If you’ve ever felt like special education is more paperwork than purpose—you’re not alone.

I’ve been a special education teacher for more than a decade, working in three different states and across the full K–12 spectrum. I’ve taught in self-contained classrooms, resource rooms, traditional schools, and online programs. Now, I’m leading the development of a special education program from the ground up at an alternative-by-design high school—one centered on entrepreneurship, independence, and postsecondary transition.

Everywhere I’ve worked, I’ve seen the same thing—people who care deeply about students trying to navigate a system that can feel overwhelming, complex, and at times, disconnected from what students actually need.

Somewhere along the way, I realized my passion wasn’t just teaching—it was helping people make sense of that system and find a way forward.

The Turning Point

When I first read The Explosive Child by Ross Greene, it changed everything for me—both as a teacher and as a parent. Finally, someone was putting words to what my own child was experiencing.

I dove deep into brain-based, whole-child approaches to behavior and learning. What I discovered didn’t just help at home—it reshaped how I supported my students in the classroom.

But even with that shift, I still ran into walls.

As a teacher, I saw how often students’ needs were misunderstood or oversimplified.
As a parent, I experienced the weight of school anxiety—watching my child struggle with something as basic, and as hard, as walking through the school doors and staying through the day.

It was at the IEP table, advocating for my own child, that everything came together. I began to see—clearly—how powerful the process can be when the people at the table are able to share openly, listen to one another, and work toward a shared goal.

Where My Work Lives Now

Today, I partner with families, educators, and schools—bringing clarity, organization, and hope to the IEP process.

My background as a teacher, district employee, parent, and advocate gives me a 360° view of how special education really works—inside the classroom, within school systems, and at home.

Whether I’m supporting teachers in managing the realities of case management, working with schools to strengthen their programs, or guiding families as they navigate their child’s IEP, my focus stays the same:

to make sure each plan reflects who the student is now and where they’re going.

What I Believe

Every student deserves more than a plan that gets them through the day.
They deserve one that prepares them for life beyond high school—education, work, community, and independence.

When we build with the future in mind, we don’t just meet compliance—we create possibility.

Experience Snapshot

For those who like the details:

• 15+ Years in Education — Licensed Special Education & General Education Teacher

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

• 3 States, Multiple Systems — CO, CA, ID, KS, NJ, and WA

• K–12 Experience — self-contained, resource, traditional, online, and alternative high school

• Program Builder — currently developing a transition-focused high school special education program

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