Boston born and raised and proud of it! Boston Public School Alumna who believes that public education CAN be quality education. I also believe, despite all the issues we encounter and improvements that still need to be made, that Boston has the best public school system in the world, which is why I continue to send my children to BPS schools.

I am the mother of three children, my son who is now 23, and two daughters who are 14 and 11. My son is no longer in school, but attended BPS schools, and my girls are in BPS middle and high schools now. Because of what we went through when my son needed help from BPS I took my paralegal certification and became what I am today - a certified education advocate with a focus on public and special education as well as a community activist. 

I have spent the past 20+ years learning all I can about education laws and regulations, teaching methods, programs for students, Boston Public Schools, district and school administration and parent engagement. I will probably spend the rest of my life continuing my learning as there are constant changes. Because of my role as chair of the BPS SNPAC for 11 years, I am particularly adept at understanding when, how, what, and why BPS does things the way they do, to the point of being pretty good at predicting outcomes for where BPS is headed. I want to help folks understand that process better as I know how mind-boggling it can be to try to fathom some of what is done.

Outspoken and a fighter for causes I believe in, I also try to share as much news and info as I can with others, hence my blogging again and now on Patch at Dave's request. I am a chronic  volunteer for the schools my children attend as well as district groups and the community: former chair of the original Boston Special Needs Parent Advisory Council (11 years!) and currently a member of the Roslindale Pathway Advisory Group (formerly known as the Irving Advisory Group) as well as being a Trainor for the Federation for Children with Special Needs, I have also become a parent involvement specialist.

I do have a paying job which I love as it allows me to combine my knowledge of special education and general education laws and how schools work with families to help their children access the education they are guaranteed. As Practice Manager for one of the top Pyschologists in Mass who works with children, I also get to work with most of the school districts in Massachusetts, so have insight into schools outside Boston also. 

Obviously, I love to help others. Known well by the city politicians, school district administrators and many education and special needs organizations, I have a vast array of resources to share with you which I hope you will find useful. And I am always willing to make a call to anyone I know that can help with an issues people I know are dealing with, so please feel free to contact me if I can help you.

My off-Patch blog is: http://bpseducationoddyssey.blogspot.com/