Our Staff:


Laura Rhodes (Email: LRhodes@getconnectedcc.org) - Program Manager
	Laura Rhodes is the Program Manager for the Get Connected Family Resource Center as well as the Program Development Manager for Granite House. Her focus areas have been Interpersonal Violence, Substance Abuse and Mental Health. She is also responsible for marketing, fundraising and public relations for the Granite House. Laura earned her Bachelors Degree in Criminology and Psychology from Florida State University and her Masters Degree in Counseling Psychology from the University of West Florida . She spent many years counseling Adolescents, Substance Abusers and Sexual Assault Victims and Offenders. She also has taught many workshops on P.R., Fundraising, Advocacy and Legislation for the Maryland State PTA and Carroll County PTA 's. Laura was an elected member of the Carroll County Board of Education. Laura tries to live by “The ABC’s of Life”: Accept differences, Be kind, Count your blessings, Dream, Express thanks, Forgive, Give freely, Harm no one, Imagine more, Jettison anger, Keep confidences, Love truly, Master something, Nurture hope, Open your mind, Pack lightly, Quell rumors, Reciprocate, Seek wisdom, Touch hearts, Understand, Value truth, Win graciously, Xeriscape, Yearn for peace, Zealously support a worthy cause. (Author; Renee Stewart)

Betsy Ensor (Email: BEnsor@getconnectedcc.org) - Family Navigator
	Betsy Ensor is one of our Family Navigators for the Get Connected Family Resource Center . She became passionate about assisting parents and children with educational, mental health and substance abuse resources over 22 years ago after her son was diagnosed with ADHD at an early age and later with Asperger’s Syndrome. Along with her personal experiences, Betsy has over 10 years of expertise working with children and adolescents in Robert Moton Elementary’s Support Room. In her free time, Betsy enjoys spending time with her 5 grandchildren, reading, quilting and volunteering at her church in Hunt Valley . Betsy’s vision is to “start a child in the way they should go and when they are old they will not turn from it.”

Sharon Glass (Email: SGlass@getconnectedcc.org) - Family Navigator
	Sharon Glass is a lifelong advocate of individuals seeking to obtain and secure basic human rights. In the years prior to her son's diagnosis on the autism spectrum, Sharon supported and rallied for the rights of the homeless, and battered and abused women and children. Over the past six years, her efforts have been directed in the area of disabilities, and she advocates at the county, state and federal levels for the rights of individuals with disabilities and for inclusive education and communities. Sharon is a mom and advocate for her son whom she home-schools, and a devoted wife. In 2001, Sharon began FOCAS, Families of Children with Autism Support Group, Carroll County, Maryland, with 21 families who had had no communication with one another. The list serv now serves close to 100 families, the group holds monthly meetings open to the public, and families are supporting one another and others by attending IEP meetings, sharing resources and strategies, and participating in efforts such as the Annual Walk for Autism Research. Recently nominated to Maryland's Special Education State Advisory Council (SESAC), Sharon has accepted to serve a three year term. She had previously served two consecutive two-year terms as co-chairperson of the Carroll County Special Education Citizen's Advisory Council (CarrollCo-SECAC). Currently, she is in her first-term as a member of the Carroll County Local Management Board (LMB). In April 2007, Sharon graduated from the first class of Leaders in Disability Policy, a grant funded project of the Maryland Developmental Disabilities Council. Sharon is a graduate of the The ARC's Class of 2003 Partners in Policymaking, a leadership-training program designed for parents of young children with developmental disabilities and adults with disabilities. She graduated in the 2004 (second) class of The Family Works Parent Leadership Institute (PLI) which trains parents in understanding Maryland's standards-based assessment system and the resources of No Child Left Behind (NCLB) and in techniques and strategies for increasing parental involvement in their schools. Past involvements have included serving on the Maryland State Department of Education Parent Involvement Sub-Committee of the Maryland Parent Advisory Council (M-PAC, 2003-2005), a statewide group of parents and advocates appointed by State Superintendent of Schools Nancy S. Grasmick to advise Dr. Grasmick and the State Board of Education on parent involvement issues ranging from policy to implementation. Additionally, she worked as a Peer Trainer for the TASH (an international organization which promotes inclusion in all aspects of society for individuals with disabilities) project, My Life Going FAR, where she helped to foster the personal and collective empowerment of individuals and family members in the state of Maryland. For ten years she volunteered as a home-leader and hotline volunteer on a 24-hour suicide prevention, befriending hotline run by The Samaritans of Washington, DC. Through services that emphasize confidential, nonjudgmental, and compassionate listening, Samaritans' strive to alleviate despair, isolation, distress and suicidal feelings among individuals. At Grace Lutheran Church where she and her family have been members for six years, Sharon began the FIT (Faith and Inclusion Together) Ministry to educate her congregation on disabilities. She is serving her first term on the church council, chairs the Christian Education Committee, serves on the Call Committee, began and is the ministry leader of the Sixth Grade Movie Ministry, and is a small group Galilean Minister. Prior to moving to Carroll County, Sharon worked for over eighteen years at Washington National Cathedral in our Nation's Capital where she worked in a variety of capacities with the Senior Canon and the Canon Educator, including developing, organizing, coordinating and monitoring adult education and spiritual refreshment programs and conferences, working closely with individuals in the homeless community, and overseeing a cadre of volunteer clergy and lay persons. Her time at the University of Maryland, with concentrations in psychology, sociology and philosophy, prepared her with a solid foundation to serve her community as she moved into the workforce.

