Commissioners

The NCASES Commission is comprised of experts in the field of special education, who have a demonstrable record of leadership and advanced training. Representation is sought from across the United States and represents the views of the various disabilities served. All Commissioners serve on a voluntary basis. 

Helen Bosch, Chair

Helen Bosch is the CEO of Vista Life Innovations, a nonprofit center, empowering adults with disabilities through real life training experiences and human connection to the community. In her 30+ years at Vista Life Innovations, she has led its development and expansion, which now attracts adults with disabilities from all over the country. Vista is accredited by NCASES- National Commission on Accreditation of Special Education Services. Helen has a postgraduate degree in the field of disability services and serves as a Commissioner on NCASES. She has served on numerous Boards and Committees in Connecticut, designed to enhance the local communities as well as the acceptance of adults with disabilities and increase opportunities for those with neurodiversity. Helen has served on Adult Services and Public Policy Committees of NAPSEC.

Dr. Rachel Tait, Former Chair

Dr. Rachel Tait joined Eden Autism Services (Princeton, NJ) in 2000 and is currently Chief Program Officer. In this capacity, she has oversight for all programs and services, including the Eden School, Extended Day, Respite, Adult Day and Employment Services, Adult Residential Program, Speech and Language Services and Outreach and Training Services. Dr. Tait holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education, Master of Arts degrees in Special Education and Educational Administration and a Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership with a concentration in Special Education. In addition, she completed a post‐graduate certification program in Applied Behavior Analysis and holds certificates in Elementary Education and Special Education, along with both Supervisor and Principal certifications. Dr. Tait has been an active member of NAPSEC since 2005, where she has served as the Chair of the Conference Planning Committee, and was served on the NAPSEC Board from January, 2015-2024, during that time she held the role of Vice-President for two terms. In addition, serves on the NCASES commission, having wrapped up her term as Commission chair in 2024. She was also elected to the Executive Board of ASAH (New Jersey Private School Association) in February 2016 and is currently serving as First Vice-President.

Julie Hickey, Vice Chair

Julie Hickey is the Education Director for The Benedictine School, a non-public school providing day and residential services to students with special needs including Autism and Intellectual Disability. She began her career with a degree in Psychology and later earned her Master’s in Special Education from Wilmington University. She is certified through Maryland State Department of Education in Special Education and School Administration. Julie has worked with students with special needs as a Court Appointed Special Advocate, Community Case Manager, Residential Supervisor, teacher and administrator for 23 years. She has provided trainings and workshops for educators, parents, and first responders.

Sue Barnes – McLendon,
Standards Committee Chair

Sue McLendon is an Associate Vice President for Arrow Child & Family Ministries and The Arrow Center for Education Schools. Sue supports the leadership teams of the Arrow Schools and serves with others in Arrow Maryland’s overall leadership. Sue earned her Master of Education from Loyola University Maryland and school administration license from Towson University. Currently, Sue serves as a Commissioner for the National Commission for the Accreditation of Special Education Services (NCASES) and Chair of the NCASES Standards Committee. Sue is also serving as Immediate Past-President of the Maryland Association for Nonpublic Special Education Facilities (MANSEF) and was highly involved with Maryland’s passing of the nonpublic teacher pay parity act. Sue lives with her husband, Mark, in Abingdon Maryland and enjoys time with her extended family. In free time, she loves singing in choir, enjoying nature, and curling up with something good to read.

Patrick T. Seay, M. Ed,
Process Committee Chair

Patrick Seay is the Assistant Vice President of School Admissions, Compliance, and Transition Operations for the Kennedy Krieger Institute. In addition, he teaches a Maryland State Department of Education approved course – Special Education for School Social Workers - in collaboration with the MD Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers. Patrick is also on the Board of Directors for the Maryland Association of Nonpublic Special Education Facilities (MANSEF) and serves as their liaison for the Maryland Online IEP system for nonpublic schools across the state. In his current position, Mr. Seay is responsible for overseeing compliance with all Federal, State, and local regulations, supporting the admissions and transitions of students in, out, and within the Kennedy Krieger School Programs as well as the facilitation of any international enrollments. He organizes the development and implementation of quality IEPs and assists in the coordination of staff development and service delivery. Mr. Seay holds a master’s degree in special education and a Certificate of Advanced Study in School Administration from Loyola University and has more than 20 years’ experience in the field of special education.

