unemployment compensation referees. He regularly conducts in-house training sessions on sexual harassment, employment discrimination, special education and numerous other employment and education law topics, and speaks at conferences around the region for such entities as the Pennsylvania Bar Institute and the Pennsylvania Association for Gifted Education. He is a graduate of Duke University School of Law (J.D.) and Washington & Jefferson College (B.A.)

Rebekah Van Der Werf is an associate with Sweet, Stevens, Katz & Williams LLP. She focuses her practice on education law with an emphasis on special education. She has a wealth of valuable courtroom experience and a strong foundation in advocacy developed through her prior work in the criminal justice system. Before joining the firm, Rebekah served as an assistant district attorney in Bucks County, Pennsylvania in the Drugs and Firearms Crimes unit. In that role, she investigated, presented, and negotiated a wide range of criminal cases, handling matters from pre-charging through post-disposition. She collaborated closely with law enforcement, tried numerous cases before both judges and juries, and oversaw the county’s Veterans Treatment Court, ensuring its compliance with state standards. Her experience working directly with victims and mentoring junior attorneys helped her develop the communication, problem-solving, and organizational skills that now serve her well in representing school clients. Rebekah also gained early legal experience as a certified legal intern with both the Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office and the Temple University Family Law Clinic. These positions allowed her to refine her litigation skills, engage in client advocacy, and gain exposure to sensitive issues involving families and children — an experience that informs her practice in special education law. She is a graduate of Temple University Beasley School of Law (J.D.) and Liberty University (B.S.)

Dr. Ashley Marchante-Hoffman is a licensed psychologist and the owner of EmpowerKids Psychology, providing comprehensive psychological and psychoeducational evaluations in Delaware and Pennsylvania. With a specialization in pediatric psychology and neurodevelopmental assessment, Dr. Marchante-Hoffman focuses on the identification of autism, ADHD, and learning differences. Her practice is rooted in a neurodiversity-affirming, culturally responsive, and evidence-informed framework. Dr. Marchante-Hoffman brings extensive experience in interdisciplinary, primary care, and school settings, having previously served as a pediatric psychologist at Nemours Children’s Health. In addition to evaluation and therapy services, her work at Nemours included developing a bilingual assessment pathway, supervising doctoral-level trainees, and leading community-based initiatives to support Spanish-speaking families. In her practice, she is committed to increasing access to high-quality care for all children. Dr. Marchante-Hoffman currently serves as a contracted psychologist for school-based psychoeducational evaluations. She also offers Independent Educational Evaluations and private diagnostic evaluations in both English and Spanish. She is Cuban-American and grew up in Miami, Florida.

Savannah L. Murphy, Esq. received a bachelor’s degree in political science and theatre from East Stroudsburg University and a Juris Doctorate from Ohio Northern University – Pettit College of Law. Ms. Murphy graduated as the highest-ranking graduate of her law school class. While in law school, she served as an editor on Law Review, teaching assistant in the subject of Civil Procedure, and was a member of the ABA Appellate Advocacy Moot Court team. Ms. Murphy received numerous awards recognizing her academic success and dedication to legal research and writing. In 2022, Ms. Murphy was published in Ohio Northern University’s Law Review. Prior to serving as a Special Education Due Process Hearing Officer, Ms. Murphy was a junior partner at a firm owned and operated by her family. She dedicated her practice to serving individuals with disabilities, exclusively practicing special educational law and guardianships.

Rachel Rosenberg is an attorney with McAndrews Law Offices in the Special Education department. Ms. Rosenberg provides advice and representation to families of students with disabilities. She has extensive experience working with children and families and advocating for their legal needs and uses that experience to provide thoughtful and strategic representation to clients in all stages of special education disputes. Prior to joining McAndrews Law Offices, Ms. Rosenberg worked at an international law firm, where she focused her practice on product liability, mass torts, and complex commercial litigation. She also had a very active pro bono practice, where she focused on, among other things, child advocacy, and education law. Ms. Rosenberg represented a proposed class in a federal class action against a former Pennsylvania reform school, for constitutional and statutory violations related to educational and physical abuse of former students, including claims based on special education violations. She also represented children in the child welfare system, including advocating for children with disabilities. Ms. Rosenberg has substantial case management experience in all phases of pre-trial discovery and trial preparation, including motions, pleadings, and depositions, has first-chair federal court trial experience, and is skilled at developing expert strategy, including preparing expert witnesses for trial and depositions, including experts in the areas of autism and education. Ms. Rosenberg received her Juris Doctor from the University of Pennsylvania Law School. While at Penn Law, she focused on child advocacy, where she was the Alan Lerner Fellow in Child Welfare Policy for Penn’s Field Center for Children’s Policy, Practice, and Research, and served as a student attorney at the Penn Law Interdisciplinary Child Advocacy Clinic. Prior to law school, she graduated summa cum laude from the University of Pittsburgh with a Bachelor of Arts in Social Work, where she focused on child welfare work.

