About the Council

Meet the people leading SECAC.

SECAC is co-chaired by two Cecil County parents who know this road firsthand. Here's a bit about us, and how to reach us directly.

We're both Cecil County parents raising kids with special education needs, and we know how isolating this can feel — the paperwork, the meetings, the sense that you're figuring it out alone. That's exactly why this council exists.

We started co-chairing SECAC because we wanted a place where families could stop feeling like they're starting from scratch every time. A place to ask a question without judgment, learn from people a few steps ahead of you, and know that your voice can actually reach the school board — whether that's through the group, or through finding the words yourself.

If you're new to this, or you've been navigating it for years, there's a seat for you here. We'd love to meet you at our next meeting, or hear from you directly any time.

Teri & Brittany, Co-Chairs, Cecil County SECAC

Teri Riggs-Lyle

Co-Chair - Special Education Citizens Advisory Council

Portrait of a woman with long dreadlocks, smiling, wearing a black top.

Hi, my name is Teri!

I'm the parent of two children — one with autism, one with limb loss — so I know what it's like to navigate two very different sets of needs within the same school system, and how much it matters to feel like someone's truly in your corner.

That experience is also why I founded the Give a Hug Foundation, a nonprofit built around bringing families of children with disabilities together in community. And as a behavioral specialist and wellness advocate, I've spent my career helping people find steadiness and support in the middle of hard things.

Brittany Anderson

Co-Chair, Special Education Citizens Advisory Council

A family of four sitting on the front porch of their house, smiling at the camera. The family includes an older man, a woman, and two young boys. The house has gray siding, a red door with a wreath, and a flower box with yellow flowers.

Hi, my name is Brittany!

I'm the parent of 2 boys and my youngest has cerebral palsy and intellectual, developmental, and physical disabilities. I know firsthand what it's like to sit across the table from a school team and advocate for your kid — the paperwork, the questions you don't know to ask yet, and the relief of finally feeling heard.

That experience is also why I founded Wolfpups on Wheels, a nonprofit that helps kids with disabilities get the equipment and resources insurance won't cover. And as an APRN whose career has centered on quality and safety, I've spent years thinking about how systems can do right by the people depending on them.