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WELCOME!
The
Macomb Intermediate School
District’s (MISD) Parent Advisory Committee (PAC) is a group comprised of
parents of special needs children, volunteers and educators. The PAC is
available to parents of special needs children to:
■
assist parents
with the special education process by answering questions about special
education rules and regulations;
■
mentor and
educate parents;
■
build positive
relationships with schools;
■
provide input
relating to legislative issues;
■
network with
other PACs throughout the state, and
■
the PAC meets
monthly at the MISD, and parents and visitors are welcome to attend the meetings
(CLICK HERE FOR THE CURRENT MEETING SCHEDULE).
PAC has been successful in their goal to involve more
parents in the past year and hopes to continue that effort this year. Your
involvement in the PAC is crucial to our success! Below is a short biography for
each PAC Leadership Team Member:
Deborah Yoho
is the representative for Romeo Community Schools. She has been married to her
husband Dean for 20 years and has two wonderful children. Her eldest son,
Dean, Jr., graduated from Romeo High School in 2009 and will be attending
Oakland University in the fall. Her younger son, Darren, is a sophomore at Romeo
High School and is doing extremely well mainstreamed in all of his classes.
Darren has Autism and is the one who brought Deb to the Parent Advisory
Committee in 2001. Deb Co-chaired the PAC in the 2004-2005
year and plans to continue helping educate parents who have special needs
children. She is looking forward to continuing her work with the PAC Leadership
Team this year and her main responsibility is to facilitate each monthly
meeting.
Charisse
Cossu-Kowalski
is the representative for Fraser Public Schools. She and her husband have
four children. Two receive special education services. One has attachment challenges, probable pre-natal exposure to alcohol and
learning disabilities; another has fetal alcohol syndrome and
cognitive delays. Charisse joined the PAC in 2002 and is also involved with the MCFARES (Macomb County Fetal Alcohol Resource Education and Support) Coalition,
the LICC (Local Interagency Coordinating Council), and activities at her church.
She was formerly a program supervisor working with mentally ill adults living in
adult foster care homes but currently is a stay-at-home mom. Charisse is
responsible for internet communications for the PAC.
Sharon Hartwick is the representative
for Fitzgerald Public Schools. She is married with three children. Two of
Sharon's children receive special education services. Her oldest is going into
the 4th grade and has a variety of problems all of which have made diagnosis
difficult. Among them are ADHD, Dyspraxia, Anxiety Disorder and being on
the mild end of the Autism/Asperger's Spectrum. Her youngest, a preschooler,
receives speech and occupational therapy services. Sharon has been a PAC member
since 2005. She is a former teacher and is currently a stay-at-home mom. Sharon
is responsible for keeping minutes at each meeting and assisting in other areas
as needed.
Miriam Broome is the PAC's newest
member. Miriam is the representative for the Chippewa Valley School District.
Miriam has been married to Darryll for 22 years. They have two wonderful sons.
The eldest, Dylan, will be a senior at Chippewa Valley High School this fall. He
has been getting assistance for reading, speech and math through IEPs since the
2nd grade; however, he no longer requires special services. Their youngest son,
Dante, attends Wyandot Middle School. He has been diagnosed with Asperger's
Syndrome. Miriam is excited about her new role on the PAC Leadership Team and
looks forward to continuing the work that is so important for our children.
Miriam's main role with the PAC is to oversee the sub-committees.
Thank you for taking the time to learn more about the
PAC.
Hope to see you at a
meeting soon!
Sincerely,
Your
PAC Leadership Team
Deb, Charisse , Sharon and
Miriam |
