(FRANKFORT, KY) – The Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) recently welcomed new members and leadership for the State Advisory Panel for Exceptional Children (SAPEC).
The panel’s role is to inform KDE’s Office of Special Education and Early Learning (OSEEL) about unmet needs in the education of children with disabilities in Kentucky. It also advises OSEEL on policies and practices that impact students with disabilities across the Commonwealth.
The new members who were appointed in late 2025 are Layla Frazier, Amber Hamm, Jaclyn Hawley, Eileen Hoover, Heather McConnell, Jessica Moore, Amy Smith, Laura Tipton and Alexandria Wright.
The new chair of SAPEC is Tiffanie Clark. As a seasoned administrator and former special education director, she brings strong leadership to the panel and a commitment to inclusive education.
The new vice chair is Laura Tipton, a parent representative who can bring a perspective of family engagement and advocacy to the panel. The secretary is Emily Fox, a returning officer.
Returning members include Allison Amshoff, Ashley Barlow, Jeffrey Coles, Jeni Ward Bolander, Jonathan Curry, Lacheena Carothers, Tiffanie Clark, Zachary Stumbo and ex-officio member Gretta Hylton, associate commissioner of OSEEL.
Jarrod S. Slone, KDE’s Individuals with Disabilities Education Act Program and Fiscal Compliance specialist, will serve as the new panel facilitator.
In addition to advising KDE, SAPEC reviews and comments on rules or regulations proposed by the Kentucky General Assembly relating to the education of children with disabilities.
The panel also advises KDE in developing evaluations and reporting on data to the U.S. Secretary of Education, developing corrective action plans to address findings in federal monitoring reports, and developing and implementing policies relating to the coordination of services for children with disabilities.
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