Welcome to the Special Education Department!
Department Chair: Michelle Hubbard
IEP Chair: Coming Soon
Message From the Department
Our department has a dedicated staff of teachers, case managers, para educators, aides, and an office assistant to help you and your child become successful academically and socially. Please email Ms. Hubbard, the Chairperson of Special Education, if you have any concerns regarding your child’s services or progress. You may also reach any of the department’s teachers through email.
These Special Education Teachers are listed on their Academic Department Pages!
Click to navigate to their pages!
English
- Matt Janansky
- Abraham Jones
- Donna Wilson
Math
- Deidre Thomas
- Michael Carter
- Barry Barnes
Science
Social Studies
Meet our Department Members Below!

|
Name
|
Michelle Hubbard
|
Email
|
[email protected]
|
Position
|
Special Ed Department Chair
|
College(s) Attended
|
Randolph-Macon College - English (BA)
University of Phoenix – Curriculum and Instruction: ELA (MA)
George Washington University – Special Education and Transition Services (MA)
Liberty University (currently) – Curriculum and Instruction: Special Education (EdD)
|
Hometown
|
Baltimore, Maryland
|
Bio: Hello, my name is Michelle Hubbard and I started at WHS in 2019! I have been in the field of education for over 14 years and it is a pleasure to work with the dedicated professionals and students here. This is also my second time working at Woodlawn High School!
I enjoy reading, visiting museums, going to be the beach and relaxing with my husband and three sons.
|
(Coming Soon)
|
Name
|
Carmen
Allocca
|
Email
|
[email protected]
|
Position
|
Paraeducator
|
College(s)
Attended
|
Towson
University -
Art Education
Major
|
Hometown
|
Baltimore,
MD
|
Bio:
Hello fellow Warriors. My name is Miss
Allocca. I am a WHS graduate. I returned to WHS in 2009, as a
paraeducator, in Special Education.
Before returning to WHS, I was on Dance Faculty at Baltimore School
for the Arts. I enjoy travelling and
relaxing with family and friends.
|

|
Name
|
Melody
Hendrickson
|
Email
|
[email protected]
|
Classes
Taught
|
FALS
English
FALS
Social Studies
FALS
Career Research & Dev
|
College(s)
Attended
|
Seton
Hall Univ./Ashford Univ.
|
Hometown
|
Morristown,
New Jersey
|
Bio: My name is Ms. Hendrickson and I am a teacher in the FALS
program under the special education department. I have been a Woodlawn
Warrior for over 20 years! I am also the co-advisor for the Class of 2023.
Some
of my favorite things to do is bake and try new recipes. I also like to read
and being outdoors.
|

|
Name
|
Shanaye Harrison
|
Email
|
[email protected]
|
Position
|
Paraeducator
|
College(s) Attended
|
BCCC
Coppin State University
|
Hometown
|
Baltimore, MD
|
Bio: My name is Miss. Harrison, and
I am in the special education department. I began working in education in 2017
and it has been one of the greatest decisions I've made! I am also a proud
alumni of Woodlawn High! Class of 2008! Warrior at heart! I love to write
poetry, I love to sing, I love doing hair and lashes. Fun Fact: Authentic
Mexican food is my favorite!
|

|
Name
|
Adora Mcleod-Royster
|
Email
|
[email protected]
|
Position
|
Special Educator
|
College(s) Attended
|
University of Phoenix
Coppin State University
CCBC
BCCC
|
Hometown
|
Coming Soon
|
Bio: My name is Ms. Mcleod-Royster. I love what I do. Every day is a new day of opportunity for growth and development. All we can do is take it one day at a time. Together, we can create the school/world we need!
|

|
Name
|
Towanda
Mensah
|
Email
|
[email protected]
|
Position
|
Paraeducator
|
College(s)
Attended
|
Coppin
State University
|
Hometown
|
Baltimore,
Maryland
|
Bio:
My name is Ms. Towanda Mensah and I am in the Special Education Department. I am grateful
to be apart of the WHS Team.
I
enjoy being in nature and spending time with my family. I recently started
working with clay, making all sorts of things. It is very therapeutic!
|

