Exceptional Children Conference 2026 – Summerdale

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.

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.

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].

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 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.)

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.

Thad Kotarski is an associate attorney at Ruder Law. Thad graduated cum laude with a J.D. from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law in 2023. While at Pitt, Thad worked as a teaching assistant, research assistant, certified legal intern (Environmental Law Clinic), and Barco Law Library research fellow. Thad also volunteered extensively with various civil rights and social justice groups in law school, graduating with Pitt Law’s Pro Bono Excellence and Public Service Recognition commendations upon graduation. Prior to joining the firm, Thad worked as an associate attorney or law clerk with the Halpern Law Firm, Fair Shake Environmental Legal Services, and Friday & Cox, LLC. Thad graduated summa cum laude with a B.A. from the University of Pittsburgh in 2018 and worked at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and a local immigration law firm before attending law school at Pitt.

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.

Maria is a founding partner of Thrive Advocacy Group and a licensed attorney specializing in educational law. While she no longer provides direct education consulting and advocacy services, Maria remains deeply committed to the mission of Thrive. She continues to develop programming, provide trainings, supervision, and support to the Thrive team, the community, families, and professionals in the community. With extensive experience in the field, Maria has dedicated her career to supporting children and their educational needs. Prior to becoming an attorney, she worked as an education consultant and advocate, serving numerous families and children across various educational settings. Maria began her career in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), in homes, in early intervention programs, summer camps, extended school year (ESY) programs, and religious school settings to ensure that children had access to inclusive environments. She continued her work in the field of education in public, private, and specialized schools. Maria has always provided support to the community through 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 degree from Temple University Beasley School of Law. She has dedicated her life’s work to educating and advocating for children and families. Her passion for education and professional development fueled her transition into law. Maria’s legal expertise allows her to assist families with education-related matters. Maria also advocates within the family law system for issues related to educational decision-making. Maria’s expertise covers a broad range of needs and disabilities, including Autism, ADHD, language-based learning differences, gifted support, traumatic brain injury, Fragile X Syndrome, Pervasive Developmental Disorder, Bipolar Disorder, Down Syndrome, Seizure Disorder, Reactive Attachment Disorder, physical disabilities, Deaf/Hard of Hearing, Blind/Visual Impairments, Prader-Willi Syndrome, and various behavioral issues. In addition to her work in law and at Thrive, Maria serves on various professional boards and presents both locally and nationally, in the areas of education, law, and advocacy.

Rebecca A. Young is a partner with KingSpry’s Education, Special Education and Adoption Law Practice Groups. Attorney Young 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, Attorney Young 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. Actively engaged with community agencies that address the needs of children and families, Attorney Young currently serves as a board member for Diakon Child, Family and Community Ministries. She previously served as a Board member for Community Services for Children, and as a Trustee for Project Child of the Lehigh Valley and the Monroe County Bar Foundation. She also volunteers for The Kindness Project. Attorney Young’s adoption practice includes public (foster care), private, kinship, and step-parent adoptions in Monroe, Lehigh, Northampton, Carbon and Bucks counties. She reviews and addresses stipend issues, adoption subsidy agreements, permanent legal custodianship agreements, and post-adoption contact agreements, and formalizes traditional and non-traditional custodial arrangements. She 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.

Dr. Ashley Marchante-Hoffman (she/her/ella) is a bilingual (English/Spanish) licensed clinical psychologist. She specializes in comprehensive psychological testing for children and adolescents. She is a graduate of Dartmouth College and the University of Miami, where she earned a Master’s and PhD in Clinical Psychology, with a specialization in pediatric health. She completed an internship and fellowship at Nemours Children’s Health, Delaware Valley, and then worked as a pediatric psychologist at Nemours for several years, providing testing and therapy, as well as training future psychologists in both primary care and the Swank Autism Center. She is licensed to practice in Delaware and Pennsylvania, and is also a PSYPACT-authorized provider, which allows her to offer virtual services to families in most states across the U.S. Dr. Marchante-Hoffman is Cuban-American and grew up in Miami, Florida. Outside of her professional life, she enjoys listening to music, dancing, and exploring new foods.

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.

