On the latest episode of the Special Education Inner Circle podcast, I got real about something that can feel a little uncomfortable but is so important for growth. I asked the challenging question - if people were talking behind your back after an IEP meeting this school year, what three words would they use to describe you? Yikes, right? But here's the thing - those three words give us a window into how we may be showing up, for better or worse.      Maybe the words would be positive ones you're proud of, like "caring," "data-driven," or "persistent." Or perhaps they would sti ..read more

  End of school year chaos got you frazzled? Let me walk you through how to brain dump your concerns, create your 3 buckets, and give you insights on 3 situations I'm coaching parents and teachers through right now inside the Master IEP Coach® Mentorship.  If you're struggling through concerns like placement changes for next year, building transitions, and prepping for high school transition services, you're not alone.  Get personalized IEP strategies through the Master IEP Coach® Mentorship to stop overthinking IEPs for good! Learn More Becoming a Master IEP Coach® Send me a DM ..read more

I wanted to take a moment and check in with all of you – my fellow special education parents and teachers. How has this school year been for you? Was it easier than you expected, exactly as you thought it would be, or more difficult than you anticipated? I ran a poll on my Instagram stories, and the results were quite interesting. Only 7% of you said that this school year was easier than expected – yay for that small group! If you're part of that 7%, I encourage you to reflect on what you did differently this year that made things smoother, and try to replicate those strategies moving forward ..read more

Chaos erupted on my Instagram when I asked if teachers and parents list curriculum in IEPs. 75% said no, fearing issues if a student moves districts or the curriculum stops working. But I'm here to set the record straight! Listing curriculum (in areas like present levels, not goals) provides crucial context on what worked before. It doesn't lock you in - we can make adjustments as needed. And if you're unfamiliar with the listed curriculum? The IEP can include training support! In this episode, I dish on the heated DM exchanges, tackle common objections, and remind us all that transparency and ..read more

This week’s episode of the Special Education Inner Circle podcast I’m chatting all about a topic that's near and dear to my heart as a special needs sibling - the parent input statement in the IEP. I can say without a doubt that my mom’s voice not being heard about my brother’s education was a BIG reason why I became a Special Education teacher way back in the day. I left the classroom decades ago and have been focused on helping parents and teachers build AH-MAZING IEPs, which includes (you guessed it) - making sure the parent input section of every IEP is not just another box checked, but a ..read more

Alright, friends - let's talk about transitioning from elementary to middle school, because if you're a parent going through this, you know it can feel like a total doozy, am I right? On this week's episode of the Special Education Inner Circle podcast, I'm pulling back the curtain to share with you how I'm coaching one parent through the milestone of moving her child from elementary to middle school. There are so many big decisions to make, it can honestly feel downright scary. But here's the thing - with the right support and information in your corner, you can absolutely make the best choic ..read more

As the host of the Special Education Inner Circle podcast, I make it my mission to show up for you every single week. Even when my schedule is a total dumpster fire and I'm running on fumes, I refuse to let this podcast slip by undone.  And you know what? That same unshakeable commitment needs to be discussed between every IEP team for every child. There are certain non-negotiables that have to be in place, no matter what unexpected chaos is swirling on the most difficult school days. I'm talking about the essentials that keep a child engaged, communicating, and accessing t ..read more

  As I'm recording this episode of the Special Education Inner Circle Podcast, there are only about 40 days left in the school year. Can you believe it? The year has flown by, but we still have a critical window to course-correct if needed before Summer break. That's why I want to challenge you to do a little self-reflection with me. Grab a pen and paper, and jot down your three biggest struggles right now when it comes to IEPs and special education. I know there could be a laundry list of 99 problems, but let's focus on the trio causing you to lose sleep at night. Once you have those thr ..read more

Hey there ? I just wrapped up a training for Master IEP Coaches and wanted to share some major aha moments from the session - straight from the perspective of NEW Master IEP Coaches®! ? The first big takeaway was getting general education teachers more involved in the IEP process. ?‍? Often there's a divide between gen ed and special ed in schools.  It doesn't have to be that way! Inside the Master IEP Coach® Mentorship we cover specific strategies to break down those walls and get all teachers invested in all kids' success.  The second aha was about preventing IEP burnout ..read more

I recently had the pleasure of interviewing Suzanne, CEO of Specially Designed Education Services and author of The Functional Academics Program. As a former special education teacher myself, I was eager to hear Suzanne's insights and experiences in making special education more positive and effective for students through a structured curriculum. Both Suzanne and I bonded over similar "first day of school" stories - entering a classroom feeling overwhelmed and not knowing where to start with our students' IEPs. We realized the power of collaborating with parents to understand their hopes ..read more