Rebecca A. Young is a partner with the KingSpry law firm in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, where she is Chair of the firm’s Special Education Law Practice Group. Rebecca represents school entities regarding special education, truancy, discipline, enrollment, and Right To Know matters. She litigates cases before state trial and appellate courts as well as administrative agencies including the Office of Open Records, the Office for Dispute Resolution and the Pennsylvania Department of Education. She is a frequent speaker and author on legal matters related to her practice. Admitted to practice before the Third Circuit Court of Appeals, the U.S. District Courts for the Eastern and Middle Districts of Pennsylvania, and the Supreme Court of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Rebecca is a member of the Lehigh, Monroe and Northampton County Bar Associations. She is also an active member of the Children’s Rights Committee and the Legal Services for Exceptional Children Committee of the Pennsylvania Bar Association. Rebecca earned her Juris Doctorate at Villanova University School of Law, an M.A. in Clinical Psychology at MCP-Hahnemann University, her M.Ed. in Mental Health Counseling from the University of Massachusetts-Amherst, and her undergraduate degree at University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh.

David Mongillo brings a unique perspective to his legal practice, drawing on his earlier career as a special education teacher and newspaper reporter. Now a Shareholder at Strassburger McKenna Gutnick & Gefsky, David is a trusted advisor to schools and local government entities across a broad range of legal matters. David understands the variety of legal and administrative challenges faced by public sector clients and offers strategic guidance to help navigate these challenges. His background as a teacher gives him valuable insight into special education law, and he frequently represents schools in due process litigation and related proceedings. His practice includes negotiating contracts and commercial agreements, managing real estate transactions—including acquisitions, sales, leases, tax assessments, and exemptions—and guiding public officials on regulatory compliance. David regularly advises clients on public records requests under Pennsylvania’s Right-to-Know Law. David is also an experienced litigator, representing commercial, public, and non-profit clients at both the trial and appellate levels. David’s calm and focused demeanor enables him to provide timely and invaluable advice to clients in a wide range of pressure situations, making him a trusted counselor/solicitor. David is a member of the Allegheny County Bar Association. He has a JD from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law, cum laude; an MS from George Washington University, cum laude; and a B.A. from the University of Virginia. He is admitted to practice in Pennsylvania and before the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania.

Thad Kotarski is an associate attorney at Ruder Law. There, his practice focuses on representing individuals with disabilities in education disputes with their schools under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, Section 504 of the Rehabilition Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the U.S. Constitution, and a variety of other State and Federal laws. He also assists clients in guardianships and racial, gender, and free speech disputes. Before joining the firm in 2024, Thad worked as an associate at the Halpern Law Firm, a certified legal intern at the University of Pittsburgh School of Law’s Environmental Law Clinic, a research assistant and fellow with Pitt’s Barco Law Library, a legal intern with Friday & Cox and Fair Shake Environmental Legal Services, a teaching assistant at Pitt Law (First Amendment Law), and a legal writer at a Pittsburgh immigration law firm. He is admitted to all state courts in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. Thad earned graduated cum laude with the Pro Bono Excellence and Public Service Recognition commendations from Pitt Law in 2023. He earned his B.A. (History; summa cum laude) from Pitt in 2018.

Brittney Yanchek works as a Transition & Future Planning Consultant and is a co-founder of Thrive Advocacy Group, where she helps families navigate the complex systems that impact individuals with disabilities as they move from school-based supports into adulthood and future planning. Her work focuses on developing thoughtful, sustainable plans that integrate education, employment, housing, public benefits, and long-term support needs. Through Thrive, Brittney works closely with families and trusted professionals to guide planning across key milestones, including the transition from school programming, navigating adult service systems, and preparing for supports that extend beyond the parents’ lifetime. She is also committed to building a collaborative network of professionals to ensure families have access to coordinated guidance and resources. Brittney’s professional background includes experience within public benefits and adult service systems as well as special needs financial planning. Earlier in her career, she worked within the Intellectual Disability and Autism waiver systems and later at a financial institution. During her time working at the financial institution she supported families with children of varying levels of disability and needs. In her role, she developed programming to assist families with accessing supports and services for their loved ones within their community. This programming included information about SSI/SSDI, waivers, housing, employment, and independent living that ultimately coordinated with their overall estate and retirement planning needs. Beyond her professional work, Brittney volunteers her time serving on professional boards and actively supports organizations and initiatives that promote resources, education, and community connections for individuals with disabilities and their families. Brittney holds a B.S. from West Chester University, an M.B.A. from Eastern University, and earned the Chartered Special Needs Consultant® (CHSNC®) designation in 2018.