Ms. Brooks is the Administrative Partner at Wisler Pearlstine. She is a member of the firm’s Special Education and Education Law practice groups, focusing her practice on advising school administrators on legal issues in student services and special education. A strong advocate for her clients, Ms. Brooks helps schools understand and navigate the existing legal framework to proactively achieve their goals. She routinely attends school board meetings, litigates for schools in administrative and local agency proceedings through the appeals process and defends them against legal claims brought under the Individuals with Disabilities in Education Improvement Act (IDEIA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, and the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Ms. Brooks also represents schools in investigations by the PA Department of Education and US Office for Civil Rights. A former teacher and collegiate coach, Ms. Brooks brings practical, knowledgeable experience, from her involvement in the educational community, to her practice. She advises school clients regarding student records and the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), issues of risk management, matters of child abuse and reporting under the Child Protective Services Law, Homelessness under the McKinney Vento Act, sexual harassment, and gender equity involving Title IX, and bullying and harassment investigations under Pennsylvania’s Anti-Bullying Law. In addition, Ms. Brooks handles matters regarding the Public School Code of 1949, including transportation, enrollment, residency, custody, discipline, charter schools, Pennsylvania Approved Private Schools, and private schools.

Nicole is a founding partner of Batchis Nestle & Reimann. Before co-founding the Firm, Nicole was a partner at Schnader Harrison in Philadelphia, where she was a commercial litigator for more than 25 years. She has extensive experience in trying cases to verdict before judges and juries in federal and state court, mediation, and alternative dispute resolution.  Since 2015, she has devoted her practice to obtaining appropriate educational programming and placement for students through the IDEA’s administrative and judicial process and vindicating students’ civil rights in federal court.  In 2017, she tried a Section 504 service animal case to verdict in the Middle District of Pennsylvania.  The Court refused to instruct the jury that Buddy, the service dog, was a per se reasonable accommodation for the student.  The Third Circuit reversed and ordered a new trial.  Berardelli v. Allied Services Inst. of Rehab. Med., 900 F.3d 104 (3d Cir. 2018).  Most recently, Nicole won an appeal in the Third Circuit seeking to reverse the district court’s holding that ADA/Section 504 claims lose their independent existence, and the student loses the rights, procedures and remedies available under them when parents pursue administrative procedures under the IDEA. Jennifer Binder Le Pape et al v. Lower Merion School District, 22- 2931 (June 4, 2024) (“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 judgement and, possibly, trial.”). Nicole is a graduate of Northeastern University School of Law and Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey.  

Macy T. Laster is an experienced education attorney and litigator with McKenna Snyder, LLC. Having represented some of the largest public School Districts in Pennsylvania, as well as more localized School Districts, charter schools and other educational entities, Macy is equipped to provide comprehensive support to clients through her expansive school law practice. She offers clients a wide range of expertise regarding special education including, but not limited to, compliance with the Individuals with Disabilities in Education Act, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and Chapters 14, 15, and 16 of the Pennsylvania School Code. She also possesses a plethora of experience in counseling clients regarding pupil services issues, including student discipline, truancy, Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972, and the McKinney-Vento Act. She has successfully litigated special education matters from inception through final resolution. Macy also brings a wide range of experience developing and providing professional development to educational staff and administrators. Macy offers a unique perspective to her practice, having obtained a B.S. in Education and Public Policy, with minors in Sociology and Women’s Studies, from the Pennsylvania State University- University Park. Thereafter, she received her Juris Doctorate, as well as a Certificate of Advanced Study in Disability Law and Policy, from Syracuse University College of Law. Her educational background and experiences, including having served as a Student Attorney at Syracuse University College of Law’s Disability Rights Clinic, providing indigent families with free disability and educationally-based legal services, have enabled her to establish an approach to educational legal representation that is supportive and empathetic to students, educators and administrators. Macy is admitted to practice law throughout the state of Pennsylvania, in all state and federal courts, as well as the Supreme Court of the United States. She 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).

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.

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.

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.

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. 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.

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].

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, which is dedicated to representing students and families, including Spanish speaking families, in obtaining appropriate special education services as well as reasonable accommodations for entrance, licensing, and certification examinations for persons with disabilities. She 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 student’s rights and access to special education, including the impact of recent legal developments on our students. 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. 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. She was born in Ecuador and as an attorney who is culturally Latina and fluent in Spanish, has successfully represented hundreds of children with disabilities for 30 years.

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.