Meet our elected board members

Katherine Denham Smith - Co- Chair

Kate grew up in Framingham, and now lives here with her own family. Kate works as a public school behavior analyst, and as an instructor for Fitchburg State’s graduate special education and applied behavior analysis programs. A board member since 2020, she strives to draw on her experience as a parent and special education professional to build collaborative relationships and support best practices.

Maria Luz Margulis - Co- Chair

Maria Luz is the mom of a first grader at Dunning Elementary, currently on an IEP and receiving services in an ASD classroom. Born and raised in Argentina, she is a native Spanish speaker and also speaks some Portuguese. As a social worker, she has long supported the special needs community, helping families across the Commonwealth advocate for their children, gaining insights into best practices from diverse districts. She hopes to use her personal and professional experiences to promote best practices and build connections among parents in the district.

Alison Tejeda - Co-Chair

Originally from New York, Alison settled in Framingham with her husband, whom originally hails from the Dominican Republic, in 2014. Together, they have navigated the ups and downs of special education services as parents to a first grader on an IEP in King and a 4th grader on an IEP in Brophy. Because of this, Alison was inspired to join SEPAC to not only continue her own education, but to share with and support other families on their individual journeys. Alison is the Director of Conferences and Events at Suffolk University, where she also chairs the Working Moms Employee Resource Group.

Therese Ajtum-Roberts - Social Media

Therese Ajtum-Roberts, Ed.D., has dedicated most of her career to creating inclusive, equitable, and engaging learning environments. As the Coordinator of the Chris Walsh Center for Educators and Families at Framingham State University, she collaborates with families and educators to support children with disabilities, gifted learners, and underserved children. As a child, Therese didn’t speak until the age of 4 and received special education services throughout her K-12 education. She is also the mother of two daughters who attend Barbieri Elementary School and Walsh Middle School, one of whom is dyslexic.