Darria Boyd-Wise is a Marylander with roots that started from Seat Pleasant, MD. She is a mother to two amazing children with Autism that are students in the Howard County Public School System (HCPSS). Her daughter is a bright and spunky 8th grader who is non-speaking;
however, expands her horizon by connecting with the world using an augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) device. Darria's son is a charming and intelligent 4th grader
that experiences the dual impact of Autism and ADHD.
Darria has a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering with a minor in Business Administration from Howard University. She was a Division-1 Collegiate Athlete that instilled in her the strong sense
of discipline, resilience, and determination. The demanding and competitive nature of collegiate sports taught her to stay focused, push through challenges, and never back down
from a difficult situation which groomed her to be the parent and advocate that is required while navigating the demanding special needs journey. She is also a member of the remarkable Delta Sigma Theta Sorority.
For over 15 years, she served as an Executive in her own Facilities Management Company. When faced with the unique challenges of raising two autistic children, Darria's love and
determination inspired her to transition into a different career path where she is now Co-founder of The Autism Grind, Inc. She is committed to making a positive impact in the lives of individuals and families affected by Autism, but it does not just stop there.
As Co-Chair of SECAC, Darria is excited and engaged in raising awareness and visibility of what SECAC’s purpose is for our AMAZING special needs students and families within the HCPSS communities. She is passionate in advocating for inclusion, acceptance, getting stakeholders to understand the necessities of our special needs teachers and students, and getting them the
well-deserved RESPECT that they should have within our school system. Through her lens, collaboration is a must and we as a community must work together with good intentions so that our special education community can be the best they can be.
Communities and Stakeholders must AWAKE their MINDS so that we can create positive change in our communities. - Darria Wise
Dawn Allen is deeply honored and enthusiastic to serve in this role, bringing a profound connection rooted in personal experience. As a parent of three children who have successfully matriculated through the Howard County Public School system, including one in the ALS program, she has witnessed the diverse challenges and triumphs of educational journeys.
Dawn's academic background includes a Master's of Education in Elementary Education and a Bachelor's in English, providing valuable insights into effective teaching methods and curriculum development. Moreover, her professional journey encompasses roles as a kindergarten teacher, a Title I teacher for non-public schools in another jurisdiction, and an adult education teacher for a community college. These experiences have granted her a broad perspective on education, from early childhood to adult learners, reinforcing her commitment to fostering inclusive and effective learning environments, including a transition to becoming an instructional designer with a focus on creating Section 508 accessible training materials for learners of different abilities in corporate settings.
Additionally, Dawn is the Co-Founder of the Autism Grind, a role that reflects her deep commitment to advocacy and support for families with autistic children. As co-chair, she is dedicated to advocating for special education students in Howard County Public Schools (HCPSS), fostering open communication, collaboration, and understanding within the educational community. Together, let's create an empowering environment where every child can achieve their full potential.
Melanie D. Lamar, a California native, made the move to Maryland in 2018 and now resides in Howard County. As the proud owner of Performance Metrics, LLC, Melanie has spent over 15 years serving as a trusted HR partner to both employers and employees. Throughout her career, she has collaborated with diverse firms across numerous industries, earning a reputation for propelling individuals and organizations to new levels of success.
In addition to her professional accomplishments, Melanie has a very important role as a devoted parent to an amazing nine-year-old son with Autism. Melanie and her husband embraced the unique and challenging journey of raising their son without a lot of support in the beginning. Their move to Maryland opened doors to essential services and support systems that significantly contributed to their son's development and progress. The relationships she has fostered in the Special Needs community serve as a source of strength and encouragement in her parenting journey. She is deeply committed to providing the same support to parents and helping them find comfort in knowing they are not alone.
Melanie is thrilled to be part of SECAC, where she can serve as a valuable resource to other parents who may be going through similar experiences and equipping them with the essential tools they need to thrive in their journey.
My name is Dianne Henry, I am British Nigerian American. I worked for her Majesty's government before moving to the US. I am a mother of one HCPSS student with an IEP and I have been a member of SECAC since 2016. I served on the SECAC outreach sub committee from 2020 before becoming the secretary in 2023. As an immigrant, I was unfamiliar with how the IEP process is handled in k-12 and it was a steep learning curve for me. I now use my knowledge to try to assist other people and have been raising my voice publicly to advocate for better special education services, support and identification since 2017. While the road is long and advocacy never ends, we shall continue to empower, speak up for and embrace our vunerable students so that their potential is never hindered.
My name is Carmesha Young, and I am the 2023-2024 SECAC Member At Large. My family and I have been a part of the Howard County Schools since the fall of 2008. I am thrilled to be part of this community with its outstanding teachers and school staff. I loved volunteering and
working with our community to better my children's and others lives. Serving on the board is an honor, and I look forward to working with parents, teachers, and administrators.
Stephanie Mummert is a life-long Marylander and has lived in Columbia and Howard county for 18 years. Stephanie is a graduate of Baltimore City and Baltimore County public schools. She has a Bachelor's in Biology from Hood College and a PhD in Molecular Biology from Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. She now works for the USPTO as a patent examiner. Stephanie has a nine year old daughter with ADHD. Learning how to advocate for her daughter as a special education parent and navigating IEP meetings was an eye opening experience beginning when her daughter was three and close to non-verbal when she joined the RECC program. Since then, Stephanie has been a volunteer in elementary school and became involved in advocacy on issues from zoning and APFO to the county budget. While advocating for special education during budge season, Stephanie learned of SECAC and the absolutely essential support this group provides for parents. She got involved and served on a policy review committee for SECAC and then dove more deeply. She approaches this new role as co-Chair from her perspective as a parent who understands how intimidating and stressful the process of navigating IEP and 504 meetings can be, especially without help. Her goal is to work with SECAC to empower and support parents in advocating for what their students need while ensuring the school system supports all of our kids with disabilities.