About OCECD - Staff

165 West Center Street
Suite 302
Marion, OH       43302-3741

Phone: 740-382-5452
Toll Free: 800-374-2806
Fax: 740-383-6421

Central Office Staff

Albert, Joy
Administrative Assistant

Burley, Margaret
Executive Director

Margaret Burley has been the Executive Director of the Ohio Coalition for the Education of Children with Disabilities since 1979. She coordinates the 48 member governing board which includes parent and professional organization representatives. She directs public policy and research for O.C.E.C.D. She is also the Co-Director of the Alliance Region 4 Parent Technical Assistance Center. Margaret is a national speaker and has been in the disability field for over 30 years. Tom, her son, is the youngest of four children and has multiple disabilities from Congenital Rubella Syndrome. Margaret lives on the family farm with her husband.

Caceres, Marbella
Multicultural Specialist/Trainer

Derugen, Lee Ann
Co-Director

Lee Ann Derugen is the Co-Director of the Ohio Coalition for the Education of Children with Disabilities and the Regional Co-Director for the Alliance Region 4 Parent Technical Assistance Center. Since 1982 she has worked beside Executive Director Margaret Burley in running all operations of the organization. She currently manages 25 staff and consultants in 15 offices across Ohio. She is the financial manager and program coordinator of six grants from various funding sources. She also works with the Governing Board members and officers representing 48 organizations and plans their bi-monthly board meetings. Lee Ann became involved with OCECD because of her compassion for individuals with disabilities and her interest in the field. Her brother is blind and has mental retardation. As his guardian, Lee Ann continues his advocate and supervises his residing in his own home through a supported living program. She resides outside of Marion with her husband.

Ferdinand, Angela
Executive Assistant

Angie is the Executive Assistant to the Director, Margaret Burley. Joining the staff in 1999, she assists with office operations, handles calls and mail, maintains the governing board which includes parent and professional organization representatives, and is responsible for collection, development, and maintenance of data for grant reports and parent surveys. She assists Margaret with public policy and research for O.C.E.C.D., scheduling and meeting preparation. Angie prepares parent and governing board mailings and also assists with staff schedules, computer technology, phone and email accounts, and tracks equipment inventory.

Huckaba, Cheryl
Parent Training Assistant

Cheryl has been employed by O.C.E.C.D. since 1998 as Parent Training Assistant. She copies and collates all training packets, prints and prepares books needed, and fills publication orders, completes mailings and assists staff in various ways. She has job experience in various areas including Mobile Meals, Marion County Board of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities, church, individual day care, Compass Group Homes, and loves working with children. She resides in Marion with her husband; they have two daughters and two grandchildren.

Hudson, Connie
Conference Coordinator

Lause, Martha
Head Librarian

Martha Lause has been the Head Librarian for the O.C.E.C.D. since 1997. She has a master's degrees in Library Science and in Education. She is responsible for collection, development, and maintenance of the Coalition's vast library and information files. She provides requested information to parents, Parent Mentors, teachers, professionals and regional O.C.E.C.D. offices and coordinates the Parent Network mailing that is distributed to over 300 parent groups within the state of Ohio. She also maintains the Coalition's mailing database of over 45,000 parent, teacher and professional contacts and FORUM subscriptions. She sends relevant emails to the nine-state Alliance Region 4 Parent Technical Assistance Center. She is the Coordinator of the Marion County CHADD Chapter. Martha is the mother of three children; her eldest son, a college graduate, has attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder and learning disabilities.

Miller, Colleen
Statewide Training Coordinator/Trainer

Colleen Miller has been with O.C.E.C.D. since 1997 and has served as an Information Specialist in five north central counties and as Statewide Early Childhood Coordinator. Prior to being employed with O.C.E.C.D., she was Administrator of a Preschool/Day Care in Northern Ohio, Chairman of the Huron County Child Abuse and Neglect Board, and taught parenting classes for the Huron County Health Department. She currently serves as Statewide Training Coordinator, where she develops training materials, conducts trainings to parents and professionals and supports the 15 advocate/ trainers at O.C.E.C.D. Her background and experience is in the field of Child Development and she is currently pursuing a degree as a paralegal. She is married, has three children and five grandchildren.

