9/23/2019

Roster Individualized Education Program (IEP) Team Facilitators

The following individuals serve as IEP Team Facilitators and are assigned rotationally based on availability:

Dr. Amanda Bradley Attorney at Law 233 Stonebridge Blvd. Brandon, MS 39042

Ms. Sharon Brown Educational Consultant 101 Stewart St Albertville, AL 35951

Ms. Cynthianter (C.L.) May Attorney at Law P.O. Box 261 Birmingham, AL 35201

Ms. Tamika Miller Attorney at Law 445 Dexter Ave. Ste. 4050 Montgomery, AL 36104

Ms. Kia Scott Attorney at Law 445 Dexter Ave., Suite 4050 Montgomery, AL 36104 334.557.7009

Alabama State Department of Education Contact Ms. Bernice Rush-Harrison

(334) 694-4782, or (334) 394-3744 (TDD)brush-harrison@alsde.edu

IEP Team Facilitators Training

9/24/2019

Vendors serving as IEP Team Facilitators demonstrate their training and qualifications within their resumes. The following training and professional development have also been provided:

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2017- MEGA Conference 2017 sessions with Jim Gerl, David Hodgins, Julie

Weatherly, Pingora Consulting, and Perry Zirkel.

2017- SES Onsite training & remote coaching- Pingora Consulting, LLC.

2018- Summer Professional Learning Conference sessions with Perry Zirkel.

IDEA IEP Team Facilitators Qualifications

9/24/2019

IDEA IEP Team facilitators are independently contracted vendors who are selected through the Request for Proposal (RFP) process. As indicated in the RFP an IEP Team facilitator must have the following qualifications: • Possess a Graduate degree from an accredited institution.• Be experienced in alternate dispute resolution, or mediation, or have extensive

experience conducting IEP Team meetings.• Not be a person, as of June 1, 2017, who is an employee of the Alabama State

Department of Education or a local education agency.• Possess knowledge of and the ability to understand the provisions of the IDEA.

A person who serves as an IEP Team facilitator is not an employee of the education agency solely because he or she is paid by the education agency to serve as an IEP Team facilitator. The resumes demonstrating the IEP Team facilitators’ qualifications are provided on the following pages.

CYNTHIANTHER L. MAY (“C. L. MAY”)

Post Office Box 261

Birmingham, Alabama 35201 cmay@maylawgroupllc.com

EDUCATION & ADMISSIONS

Alabama State Bar 2004

Juris Doctor, Loyola University School of Law,

New Orleans, Louisiana, 2004

(Gillis Long Poverty Law Clinic Practitioner)

Bachelor of Arts, English, Stillman College,

Tuscaloosa, Alabama, 2001

Alabama Registered Mediator

Alabama Registered Arbitrator

Financial Industry Regulatory Agency (FINRA),

Arbitrator

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Owner/Mediator/Arbitrator May Law Group, LLC

1/2009 –Present

Use facilitative and evaluative mediation and alternative dispute resolution techniques to facilitate

communication, collaboration, and individualized education planning and program development between parents,

students, district personnel, social workers, probation officers, and/or student representatives during IEP

meetings;

Serve as hearing officer/arbitrator in cases involving breach of contract, legal compliance with state and federal

law, and securities;

Advice district administrators on equal employment law compliance;

Advised Special Education Director and Birmingham City School Staff Attorney on Special Education best

practices and IDEA compliance;

General civil litigation; and

Compliance monitoring for secure and non-secure juvenile facilities in accord with the Juvenile Justice and

Delinquency Prevention Act (“JJDPA”)

Attorney Bishop, Colvin, Johnson & Kent

4/2016 -4/2017

Investigated claims of age, disability, race, and gender discrimination filed with the Equal Employment

Opportunity Commission (“EEOC”) against boards of education, to include, interviewing appropriate individuals,

compiling documentary evidence, and formulation of the appropriate defense strategy;

Drafted and filed position statements with the EEOC; legal research; and

Reviewed and responded to request for information pursuant to FERPA and the Open Records Act

Staff Attorney Birmingham City Schools

8/2014-12/2015

Used facilitative and evaluative mediation and alternative dispute resolution techniques to facilitate

communication, collaboration, and individualized education planning and program development between parents,

students, district personnel, social workers, probation officers, and/or student representatives during IEP

meetings;

C. L.May

Resume

Page 2 of 2

___________________________________________________________________________

Advised management on equal employment compliance, employee relations legal matters, federal and state

regulatory statutes;

Reviewed, revised, and drafted policies and protocols, negotiated contracts, and agreements

Investigated claims of discrimination; drafted position statements in response to complaints filed with the EEOC;

developed employment compliance related practices aimed at risk management;

Advised Special Education Department on IDEA legal compliance;

Assisted general counsel in representation of the school system in litigation, compliance, and regulatory

matters; and

Directed and oversaw the work of administrative staff; litigated Education Law and Special Education cases.

