Meet Our Special Education Coordinators!

This year the District hired three new Special Education Coordinators. The job duties and responsibilities of a special education coordinator involve working to manage the special education program in a school or schools. They oversee the day-to-day issues and challenges at their respective buildings and report to our Director of Special Education Dr. Liz Battaglia. Join us in welcoming them to the MPS team! 

Catherine Burland

Catherine Burland

I come to Madison from Fairfield Public Schools, where I was a Special Education teacher for eleven years at Fairfield Warde High School. I received a Bachelor of Science degree in Special Education and a Master of Arts in Special Education from the University of Connecticut and a Sixth Year Certificate in educational leadership from Sacred Heart University. Having grown up in Madison, I am excited to be back in my hometown and to have the opportunity to work with and get to know the students, families, and staff here. In my free time, I like to run, bike, and spend time with my dog, Luna. 

Catherine Burland is our new High School Special Education Coordinator. 

Kristin Skelly

Kristin Skelly

I am a Guilford native and have lived in Madison with my husband and two daughters for the past 24 years. I have been dedicated to the field of education and mental health for close to 30 years. I started my career in a hospital inpatient and partial day program before working as a middle school educator in Guilford for 22 years. The past 3 years I have been a Special Education Administrator working in a private therapeutic school. My educational background includes degrees and coursework in elementary education, special education and educational leadership. I am looking forward to working closely with the Madison families and staff at both Brown and Polson to assist our students in meeting their academic, behavioral and social/emotional goals. Building strong relationships will be the foundation for this success and I'm excited to start that process.  In the summer you can find me and my family vacationing on my favorite spot of Block Island, RI, walking my 10-year-old Boxer dog, Maci, and also training for the Closer to Free bike ride as a proud Stage III cancer survivor.   

Kristin Skelly is our new Middle and Intermediate Special Education Coordinator. 

Sherry Farmer

Sherry Farmer

My name is Sherry Farmer and this is my fourteenth year in education. I am originally from North Carolina. I earned my BA in Psychology and MEd in Special Education from North Carolina State University. My family and I moved to Madison nine years ago and I earned my 092 Certification from UCONN following that move. I am looking forward to providing support to parents, teachers, and students in this new role. My number one goal is advocating for inclusivity of all students in our district. I am an avid baker and love treating staff to lots of baked goodies to thank them for their tireless efforts in their work with students.   

Sherry Farmer is our new Elementary Special Education Coordinator.