IEP Facilitation/Facilitators
Individualized Education Program (IEP) Facilitation is a student-focused process in which a
trained, neutral facilitator assists the IEP team in working collaboratively to reach consensus and
develop an IEP that meets the needs of the student. (In Connecticut, the IEP team is known as
the planning and placement team or PPT.) Most PPT meetings will not require a facilitator.
However, in those situations where parents and school district personnel have had difficulties
communicating and reaching consensus, a trained facilitator can provide a process that results in
an appropriate IEP by assisting the team to remain focused on the student and communicate
effectively.
The Connecticut State Department of Education (CSDE), Bureau of Special Education (BSE)
has recognized the need for a process to assist PPTs that have (or may) experience conflict that
disrupts the collaborative team process and hinders development of an appropriate IEP. For that
reason, when invited by the Center for Appropriate Dispute Resolution in Special Education
(CADRE) to work with several other states in an IEP Facilitation demonstration project, the BSE
agreed to participate. As part of this project, and with the assistance and support of CADRE and
the State Education Resource Center (SERC), the BSE collaborated in a two-day training during
March 2013. The workshops focused on conflict resolution and IEP/PPT meeting facilitation.
Doug and Joyce Little of Key2Ed, Inc., who are nationally known in the field of IEP/PPT
meeting facilitation, provided an intensive, experiential workshop. In addition, they have
continued to provide support and information to the workshop attendees through scheduled
telephone conferences. The individuals listed below participated in this training and are
available to provide IEP/PPT meeting facilitation in Connecticut school districts.
For questions or further information about IEP/PPT meeting facilitation, please contact Gail
Mangs at 860-713-6938 or gail.mangs@ct.gov, or Mary Jean Schierberl at 860-713-6943 or
maryjean.schierberl@ct.gov (BSE); or Sally Esposito at 860-632-1485, ext. 379 or
esposito@ctserc.org (SERC).
The Following IEP Facilitator biographies were provided by each Facilitator.
Nancy Aleman
Ms. Aleman brings a unique background and perspective to the IEP Facilitation process, having
worked in corporate planning and organization development at AT&T for 15 years prior to
beginning a second career in education. In the corporate setting, Ms. Aleman trained new and
existing managers in essential leadership skills, including communication, collaboration, interestbased problem solving and effective meeting facilitation. Ms. Aleman served as an elementary
teacher and school counselor prior to beginning her 11 year tenure as a consultant for the BSE,
where she specialized in providing training and support to local school districts in the areas of
positive behavior support, social skills training and effective discipline practices in schools.
Other important tasks at the BSE included resolving special education complaints, conducting
mediations, leading focused monitoring teams and serving on interagency committees, including
the Governor’s Prevention Partnership and the Juvenile Justice Advisory Committee.
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Ms. Aleman holds advanced degrees in organizational psychology and school counseling as well
as certification as an intermediate administrator (092). She currently teaches part time at the
University of St. Joseph in the Department of Counseling and Family Therapy, and provides
professional development to local school districts on a variety of topics. Ms. Aleman may be
reached at jancy78@comcast.net or 860-685-0549.
Donna G. Cambria
As a professional in special education, Ms. Cambria is keenly aware of the multiple perspectives
inherent in the PPT process and views IEP Facilitation as a means to utilize these perspectives
for the benefit of the student.
Ms. Cambria has worked as a special education teacher, a special education director, a special
education consultant, a principal, an assistant superintendent and as a superintendent of schools
in state, public and private systems for over 30 years. Her career is marked by two tenures in
state service both of which culminated in her appointment as superintendent of schools for the
Connecticut Department of Children and Families’ (DCF’s) Unified School District #2. As
superintendent, she assured the appropriate education of a very specialized student population
where the majority, were students with disabilities. Ms. Cambria has also served as an education
consultant with the CSDE. In her most recent position with the BSE she coordinated the
approval process for private special education programs, responded to state complaints, served as
a mediator and provided consultation to parents and school districts on special education matters.