Associate Attorney Thomas, Means, Gillis & Seay, P.C.

1/2006 - 1/2009

Advised Special Education Department on IDEA legal compliance;

Conducted investigations of alleged discrimination;

Drafted position statements in response to complaints filed with the EEOC;

Negotiated various types of agreements;

Reviewed and revised policies and protocols in compliance with new or changed state and federal laws; and

Litigated cases through administrative hearings, trials, and appeals

Supervising Attorney Legal Services Alabama

10/2005 - 1/2006

Responsible for managing day-to-day operations including budgeting, hiring, time management and reporting,

staff supervisions, and review of work product for accuracy and timeliness; and

Litigated matters of fair housing violations, social security disability claims from inception to dispositive hearing

and trial; negotiated settlements of cases and claims through mediations and settlement conferences.

Managing Attorney Carter Law Firm, P.C.

10/ 2004- 10/ 2005

Oversight of day-to-day office operations to include budgeting, oversight of trust/operating accounts, hiring, time

reporting, staff oversight, review of work product from other attorneys and support staff for accuracy and

timeliness;

Litigated personal injury cases involving negligence and failure to supervise; conducted in-depth investigations

into alleged civil and criminal violations, including document review and law enforcement reports, advised and

educated defendants on applicable law, sentencing guidelines, and court procedures, drafted motions, pleadings,

affidavits, deeds, interrogatories, and requests for production of documents; and

Negotiated plea bargains and nolle proseques, litigated all classes of criminal and criminal misdemeanor cases

from inception to bench and jury trials, respectively, and appealed cases before the Alabama Court of Criminal

Appeals.

Resume Frank Snowden and The Snowden Law Offices The Snowden Law Offices is a solo practice law firm located in Montgomery, Alabama, owned and operated by Frank Snowden (aka Clarence Franklin Snowden III). The degree of juris doctor was conferred upon Frank Snowden in December 1996. Mr. Snowden is in his 21st year of continuous active practice of law. Mr. Snowden is admitted to practice law in all State Courts of Alabama and Tennessee, and in Federal Courts and Immigration Courts of the United States. Frank Snowden has additionally received 84 hours of formal mediation training including 40 hours of mediation training in civil and family law as well as 14 hours training to become additionally endorsed to mediate domestic violence cases, and is and has continued to be a registered as a mediator with the state of Alabama’s Alternative Dispute Resolution division of the Alabama State Bar. Mr. Snowden has personally served as mediator in over 400 cases and enjoys a success rate well above the state average in mediated matters he has facilitated. Frank Snowden has additionally received 34 hours of formal Facilitated IEP facilitator training. Specific Experience and Training Mr. Snowden is now, and has been for the last twelve(12) months serving as IDEA mediator with the Alabama Department of Education and has a 100% settlement rate having mediated or been co-mediator in approximately 35 matters in controversy. Additionally, Mr. Snowden has received approximately 24 hours of specialized training in IDEA law and IDEA mediation from nationally recognized training professionals Jim Gerl and Pingora Consulting’s Lenore Knudtson, and Stephanie Weaver. In addition to his knowledge of IDEA law, regulations and procedures, Mr. Snowden has practical experience in the conduct of IEP and ISP meetings. For reference, the evaluator should note that ISP is an Individualized Service Plan, which is typically conducted for children who have become wards of the state, specifically the Alabama Department of Human Resources. During the course of his legal career, Mr. Snowden has been appointed by Juvenile Courts as a child advocate, also known as a Guardian

ad Litem, and in that capacity Mr. Snowden has materially participated in over 200 IEP and ISP meetings. In his experience with these meetings, he has been unintentionally cast into the role of facilitator in most instances due to primarily to the adversarial nature of the party participants and has thus obtained extensive experience in IEP facilitation. Mr. Snowden is uniquely qualified for the role of IEP facilitator. Mr. Snowden has additional special knowledge and skills in the following areas of law: Special Education Law Individuals with Disabilities Act Governmental and Administrative Law Regulatory Compliance Education Law Individuals with Disabilities Education Act Court Policies and Programs Legal Correspondence Judicial Order Preparation Legal and Nonlegal Research Public Speaking Experience and Expertise Legal Writing Corporate Transactions Corporate and Business Legal Issues Criminal Law Business Law Licenses, Petitions and Waivers Civil Procedure Due Process Proceedings Effective Conflict Resolution Experienced in Trial and Litigation Criminal Defense Appeals Environmental Laws and Litigation. Mr. Snowden currently holds memberships in and is in a leadership role in the following professional and community organizations: The Alabama State Bar The Montgomery County Bar Board of Directors – Vice President American Bar Association American Immigration Lawyers Association Sigma Delta Kappa Legal Fraternity The Alabama Criminal Defense Lawyers Association The Alternative Dispute Resolution Center

