"You've always had the power, my dear

you just had to learn it for yourself."

-Glinda, Wizard of Oz


no matter where you are, I've been in your shoes

My name is Debbie. I have been in education for 30 years as a general education teacher, a special education teacher, a teacher trainer, a parent and a parent consultant. I am now an educational consultant and who’s learning now, LLC is my way of serving teachers, students and their families. In every teachable moment over the years, someone is learning, and I'm here to accompany you on your journey.
i am an expert in my field. i know education...

you are an expert on your child. you know their strengths, needs, and challenges.

As a parent, I’ve been in your shoes. My daughter struggled with speech development. I used all the tools I had as a special education teacher to help her communicate. I was doing all the translating for her. It was her pre-school teacher that finally brought it to my attention that more help would be needed. 

I could see what was happening, but I was too close to the situation. I needed someone else to step in and guide. I went through the assessment process. I lived through hearing the negativity about my child. I grieved the loss. Unfortunately, the system is set up to not step in until all has failed.

Thankfully, I knew how to advocate for her and stepped in to be her advocate. I worked with the team. I could highlight her gifts and help them see her possibility instead of her deficiency.

As a teacher, I was always the one who would spend countless hours with parents. If the child had high needs, I prepared them ahead of time to meet for a longer window. We would engage in a deep conversation to explore what was working and what wasn’t. I created a full panorama of what the child’s life was like in the classroom. I took the time to walk them through the IEP process – not just handing over the papers, but setting up their expectations, fully communicating the situation. Not something most parents would have experienced. 

As a consultant, I meet parents where they are: what kind of parent they are, who their child is and identifying their strengths. I coach them on how to ask for what their child needs - from assessments to types of therapy that would be beneficial. I fully understand child development as well as the need for the emotional support of the parents. I can soothe nerves and help them talk to the school. Whether through interviews or actual assessments, I also dig deep for a thorough investigation into what is needed.

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