2026-2027 Board & Delegates

President – Lauren McCaughey

As President, Lauren leads strategy, guides SEPTA’s Board members, directs programming and messaging, and participates in regular feedback meetings with Dr. Reid and DSS leadership. Lauren served last year as SEPTA’s Vice President of Operations, as VP for 2023-2024, and previously as Mini-Grants Committee Chair. She served several years on FCPS’s Advisory Committee for Students with Disabilities and on the Special Education Enhancement Plan Committee. She is a current member of the Superintendent’s Twice Exceptional (2e) Advisory Committee, and she is excited about the potential for increased educational options for these students in the near future. Professionally, Lauren is a federal employee and has served overseas at three embassies. She has three children, one who graduated from FCPS last year, one attending a private school, and one attending an FCPS middle school. Lauren is passionate about making progress towards ensuring that every student, staff member, and family in FCPS is provided the resources and support they need to thrive, customized to their unique needs.

Vice President – Emily Sachdev

As Vice President, Emily leads operations, provides guidance to SEPTA’s Board members, assists with programming and messaging, and participates in regular feedback meetings with Dr. Reid and DSS leadership. She served last year as SEPTA Secretary and on both the Mini Grants and Awards Committees. Emily has been involved with SEPTA in many ways over the years, including IEP Palooza, mini-grant review, and Awards planning. She especially enjoys the behind-the-scenes work that helps create spaces where families and educators feel supported and celebrated. Outside of volunteering, Emily teaches early childhood classes, supports inclusion programs, and helps coordinate events at the Cub Run Recreation Center. She also substitutes in FCPS schools, working with both general and special education teams. Emily is currently working to become a licensed special education teacher and brings over 20 years of experience in human services to everything she does.

Secretary – Lily Sahda

As Secretary, Lily leads documentation including correspondence and Meeting Minutes, provides guidance to SEPTA’s Board members, assists with programming and messaging, and participates in regular feedback meetings with Dr. Reid and DSS leadership. Last year she served as Chair of the 2e Subcommittee and the Underserved Populations Committee. She represents her school on the Title I TPAC and serves on the Superintendent’s Twice Exceptional (2e) Advisory Committee. Lily participated in the Strategic Plan 2023–30 Family Team and continued her involvement through the Quad 2 Family Vision Group during the 2024–2025 and 2025–2026 school years. Her advocacy is shaped by her family’s lived experience and a commitment to helping families navigate school systems with clarity and confidence.

Treasurer – Dena Sonneborn

As Treasurer, Dena leads our financial business including budgeting, tracking authorized expenses, and disbursing payments; provides guidance to SEPTA’s Board members; assists with programming and messaging; and participates in regular feedback meetings with Dr. Reid and DSS leadership. She has been a member of SEPTA since 2020 and served last year as SEPTA’s representative to the Advisory Committee for Students with Disabilities (ACSD). Dena served as Treasurer for two years for the Key Center PTA and as Treasurer for a dance team for two years as well. Dena is the parent of a student at Key Center and teaches high school within FCPS.

Advocacy – Amanda Campbell & Erin Spaniol (not pictured)

As Advocacy Co-Chairs, Amanda and Erin lead SEPTA’s advocacy initiatives. They monitor local, state, and federal legislation and education policy and identify issues affecting students with disabilities and their families in FCPS. They work with families, school district leaders, elected officials, and community partners to elevate our members’ voices and advocate for meaningful change.

Amanda is a charter member of SEPTA and has previously served multiple terms as Communications Chair, Vice President, and President. She has represented SEPTA on numerous FCPS committees, including the Strategic Plan Core Planning Committee, Early Release Steering Committee, and Boundary Review Advisory Committee. She also represents the Springfield District on the Advisory Committee for Students with Disabilities (ACSD). Amanda has a background in K–12 music education and has taught elementary music as well as parent-child music classes for infants and toddlers. Her daughter is an AAC user and is attending an FCPS high school. Amanda’s advocacy is anchored in her experience navigating the special education system as a parent.

Underserved Populations – Vernicka Shaw

As Underserved Populations Chair, Vernicka leads SEPTA’s efforts to identify and address gaps in support for historically underserved and underrepresented students with disabilities in FCPS. She is an attorney who provides special education advocacy, parent coaching, and workshop facilitation for families navigating the IEP and 504 process. She currently serves as DEI Chair for the Bailey’s Elementary School PTA and as We Are One Chair for the Northern Virginia Chapter of Jack and Jill of America, Inc.. Her advocacy centers on the identification and support of twice-exceptional (2E) BIPOC students. Vernicka brings her lived experience as the mother of a daughter navigating these systems to her work, and is committed to ensuring underserved families have both a voice and a clear path forward in FCPS.