Alabama Access to Justice Commission Board of Directors The Family Law Section of the Alabama State Bar National Notary Association since 1988 Mr. Snowden is currently in his 21st year as a licensed practicing attorney and during his time in practice, he is also served as a post-secondary instructor in various areas of legal instruction with Alabama State University. Mr. Snowden has served as a mediator for 19+ years (since 1998). Mr. Snowden is well qualified to serve in the role of mediator, and is a seasoned mediator having mediated for 19 years, having practiced law in the state courts, federal courts and administrative hearing tribunals for 20 years, having served as counsel for both plaintiff and defendant, tried cases before judges and juries, have served as appellate counsel for both plaintiff and defendant and had oral arguments before the highest courts of this state. He is a state bar registered mediator and has been actively mediating since 1998, has advanced mediation training in domestic violence, has served as both counsel for a party and mediator in hundreds of mediation, has participated in arbitration, and has participated in a variety of alternative dispute resolution, including but not limited mediation, arbitration, circle sentencing, and having served as an administrative hearing officer for the state of Alabama’s Department of Insurance. Alabama officially adopted mediation as practice in 1994 and Mr. Snowden began mediating District Court Civil Matters in 1998 for then District Judge(s) Craig Miller, Lynn Bright and Peggy Givhan, all of whom have since retired. Mr. Snowden furthered his mediation experience by mediating in Circuit Court under the direction of then Judge Tracy McCooey mediating Circuit Court Civil Matters. However, in 1999, Judge McCooey expanded the mediation practice to include some criminal matters in her courtroom, specifically circle sentencing and engaged in mediation services with the City of Montgomery Municipal Court for criminal and domestic violence matters. Frank Snowden served as mediator in both of these capacities.

Mr. Snowden has extensive experience in administrative law having served as administrative law judge and having represented clients before the following State of Alabama Administrative Agencies, Boards or Commissions: Board of Adjustment Alabama State University Alcoholic Beverage Control Board Board of Registered Architects Banking Department Building Commission Department of Corrections Department of Environmental Management Ethics Commission General Contractors Licensing Board Health Planning and Dev. Agency Heating, A/C and Refrigeration Board Home Builder Licensure Human Resources Insurance Medicaid Nursing Physical Therapy Real Estate Commission Revenue Securities Commission Alabama State Bar Administrative Office of Courts Transportation Mr. Snowden’s experience, combined with his education, and personal qualifications will ensure timely and successful completion of the work to be performed as an IEP facilitator. Through his years of experience in practicing law, Mr. Snowden has clearly demonstrated that he has the ability to understand the provisions of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act,(IDEA) federal and state regulations pertaining to the IDEA, and legal interpretations of the IDEA by federal and state courts. Mr. Snowden has personally engaged in independent research into the IDEA process and has gained substantial knowledge and understanding about the process since June of 2015. Mr. Snowden’s education and experience provide him with the knowledge and ability to conduct mediation and IEP facilitation in accordance with appropriate standard legal practices and the ability to assist parties in reaching fair, just and practicable agreements in accordance with appropriate standard legal practices. Mr.

Snowden has further significant experience in drafting agreements reached in mediation as well. Understanding the process and possible if not likely outcomes of contested matters is natural required prerequisite to mediation success by a skilled mediator. Service to Community Meals on Wheels program Operation Christmas Child Toys for Tots Montgomery Chamber of Commerce Alabama State Bar Mediation Program Montgomery County Bar Association Officer Volunteer Lawyer Board Mission Montgomery Project of Frazer United Methodist Church Board of Stewards of Frazer United Methodist Church Life Group Leader Crave Student Ministries Worship Planning Ministries Sermon and Lesson Preparations Sunday School Leader Alabama Angels Montgomery Children’s Center Small Group Facilitator at Frazer UMC Sunday School Leader Boards Board of Directors Hilyer Services, Inc. Board of Directors Absolutions Counseling Center Alabama Access to Justice Commission Jimmy Hitchcock Board of the YMCA YMCA Board of Directors

Wynlakes Homeowners Board of Directors