Emily Klein, M. Ed. - Co-Vice President

Emily Klein, M.Ed., is currently an Education Specialist in the Office of Student, Community and Academic Supports at Rhode Island Department of Education (RIDE). Her primary role focuses on Response to Intervention (RTI), specifically in special education, and serving as a state education liaison to urban districts regarding education of students with disabilities and English Language Learners (ELLs). In that role, Mrs. Klein coordinates RTI technical assistance statewide with a team of professionals from parent organizations, higher education, and contracted trainers and coaches. She participates as a team leader and report writer in IDEA and ELL onsite monitoring visits across Rhode Island and analyzes district data for disproportionate identification in special education by race and ethnicity; she also provides technical assistance and reviews policies, procedures, and practices for revision to correct/prevent disproportionality in specific disability categories, placement, and discipline. In addition, she is a member of the RIDE ELL team to support statewide professional development and federal funding activities and has worked as a coach in the Bristol Warren Regional School District for the National Center on Intensive Intervention. More recently, Emily has been an active member for the development of the new State Systemic Improvement Plan for improving outcomes for children with disabilities. Emily holds a M.Ed. in Special Education from Edinboro University of Pennsylvania and a B.A. in Psychology from the Allegheny College. She completed additional graduate work in Urban Multicultural Special Education at Rhode Island College resulting in an ESL teaching endorsement. As part of her role at RIDE, Emily represents the department at various meetings of the State Advisory Council for English Learners as well as the RI Special Education Advisory Council.  As a parent to a child with PANDAS, Emily works with 2 other RI moms to coordinate the RI PANDAS parent support group meetings and Facebook community in addition to helping moderate a Educating PANDAS/PANS Facebook group as well as one for Teachers of Children with PANDAS/PANS.  She lives with her husband and two children in RI.  Emily Klein joined the board in 2014 with a primary focus on fostering a better understanding of PANDAS/PANS in school settings with the organization of materials for both schools and families.

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