About Us

Rene Averitt-Sanzone

Executive Director

Rene is the Executive Director at The Parents’ Place of MD, and has been since 2017. Prior to that, she worked as the Regional Technical Assistance Co-Director for the OSEP funded parent centers in the mid-south region.  She has worn many hats in the field of special education – Parent Educator, Early Childhood Behavior Specialist, Evaluator, and Charter School Administrator. Rene currently serves on several national and state wide disability committees and advisory groups. She has an undergraduate degree in Psychology and a masters in Organizational Change Management. Rene is the proud parent of two grown daughters, both with disabilities and an even prouder Mimi of two grandsons.

Missy Alexander

Director of Learning and Development

Missy, the Director of Learning and Development at The Parents’ Place of Maryland, has been with the organization since 2002. She is the mother of an adult daughter with an Autism Spectrum Disorder, who was educated in the St. Mary’s County Public Schools for her entire academic career. She is the Co-Chair of the St. Mary’s County Local Management Board, serving as a community member. Missy serves on the St. Mary’s County Local Care Team as the Parent Advocate. She is an active member of the Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates (COPAA), serving on its Board of Directors where she was the first Advocate to serve as Board Chair. Missy’s approach in working with families is driven by the firm belief that parents are the best advocates for their children, and she provides them with the information, support and encouragement to empower them to do so.

Kim Birnbaum

Parent Educator

Kim joined PPMD as a Parent Educator in 2022. Prior to joining PPMD, she worked in the early childcare industry for several years and then worked in an administrative capacity for over 10 years before the privilege to stay home with her two children and navigate their interventions, therapies, and education. Kim has a Bachelor of Art degree from James Madison University and majored in psychology. Kim has been administering an online disability-specific parent support group of over 1,500 members in Howard County for several years. In this capacity, she has helped assist members to connect them to resources like The Parents’ Place of MD. Kim is an active community member and volunteer on public education, special education, equity and inclusion, and environmental issues, including as a member of Howard County Special Education Citizens Advisory Committee (SECAC) and serving volunteer roles for her children’s school’s PTA, the Community Advisory Council, and informal parent groups. The parents of the special needs community have been very helpful to her, and Kim enjoys helping other parents who are newer to their journeys.

Addy Dayton

Western MD Parent Educator

Addy came to us from Allegany County where she grew up in the small town of Mount Savage. She has seven years of experience working with daycare-aged children, primarily those under three. Addy is an active community volunteer emergency medical responder with the Baltimore Pike Volunteer Fire Company and secretary for the Allegany Garrett Counties Volunteer Fire Rescue Association, where she also leads an emergency services autism awareness program. Addy is married with one baby girl and has several farm animals. Addy holds her Child Development Associate Credential (CDA) and Maryland Emergency Medical Responder license. She has a passion for helping families, especially those in rural communities, and she loves to travel with family in her free time.

Octavia Guthrie

Health Program Specialist

Octavia has worked in healthcare for over twenty years and recently became a registered nurse with a Bachelor’s degree in nursing from Frostburg State University. She is a wife and mother of boy/girl teenage twins who are both on the autism spectrum and an adult stepdaughter. She has served as a Special Education Parent Liaison, member of the Special Education Advisory Committee and worked on various planning committees with Baltimore County Public Schools. Octavia is passionate about helping parents be the best advocate for their children’s educational and healthcare needs. In her free time, she enjoys reading and traveling with her family.

Lamisah Hassan

Volunteer Coordinator

Donna Howard

Parent Educator

Donna joins us as a Parent Educator after having held a variety of positions, in industry and academe. More recently, she served as a college administrator providing academic support services and coordinating services for students with disabilities. She is the proud parent of two daughters, both with IEPs – one who recently graduated cum laude! She understands the importance of identifying challenges, breaking down barriers, and creating enriched living, and learning environments; and is passionate about empowering parents to do so. She has served as an elementary school parent volunteer strengthening foundational math and reading skills for students with disabilities and in middle school building critical thinking skills as an AVID tutor. She is enthusiastic about fostering growth, curiosity, and skill development in children of differing abilities by empowering parents with resources and the skills to advocate for them and partner with providers.

