About NFLI
NFLI is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that builds IEPNotes. It started with one parent, two children and more than a dozen binders.
When my children first entered the world of IEPs, I thought I was ready. I trusted schools and teachers to know how to help my daughter, who has a rare genetic condition, and my son, who struggles with dysgraphia, dyslexia and ADHD. But I quickly learned that special education is not a world any parent is truly prepared for.
My first realization came fast: how completely your life changes once you step into the IEP process. Overnight, I was buried in acronyms, laws and long reports. I had to become an expert in data and assessments, not because I wanted to, but because it was the only way to make sure my children got what they needed.
The second realization was the cost. Doctors, private therapies, independent evaluations: layer after layer of extra expense stacked on top of the emotional toll. Families like mine are stretched thin, caring for our children while also struggling to pay for the very supports that make thriving possible.
The third realization was the heartbreak of disconnection. Each year brought new teachers and new teams, and every year felt like starting over. The binders piled up, more than a dozen of them, but the history inside those pages never carried forward. No one had time to understand the full story of my children. Not the teachers. Not the new teams. Not even the advocates who wanted to help. I became the historian of my children’s lives because no system existed to connect the dots.
I became the historian of my children’s lives because no system existed to connect the dots.
These realizations became the foundation of NFLI. Families should not have to fight alone. Data should work for us, not against us. And every child deserves to be seen for who they are, not just in this moment, but in the journey that brought them here. Because the problem isn’t just individual, it’s structural. Real change will only come when the whole system can see the truth: that students with disabilities deserve education that is consistent, equitable and rooted in understanding.
Sarah CoardFounder and President
Our board brings together lived experience with IEPs, health care, finance and advocacy.
Founder and President
Sarah Coard is a mom of two children with special needs and has managed their IEPs for more than 20 years. Along the way she filled more than a dozen binders and became the historian of her children’s education, because no system carried their story from one year to the next. A data analyst by profession, she founded NFLI so families, teachers and advocates can see a child’s whole history, and she leads the work on IEPNotes.
Vice President
Katie Jenkins is a Registered Nurse with a background in child psychology and hands-on experience supporting students in school settings. She brings healthcare knowledge, child development insight, and practical experience with educational planning to her role as Vice President.
Treasurer
Bonnie Barresi brings extensive financial expertise and firsthand knowledge of navigating private school educational plans, having supported her own child through the process. She combines professional financial skill with personal insight into academic program planning to guide our organization’s fiscal stewardship.
Secretary
Lauren Stouten is a dedicated advocate for students with dyslexia and their families, and is active with the Decoding Dyslexia Maryland movement at the county level. She brings hands-on experience raising awareness, supporting families, and promoting effective reading instruction and interventions in Maryland schools.
We’re growing our board of directors. If you’d like to help guide NFLI, email us.