Elena Hartley (Email: EHartley@getconnectedcc.org) - Family Navigator
	Elena Hartley was born in Lima-Peru and became American citizens 12 years ago. She had lived in Carroll County for 11 years with her husband Tom and her daughters. She had an Associate Degree on Accounting from The American School in Lima-Peru, Certified as a Loan Officer, Tax Prepare and Relationship Banker, Computer Operator. She had been working in the Banking business for 11 years, where she was first exposed to the needs of the Latino community in Carroll County. She had helped Hispanic customers with interpretations and translation of the banking rules and regulations in the United States. For over 5 years she has worked as a volunteer for the Latino community. She is one of the founders of the United Hands of Carroll County a Hispanic Center designed to meet the needs of the Hispanic population and other minorities in Carroll County. Elena is a member of St. John Parish in Westminster and has been attending mass there on a regular basis. This has given her the opportunity to interact with the Hispanics at the church and learn first hand of their many needs. Elena was instrumental in establishing a mass in Spanish for the Westminster area to assist spiritual need of the Hispanic community. Elena Hartley nacio en Lima-Peru y se hizo ciudana americana hace 12 años. Elena reside en Carroll con su esposo Tom y su dos hijas. Tiene estudios generales de Contabilidad en la Escuela Americana de Peru, Certíficado de Oficial de Préstamos de casas, Preparador de Taxes, Servicio al Cliente en la Industria Bancaria, y Operador de Computadoras . Elena trabajo como bancaria 11 años, donde estuvo en contacto con la comunidad Hispana del Condado de Carroll . Ella ha ayudado a sus clientes con la intrepretación y traductión de las leyes bancarias en U.S.A. Por mas de 5 años ha trabajado como voluntaria para la comunidad Hispana. La señora Hartley es una de las fundadoras del Centro “ Manos Unidas” del Condado de Carroll” designado a ayudar a resolver las necesidades de la comunidad Hispana y otras minorias. Elena es miembro de la Iglesia Católica St. John en Westminster y atiende misa en español regularmente. Esto ha dado la oportunidad para obrar y estar en contacto con la comunidad Hispana en la Iglesia y aprender de primera mano de sus muchas necesidades. Elena ha sido el instrumento en establecer misa en español en el area de Westminster para asistir las necesidades espirituales de la comunidad Hispana.

Rhonda Johnson (Email: RJohnson@getconnectedcc.org) - Family Navigator
	Rhonda Johnson is married and has two children, a daughter age 16 and a son age 13. Rhonda started out life with her children as a stay at home mom “I will never regret spending all those years taking care of my children and watching them grow”. As they got older she decided she wanted to join the community in a volunteer capacity. Rhonda joined Rape Crisis Intervention Services (RCIS) in 2001 as a hotline volunteer. This required many hours caring a pager in the evenings and on weekends, responding to a phone call, going to the hospital or police department in order to give support to victims of sexual abuse. With-in a few years she was asked to come on board as an employee of RCIS. She was quoted to have said “When I stopped working after my daughter was born, I vowed that if I ever went back, it would be to something that I felt good about. I feel better than good about my work with RCIS – I’m proud of myself, I’m fulfilled.” Rhonda started out as a first responder and moved her way up to the volunteer coordinator position before she resigned in the spring of 2006. From there she thought she might want to get out of crisis work and do a 9 to 5 job. That did not meet the internal needs she has to nurture, help, and support others. So joining the GCFRC as a Family Navigator was a great fit “This is where I belong, working with people and supporting others”.

Karen Koeningsberg (Email: KKoeningsberg@getconnectedcc.org) - Family Navigator
	Karen Koenigsberg is a Family Navigator for the Get Connected Family Resource Center. She was born and raised in Connecticut. She joined the Marine Corps when she was 20. Karen moved to Maryland in 1986. She is a single mom with two children with Fragile X Syndrome, a daughter 23 and a son 22. She worked on Infants and Toddlers as a volunteer when it first started in Carroll County. She went around to doctors in the area to explain the program. She has had to work with the school system on individual education plans (I.E.P.’s) for both her children since he son was 2. She has worked transitioning her daughter from High school to the Post Secondary Program and for both children transitioning out of school to day programs and employment. She was a special education secretary, then worked for 6 years with the Community Learning Center after school programs. She worked and volunteered with C.H.A.N.G.E. Inc. and was on the Carroll County Therapeutic Recreation Council for about 18 years, she served as Secretary, Vice-President, President, and worked as Coordinator. She has worked with Special Olympics Carroll County as a volunteer and a coach. Karen’s goals are for her children be as independent, happy at what they are doing in life.