Bonnie Kinsey

Eastern Shore Parent Educator

Marlo Denise Lemon

Co-Deputy Director of Training & Strategic Partnerships

Marlo is the Co-Deputy Director of Training & Strategic Partnerships at The Parents’ Place of Maryland. She is most proud of her role as a wife and the mother of three children, two of which have IEPs. Prior to PPMD, Marlo has provided professional development to parents and staff in Baltimore and Howard counties. She has taught in Baltimore City and Baltimore County school systems. In her position as Educational Specialist for the Maryland State Department of Education, she worked in Title I schools, early childhood and special education. Currently she teaches the “Working with Families of Students with Disabilities” course at Towson University. Marlo values relationships and believes ALL children can succeed and parents and families are the best resources for each other.

Audri Levering

Transition Program Coordinator

Audri works with families on the Eastern Shore of Maryland. As a former Speech-Language Pathologist, she treated patients in hospitals in Texas, Chicago, and Los Angeles, specializing in neurologic communication and swallowing disorders. Recently, Audri was the Chair of Queen Anne’s County Special Education Citizens Advisory Committee (SECAC).  She is a member of the Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates (COPAA).  Audri also completed the 2019 Maryland Partners in Policy Making program. She is passionate about inclusion, bridging alliances, and advocating for policies centered around the protection and advancement of the educational civil rights of students with disabilities. She is an ardent proponent for educational equity, vigorous and ambitious expectations, and preparing students for meaningful post-secondary opportunities. Audri earned her Bachelor of Science in Education from Stephen F Austin State University, and a Master of Science in Communication Disorders from The University of Texas at Dallas. She lives on Kent Island with her husband, son, and teenage daughter who was born with a rare genetic disorder.

Lydia Moro

Program Assistant

Lydia joined the PPMD team in January 2024 as a Program Assistant. She graduated from York College of Pennsylvania with a Bachelor’s in Business Administration. During her time at York she was very involved with her college’s chapter of Best Buddies, an international non-profit that fosters friendships for people with disabilities. The friends Lydia made through Best Buddies helped her discover her passion for disability advocacy and inclusion. Lydia is also an avid outdoor enthusiast and enjoys camping, hiking, and exploring state and national parks.

Kristen Paul

Director of Early Childhood Programs

Kristen has worked with children and their families for more than 20 years in a variety of capacities, including as a teacher, Federal agency education advisor, college administrator, and in family support for Birth to Five Programs. Kristen serves as Maryland’s Ambassador for both the CDC’s Learn the Signs.  Act Early. and DEC/ECTA Recommended Practices programs, leads PPMD’s Baby LEADers parent training program and other early childhood initiatives, and participates in numerous state-level committees, working groups, and other collaborative efforts to improve the outcomes of Maryland’s youngest residents and their families. At the state level, Kristen serves as a Parent Member of the State Interagency Coordinating Council for Infants and Toddlers; locally, she is Chair of the St. Mary’s Citizens’ Advisory Committee for Special Education (CACSE) and received the 2022 Volunteer Award from the St. Mary’s County Commission for People with Disabilities. Kristen resides in St. Mary’s County with her husband and young son with multiple disabilities.

Allie Phelan

Director of Communications

Allie started working for PPMD as an intern while finishing her undergraduate degrees. She received a Bachelor’s degree in Deaf Studies and a Bachelor’s degree in Family and Human Services from Towson University and is now PPMD’s Director of Communications. She enjoys supporting families of children with diverse needs, specifically those who are deaf and hard of hearing, as she is proficient in American Sign Language. Allie lives in southern Anne Arundel county with her family.

Jill Pelovitz

Parent Educator

Jill is a former Language Arts teacher who taught several years at the middle school level. She has participated on many committees and groups related to special needs children at Mt. Washington Pediatric Hospital, including chairing the Family Advisory Counsel. Jill has advocated for children’s hospitals, the ketogenic diet, and for other numerous issues and programs relating to families with children who have special education and healthcare needs. Jill educates and supports families who are starting the ketogenic diet. She is the mother of two daughters, one of which has a rare genetic disorder resulting in intractable epilepsy and multiple disabilities.

