SPECIAL EDUCATION ADVISORY COUNCIL (SEAC)

PARENT MEMBERS

We are all members of the Eastern Carver County School District’s Special Education Advisory Council (SEAC) – as well as being parents of a child with special needs. Whether you are just starting your journey, or if you are at a stage that you could just use a little help or support, we are here to help answer your questions and to help you in any way that we can. Please feel free to reach out to any one of us. Cecilia Laube – Our family has lived in Chaska for over 9 years. I have two children in the District – one at Chanhassen High School and one at Chaska Middle School West in the AIM Program. I joined SEAC in 2015 with the goal to help improve our son’s special education experience. Our son was diagnosed with autism in 2008 and we have learned a lot since then. The best advice that I have received throughout our journey has come from other parents. I am a strong believer that parents are the best advocates for our children and it’s only in our actions that will drive awareness and change. [email protected]; #952-448-6161 Stacey Schuette – Our family has lived in Victoria for 10 years. We have three children - our son is 18 and attends Chanhassen High School in the AIM Program and we have a son & daughter (twins) that are 13 and they attend Chaska Middle School East. Our oldest son was diagnosed with autism back in 2001. I joined SEAC in 2010 to help bring a parent perspective to the committee and to see how my experiences might help other families that are going through the same things we went through. I have always been actively involved with our son’s team and now I get to be involved in things that help ALL the kids in our district. It’s very exciting to be part of a committee that strives to ensure we offer the best opportunities for the students in our District. [email protected]; #612-360-8443

Allison Gladen – Our family moved to Victoria in 2008. We have one son, James, who is a 5th grader at Victoria Elementary School. We have been a part of the special education program since June of 2008. I joined SEAC in 2010 and got involved in other special needs programs (PACER & West Metro Miracle Athletics Board since 2009). I joined these groups to support growth opportunities in the District; gain knowledge to be a better advocate for our son; to meet & connect with other parents of special needs children; and to hopefully be a mentor to younger parents going through the system. The impact our ‘special needs’ children have on the other kids that they attend school/activities with far exceeds what any of us will ever imagine! [email protected]; #952-500-2924

Having a child with a disability can be difficult. There are moments you wonder if anyone will ever understand or get what it is like to walk in your shoes. You parent a child with special needs and sometimes you feel alone and invisible. But you are NOT! Today, we want to tell you that we see you!!

“Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter” -Martin Luther King, Jr.

SPECIAL EDUCATION ADVISORY COUNCIL (SEAC)

PARENT MEMBERS

Alexandra Hagen – Our family has lived in the District for 11 years. We have two children – our son who is a senior at Chanhassen High School and our daughter who is in 4th grade at Carver Elementary. Our son is on an IEP. I joined SEAC in 2016 to learn more about the special education system so that I could help myself, as well as other parents within the District, to navigate through the complexities of special education and to be a better advocate for our son. [email protected]; #952-201-2283

Chelsea Dillon – My husband, Chad, and I have three children. We have boys that are 9 and 7 years old and they attend Carver Elementary. We also have a very feisty daughter who is 2 years old. We became part of the special education system in 2012 with our now 7 year old son. We knew we needed to intervene early with speech and hearing concerns. District 112 has been amazing with getting us on track and helping us to understand all of our children’s needs early on. I really wanted to know how to advocate for my children better, but also to connect with other parents going through similar situations as we were. When I saw the amazing things that the District was doing for the children in our community, I knew I wanted to be a part of SEAC. This is my first year on the committee and I am loving being a part of this amazing team. [email protected]; #952-393-0520

For more information about SEAC or to join the committee, please visit

Julie O’Connell – My family has resided in Chanhassen since 2013. My husband, Dan, and I have three children. Our son, Declan, is 8 years old; is in 3rd grade; and has Down Syndrome. Our oldest daughter, Neela, is six years old and is in 1st grade. Both of them attend Bluff Creek Elementary. Our youngest daughter, Kinley, is 4 years old and attends preschool at The Family Learning Center in Chaska. I have been involved in the special education system since 2009. I am also a member of the Down Syndrome Association of MN and the Chaska Down Syndrome Parent group. I got involved in SEAC because I wanted to connect with other parents in the District; to share my experiences; to help others navigate the special education world; and to keep up to date on subjects surrounding our child’s education. [email protected]; #952-994-2094

Laura Pingry-Kile, Ed.D. Director of Specialized Education Services 952-556-6171 [email protected]

www.district112.org ~Departments ~Specialized Education Services ~SEAC or contact

“Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter” -Martin Luther King, Jr.