D. Daniel Woody, Esquire, is Federal Litigation and Appellate Counsel in the Berwyn office of McAndrews Law Offices. While in college, Dan studied child psychology and developed a passion for advocating for children with special needs. This led him to become a special education teacher before attending law school. After graduating, he worked for a law firm representing school districts and charter schools in a variety of matters, but primarily special education cases. However, his true passion remained advocating for students with disabilities. Thus, while also working in the Appeals Unit of the Delaware County District Attorney’s Office, Dan started his own law practice representing students. He joined McAndrews Law offices in 2021, after 10 years in the Appeals Unit. Although he continues to operate his own practice, he handles all appellate and federal litigation for McAndrews Law Offices. Aside from three years of studying law and skiing in Colorado, Dan has lived and practiced in Media all his life. He is a graduate of the University of Denver, Sturm College of Law and Penn State University with a B.A. in Psychology.

Samantha is a Team Attorney with Seremi Law Group. She has always been dedicated to education. Prior to attending law school, Samantha obtained her Bachelor’s degree and certifications in Elementary and Special Education. Samantha concentrates her practice on special education, education, and municipal law. She has extensive experience representing municipal and authority clients, as well as school districts in a variety of matters. These matters include employment matters, contract negotiations, Right to Know, and special education matters, from inception through resolution. Samantha has been named a Super Lawyer Rising Star in 2023 and 2024. Samantha is a Delaware County Times Top Lawyer and Top Attorney in Montgomery County. Samantha currently serves as President of the Delaware County Children and Youth Advisory Committee.

Aimee Rankin operates a solo education law practice, Rankin Legal LLC, dedicated to serving families and individuals. Prior to opening her own practice in 2022, Aimee was a Partner at Weiss Burkardt Kramer, a leading Pittsburgh education law firm representing public school district clients. Throughout her time as a legal advocate, Aimee has realized success for clients by using a collaborative, student-centered approach. Aimee has represented clients at all levels of state and federal court, as well as administrative agencies such as the Pennsylvania Office for Dispute Resolution, Office for Civil Rights and Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission. Aimee has expertly handled special education cases, student discipline matters, employment matters, and Title IX investigations. Aimee graduated, magna cum laude, from the University of Mount Union with a B.A. in Sociology. She obtained her law degree from The University of Pittsburgh in 2008, where she participated as Senior Research Editor for The University of Pittsburgh Law Review. Aimee was named a Super Lawyer Rising Star for 2020-2022 and proudly serves as Co-Chair of the PBA Legal Services for Exceptional Children Committee.

Ms. Goldsmith has been serving the needs of children and families in the area of special education for 20 years. Prior to founding Bradley Goldsmith Law, Ms. Goldsmith practiced law at McAndrews Law Offices. During her 19 years at McAndrews Law Offices, Ms. Goldsmith became a Shareholder of the firm and was Supervising Shareholder of the Special Education Department for almost 10 years. Ms. Goldsmith is the Parent Attorney Representative to the Stakeholders Council of the Office for Dispute Resolution and has recently been appointed to the Professional Advisory Board of the Learning Disabilities of America. Ms. Goldsmith frequently speaks at National and State-Wide Special Education Conferences including the LDA, Arthritis Foundation, COPAA and PBI. Ms. Goldsmith offers substantial expertise in the area of Special Education Law and handles a wide variety of special education matters, civil litigation cases and criminal justice issues.

