What happens when the people responsible for carrying out your child's IEP were never trained, supported, or backed up to do it right?
Karen Mayer Cunningham sits down with Michelle Williams, a 26-year veteran classroom teacher who has taught elementary and mathematics in rural, urban, and suburban schools. Michelle has watched teacher support erode from the inside, and she connects the dots between what happens to teachers and what happens to your child.
In this episode we cover why professional development fails, what the law expects when a disability is suspected, why an IEP signature is a binding commitment, how IDEA funding really works, and how to find out what your district actually spends on special education. Then we walk through filling out a state complaint, step by step.
You don't know what you don't know, but you need to. This is why we sit at the table prepared.
Go deeper inside Special Education Academy, where we break down every page of the IEP, your procedural rights, and how to navigate and negotiate successful student outcomes: https://specialeducationacademy.com
CHAPTERS
0:00 Meet Michelle Williams, 26-year veteran teacher
1:00 A family of educators and a life in the classroom
5:00 Are we really supporting teachers anymore?
5:30 The greening of education
6:30 Why sit-and-get professional development fails
11:00 When nobody comes to the IEP table prepared
13:00 Students pulled from structured learning into general ed
15:00 Two state complaints, both substantiated
15:30 What the law requires before an IEP is even in place
19:30 The IEP is a legally binding contract
20:00 IDEA, federal funding, and your state's yearly assurances
20:30 A nationwide problem, not just one district
30:00 How to find what your district spends on special education
31:00 Open records and your right to ask
37:00 Q&A: TEA complaints, FERPA, and getting involved
38:00 How to fill out a state complaint
39:00 Closing
LISTEN ON THE GO
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/special-education-boss-with-karen-mayer-cunningham/id1805933912
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/03I43tikXlYvR6xIe3F24w
Buzzsprout: https://specialeducationboss.buzzsprout.com
iHeart: https://iheart.com/podcast/271518986/
Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/d75378a3-0f8b-4fd1-989b-67a5723b5377
ABOUT OUR GUEST
Michelle Williams is a 26-year veteran educator now running for Texas State Representative to advocate for public education and students with disabilities. Learn more or support her campaign: https://michelleforstaterep.com
This channel is educational training, not legal advice.
When we get it right for the child, we get it right for everybody. - Karen Mayer Cunningham
#SpecialEducationBoss #KarenMayerCunningham #IEPHelp #SpecialEducation #IEPAdvocate #KnowYourRights #IDEA2004 #SpecialEducationRights #StateComplaint #TeacherSupport
Karen Mayer Cunningham sits down with Michelle Williams, a 26-year veteran classroom teacher who has taught elementary and mathematics in rural, urban, and suburban schools. Michelle has watched teacher support erode from the inside, and she connects the dots between what happens to teachers and what happens to your child.
In this episode we cover why professional development fails, what the law expects when a disability is suspected, why an IEP signature is a binding commitment, how IDEA funding really works, and how to find out what your district actually spends on special education. Then we walk through filling out a state complaint, step by step.
You don't know what you don't know, but you need to. This is why we sit at the table prepared.
Go deeper inside Special Education Academy, where we break down every page of the IEP, your procedural rights, and how to navigate and negotiate successful student outcomes: https://specialeducationacademy.com
CHAPTERS
0:00 Meet Michelle Williams, 26-year veteran teacher
1:00 A family of educators and a life in the classroom
5:00 Are we really supporting teachers anymore?
5:30 The greening of education
6:30 Why sit-and-get professional development fails
11:00 When nobody comes to the IEP table prepared
13:00 Students pulled from structured learning into general ed
15:00 Two state complaints, both substantiated
15:30 What the law requires before an IEP is even in place
19:30 The IEP is a legally binding contract
20:00 IDEA, federal funding, and your state's yearly assurances
20:30 A nationwide problem, not just one district
30:00 How to find what your district spends on special education
31:00 Open records and your right to ask
37:00 Q&A: TEA complaints, FERPA, and getting involved
38:00 How to fill out a state complaint
39:00 Closing
LISTEN ON THE GO
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/special-education-boss-with-karen-mayer-cunningham/id1805933912
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/03I43tikXlYvR6xIe3F24w
Buzzsprout: https://specialeducationboss.buzzsprout.com
iHeart: https://iheart.com/podcast/271518986/
Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/d75378a3-0f8b-4fd1-989b-67a5723b5377
ABOUT OUR GUEST
Michelle Williams is a 26-year veteran educator now running for Texas State Representative to advocate for public education and students with disabilities. Learn more or support her campaign: https://michelleforstaterep.com
This channel is educational training, not legal advice.
When we get it right for the child, we get it right for everybody. - Karen Mayer Cunningham
#SpecialEducationBoss #KarenMayerCunningham #IEPHelp #SpecialEducation #IEPAdvocate #KnowYourRights #IDEA2004 #SpecialEducationRights #StateComplaint #TeacherSupport