Earlier in her career, Ms. Cambria was contracted by the BSE as an educational surrogate parent
representing students, committed to DCF, in special education matters. Recently retired from
state service, Ms. Cambria is now the owner of Donna G. Cambria Consulting, LLC and
provides statewide consultation and advocacy services to parents, schools and other
organizations. Ms. Cambria may be reached at DGCconsulting@outlook.com or at 860-9973085.
Theresa DeFrancis, Esq.
Ms. DeFrancis worked for the CSDE for close to 30 years in the BSE. She initially managed the
special education due process hearing system and over the years became involved in policy
work, including drafting proposed revisions to the state statutes and regulations and working
with other state agencies such as the DCF and the Judicial Department to ensure children under
their care or custody received the educational services to which they were entitled. She has done
extensive work as a state mediator in special education matters and has consulted with parents
and school districts regarding special education. Ms. DeFrancis may be contacted at
tdefrancis@snet.net or 860-402-3397.
Sarah E. Harvey, Esq., OTR/L
Ms. Harvey’s extensive professional experience in the areas of school-based occupational
therapy, special education law and special education policy afford her a unique perspective
regarding the issues facing PPT members as they work together to develop an IEP tailored to
meet a student’s specific needs. As a service provider and state agency consultant, Ms. Harvey
has 17 years of experience working in special education. Ms. Harvey worked as a pediatric
occupational therapist specializing in school-based services in Massachusetts and Connecticut.
In this role, Ms. Harvey provided extensive consultation services to staff, students and families.
She participated regularly in students’ PPT meetings and collaborated with team members in
developing students’ IEPs. In recent years, Ms. Harvey has served as a consultant for both the
Massachusetts and Connecticut Departments of Education. Addressing special education policy
and practice as a consultant, Ms. Harvey’s work included drafting revisions to Massachusetts’
special education regulations; conducting CSDE complaint investigations, mediations and
approvals of private special education programs; addressing several policy areas,
including secondary transition and assistive technology; and coordinating the CSDE’s General
Supervision System. Currently, as president of Education Compliance Solutions, LLC, Ms.
Harvey works as a private consultant with school districts, state educational agencies and
national education organizations to empower personnel to implement federal and state special
education requirements with fidelity, ensuring both compliance with these requirements and
quality special education programming. Ms. Harvey may be reached at
sarah.harvey@educationcompliancesolutions.com or 860-734-6461.
Howard Klebanoff, Esq.
Howard Klebanoff, Attorney, is a graduate of Yale University and the University of Connecticut
School of Law. He was an attorney with the United States Department of Labor in Washington,
DC and served as a state representative from 1969-1977. He was the house chairman of the
Education Committee of the Connecticut General Assembly and the first chairman of the
Connecticut Board of Higher Education.
He is the father of two children with disabilities and has been nationally recognized in the area of
special education law. He has lectured on special education law at the University of Connecticut
and at the other state universities and has been a keynote speaker or lecturer at many national,
state and local organization conferences. The University of Connecticut has established the
Klebanoff Institute of Special Education in recognition of his work on behalf of children with
disabilities. Attorney Klebanoff is also the recipient of numerous other awards and distinctions
and may be reached at hkleb@aol.com or 860-559-9496.
Darren Pruslow, Esq.
Attorney Pruslow’s experiences as a teacher working in a high-needs school district inspired him
to become an attorney. He is dedicated to the idea that the law can and should be used to tackle
challenges that he witnessed many of his students and their families endure. He also works with
his clients to achieve multidimensional solutions to their family, juvenile and educational issues.
Attorney Pruslow graduated cum laude from Quinnipiac University School of Law with
numerous awards, including the Judge F. Owen Eagan Annual Book Award for his commitment
to alternative dispute resolution. He has a master’s in education from Hofstra University as well
as a bachelor’s in sociology from the College of the Holy Cross.
Attorney Pruslow is admitted to practice in Connecticut, New York and Massachusetts. He is a
member of the Connecticut Bar Association, the New York City Bar Association and the
Connecticut Mediation Network. He also has the pleasure of serving on the Dean’s Council at
Quinnipiac University School of Law. He may be reached at darren@briandpruslow.com or
203-309-0893 (Fax: 203-309-0801).