2025-2026 Board & Delegates

President – Michelle Cades
Michelle has served as our SEPTA President for three years, prior was SEPTA’s ACSD Liaison, and just finished her third year as Co-Chair of the SEPTA Advocacy Committee. She has served on too many FCPS advisory groups and committees to mention, and participates in quarterly feedback meetings with Dr. Reid and DSS leadership. In her prior term as SEPTA President she led SEPTA’s awarded recognition from National PTA for Outstanding Local PTA Advocacy. For years she has participated in VA PTA Advocacy Day in Richmond. She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) and worked at Capital Camps for 9 summers as a “camp mom”. She was a former LD teacher holding another Masters in LD, and currently does occasional work as an special ed and food allergy advocate.

She is most proud of her three kids who all are various flavors of twice-exceptionality, now ages 23, 21, & 17. She’s a hockey wife & hockey mom, avid Washington Capitals fan, and mom to a beloved big, fluffy dog. She enjoys participating in a banned-book club & also recently completed crocheting her first sweater!

Vice President, Strategy – Diane Cooper-Gould

Diane was one of the founding members of Fairfax County SEPTA, and it’s first President, serving for three years (one year during formation and two post-launch). She has since remained very active in SEPTA as Co-Chair of the Advocacy Committee and part of the SEPTA group that meets quarterly with both Dr. Reid and Department of Special Services (DSS) leadership. She serves on several FCPS Advisory Committees including: the Early Access to Literacy Committee, the Superintendent’s 2e Advisory Committee and as a community stakeholder on the Core Strategic Planning Committee, among others. Diane is the recipient of the 2021 VA PTA Child Advocate of the Year Award.

Diane is a twice-exceptional self-advocate with two children who are also 2e. Her youngest just graduated FCPS this year, but Diane stays personally and professionally invested in FCPS special education as a trained advocate. She is the founder of DCG Education Advocacy LLC. Diane is an FCPS graduate herself, having graduated from the Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology in 1992. She has also worked professionally as an actress for many years. While it is challenging to split her time, she still considers herself a theatre professional in addition to a special education advocate and theatre Mom.

Vice President, Operations – Lauren McCaughey

Lauren was the SEPTA VP for the 2023-2024 school year, and prior to that served as Chair of the Mini-Grants committee. She is also serving on FCPS’s Advisory Committee for Students with Disabilities and the FCPS 2e Committee exploring the possibility of a 2e Center. She also served on the Special Education Enhancement Plan Committee.

Professionally, she is a federal employee and has served overseas at three embassies. She has three children in FCPS, two with IEPs and one with a 504. She enjoys quilting, embroidery, hiking, and travel.

Secretary – Emily Sachdev

Emily served as the Chair for SEPTA Mini Grants this year. Last year she was the SEPTA Special Education Liaisons Chair. She has been involved with many SEPTA projects including IEP Palooza, judging mini-grant applications, and event planning for the SEPTA Awards Ceremony. Currently, she’s advising for the FCPS Family Summit Event (March 15, 2025) to ensure that a community and family perspective is being represented.

Emily is taking Masters-level classes to become a licensed special education teacher! She has over 15 years of experience in various Human Services related jobs helping others and the local community. She is a Fairfax County Parks and Rec instructor for various inclusive toddler classes and as an Inclusion Specialist (aide) for kids participating in recreation classes and camps. She also frequently subs for special ed teachers/IAs in FCPS. Her greatest joy is time spent with her husband and 6 year old daughter. She loves reading mysteries and thrillers and also enjoy knitting, crocheting and crafting.

Treasurer – Lavanya Akula

Lavanya was SEPTA’s Vice President for the 24-25 school year. Prior she served two years as Chair of the SEPTA Awards Committee, responsible for fabulous recognition ceremonies for special educators. She also serves on the FCPS Boundary Advisory Committee and the FCPS Community Forum. Professionally, she is an IT professional with a Masters in Computer Applications. She’s the President for the Invisible Inclusion Employee Resource group at her place of employment.

She enjoys human rights advocacy, with work in human trafficking/child sex trafficking. She also enjoys disability rights advocacy both for children and adults. She is also involved in mental health awareness and removing associated stigma. Her family established a foundation to raise awareness about Alzheimer’s and conducts Cricket tournaments to raise funds for Alzheimer’s association. She enjoys gardening, hiking, yoga, meditation, painting, crocheting and cooking. She loves to feed people, especially cooking Indian food for the Embry Rucker shelter.