President

JJavier Valera has been a member of Down Syndrome Network of Montgomery County (DSNMC) since 2008. In 2013, he took a more active role through outreach to new Latino families, which led to the creation of the Latino Group in October 2014. Javier joined the DSNMC Board in December 2014, became vice president in April 2016 and president in 2018.

Javier is originally from Madrid, Spain. He graduated from the University of La Salle in Madrid in 1999. As part of his time at university: Javier collaborated with the Department of Psychopedagogy, obtained the Diploma of Camp Assistant, received a degree of honor in Reading Motivation Strategies, traveled to the Netherlands to learn more about education and received a scholarship from the European Union to finish his studies in Sweden.

Javier Valera taught in Spain until he came to teach in the United States in 2004. Javier first worked in the District of Columbia public schools as an ESL and Spanish teacher until 2011. In 2011, he began working as an elementary school teacher at the E.W. Stokes bilingual charter school and in 2016 Javier began to work as math teacher in Montgomery County Public Schools. Javier has three children: Carlos, Carolina and Daniel, who has Down syndrome. In his free time, Javier likes to explore new places with his wife, children and his dog. He loves to draw, paint, watch movies, and relax with a nice cup of coffee.

Vice President

Mary Ann Dawedeit has been immersed in life skills programming for adults with disabilities, as a mother of 3 sons, including 28-year old Eli who has Downs Syndrome and lives independently.

As a long-time board member, Mary Ann has worked to implement and manage programs such the award-winning "Positively Speaking" workshops, successful fundraisers with partners like the Germantown Chamber of Commerce, and community events such as the Annual Dance. A member of the Step Up Walk committee, Mary Ann has been centrally involved in planning the Buddy Walk for the last three years.

Mary Ann brings value from her 35 years of professional experience in managing administrative and retail business and non-profits to the organization.

Board Member

Scott Gerson is a Kensington native with over a decade of experience in the Down syndrome and broader disability communities.

At age nine he began volunteering with Special Olympics, where he now works full time as an Event Coordinator at their international office in Washington DC.

Scott has also served as a counselor and director at Camp PALS, which serves teens and young adults with Down syndrome across the country.

He is absolutely thrilled to be joining the DSNMC Board that has already given him so much.

Fun fact: Scott met his girlfriend, Meryl, at the DSNMC Step Up Walk last fall!