Twice Exceptional (2e) Subcommittee – Diane Cooper-Gould

As 2e Subcommittee Chair, Diane leads advocacy relating to Twice Exceptional students (those who are gifted and have a disability), a group noted in the AIR Special Education Audit Report as being underserved in FCPS. She serves as a contact for parents seeking additional resources and support on all 2e matters. The 2e Subcommittee is part of the Underserved Committee, which works to identify and address gaps in support for historically underserved and underrepresented students with disabilities in FCPS, and as such, Diane works closely with Vernicka. 2026-2027 marks her third year serving on the Superintendent’s 2e Advisory Committee. Diane is a 2e self-advocate from a neurodiverse 2e family. She is passionate about the unique needs of 2e students such as their complex social-emotional needs and asynchronous development. She would also like to shine a light on how intersectionality affects the opportunities, identification, support, and lives of 2e individuals. Diane welcomes your input and is excited to collaborate with interested volunteers. She is one of the original Co-Founders of Fairfax County SEPTA, leading the founding committee and serving as SEPTA’s inaugural President. Diane has also served as Advocacy Chair and Vice President of Strategy. 

Communications – Kate Volpe

As Communications Chair, Kate plans and carries out communications campaigns for SEPTA, including promoting events and activities through emails and social media. She also serves on the committee that reviews posts for the SEPTA Facebook Group and contributes to website updates.

Events & Programming – Khalilah Jones

As Events Chair, Khalilah leads SEPTA’s planning for programs and activities that bring families, educators, and community partners together. She is an Army Veteran, federal employee, and proud mom of both a current FCPS student and a graduate. Her work is shaped by a deep commitment to strengthening community resource connections and ensuring families feel supported, informed, and welcomed.

Educator Liaison Co-Chair  – Amy LaCrosse (seeking Co-Chair)

As Educator Liaison Chair, Amy helps foster meaningful collaboration among school staff, central office leadership, and SEPTA. She serves as a voice for educators while helping bring important special education concerns, ideas, and advocacy topics to the forefront of discussions. Amy is passionate about building strong partnerships, encouraging open communication and meaningful dialogue, and working alongside our school community to help ensure that school staff, students with disabilities, and their families feel supported, heard, and valued.

Mini-Grants: Bridget Geraghty

As Mini-Grants Chair, Bridget manages advertising, grant applications, the committee which evaluates and chooses applicants, and communication to applicants regarding the grants. These grants are designed to support projects, professional growth, and materials that enhance learning experiences for students with disabilities.

To learn more and apply: https://fairfaxcountysepta.org/mini-grants

Membership – Jennifer Denton

As Membership Chair, Jennifer tracks SEPTA’s annual membership data, sends membership related correspondence, responds to membership inquiries, and generally handles membership-related issues for SEPTA.

Awards – Michelle Cades

As Awards Chair, Michelle leads SEPTA’s planning and execution of its annual Excellence Awards Ceremony. We believe in honoring the extraordinary efforts of FCPS educators, administrators, paraprofessionals, specialists, students, schools, and community members who make a lasting impact on students with disabilities. These dedicated individuals work tirelessly to create opportunities, foster growth, and ensure every student receives the support they need. Our annual awards ceremony celebrates those who go above and beyond in supporting students with disabilities. Nominees should be outstanding advocates for special education, demonstrating commitment and passion for empowering students with disabilities. Whether they work in inclusive classrooms, specialized settings, or anywhere in between, these exceptional people deserve to be recognized for their hard work and dedication.

To learn more and nominate: https://fairfaxcountysepta.org/awards

Fundraising – Kassandra Smith

As Fundraising Chair, Kassandra works to increase SEPTA’s available financial resources, particularly to ensure sufficient funds for teacher mini-grants and our annual awards ceremony. Kassandra will utilize a variety of fundraising vehicles, including merchandise sales and special events.

Volunteers –  Lavanya Akula

As Volunteer Chair, Lavanya leads volunteer outreach and engagement to support our special education programs. She has served as SEPTA’s Vice President, Treasurer, and Awards Chair. In her professional work, she serves as President of her workplace’s In-Visible Inclusion ERG, where she leads employee resource initiatives to advance accessibility and champion disability inclusion.

Reflections – Deborah Taub

As Reflections Chair, Deborah leads our student art program as part of the annual National PTA contest. This year’s deadline is November 13! Professionally, she focuses on building sustainable inclusive practices for students with cognitive disabilities, conducting research, training, and technical assistance activities to advance equitable opportunities for students living with significant and complex needs. She partners with teams and organizations to make standards-based instruction more accessible and sustainable at the school, district, state, and national levels, through Universal Design for Learning (UDL).

Military Families – Tyler Peery (seeking Co-Chair)

As Military Families Chair, Tyler works to support military-connected students with disabilities and their families as they navigate moves, separation, school transitions, and continuity of special education services. Tyler is an active-duty U.S. Air Force officer with more than 16 years of service, the last 7 of which have been in the NCR in Fairfax County with his two children and wife. His family’s experiences balancing military requirements with the need for educational stability have shaped his interest in helping military families connect with SEPTA and FCPS resources, share their concerns, and maintain consistent support for their children.

Advisory Committee for Students with Disabilities: Jacolyn Bastasch

As Liaison to the Advisory Committee for Students with Disabilities (ACSD), Jacolyn serves as a member of the ACSD to advise the Fairfax County School Board on special education community policies and procedures, to promote helpful SEPTA resources and upcoming SEPTA events, and to inform SEPTA members on issues raised in monthly ACSD meetings. She is active in and passionate about creating opportunities for inclusion through her church and children’s school communities.