Roster Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) Mediators In accordance with Alabama Administrative Code 290-8-9-.08(9)(b)3.

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The following individuals are trained to serve as mediators and are assigned on a rotating basis:

Ms. Sharon BrownEducational Consultant 101 Stewart St Albertville, AL 35951

Ms. Nika Gholston Attorney at Law445 Dexter Ave., Suite 4050 Montgomery, AL 36104

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

Mr. Frank Snowden 2006 Berryhill Rd. Montgomery, AL 36117

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

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

Ms. Tamika Miller* Attorney at Law 445 Dexter Ave. Ste. 4050 Montgomery, AL 36104*pending contract approval October 2018

IDEA Mediator Qualifications

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IDEA Mediators are independently contracted vendors who are selected through the Request for Proposal (RFP) process. As indicated in the RFP a mediator must have the following qualifications:

Be licensed to practice law, or have specific training and certification in IDEAmediation, or have extensive experience successfully completing IDEAmediations.

Not be a person, as of October 1, 2016, who is an employee of the SEA or theLEA that is involved in the education or care of the child, or a person havinga personal or professional interest that would conflict with his or herobjectivity during a mediation session.

Possess knowledge of and the ability to understand the provisions of the IDEAand state regulations pertaining to the IDEA.

Possess the knowledge and ability to conduct mediation sessions inaccordance with appropriate standard practice.

Possess the knowledge and ability to complete mediation agreements.

A person serving as a mediator is not an employee of the education agency solelybecause he or she is paid by the education agency to serve as a mediator. The resumes demonstrating the mediators’ qualifications are provided on the following pages.

IDEA Mediator Training

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

• 2017- MEGA Conference 2017 sessions with Jim Gerl, David Hodgins, JulieWeatherly, and Perry Zirkel.

• 2017- SES Onsite training- The Art and Science of Special EducationMediation presented by Pingora Consulting, LLC.

2018- Summer Professional Learning Conference sessions with Perry Zirkel.•

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