Workshops and Presenters

Attorney Charlie Jelley received his undergraduate and masters degree from Slippery Rock State University. Attorney Jelley received his first law degree from Duquesne Law School, and received his second law degree, an LL.M. in Health Law, from the University of Loyola School of Law, Institute for Health Law in Chicago, Illinois. Attorney Jelley was the co-editor of the Health Law Institute’s first health law journal, “The Annuals of Health Law.” Attorney Jelley’s 1991 LLM thesis focused on the application of the anti-discrimination provision in Section 504, the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Employee Retirement Income Security Action (ERISA) as applied to persons with disabilities accessing group health insurance.

From 1980–1991, Attorney Jelley worked for Westmoreland County ARC as a lay advocate, then as the Director of Educational and Legislative Advocacy, and then for a short period of time after graduating from law school as the Executive Director. 

After graduating from Loyola, Attorney Jelley worked, for a short time, as a consultant to the Chiropractic Legal Defense Fund in Englewood Colorado. Attorney Jelley’s practice, prior to becoming a hearing officer, focused on children’s issues, school law, juvenile justice, children and youth services, health law, disability law, medical assistance issues, community services, estate planning for families of persons with disabilities, civil rights litigation, ERISA litigation and legislative/policy analyses for persons with disabilities. 

Attorney Jelley served as the solicitor for the Parent Education Network, a Pennsylvania Parent Training initiative. Attorney Jelley is the past co-chairman of the Pennsylvania Bar Association Exceptional Children’s Committee. He is a past member of the Westmoreland County Academy of Trial Lawyers and the Ned Nakles Inns of Court.

Dr. Kachmar is a Pennsylvania/Delaware Licensed Psychologist and Certified School Psychologist. Dr. Kachmar operates a private practice conducting independent educational and psychological evaluations for children referred by parents and school districts. He routinely consults with parents and counsel on psychoeducational and special education issues. Dr. Kachmar previously served as the Supervisor of Psychological Services and District Psychologist for the Northampton Area School District in Northampton, PA, for 14 years. He is a former Executive Committee Member and the Treasurer of the Lehigh Valley Psychological and Counseling Association, and a current member of the American Psychological Association, National Association of School Psychologists, and the Association of School Psychologists of Pennsylvania.  Dr. Kachmar presents regionally and has co-authored book chapters and articles on a variety of school psychology / child development related topics. He earned a B.A. in General Psychology in 2000 and a Master of Arts in Agency/Mental Health Counseling in 2003, both from Kutztown University. In May 2008, Dr. Kachmar earned a Doctor of Philosophy Degree in School Psychology from Duquesne University, a program accredited by the American Psychological Association and approved by the National Association of School Psychologists.

Brandi K. Suter is the founding attorney of Extraordinary Law, a law firm representing students for all aspects of special education and gifted education. Attorney Suter has dedicated her entire professional career to partnering with and advocating for children and families to best support the needs of extraordinary students within the educational system. Brandi represents families throughout the commonwealth to obtain educational supports for students within the home, school and community, by focusing on the unique needs of each individual student. Attorney Suter collaborates with families to find creative solutions tailored specifically to support a student by sharing her broad experience of obtaining results from school districts across Pennsylvania. Brandi examines student records, develops an action plan with parents, then attends and advocates alongside parents at IEP, GIEP and 504 meetings. She has secured hundreds of favorable action plans, accomodations, litigation results for parents and students by employing her specialized knowledge in special education law throughout Western Pennsylvania. Brandi's passion for aiding children and families traces back to her first roles after obtaining her Masters of Social Work, as a youth counselor and behavioral supports coordinator in both clinical and home settings.  

Andrew M. Klein (Andy) is a full-time Special Education Consultant to both School Districts and Parents. He has been engaged in such work for over thirty-years as issues relate to IDEA, Section 504, the ADA, medical malpractice and related statutes. Andy is a former general education and special education teacher in both the public and private sectors. He also was a special education administrator for twenty-seven years at the Lancaster-Lebanon Intermediate Unit 13, Downingtown Area School District, Wilson School District and Horsham Clinic. Andy served as a PA Special Education Due Process Hearing Officer for seventeen-years as well as an Adjunct Professor for eighteen-years at Millersville University and West Chester University, mostly in the Graduate School and Supervisory Certification Programs. He has been qualified as an expert witness in the Eastern, Middle and Western District Federal Courts and has testified in numerous Special Education Hearings as well. In addition, he has been certified as a Mediator by the Justice Center of Atlanta, GA and a Mediator/Hearing Officer for the Bureau of Indian Affairs. 

Carl P. Beard is a Managing Partner in Beard Legal Group.  On May 23, 2022, Attorney Beard was recognized as a Super Lawyer by his peers in the Pennsylvania. He is a 1977 graduate of Lycoming College and a 1980 graduate of the Ohio Northern University College of Law. Mr. Beard has over 33 years’ experience representing Pennsylvania public schools and has been representing schools in special education matters for over 20 years. Attorney Beard provides in-service and other presentations on special education to schools and at conferences across the Commonwealth.  Mr. Beard was the President to the School Solicitor’s Association in 2007.  Mr. Beard was presented an Award for Outstanding Service to Public Education in 2018 by the Pennsylvania School Study Council. Mr. Beard was also awarded the Tri-State Area School Study Council's Distinguished Achievement in Law Award on June 2011 at the 14th Annual Dr. Samuel Francis School Law Symposium and Special Education Workshop held at the University of Pittsburgh.  Attorney Beard co-presented with Attorney Dambeck at the COSA Conference in April 2022 on the topic of “Pandemic Problems:  Struggling with Student Mental Health.”