Meet Abbey

Non-Attorney Advocate, Special Education Teacher, Parent

A family of five standing in front of a stone wall, smiling. The family includes a mother, father, two young daughters and a son.

My journey as a special education advocate started in two places—at school and at home. With over 15 years of experience as both a general and special education teacher, I’ve supported students from elementary school through high school, including a high school program that focuses on entrepreneurship and work-based learning. I’ve seen firsthand how important it is to prepare students not just for academic success in their current grade, but for meaningful lives after high school.

The day I picked up Ross Greene's 'The Explosive Child' was life changing. Finally, someone understood what my child was experiencing! This led me to dive deep into brain-based, whole-child approaches to behavior and learning challenges. What I discovered didn't just help my child - it changed how I supported my students too..

But here's the thing - I kept running into walls. As a teacher, I was frustrated with how difficult it was to get students the support they need in school often because their behavior or learning needs were misunderstood. As a parent, I faced the misunderstood challenges of school refusal, watching my child struggle with overwhelming anxiety that made even entering the building feel impossible and if they made it into the building struggle to stay through the day.

It was sitting at my own child's IEP table that I truly understood the power of informed parent advocacy. I realized I could make a bigger impact by helping parents like you navigate this process - combining my classroom expertise with my firsthand experience as a parent who's been on the same IEP journey.

Now, I teach parents how the IEP process works and how schools operate, so they can advocate with clarity and confidence. Whether we’re reviewing evaluations, strengthening goals and services, building effective support plans, or making sure the IEP supports your child’s path after high school, I walk with you every step of the way. I know the school system from the inside out, and I understand the emotional roller coaster you're on because I've lived it.

Your child deserves more than a plan that gets them through the day—they deserve one that supports who they are and who they want to become after they graduate from high school. I’d be honored to walk with you on that journey. If you’re ready to transform your child’s school experience, visit my Services page to discover how we can partner to make the IEP/504 journey less stressful for you and get your child the educational support they need and deserve.

Experience:

  • 15+ Years Experience as a Licensed Special Education Teacher (Elementary, Middle & High School)

  • 100+ IEP meetings attended as a Teacher, Parent and Advocate (Yup, I’m an IEP mom too!)

  • 30+ families served across multiple states (CO, CA, ID, KS, NJ, WA)

  • 3+ Years Experience as a Licensed General Education Teacher

  • Supported multiples families through informal dispute resolution, mediation, and/or state complaints

Memberships:

Guiding Bright Minds logo with a colorful, abstract lightbulb design and the text 'Guiding Bright Minds'.
COPAA logo with the text 'Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates' beneath it.
Logo of the Council for Exceptional Children, featuring a stylized red and blue figure representing a child, with the organization's name in blue text.