START–Engaging Parents of Students with Disabilities
Offering programs and services that support the engagement of families to improve outcomes for students.
PARENT GROUP SPECIALISTS
Find your region’s Parent Group Specialist below
SPAN’s Parent Group Specialists (PGSs) provide information, resources, and training related to the following components:
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- Inclusion of students with disabilities,
- Improving literacy achievement for all students,
- Informing parents and professionals about the New Jersey Tiered System of Supports (NJTSS) framework, and
- Developing parent groups, including Special Education Parent Advisory Groups (SEPAGs).
PGSs guide parent and district leaders in building their knowledge, skills, and confidence to develop collaborative family-school partnerships to optimize successful outcomes for all students. PGSs do not provide legal advice or representation.Â
Stefanie Babits
PARENT GROUP SPECIALIST
Middlesex |  Monmouth |  Union
Tatsiana DaGrosa
CO-DIRECTOR
PARENT GROUP SPECIALIST
PARENT GROUP PROJECT COORDINATOR
Atlantic
Beth Cosentino
PARENT GROUP SPECIALIST
Essex (District) | Hunterdon | Mercer | Morris | Somerset | Warren
Debbie Esposito
CO-DIRECTOR
LITERACY, INCLUSION AND NJTSS PROJECT COORDINATOR
Vanessa Schwippert
PARENT GROUP SPECIALIST
Bergen | Essex (Charter) | Sussex
Keishlen Ortiz
PARENT GROUP SPECIALIST
Burlington | Camden | Cape May | Cumberland | Gloucester |Â Monmouth | Ocean | Salem