Who We Are + How We Work
Who We Are + How We Work
Established in 1979 by the Corvallis School Board, the Special Education Advisory Committee (SEAC) partners with district leadership to elevate family voice in special education programming, share disability-related resources and information, and build a community of support among families. SEAC meetings are open to parents and caregivers of students accessing special education services in Corvallis School District. For more information, email us at seac.leaders@corvallis.k12.or.us.
Vision Statement and Mission Statement
The COVID-19 pandemic has shed light on the educational inequities that have left and continue to leave many students and families grossly underserved and struggling. Students with disabilities have been especially impacted, more so when they hold multiple targeted identities as members of Black and brown communities, are English Language Learners, or navigate poverty. To that end, we would like to share our vision and mission statements as we welcome and amplify voices at the margins:
SEAC’s vision is a collaborative, authentic partnership between families of children with disabilities, educators, and administrators. Together, we uphold that all learners should be met with respect, integrity, and sense of belonging. SEAC is committed to the inclusion of multiple perspectives and lived experiences as valid and valuable. We seek to intentionally center the voices of those on the margins, fostering a space in which intersectional identities are an integral part of the whole. SEAC is committed to building our individual and collective capacity to create more just and equitable schools and communities.
SEAC’s mission is to:
Increase the involvement of parents of children with disabilities in district policymaking and practice through honest, cooperative, and productive dialog.
Provide a forum for parents and staff to share ideas, identify concerns, and advise the district to improve services for children with disabilities.
Work with educators and administrators to enhance the opportunity for parents of children with disabilities to develop advocacy skills and establish reciprocal team relationships,
Build capacity, leadership, and mentorship for families to support other families as they navigate special education services.
Family-to-Family and SEAC/District Meetings
SEAC is committed to fostering productive collaboration that builds long-lasting, positive impact. SEAC holds six virtual meetings during school year, alternating between Family-to-Family meetings and SEAC/District meetings. The Family-to-Family meetings are a space where concerns, struggles, and adaptive solutions can be shared, but also where themes are identified to share with district leadership. The SEAC/District meetings are a space for district representatives and community partners to offer transparent information, responsive collaboration, and deep listening. We also hold an open monthly leadership meeting and topical work groups to those who want to be more involved in the behind-the-scenes work of SEAC.
Sarah Lench is the parent chair, sarahlench@gmail.com
Shawn Bernard is the district liaison, shawn.bernard@corvallis.k12.or.us
Sarah Finger McDonald is the board liaison, sarah.fingermcdonald@corvallis.k12.or.us