Cynthia Pillajo-Lopez

Bilingual Parent Educator

Cynthia’s journey for supporting others began 15 years ago when she was certified as a Peer Support Specialist. She is passionate about helping families navigate different types of systems and making sure children and their families get the appropriate supports. Prior to joining the PPMD team, Cynthia lived in New York and worked as a Mental Health Family Support Liaison. She moved to Maryland six years ago where she continued advocating and supporting families of children with disabilities and special healthcare needs. Cynthia is a single mother of five girls, three of which have mental health challenges (Bipolar Disorder, Anxiety, Depression and PTSD), and a son who passed away at age five with Muscular Dystrophy. Cynthia is originally from Ecuador and is fluent in both English and Spanish.

Silvia Ramos

Bilingual Parent Educator

Silvia is a dedicated and compassionate professional with over 20 years of experience in early childhood education and family support services. She holds a Child Development Associate Credential, along with various certifications and training in infant and early childhood mental health, home visiting, and family support. Silvia’s passion for helping families and young children has driven her to serve in various roles, including program coordinator, family advocate, and home visitor. Silvia is originally from El Salvador, she is married, and she is also a proud parent of three grown children and grandparent to three wonderful grandchildren, ages 8, 9, and newborn. Her personal and professional experiences have shaped her deep understanding of the importance of nurturing and supporting families during the critical early years of a child’s development.

Rosa Rivera-Lily

Director of Equity and Engagement

Rosa Rivera-Lily works with underserved and underrepresented families including those whose first language is not English across the state of MD to ensure that their voices are heard. She is driven by her passion for equitable services and supports for all who have been traditionally overlooked.  Prior to coming to The Parents’ Place of MD, Rosa was an Operations Manager for a large medical laboratory in Maryland for over 15 years. After giving birth to a medically complex child she found her passion in sharing her daughter’s story and assisting other parents through their journey. Rosa has a young daughter with congenital heart disease, Epilepsy, bilateral hearing and Cortical Vision Impairment who attends school at the Maryland School for the Blind. Rosa is an active member of her daughter’s school community and the Baltimore City Latinx community. Rosa is fluent in both English and Spanish. In addition to her daughter, Rosa lives in Baltimore City and is also the proud parent of a grown son and daughter.

Veronica Samayoa Lara

Bilingual Communication Specialist

Originally from El Salvador, Veronica immigrated to the United States in 2006. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Special Education and has been working with Latinx families in the areas of early childhood education, early intervention, case management, advocacy, crisis intervention, and parent training for 20 years. Veronica is very passionate about early childhood and special education. She is certified in infant massage and has been trained in ESFT family therapy. She is currently working with Latinx families through the Anne Arundel County Public Schools Birth to Five Program and, at the same time, is working as our Bilingual Communication Specialist. Veronica is fluent in English and Spanish and lives in Harford County with her two daughters.

Brook Schmidt

Co-Deputy Director of Program & Quality

Brook comes to PPMD with over 5 years of experience working with families in special education. She graduated from Fort Hays State University with a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology, and has served on several boards supporting families in her previous home state of Missouri.  She currently resides in Frederick County with her husband and their blended family of 7 children. She has a son with autism and a son with cerebral palsy which led her to this field of empowering other parents. In addition to serving Western Maryland, Brook will be serving as a point of contact for all military families at PPMD. As a former Army brat and wife of an Army veteran, she also has a passion for working with military families.

LaShonda Scott

Southern Maryland Parent Educator

LaShonda has a passion for families of children with disabilities. She was previously employed by the local school system for over 10 years and has experience working in special education. LaShonda has an Associate’s Degree in Psychology from University of Phoenix and is a Board Certified Mental Health Coach through Light University. LaShonda resides in Southern Maryland with her family. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her children, fishing and cooking or baking. LaShonda is a member of her local SECAC, Maryland SESAC, American Mothers INC. and an active member of COPAA.

Ayla Yilmazturk

Director of Finance & Admin.

Ayla has been working in the nonprofit sector for more than six years as an accountant. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting from Saint Francis College and a Master’s of Science degree in International Business and Finance from Brooklyn College. She previously worked for a private school in New York City which offers special education to students with language-based learning disabilities and attention deficit disorders. Ayla is originally from Turkey and she now resides in New Jersey with her husband and son.