Ken Berger, NAPSEC President

Ken Berger is a passionate advocate for individuals with special needs, bringing decades of experience in nonprofit leadership and direct service to his role as President of NAPSEC and Chief Executive Officer/Executive Director of Spectrum360. Ken's efforts focus on transforming the social sector, to better serve the most vulnerable members of our society. In addition to his current Board leadership role at NAPSEC, he is a board member of ASAH (a statewide association of NJ private special education schools), and the Alliance of Special Education Schools of Northern NJ. In these board positions Ken works with colleagues to promote best practices and secure critical resources for students with special needs. Ken is also in board positions with Grafton Integrated Health Network, a Virginia-based nonprofit serving children and adults with behavioral health challenges, and Able Angel, a nonprofit focused on increasing funding for tax-advantaged savings accounts for individuals with disabilities and their families. All of these board roles further demonstrate his commitment to the cause of serving and advocating for those with special needs. In his pursuit of improving the social sector as a whole, Ken co-hosts the podcast "The Nonprofit Fix" which launched in the summer of 2023. This platform provides valuable insights and strategies to help nonprofits of all kinds have frank conversations about the challenges the sector faces and ways we can enhance their performance as well as maximize their impact.

Jennifer McGlothlin-Renault

Jennifer McGlothlin-Renault is the Senior Vice President of Maryland Operations for Arrow Child & Family Ministries and The Arrow Center for Education Schools. Jennifer joined Arrow in 1999 and has had the pleasure of serving in many roles. In her current position, Jennifer manages and develops Special Education, Treatment Foster Care, Residential, and Community Based programs for Arrow in Maryland. Jennifer earned her Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology from Towson University and her Masters of Education from Loyola University Maryland. Jennifer is certified in Reading and Special Education by the Maryland State Department of Education. Currently, Jennifer serves as a Commissioner for the National Commission for the Accreditation of Special Education Services (NCASES) and as a Board Member for the Community Behavioral Health of Maryland (CBH). Jennifer previously served on the Board of the Maryland Association for Nonpublic Special Education Facilities (MANSEF), as the President for the Maryland Association of Resources for Family and Youth (MARFY); and on the board for Maryland Nonprofits (MANO). As a representative of Arrow, Jennifer has presented at conferences hosted by the Texas Alliance, the Family Focused Treatment Association (FFTA), MARFY, and MANSEF.

Dan Petrie 

Dan Petrie is the Chief Executive Officer of Mountain Valley Child and Family Services and Mountain Valley Academy in Northern California. Dan started his career as a direct care counselor at a small group home in a mountain community working with troubled teens. He started at Mountain Valley during his undergraduate studies as a mental health worker and has worked in positions of progressive responsibility for the past 37 years culminating in being appointed CEO in 2015. Dan has a BA and MA in Psychology, 1st and 2nd degree black belts in Kuk Sool Won. He has 5 children, 8 grandchildren and enjoys camping, hiking, kayaking – anything outdoors and active. He lives with his wife of 26 years on her family’s ranch in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada, which is also the location of Mountain Valley Academy. In addition to the NAPSEC board of directors, Dan also serves as a Commissioner for NCASES. At the state level, Dan is on the board of the California Alliance of Child and Family Services as the chair of the Education Committee. Dan still enjoys working with the students directly and leads a job training program for a few hours each week teaching vocational skills, wildfire mitigation and conservation projects around the ranch. Mountain Valley operates private residential treatment and non public school programs for special education students from throughout California.