Parent Advisory Committee (PAC)

Interested in joining the Char-Em ISD Parent Advisory Committee? Please contact Lauren Ringle, Director of Special Education, at ringlel@charemisd.org or by calling 231.547.9947. 

Looking for a parent mentor to help navigate special education for your child? Contact our PAC parent mentors:

Mike Atchison
Resident District: Petoskey
Email: atchison.mj@gmail.com
Cell: (231) 330-5757

Liz Gee
Resident District: East Jordan
Email: geee@charemisd.org
Cell: (641) 455-3103

Michigan Department of Education Parent Advisory Committee info sheet

Parent Advisory Committee flyer

Parent Resources

• Behavioral Health | Char Em
• Family Matters
  Resources developed by the Michigan Department of Education and Michigan Alliance for Families to explain special education laws and practices. The documents are easy to read and give links to more in-depth resources. Family Matters fact sheets are intended to enhance public understanding of Michigan’s special education system and are not a substitute for official laws and regulations.
• Char-Em ISD Family Resource Guide
• Char-Em ISD Great Start Collaborative Family Coalition of Charlevoix, Emmet and Northern Antrim Counties 
  Family Coalition members help educate, inform, and provide opportunities in our community so all children are nurtured, supported, and achieve their maximum potential. We do this through organizing community projects and events, talking and sharing stories with other parents/caregivers, and advocating for families with children from birth to age twelve.
• Michigan Administrative Rules for Special Education (MARSE) With Related IDEA Federal Regulations
  This document includes the full Michigan rules that govern special education and pairs each rule with any of the relevant federal regulations from the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).
• Michigan Alliance for Families
  Michigan Alliance for Families provides information, support, and education for families who have children and young adults (birth to 26 years of age) who receive (or may be eligible to receive) special education services. This website can help you with finding information on special education issues as well as disability specific information.
• LEO – Michigan Rehabilitation Services 
  MRS is a statewide network of vocational rehabilitation (VR) professionals developing creative, customized solutions that meet the needs of individuals and business. MRS provides vocational rehabilitation services for eligible individuals with disabilities, consistent with their unique strengths, resources, priorities, concerns, abilities, capabilities, interests, and informed choice, to prepare for and engage in employment and achieve economic self-sufficiency.
• North Country Community Mental Health 
  For information about services, call the  Access Center at 877.470.7130.