EmpowerED, a podcast produced by the Maryland State Bar Association’s Leadership Academy Class of 2024-2025, aims to bridge the gap between families and school systems in Maryland by educating parents on their child’s rights in the classroom; providing tools to advocate effectively for their children’s educational needs, and highlighting that disabilities affecting learning impact families across all backgrounds.
In the fourth and final episode of EmpowerED, the Leadership Academy Fellows discuss the special education process with an expert education attorney, who is also a parent of children with IEPs, and a former educator.
Hosts
Golnaz Alemousavi
Faith Deredge
Guest
Francis Shefter, parent, former educator, and current principal attorney of Shefter Law, P.A. in Rockville Maryland. Contact information for Shefter Law and other resources can be found here: https://shefterlaw.com
Stress-Free IEP YouTube videos: www.youtube.com/@shefterlawpa
8 May 2025
Intersection of Special Education and School Discipline
In the third episode of EmpowerED, the Leadership Academy Fellows discuss the intersection of special education rights and the school disciplinary system with two experienced attorneys, who represent students in school disciplinary proceedings.
Hosts
Michele Hall
Kathleen Godwin
Guests
Alyssa Fieo, education attorney at Office of the Public Defender in the Juvenile Protection Division
Levi Bradford, attorney with Public Justice Center’s Education Stability Project
Both guests are attorneys with Maryland Suspension Representation Project (MSRP), which is a network of lawyers who help families navigate the school disciplinary process. To call MSRP for help with the school disciplinary system: 443-873-3531
Facebook page: https://m.facebook.com/MDSuspensionRep/
8 May 2025
Focus from the Classroom
In the second episode of EmpowerED, the Leadership Academy Fellows interview special education experts within the school system to understand the IEP and 504 process from an educator’s perspective.
Hosts
Maame Nyamekye
Bishop Sakyi
Jessica Ledingham
Guests
Ama Presno, special education teacher in Prince George's County Public Schools and manager of kindergarten and third grade special education programs
Dr. Cavena Griffith, principal of Harriet R. Tubman Elementary School in Gaithersburg, Maryland
8 May 2025
Special Education 101: An Introduction to IEPs and 504s
Special Education 101: An Introduction to IEPs and 504s
In the first episode of EmpowerED, the Leadership Academy Fellows speak with two special education legal experts, who discuss the basics of special education rights with a focus on the IEP and 504 processes.
Hosts:
Samantha Boylan
Albert Stancil
Guests
Megan Berger, attorney for students with disabilities and Legal Director at Disability Rights Maryland
Mallory Legg, disability rights attorney and director of Project H.E.A.L. (Health, Education, Advocacy, and Law) program of the Maryland Center for Developmental Disabilities at Kennedy Krieger Institute
8 May 2025
EmpowerED- Trailer
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
YouTube views
31,218
Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025
Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
1 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 52 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
73
Social presence
0
YouTube
76
Engagement
0
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