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Shirley Brandman is serving her first term as a member of the Board of Education — she was elected to a four year term in November 2007. She is chair of the Ad Hoc Special Education Committee. She began her professional career as an attorney representing children in abuse and neglect cases in Newark, N.J. In 1993, she founded Cornell Law School's first Child Advocacy Clinic. After her children were born, she returned to school to become a teacher for children with learning disabilities.
Shirley Brandman's Goals for MCPS
- High expectations for all students
- More public involvement in public education
- More teaching and less testing
- Meeting every child's educational needs
- Safe and healthy schools
Effective PTA Leader and Parent Representative
- 10 years as an elected Montgomery County and local PTA leader
- Immediate past Vice President for Educational issues with County PTA
- Appointed by the County Executive to the Commission on Children and Youth
- Chair, County PTA Grading and Reporting Committee
- Parent representative, Middle School Reform Steering Committee
Professional Educator
- Classroom teacher for children with learning disabilities
- Founder, Children's Rights and Child Advocacy Clinic, Cornell Law School
- Professor, Domestic Violence Clinic, Washington College of Law, AU
Lawyer for Children
- Attorney for children in abuse/neglect and juvenile delinquency cases
- Litigator for the rights of children in foster care and state institutions
Shirley Brandman's Resume
Montgomery County Council of PTAs MCCPTA, June 2004 - February 2006
- Vice President for Educational Issues
- Chair, Grading and Reporting Committee, 2004-present
- Montgomery County Public School (MCPS) Middle School Reform
- Steering Committee, 2005-present
- MCPS Academic Eligibility Work Group, 2004-2005
MCCPTA Cluster Coordinator
- Three Term Cluster Coordinator, June 2001 - June 2004
- Testified before the Board of Education and Montgomery County Council
on over a dozen occasions regarding budget and policy, 2000-2004
- Chair, Principal's Homework Committee, Pyle Middle School, 2003-2005
Burning Tree Elementary School PTA
- Two Term PTA President, June 1998 - June 2000
- Co-Sponsored Sister School Relationship with Broad Acres Elementary School, 2001- 2004
- MCPS Principal Selection Committee, 2000
Professional Experience
Lab School of Washington, DC
Teacher/Tutor and Special Education Trainer, September 2002-2004
Served as curriculum consultant to southeast D.C. public elementary school, J.C. Nalle; Worked with D.C. Public School teachers to adjust elementary instruction for learning disabled students. Taught middle school social studies at Lab School. Conducted workshops for regular education teachers on reading and writing instruction for students with learning disabilities.
Washington College of Law, American University
Director, Domestic Violence Clinic
Visiting Assistant Professor of Law , July 1994 - June 1997
Supervised student attorneys representing indigent victims of domestic violence seeking civil protection orders before the D.C. Superior Court. Taught a lawyering skills class, conducted case related grand rounds, supervised case planning and trial preparation.
Cornell Law School
Director, Child Advocacy Clinic
Adjunct Professor of Law , January 1993 - May 1994
Founded Cornell's first Child Advocacy Clinic. Supervised student representation of children in abuse/neglect proceedings, delinquency proceedings, Social Security Disability hearings and litigation under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.
Association for Children of New Jersey
Staff Attorney, October 1991 - December 1992
Served as legal advisor for a non-profit child advocacy organization. Monitored legislation affecting
the rights of children in out-of-home care. Developed work plan for empirical study of New Jersey's
placement prevention and family preservation efforts.
Rutgers School of Law
Lecturer in Law Fall 1991, Summers 1989, 1990
Subjects: Children's Rights Seminar; Appellate Advocacy.
Office of the Law Guardian, NJ Office of the Public Defender
Assistant Deputy Public Defender, June 1990 - October 1991
Represented over 500 juveniles who were the subject of abuse and neglect and juvenile delinquency proceedings before the Superior Court, Newark, N.J.
New Jersey Department of the Public Advocate, Public Interest Advocacy
Assistant Deputy Public Advocate, October 1987 - June 1990
Successfully briefed and argued landmark right to shelter case before the New Jersey Supreme Court, Williams v. DHS. Litigated foster care reform and education finance reform actions.
Advocated on behalf of children denied special education services while in state institutions.
Law Clerk for Judge H. Lee Sarokin
United States District Court, Newark, New Jersey - 1986 - 1987
Legal Aid Society, Juvenile Rights Division
New York City, Summer Intern, Summer 1984
Education
- American University
M.A. in Special Education/Learning Disabilities, 2002
- Yale Law School,
J.D., 1986.C. LaRue Munson Prize, 1985, for excellence in a clinical program
- Yale University
B.A., 1983. Summa Cum Laude.
Phi Beta Kappa, Distinction in Psychology. Thacher Debate Prize, 1983
Community Affiliations
- Montgomery County Commission on Children and Youth, 2002-2004
- Women Empowered Against Violence, Inc. (WEAVE), Chair, Board of Directors,1997-2004
- Education Committee, Chair, Kol Shalom Congregation, 2003-04
Personal
- Proud Parent of a ninth grader and a fourth grader in MCPS
- First Generation American
- Montgomery County resident for 13 years
- Married to Howard M. Shapiro
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