|
Name
|
Lucy
Mwai
|
Email
|
[email protected]
|
Position
|
Special
Educator- FALS Program
|
College(s)
Attended
|
Coppin
State University (BS)
Towson
University (M. Ed)
|
Hometown
|
Baltimore,
Maryland
|
Bio: My name is Ms. Lucy Mwai and I am a certified teacher
in the Special Education Department, FALS Program.
I
love traveling, cooking, reading and learning new cultures. I love the ocean
but am terrified of snorkeling.
|

|
Name
|
Lindsay
Segal
|
Email
|
[email protected]
|
Classes
Taught/
Position
|
SPED
Teacher
|
College(s)
Attended
|
West
Virginia University (BS)
Notre
Dame of Maryland (MS)
|
Hometown
|
Charlottesville,
VA
|
Bio: My name is Mrs. Segal and I am in the special education
department. I’ve been a teacher for over 10 years!
My
family and I live in Catonsville, MD however, I’ve traveled a lot and have
lived in 9 different states across the US and in two different countries! I
enjoy all forms of music, watching movies and TV, reading, playing with my
daughter and taking my dog for walks. My favorite part of teaching is getting
to know you, the students!
|

|
Name
|
Marcus
Sivels
|
Email
|
[email protected]
|
Classes
Taught/
Position
|
Special
Educator
SCLS
Program
|
College(s)
Attended
|
Delaware
State University (BS)
Grand
Canyon University (MS)
|
Hometown
|
Randallstown,
MD
|
My
name is Marcus Sivels and I am a special educator at WHS. I am a proud BCPS alum, receiving my
diploma from Milford Mill Academy in 2003. My loves are family, music, good
food, and watching students reach their goals. One fun fact about me is I
helped deliver my daughter into this world in 2017 in a secluded parking
lot.
|

|
Name
|
Bryan Strom
|
Email
|
[email protected]
|
Classes Taught
|
Economic Theory and Personal Finance
Living Systems
And I help in Introduction to Physics and Chemistry
|
College(s) Attended
|
Bachelors of Science from Towson State University
Masters of Arts from Towson University
|
Hometown
|
Mason, Michigan
|
Bio: My name is Mr. Strom and I teach special education at Woodlawn High School. This is my 20th plus year in education.
Hobbies: Gaming, skiing, camping.
Interesting Facts: One of my ancestors served on Blackbeard’s ship as the Quartermaster. I’m also distantly related to some very important English nobility. I also know how to drive a manual transmission car.
|

|
Name
|
Lauren
Towson
|
Email
|
[email protected]
|
Position
|
Special Education
|
College(s)
Attended
|
Towson
University (BS)
Towson (MS)
|
Hometown
|
Merrick,
NY
|
My
name is Mrs. Lauren Towson and I have been in the special education department at WHS since 2019.
I
am married with two kids. Most of my spare time is spent doing
things with my family. I love to read and watch documentaries. I also love
swimming. I am really looking forward to this year! 😊
|

|
Name
|
Doug Valchar
|
Email
|
[email protected]
|
Position
|
School Psychologist
|
College(s) Attended
|
Wake Forest
University – B.A.
Gallaudet University
– Psy.S., school psychology
|
Hometown
|
Near Chicago,
Illinois
|
Bio: Hello, I am eager
to return to WHS as the psychologist, where I served 2004-2014. This will be
my 28th year with Balt. County, and 34th as a
psychologist. I have worked in several settings (high, middle, elementary,
alternative high, County detention center, infant-toddler, deaf /
sign-language resource), and consider my previous 10 years at WHS to have
been my favorite, working with my favorite staff and students in my career.
Prior
to BCPS, I worked at a college prep-school and a state school for the deaf
& blind. Currently, I lecture in psychology a few evenings a week in
college at Towson University and UMBC. Interests and hobbies include
weight-lifting, “old-school” movies and music, road-trips, and being with my
wife, and my daughters who are studying to work in education as well. Weird fact – I got kicked-out of college,
and then people helped me get back on track, and I am blessed to help others
bounce back from challenges they may experience.
|