You invest thousands in professional development, but your teachers still struggle. Here's why it's probably not the training that's failing—it's what happens after.

Schools pour resources into supporting their special education teachers, yet many initiatives fade away within weeks. In this episode, we uncover the critical gap between implementing support systems and actually monitoring whether they stick—and why that difference determines whether your teachers and students thrive or survive.

Featuring Dr. Anisha Mendez, Special Education Consultant and Founder of Prestige Management and Consulting LLC, we explore the real challenges facing new special education teachers, the compliance complexities that go unsupported, and the follow-up problem that's sabotaging your best efforts.

What You'll Learn

If you're an administrator struggling to understand why your support systems aren't delivering results, this episode is for you. Dr. Mendez shares her journey from feeling completely lost as a new special educator to building systems that actually work—and reveals the overlooked practice that separates schools where teachers thrive from those where burnout wins.

Key Takeaways

✓ Why onboarding new special education teachers requires ongoing mentorship, not a one-time orientation

✓ The compliance and documentation maze that teachers navigate alone—and how to help them navigate it

✓ The critical role of follow-up monitoring in determining whether professional development actually changes classroom practice

✓ How active listening and attention to detail become your competitive advantage in supporting staff and families

✓ Practical strategies for creating sustainable support systems that stick beyond the first semester

What Dr. Mendez Reveals

"Oftentimes we kind of throw them in and then we forget that, yeah, they are new. They've never done this before. And so my passion is to support those new teachers and really help them as they navigate through being a special ed teacher."

On the real issue behind failed initiatives: "We put so much into professional learning and kind of support for the teachers but we don't always go back and follow up or monitor the work. When we go back to monitor, we find that to be very, very important."

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Ready to close the follow-up gap in your school? Listen to this episode to discover how intentional support systems transform teacher experience and student outcomes.

Subscribe now and don't miss future episodes designed to help K-12 leaders build stronger, more sustainable support cultures.

In this episode of Brighter Together, I sit down with Dr. Jibby Brown, the special education supervisor for grades four through eight at Winton Woods City School District in Cincinnati, Ohio. Dr. Brown shares her inspiring journey in special education, emphasizing the importance of closing learning gaps and the collaborative approach needed to support both students and teachers. We discuss the challenges posed by COVID-19, the significance of early literacy, and the vital role of teamwork in educational settings. Dr. Brown highlights the innovative strategies her district employs to ensure every child has the support they need to thrive. Join us as we explore how effective leadership and community involvement can truly make a difference in education.

In this episode of Brighter Together, I sit down with Kristin Davis, a special education coordinator from Newnan, Georgia, to discuss transformative approaches to IEP meetings. Kristin shares her philosophy of prioritizing parent engagement and collaboration, emphasizing the importance of starting meetings by celebrating students' strengths rather than focusing solely on challenges. We explore how Kristin's innovative strategies have revitalized the IEP process, fostering meaningful discussions and improving relationships between educators and families. With over 22 years in education, Kristin offers invaluable insights into how we can better support students with IEPs, ultimately striving to change the educational landscape for the better. Join us as we delve into what top districts know about making IEP meetings truly impactful.

Opening Hook

What if your school district could create meaningful employment opportunities for students with disabilities—without a massive budget or years of planning? In this episode, discover how Avon Grove School District went from zero community partnerships to 30 thriving job sites, and learn what's possible when special education leadership combines vision with practical action.

Guest Introduction

Dr. Mike Ubbens is the Supervisor of Special Education at Avon Grove School District in Pennsylvania. With deep experience supporting individuals with severe disabilities and a passionate commitment to inclusive employment, Dr. Ubbens has transformed how his district approaches transition planning and community partnership building.

What You'll Learn

This episode explores the real-world barriers students with disabilities face when preparing for adulthood—and concrete, replicable strategies to break them down. You'll hear how one district identified funding solutions, built genuine employer relationships, and created job exploration pathways that honor each student's strengths and potential. Whether you're struggling with transition services, seeking community buy-in, or wondering how to support students with severe disabilities in meaningful work, this conversation offers both inspiration and actionable next steps.