Mr. McAndrews has worked for over forty (40) years in the public and private sectors in several roles in the fields of estate planning and disability law. He is the founder and Managing Partner Emeritus of McAndrews, Mehalick, Connolly, Hulse, and Ryan Law Offices, P.C., a fifteen attorney law firm with offices in Berwyn, Scranton, Wyomissing, Wilmington Delaware, and Metropolitan Washington D.C., which regularly represents individuals and their families in a variety of areas, including estate planning/administration, special education matters, special needs trusts, elder law, abuse of vulnerable persons, guardianships, higher education abuse/discipline matters, and injury cases. He frequently acts as a consultant to other public and private attorneys with regard to estate planning/administration, disability and special education issues. Mr. McAndrews has served as Executive Director and Staff Counsel to two select committees of the Pennsylvania State Senate which evaluated Pennsylvania’s system of care for the intellectually disabled and drafted proposed legislation designed to modernize Pennsylvania’s legal basis for the provision of care to the intellectually disabled. He served for fifteen (15) years as a Special Education Hearing Officer for the Pennsylvania Department of Education, and was assigned to determine the appropriate educational classification, program, and placement of school-age children with disabilities. Mr. McAndrews was also selected to serve as one of the first appellate hearing officers in Pennsylvania under new Department of Education regulations. During his seventeen (17) years as a prosecutor in the Philadelphia area, and thereafter in criminal defense matters, he handled many cases involving defenses of mental disability. He successfully pursued a conviction against the wealthiest murderer in American history, John E. DuPont, for the murder of Olympic gold medal wrestler, David Schultz. He is also a frequent contributor for national and local news media involving legal and political issues and has offered commentary for CBS, NBC, NPR, the New York Times, the Los Angeles Times, USA Today, The Legal lntelligencer, and many other news outlets. For over 30 years, Mr. McAndrews was an instructor of Civil Rights, Constitutional Law, Criminal Justice and Business Law at Villanova University, Immaculata University and Drexel University. He is a frequent lecturer to national conferences, Bar Association Committees and advocacy groups concerning special education, estate planning/administration, the rights of the elderly and individuals and with disabilities and has authored numerous articles regarding these matters. He has served as a member of the Pennsylvania Bar Association’s Elder Law Council and served for a decade as Chairman of The Disability Law Committee of the Delaware County Bar Association. Mr. McAndrews obtained his law degree from Villanova’s Charles Widger School of Law in 1978 and was awarded a Bachelor of Science Degree in Education together with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political Science from Villanova University in 1975. Dennis is the author and sole actor of a play entitled “If JFK Survived Dallas: Presidential Reflections of an Elder Statesman”. He has also written “The Open,” a screenplay which chronicles Ken Venturi’s dramatic victory in the 1964 United States Open Championship where he overcame heat exhaustion to achieve a triumph after years of being a washed-up tour professional.

Kalani Linnell is an experienced education law practitioner with a keen understanding of the issues from both a legal and practical standpoint. She advises clients in matters involving special education, student civil rights, and operations/practices. She is an associate with Sweet, Stevens, Katz & Williams LLP. In the years before joining the firm, Kalani worked with law firms with significant education law practices. She also worked as an investigator and hearing officer for a consulting firm that advised educational institutions in major areas of legal compliance. She also worked as a teacher in a large Pennsylvania school district prior to attending law school. As such, she has a deep understanding of the challenges teachers and administrators face on a daily basis in terms of discipline, safety, and plan/goal implementation. She is especially dedicated to the issue of Title IX compliance, both its historic regulations and the impending new directives. In 2020, she was invited to join a select group of attorneys providing guidance on the rules to the State University of New York. She also advised the Pennsylvania School Board Association on model policies relating to Title IX, and she has delivered a number of live presentations on the subject, including “The Intersection of Title IX and Special Education” at the Council for School Attorneys/National School Boards Association conference in 2023, and “The Equitable Application of Title IX,” to the Council of Administrators of Special Education (CASE) Law and Leadership Academy in 2024. She maintains a constant commitment to professional development by seeking opportunities to learn, grow and share through client in-service training, writing legal alerts and articles on cutting-edge topics, and presenting live continuing legal education programs and seminars. She is a graduate of Drexel University, Thomas R. Kline School of Law (J.D., cum laude) and West Chester University of Pennsylvania (B.S.Ed., magna cum laude). She is admitted to practice in Pennsylvania and the U.S. District Court, Eastern and Middle Districts, and the U.S. Court of Appeals, Third Circuit.

Ms. Snyder is the Chair of the Special Education Law Practice group at McKenna Snyder LLC. She concentrates her practice in the areas of: special education law, charter school law, education law, school reform & insurance defense. She represents clients in a variety of matters pertaining to state and federal laws and regulations, including but not limited to IDEA and Section 504. Prior to entering private practice, she clerked for the Honorable Bonnie Brigance Leadbetter of the Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania. While in law school, she interned for the Honorable Juan R. Sanchez at the Chester County Court of Common Pleas. She received her J.D. from Villanova University School of Law, where she earned the Theodore L. Reimel Distinguished Service Award. She received her B.A. in English, magna cum laude, from Villanova University. She has been admitted to practice before the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, the United States District Courts for the Eastern, Middle & Western Districts of PA, the Third Circuit Court of Appeals, the Supreme Court of New Jersey, the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey, and the Supreme Court of Ohio. Ms. Snyder is also a member of PBA’s Legal Services for Exceptional Children Committee and has been an invited lecturer at state and national conferences on special education and education law topics, including sessions at: PBI’s Exceptional Children’s Conferences; Pennsylvania Coalition of Public Charter Schools’ conferences; Education Law Association and Lehigh University. Ms. Snyder may be reached at: [email protected].