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. She enjoys travel, food, hiking, embroidery, and gardening.

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 toward becoming 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.