Michelle McClain serves as the Bureau Director of Policy and Programs within the Office of Special Education (OSE) at the Mississippi Department of Education (MDE). She has previously held roles as the Office Director for Policy and Research (OSE) and as the Behavior Specialist for Intervention Services within the Office of Elementary Education and Reading. 

Across her career, Michelle has dedicated more than 21 years to supporting students with disabilities.  Prior to her work at MDE, Michelle spent over 17 years with the Pearl Public School District, serving as a Behavior Support Specialist and Special Education Teacher. In these roles, she provided instructional, behavioral, and programmatic support for students with diverse learning and behavioral needs, reinforcing her commitment to improving outcomes for all learners.

Michelle holds a Specialist Degree in Emotional and Behavioral Disorders from William Carey University, a Master’s Degree in Elementary Education from Delta State University, and a Bachelor’s Degree in Special Education from the University of Southern Mississippi (USM).

Courtney Sheriff has over 28 years of experience in the educational field. She received her Master of Science in Educational Leadership from Jackson State University and completed her undergraduate studies at Fayetteville State University in North Carolina. Mrs. Sheriff has served in several roles during her educational career. She has been a classroom teacher, Instructional Specialist, Director of Literacy, Principal, Assistant Superintendent and currently serves as the State Systemic Improvement Plan (SSIP) Literacy Coordinator Educator in Residence for the Mississippi Department of Education (MDE), Office of Special Education (OSE). Mrs. Sheriff’s focus is how she can assist in providing top quality reading instruction to EACH child in the state of Mississippi through building capacity in teachers and leaders at each school.

Patrick Rooney is the Director of School Support and Accountability. He oversees several key components of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA), including 21st Century Community Learning Centers; Title I, Part A; Title I, Part D; Title II; State Assessment Grants; Competitive Grants for State Assessments; and the McKinney-Vento Homeless Education programs. Patrick previously helped lead the work of the Reform Support Network, providing technical assistance to states implementing comprehensive Race to the Top reforms, and the Race to the Top Assessment program, which provided grants to groups of states to develop new assessments aligned to state’s college and career ready standards. He also worked in the DC Office of State Superintendent of Education, where he was a senior policy advisor and worked on a variety of K-12 issues in the District of Columbia. He started his career as a statistician in the National Center for Education Statistics, analyzing education trends for a variety of topics in the Congressionally mandated annual report, The Condition of Education.

Tonya Green is an experienced and compassionate administrator who has spent 40 years of opportunities advocating for students with disabilities. Spending 32 of her years in the education sector as a teacher, assistant principal, principal, Director of Students with Disabilities, and Executive Director of Student Services. In addition, she has spent 8 of her years after retirement in Interim opportunities in leadership for the MS School for the Deaf and Blind, Federal Programs (Title), Office of Special Education Monitoring (Fiscal) and currently serving as the Executive Director, Interim for the MS Office of Special Education Department. She has worked tirelessly to create inclusive and accessible environments that gave students the opportunity to succeed. She is a strong advocate for educators, parents, collaboration and team leadership. She continues to be committed to driving positive outcomes for students and championing the rights of individuals with disabilities.

Dr. Lauren Wells serves as the Executive Director for the Division of Diverse Learners at the Louisiana Department of Education. In this role, she leads statewide efforts to ensure that all diverse learners receive the supports they need to thrive. Her work, current and previous, has centered around strengthening instructional strategies and improving outcomes for students with diverse learning needs. She has contributed to national conversations on special education, intervention services, and instruction through her current work at LDOE and previous experiences as an Assistant Professor, Assistive Technology Specialist, and Speech-Language Pathologist. These roles have allowed her to bridge policy with practice, aligning evidence-based approaches to meet federal expectations for serving all learners.

Priscilla Irvine is a Project Officer in the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP), where she provides oversight and technical assistance to state special education systems, including Connecticut and Oklahoma.

As OSEP’s collaboration facilitator, she leads cross-departmental efforts, including initiatives with the Office of Elementary and Secondary Education, to advance equitable outcomes for students with disabilities.

Priscilla also spearheads collaborative efforts in early childhood special education, partnering with federal agencies and organizations to promote inclusive practices and innovative supports.

Her work reflects a deep passion for achieving excellence for all students through effective teamwork and evidence-based strategies.