Carmen joined the Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) in 2006 after gaining 10 years of experience supporting families of individuals with disabilities in Fairfax County, Virginia. Prior to joining OSEP, she was the Family Resource Coordinator at the Fairfax Infant-Toddler Connection, connecting families to resources and each other, as well as helping them develop their advocacy and leadership skills. She also worked in the Disability Services Planning and Development Office in Fairfax County, responsible for connecting people with disabilities across the lifespan, and their families.  

As an Education Program Specialist in OSEP, Carmen serves as the lead for the parent program, which is comprised of parent training and information centers, community parent resources centers, and parent technical assistance centers throughout the country. These discretionary grants are mandated in the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).  In addition, Carmen is the project officer for the Center on Appropriate Dispute Resolution in Special Education (CADRE), which supports States, local agencies, families, and youth in resolving disputes through informal and formal methods as outlined in IDEA. 

Beth Yeh is the team leader for the Statewide Family Engagement Center and the D.C. Opportunity Scholarship Programs in the Office of the Elementary and Secondary Education at the U.S. Department of Education.  She has worked at the Department for twenty years.  She began her career in the Planning and Evaluation Service at ED working on implementation evaluations for programs focused on literacy, Homeless, Migrant, and English Language Learners.  She moved to grant administration in 2011 and has worked on Innovative Approaches to Literacy, 21st Century Community Learning Centers, and programs for Hawaii and Alaska natives.  Beth earned a bachelor’s degree from Carnegie Mellon University and a master’s degree from the L.B.J School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas.  She is a mother of two children ages 7 and 10.