Rice, Barbara
Grants Manager

Barbara joined O.C.E.C.D. in August 2002. She coordinates conference events for the Parent Mentors in Ohio and the Alliance Region 4 Parent Technical Assistance Center grant. She is the grants manager and bookkeeper for all O.C.E.C.D grants. She holds a bachelor's degree in Education as well as a teaching license for social sciences grades 7-12. Her background in is social services and casework through Marion County Job and Family Services. Active in her church, she helped establish Prospect Christian Preschool and served on an all female work team in West Virginia through the Appalachia Service Project. Barbara is married and has two daughters.

Seaton, Jane
Executive Assistant

With the OCECD since 1999, Jane is the assistant to Statewide Training Coordinator Colleen Miller. She is responsible for scheduling trainings, meetings and making travel arrangements for staff members. She monitors the curriculum and office supplies for the Marion office as well as the regional offices and places orders when needed. She completes monthly reports to follow up on statistics needed for various grants. Jane previously was employed with the Marion County Department of Human Services for 15 years. She and her husband have three daughters and five grandchildren.

Regional Staff

Toalston, Kelley
Parent Advocate/Trainer

Kelley is an Information Specialist for the Canton office of OCECD. Kelley was a Preschool teacher for the past 6 years prior to the Coalition. A Help Me Grow Family Support Coordinator is also part of Kelley'’s background in working with families and children. Kelley loves early childhood education and loves presenting our Parent trainings that we offer. Kelley feels it is very rewarding to be able to offer assistance to the families that are going through the special education process in the school system. Kelley is the mother of 2 children a daughter with ADD and a son with Autism. She provides information, training, and support for parents in Ashland, Stark, Tuscarawas,Wayne, Holmes, Muskingham, and Coshocton counties.

Regional Staff

Rutt, Barb
Parent Advocate/Trainer

Barb has been the OCECD Information Specialist for the Cleveland Office since April 2002. She provides information, training and support for parents in the Cuyahoga County. Prior to joining OCECD, Barb was a Parent Mentor for Cleveland Municipal Schools from 1996-2002. She is currently taking course in the chemical dependency/mental health field in order to broaden her knowledge of children and adolescents with mental illness. Barb has three children; the youngest is a teenager challenged with learning disabilities.

Toll Free: 800-694-6391

Regional Staff

Ryle, Jeanith
Parent Advocate/Trainer

Jeanith has been an Information Specialist for OCECD since 1998. She provides information, training and support to parents regarding their rights in the special education process and helps them advocate for their children. She and her husband have four children; the eldest daughter has Angelman Syndrome, mental retardation, cerebral palsy and is Bi-polar and non-verbal. Their youngest son has Dyslexia and learning disabilities. Jeanith serves Adams Brown, Clinton, Crawford, Defiance, Fayette, Fulton, Hancock, Henry, Highland, Knox, Licking, Madison, Marion, Morrow, Paulding, Pickaway, Putnam, Richland, Union, Williams, wood and Wyandot counties.

Regional Staff

Mandernach, Nancy
Parent Advocate/Trainer

Nancy joined the Ohio Coalition Team in 2004 as Information Specialist for the Mid-Ohio office. Her son lost his sight at the age of 14, and she then found herself in harmony with many parents of children with disabilities, thus inspiring her to help parents prepare for dealing with the educational maze. Nancy has been advocating for children with disabilities for over 8 years, five years serving as Parent Mentor. She currently serves Morrow and Richland counties, and provides trainings in Knox and Licking counties.

Regional Staff

Lyke, Karen
Parent Advocate/Trainer

As Information Specialist for the Northern office, Karen provides information, training and support to parents in her area. She has been assisting families in securing appropriate educational services for children with disabilities for 15 years. Karen's background includes training in all aspects of special education law. She has two children; one child has multiple disabilities. Karen serves Huron, Lorain, Summit, and Medina counties.

