MSBA Leadership Academy Fellows Launch EmpowerED Podcast

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MSBA Leadership Academy Fellows Launch "EmpowerED" Podcast to Champion Special Education Rights MSBA is committed to fostering exceptional legal talent and cultivating future leaders within the profession. A key component of this commitment is the MSBA Leadership Academy, a 12-month program designed to transform lawyers into more effective leaders and prepare them for impactful roles within the MSBA and the broader legal community.

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MSBA Leadership Academy: Cultivating Diverse Leaders Since its inception in 2010, the Leadership Academy has been instrumental in creating pathways for diverse members of the bar to cultivate their leadership potential. It was envisioned as a program to reach out to lawyers from areas and groups traditionally underrepresented in MSBA leadership roles, providing them with leadership training and an in-depth introduction to the MSBA to foster a stronger sense of belonging within the MSBA and the wider community.

The program also facilitates invaluable connections with past Bar Presidents and current bar leaders, offering a unique mentorship experience that enhances leadership capabilities and deepens understanding of the MSBA's mission.

Each year, a select cohort of 15 fellows is chosen from a competitive pool of applicants.

Throughout their term, these fellows immerse themselves in a comprehensive curriculum that includes attending MSBA events, honing public speaking and media

relations skills, and mastering effective meeting conduct.

Team building is a vital component of the Academy, fostering enduring relationships among fellows that extend far beyond the program's conclusion. The skills acquired by the fellows not only benefit the MSBA but also strengthen local and specialty bar associations, ultimately elevating the legal profession as a whole.

EmpowerED: Bridging the Gap in Special Education Advocacy Each year, the Leadership Academy fellows develop and implement a public service project, allowing fellows to apply their burgeoning leadership skills to real-world challenges.

The MSBA Leadership Academy fellows Class of 2024–2025 are united by a fundamental belief: access to quality education is paramount.

This shared conviction fueled the creation of the "EmpowerED" podcast series as their Leadership Academy project.

As Nelson Mandela wisely stated, "Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world." Not all children absorb information at the same pace or in the same way, however. Fortunately, special education ensures every child, regardless of their learning needs, has the opportunity to succeed and contribute to society. It actively promotes fairness, inclusion, and the protection of students' rights.

In Maryland, a significant number of students rely on special education and related services. Over 109,000 students, representing 12.4% of the student population aged three through 21, receive support through an individualized education plan (IEP).

Children present with a wide spectrum of disabilities; for instance, 26% of Maryland students have a specific learning disability, 14% experience a speech or language impediment, and 5% live with some form of emotional disability. Each of these children, with their unique needs, requires tailored support within the classroom to truly thrive and gain full access to the transformative power of education.

However, unequal access to education and special education services persists for various reasons, including community poverty,

insufficient investment in public education systems, racial discrimination, and language barriers. The "EmpowerED" podcast specifically seeks to dismantle the barrier of access to special education services for students with disabilities.

At its core, the "EmpowerED" is fueled by the conviction that access to quality education is a basic human right, and a strong desire to empower parents and families to advocate for their children's fundamental right to learn. To facilitate those goals, the series aims to bridge the critical information gap between families and school systems in Maryland, empowering parents to effectively advocate for their child's educational needs, understand their child's rights in the classroom, and illuminate the reality that learning disabilities impact families across all backgrounds. In creating the podcast, the fellows drew on firsthand experiences of navigating the special education system, recognizing its often overwhelming nature even for those with legal backgrounds.

Ultimately, the project is rooted in the belief that all students deserve respect, dignity, and grace as they learn, and by empowering families with knowledge, the "EmpowerED" podcast helps ensure that children receive the rights and services guaranteed by law.

The "EmpowerED" podcast series includes four episodes featuring interviews with leading experts in special education: EPISODE 1: Understanding the Basics: The first episode explains what special education entails and outlines the process by which a student can receive a special education plan, with a focus on IEP and 504 processes.

EPISODE 2: The Educator's Perspective: This episode provides valuable insights from teachers and administrators on the practical implementation of special education within the classroom.

EPISODE 3: Rights and Discipline: This "know your rights" episode features attorneys who shed light on how the school disciplinary process differs for students with disabilities.

The MSBA Leadership Academy Fellows Class of 2024–2025 are united by a fundamental belief: access to quality education is paramount. This shared conviction fueled the creation of the "EmpowerED" podcast series as their Leadership Academy project.

EPISODE 4: A Parent's Journey: The final episode features a candid discussion with an expert education attorney who is also a parent of children with IEPs and a former educator, offering a unique blend of professional and personal experience.

Through these episodes, the fellows aspire to inform listeners about students' rights to special education services, provide guidance on advocating for these protections, and highlight available resources to support families and communities in navigating the often intricate special education process.

The MSBA Leadership Academy proudly launched the “EmpowerED” podcast on Thursday, May 8, 2025, at an event held at La Cuchara in Baltimore. The fellows invite everyone to listen to the “EmpowerED” podcast series and join them in championing equitable access to education for all children.

The podcast can be accessed at https://msbaempowered.podbean.com/ and on Spotify, Apple Music, Apple Podcasts, iHeartRadio, Podbean, and Amazon Music.

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