Conference Speakers

2024 Keynote Speakers

Betsey Helfrich

Transportation of Special Education Students: Avoiding the Bumps and Legal Hazards

Friday, Nov. 17 l 9:30 a.m. – 10:45 a.m.

In this fast-paced presentation, special education attorney Betsey Helfrich, will examine school transportation from a legal perspective.  From a review of recent case law to current hot-topics, this presentation will dive into the legalities of the transportation of students with disabilities.  From aides on buses to sharing information with the transportation department, this presentation will include practical tips that you need to know to minimize liability and keep students safe.

Biography

Betsey practices special education law in Kansas and Missouri. Formerly the special education department lead for Mickes O’Toole, LLC in St. Louis, she now runs her own practice. She has successfully represented school districts against a variety of claims in state and federal courts, including the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals, as well as in administrative and special education due process hearings. She provides general counsel to schools on special education matters and conducts local and national training on Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and all areas of the Individuals with Disabilities Education. Betsey presented at LRP’s 38th and 39th Annual National Institute on Legal Issues of Educating Individuals with Disabilities.

Jo Mascorro

Education Consultant/Behavior Intervention

Date: TBD l Time: TBD

2024 Conference Speakers As of 10/25/23. Subject to change

Alemnesh Allen
Prince George’s County Public Schools in Maryland

Theresa Anderson
Anderson Consulting

Kathy Anneken
VP of Sales
Easy Way Safety Services

John Benish
Executive Director
National School Transportation Association

Laura Beth Blankenship
Physical Therapist
Knox County Schools in Tennessee

Albert Burleigh
Blue Bird

Peggy A. Burns
Legal Consultant

Eliza Clement
Certified ASL Interpreter
Dallas ISD in Texas

Denny Coughlin
Consultant
School Bus Training LLC

Cody Cox
Director of Transportation
Cleveland ISD

Arby Creach
Director, Transportation Services
Osceola District Schools

Ryan Dillingham
Director of Transportation
Knox County Schools in Knoxville, Tennessee

Fred Doelker
Director of Training Programs
Dean Transportation in Michigan

Denise Donaldson, CPST-I
Editor & Publisher
Safe Ride News

Terri Drca
Social/Behavior Special Education Teacher
Davis High School

Katrina Falk
Director of Transportation
Shelby Eastern Schools in Indiana

John Fergerson
Director of Transportation
Klein ISD in Texas

 

 

 

Teresa Fleming
Deputy Chief Operations Officer
School District of Philadelphia

Jared Fitswater
Clay County (WV) School District

Terry Gleaton
General Manager
Goldstar Transit

Launi Harden
Consultant

Aaron Harris
National Sales and Training Manager
Besi, Inc.

Kala Henkensiefken
Special Education Transportation Manager
Bemidji Area Schools in Minnesota

Dr, John Henry
Wyoming County (WV) School District

Michael Hogains
Driver Trainer
Los Angeles Unified District

Jessica Keithan
Co-Founder and Director
Texas Electric School Bus Project

Jacqueline Leach
Health Educator
Morristown Medical Center in New Jersey

Denise Mabry
Director-Compliance & Due Process, Office of Special Education
Baltimore City Public Schools in Maryland

Miriam Manary, CPST
Lead Research Engineer
University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute

Robbin Marshall
Assistant Director, Office of Pupil Transportation
Baltimore City Public Schools in Maryland

Steven Mentzer
Senior EV Principal Consultant
First Student, Inc.

Grace Millar
Operations Manager
4Seasons Transportation

Zachary Moren
Sales Enablement Manager
Transfinder

Ken Mulder
Director of Transportation
Special School District of St. Louis County in Missouri

 

Mark Nestlen
President & CEO
Bar None Consulting, Inc.

Diandra Neugent, CPST
Transportation Manager
Community Council of Idaho

Trisha Nolan
Southern Regional Manager
Q’Straint/Sure-Lok

Carolyn Nunes
Technical Support
Special Education, LLC

Alexandra Robinson
President
A. Robinson Consulting

Josh Schiffler
Owner
Crosby Ironton Transportation

Sue Shutrump, CPST
Supervisor of OT/PT & Tenured Faculty
Trumbull County Educational Service Center in Ohio

Kayne Smith
Director of Transportation
Cypress-Fairbanks ISD in Texas

Peggy Stone
Director of Transportation
Lincoln County Schools in West Virginia

Amy Tiedens
Transportation Manager
ISD 287 in Minnesota

Maritza Valentin
Contract/National Account Manager
AMF-Bruns America

Charlie Vits, CPST
Market Development Manager/Regulatory Affairs Manager
IMMI/SafeGuard

Jennifer Vobis
Executive Director
Clark County School District in Nevada

Stephen Whaley
Director of Autogas Business Development
Propane Education and Research Council

Jennie Wu, Ed. D.
Executive Director, Strategy & Continuous Improvement
Baltimore City Public Schools in Maryland

 

 

Tenured Faculty
Sue Shutrump

Sue Shutrump

Alex Robinson

Alex Robinson

Launi Harden

Launi Harden

Tenured Faculty Emeritus
Linda Bluth

Linda Bluth

Peggy Burns

Peggy Burns

Pauline Gervais

Pauline Gervais

Kathy Strotmeyer

Kathy Strotmeyer

Cheryl Wolf

Cheryl Wolf

Jean Zimmerman

Jean Zimmerman

National Board of Advisors
Miriam Manary

Miriam Manary

John Benish

John Benish

Kathleen Furneaux

Kathleen Furneaux

Mark Hinson

Mark Hinson

Charles Hood

Charles Hood

Charley Kennington

Charley Kennington

Pete Meslin

Pete Meslin