Regional Staff

Brickner, Sandy
Parent Advocate/Trainer

Sandy has been a consultant for the North Central Office since 2000. Sandy provides information, training and support to parents in her area. She is also coordinator and lead trainer for the "It's My Turn" transition training provided for students ages 14-21. Sandy holds a degree in Early Childhood Education. She previously served as a parent mentor. Sandy and her husband have five sons; two sons have been identified with learning disabilities and one is challenged with A.D.H.D. Sandy serves Erie, Lucas, Ottawa, Sandusky and Seneca counties.

Regional Staff

White, Tina
Parent Advocate/Trainer

As Information Specialist for the Northeast office since March 2002, Tina provides information, training and support to parents in her area. Prior to her work with the Coalition, she provided family support for the Help Me Grow system in Mahoning County for 8 years. Tina has a special interest in Early Intervention/Early Childhood. Tina and her husband have four children; her daughter has global delays and Satus Epilepsy. Tina serves Carroll, Columbiana, Harrison, Jefferson and Mahoning counties.

Toll Free: 800-694-7903

Regional Staff

Houston, Jean
Parent Advocate/Trainer

Provides Educational support and training for families and community in Clermont, Adams, Brown, Highland and Clinton Counties. Jean has an adult child with multiple disabilities who was eligible for school in the early seventies, however, was refused services for three years prior to the 94-142 Special Education Law. Jean moved her family to an area offering some support and has continues to seek services as this group, now adults must still blaze trails to obtain supports, especially in the mental health field. Her passion for the rights of children have kept her in various advocacy roles for over 30 years, including 17 years with the Head Start Program. Jean is married to Greg, and is the adoptive grandparent of two boys. The oldest, with learning disabilities, has required special education support and has graduated from High School.

Jones, Nancy
Parent Advocate/Trainer

Parent advocate /trainer for Southern office since 2004. She provides advocacy in Adams, Brown, Clermont, Clinton, Fayette, Highland, and trainings in Adams, Brown, and Clermont Counties. For four years prior to joining O.C.E.C.D., she provided advocacy services for parents as a volunteer. Nancy's interest is in children with behavioral challenges and in empowering parents to advocate for their child. Nancy has been married for 25 years and has 2 children. Her son has attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and needed specialized supports in school.

Regional Staff

Dombroskas, Valorie
Parent Advocate/Trainer

Valorie joined the staff at O.C.E.C.D. in June 2002. Prior to that she was a parent mentor serving families in five school districts for the Athens-Meigs Educational Service Center. She is also the former director of the Special Education Parent Advocacy Network when she also worked with O.C.E.C.D. for several years. Valorie is the parent of a son with a learning disability. She provides information, training and support to parents in Athens, Fairfield, Hocking, Meigs, Morgan, Perry, Vinton and Washington counties.

Regional Staff

Bryant, Robin
Parent Advocate/Trainer

Information Specialist for the Southwest office of O.C.E.C.D. since 1990 and a consultant prior to that time. Robin also provided consultative services to families as a former employee of the Southwest Special Education Regional Resource Center for ten years from 1979-1989. Robin has a love for early childhood education and has taught pre-school and kindergarten in the public school system. Robin has a special interest in special education law and provides training in all aspects of the IDEA and Ohio special education law. Robin has a hearing impairment and is the mother of a son and a daughter with learning disabilities. She provides information, training and support for parents in Butler, Greene, Hamilton, Preble and Warren counties.

Regional Staff

Dennison, Kim
Parent Advocate/Trainer

Information Specialist for the Ohio River Valley office of the Ohio Coalition since July, 2005. 11 years experience as Parent Mentor for Gallia County Local School District in Southeastern Ohio. Married to husband Mike; daughter Katy is 18 years old. Katy was born deaf and received a Cochlear Implant at the age of 3 ½ yrs of age. Serves Gallia, Lawrence and Scioto counties.

Regional Staff

Linkhorn, Pat
Parent Advocate/Trainer