McAndrews Law Offices : Special Education Lawyer in Pennsylvania
McAndrews Law Offices, P.C.

Special Education Law: Meet Our Team

Our Special Education Department members possess a broad range of experience and advanced degrees in psychology and education. Therefore, when you require legal advice in a matter involving special education, you can feel secure and confident in working with our firm.  Please allow us to introduce the members of our Special Education Department:

Dennis C. McAndrews is the founder and Managing Partner of our firm. For over 25 years, he has worked in the field of disability law. Mr. McAndrews regularly represents individuals with disabilities and their families in a variety of areas, including special education matters, special needs trusts, guardianship, estate planning, right-to-treatment cases, and injury cases. He frequently serves as a consultant to other public and private attorneys with regard to disability and special education issues.  Mr. McAndrews served for fifteen (15) years as a Special Education Hearing Officer for the Pennsylvania Department of Education.

Heidi B. Konkler-Goldsmith is a shareholder with McAndrews Law Offices, P.C. and is the Supervising Partner for Special Education matters.  Heidi offers substantial expertise in the area of special education, which is a major practice area of McAndrews Law Offices. Ms. Konkler-Goldsmith has handled a wide variety of special education matters, civil litigation cases, and criminal justice issues.  Heidi has gained the respect of professionals throughout the administrative processes and the courts through her thorough and capable handling of cases in her frequent appearances before the courts and administrative law judges.

Tanya A. Alvarado is a shareholder with McAndrews Law Offices. Having two siblings with disabilities, Ms. Alvarado has dedicated her legal career to helping adults and children with disabilities. She has represented numerous clients to obtain appropriate educational programs in the least restrictive environment and has secured appropriate reading programming for students with significant reading disabilities, tuition at private schools designed for students with disabilities, payment for private evaluations to identify educational needs of the student, equine therapy, and many other programs for students with special needs.

Heather Hulse is a shareholder with McAndrews Law Offices, P.C.  Ms. Hulse’s practice emphasizes Special Education Law and Special Needs Trusts. In addition to her Law Degree, Heather possesses two Masters Degrees in psychology. She has broad knowledge in the area of Special Education and her extensive background in the area of psychology provides her with considerable understanding of students with learning differences and emotional issues. Heather provides numerous presentations on these issues of critical importance to state and local organizations as well as parent groups.

Jennifer Lukach Bradley is a shareholder with McAndrews Law Offices, P.C.  Ms. Bradley represents clients all across Northeast Pennsylvania in matters involving Special Education, Juvenile Delinquency, PIAA disputes and School Discipline, including expulsions and manifestation determination hearings. She helped facilitate the creation of a parent support group called SPELL (Supporting Parents of Exceptional Learners for Life) for parents of children with disabilities in Berks County.

Dean M. Beer works exclusively in the field of special education.  He has extensive trial experience and has argued before both the Pennsylvania Superior and Supreme Courts. Mr. Beer was an Assistant Public Defender in the office of the Defender Association of Philadelphia, and handled many discipline and juvenile court matters. He also co-founded the immigration project in the Philadelphia Defender Association. He is a frequent lecturer both locally and at the national level on special education, student discipline, and the immigration consequences of criminal convictions.

Jan Hardy has been a paralegal for over fifteen years and has worked with our Special Education clients since 1995. She brings a wealth of experience and insight to our work, especially in the areas of Special Education and Special Needs Planning. She completes most client intake interviews and plays a central role in the daily administration of the firm.

Marie Buczkowski is an accomplished Legal Assistant and a certified special education teacher in Pennsylvania. Ms. Buczkowski graduated cum laude from West Chester University with a B.S. in Education with an emphasis on early childhood education. She received her Master’s degree with honors in Special Education and Reading from St. Joseph’s University. Marie is an integral part of our Special Education department.

Michele Ford has worked as an advocate for children with disabilities at the local and state levels.  Ms. Ford is actively engaged with several advocacy groups and has extensive experience in every facet of special education. Michele is a dedicated employee and community volunteer.

Roseann Paul recently received her Paralegal degree from Luzerne County Community College and works closely with our clients in the Scranton area and plays a vital role in the special education department.

Contact Us

Special Education Articles

 What's New