Meet SEPAG
Hoboken Public Schools
FAMILY MEETING · 2026-27
Special Education Parents Advisory Group
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DATE
Wednesday, October 14, 2026
TIME
8:30 to 10:00 AM
PLACE
Thomas G. Connors Elementary School
Welcome, families
HOBOKEN SEPAG
While we settle in, say hello to someone you have not met yet.
1
Your name
2
Your child’s school or program
3
One hope you have for SEPAG this year
Joining on Google Meet? Say hello in the chat.
Agenda
THIS MORNING
1
Welcome and time to connect
2
Introductions: Director, leadership, and liaisons
3
Our mission and what SEPAG is
4
How we work together and the flow of communication
5
The year ahead: meetings, Smore, and survey
6
Questions and conversation
Kristen Beriloff
YOUR DIRECTOR OF SPECIAL SERVICES
School psychologist
More than 8 years in Hoboken Public Schools
Founder of the district’s Academic Success Center
More than 11 years chairing the Committee on Special Education in West Hempstead, New York
Kberiloff@hoboken.k12.nj.us
How I will support SEPAG
Parent-led, always. I come as a partner and a resource. SEPAG’s direction belongs to its families.
One point of contact. Your questions and ideas for the district come to me. I route them to the right person, track them, and bring the answer back to you.
A direct line. You can reach me at any time.
Leadership and school liaisons
YOUR SEPAG VOLUNTEER COMMITTEE
CO-CHAIR
Nicole Pearlman
CO-CHAIR
Caroline Chancia
COMMUNICATIONS
Kelly Adams
SCHOOL LIAISONS
WALLACE
Jessica Rivera
BRANDT
Arti Bhatt
CONNORS
Julia Garcia
HOBOKEN MIDDLE SCHOOL
Nadia Jenson
HOBOKEN HIGH SCHOOL
Melanie Brueggemann
PRESCHOOL (PSD)
Sam Moon
OUT-OF-DISTRICT (OOD)
Lindsay Schoenfeld
School liaisons are parent volunteers who help share SEPAG announcements and information with their school communities.
Questions about your child’s services or school experience? Please contact your school team or the Director of Special Services directly.
OUR MISSION
The Hoboken SEPAG’s mission is to support and inform families and to foster honest, effective collaboration among families, educators, administrators, support staff, and the Board of Education.
Together, we advocate for inclusive, strengths-based policies, programs, and practices that recognize and build upon the unique strengths of every learner and ensure that all students have meaningful opportunities to belong, participate, grow, and thrive throughout their educational experience.
What SEPAG is
ABOUT SEPAG
A welcoming, useful place for families.
Parent-led, and open to all Hoboken Public Schools families.
Ask
Bring your questions about the special education process.
Learn
Understand how the process works and where to find resources.
Connect
Share ideas and hear what has worked for other families.
Advocate
Speak up for your own child, and together on issues families share.
Learning from one another
FAMILIES HELPING FAMILIES
SEPAG is a place to meet other families, share ideas, and learn together.
At our meetings
Topics, speakers, resources, and time to talk with other families.
Through school communications
SEPAG announcements and meeting information shared with school communities.
With one another
Trade ideas and hear what has worked for other families.
How volunteers can help
THINKING IT THROUGH TOGETHER
SEPAG volunteers can
Listen and hold space for your experience
Share ideas, resources, and what has worked for other families
Help you understand your options and think through next steps
Help you find the right person to contact
You stay in the lead
You speak directly with your child’s school team and Special Services
Volunteers do not act as go-betweens or carry an individual family’s case
Volunteers are fellow parents giving their time, not district staff
Flow of communication
WHO TO GO TO
ONE FAMILY
Your own child
Teacher or service provider
Case manager
Principal
Director of Special Services
Start with the people closest to your child. You can contact the Director directly at any time.
MANY FAMILIES
Shared topics�and experiences
SEPAG meetings
Collaboration with Special Services
Families are welcome to share broader topics and perspectives at SEPAG meetings. SEPAG and Special Services work together to identify themes, share information and explore opportunities for improvement.
Your connection to your child’s school and to Special Services is always direct.
YOUR DIRECT LINE
SEPAG is here to support you, not to stand between you and the people who work with your child.
YOUR CHILD’S SCHOOL TEAM
Teachers, school counselor, case manager, and principal
DIRECTOR OF SPECIAL SERVICES
Kristen Beriloff
Kberiloff@hoboken.k12.nj.us
2026-27 meetings
THE YEAR AHEAD
Oct 14
Wednesday
8:30 to 10:00 AM
Connors Elementary School
and Google Meet
Meet SEPAG
Today
Nov 19
Thursday
6:00 to 7:30 PM
Online
Google Meet
Tracy Gillespie
NJ Special Education Ombudsman
Jan 5
Tuesday
8:30 to 10:00 AM
Hoboken High School
and Google Meet
Best Buddies
More to be announced
Mar 10
Wednesday
6:00 to 7:30 PM
Online
Google Meet
NJ ABLE accounts
and financial planning
May 18
Tuesday
8:30 to 10:00 AM
Wallace Elementary School
and Google Meet
Mindful Power
The Special Education Smore
STAY INFORMED
A new online newsletter for families from Special Services.
News and updates from Special Services
SEPAG meeting dates, links, and recaps
Workshops, events, and resources for families
COMING SOON
First issue after today’s meeting
Family survey
TELL US WHAT MATTERS
Your answers help shape this year’s meetings and resources.
Who your child is
The topics that matter to your family
What you want to learn about the district
About 10 minutes
Anonymous
One response per family
Please respond by
Sunday, November 1
Guiding questions
LET’S TALK
QUESTION 1
What would make this a successful year for SEPAG, and how will we know?
QUESTION 2
What is most on your mind as a family right now?
QUESTION 3
Who is not in the room yet, and how can we reach them?
QUESTION 4
What do you need from SEPAG and from Special Services?
Thank you
We are glad you are part of SEPAG.
NEXT MEETING
Thursday, November 19
6:00 to 7:30 PM, online
BEFORE YOU GO
Take the family survey
Watch for the first Smore
QUESTIONS
Kristen Beriloff
Kberiloff@hoboken.k12.nj.us