Key Takeaways

- Disability doesn't define potential: Understanding students as whole people—not their diagnosis—opens doors to unexpected opportunities

- Communication takes many forms: Behavior and connection extend far beyond spoken words; recognizing this changes how we support students

- Partnership building starts with relationships: Employers become genuine partners when they understand the "why" behind inclusive employment

- Funding creative solutions exist: Transportation, aide support, and job site development don't require unlimited budgets—they require creative thinking

- One person's passion can catalyze district-wide change: Dr. Ubbens' commitment to disability advocacy became the foundation for systemic transformation

Notable Quotes

"The disability does not define the person for sure."

"For me, [this work] turned into a passion of advocating for individuals with disabilities, having seen what institutionalization looks like on the other end of it."

"Realizing that communication comes through in so many more ways than just verbalizations, and behavior is a lot more than what it looks like on the outside."

Why This Matters Now

As districts nationwide grapple with transition services, limited resources, and the challenge of preparing all students for post-secondary success, this episode offers a roadmap for meaningful change. Dr. Ubbens' journey from special educator to district leader reveals how one person's commitment to dignity and inclusion can reshape what's possible for an entire community.

Listen & Subscribe

Ready to discover how your district can build meaningful employment partnerships? Listen to this episode today and subscribe for more conversations with education leaders who are transforming outcomes for students with disabilities. Share this episode with your special education team, administrative colleagues, or anyone working to build more inclusive communities.

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Episode Description

What if the key to transforming virtual special education outcomes wasn't another technology—but a person? In this powerful conversation, we uncover how one Ohio virtual academy achieved remarkable student success by reframing the role of the learning coach as the "missing puzzle piece" in distance learning. Discover the strategies that are keeping struggling students engaged, supporting overwhelmed families, and giving burned-out special education teachers the breathing room they need.

About Our Guests

Rekha Manakkal and Erin Fatafehi are Directors of Special Education Services at Ohio Connections Academy in Columbus, Ohio. With deep expertise in virtual special education delivery, they've built a comprehensive support system that prioritizes family partnership and student persistence—transforming what many students see as "a last resort" into a pathway to success.

What You'll Learn

In this episode, Rekha and Erin reveal:

- The critical role of the learning coach and why this relationship often matters more than classroom technology

- How to overcome parental hesitation about supporting their child in a virtual environment

- Concrete strategies for boosting engagement among high school students who are skeptical about online learning

- The hidden benefit of virtual school: deeper family awareness and investment in their student's education

- How constant accessibility matters more than classroom technology

- How to overcome parental hesitation about supporting their child in a virtual environment

- Concrete strategies for boosting engagement among high school students who are skeptical about online learning

- The hidden benefit of virtual school: deeper family awareness and investment in their student's education

- How constant accessibility and partnership create the conditions for students with IEPs to truly thrive

Key Takeaways

✓ The Learning Coach is the Puzzle Piece — Success in virtual special education hinges on having a committed adult at home who ensures students are "where they need to be, when they need to be there"—not as a teacher, but as a supportive guide.

✓ Virtual Learning Increases Family Engagement — When families can observe and participate in their child's learning throughout the day, they become more invested partners in their student's success.

✓ Accessibility Builds Trust — Being available to students and families "pretty much all day long" signals that your school is a genuine partner committed to answering questions and providing real-time guidance.

✓ High School Engagement is Possible — Even students who view virtual school as a final option can stay motivated when they have consistent support and a credible message that "you can make it, you will get your diploma."

✓ A Structured Platform Strengthens Partnerships — The right virtual infrastructure enables the constant communication that deepens relationships between teachers, families, and students in ways brick-and-mortar settings often can't match.

Notable Quotes

"That learning coach is the piece of the puzzle that makes this learning environment successful. Because if the student has that support at home, it ensures the student is where they need to be when they need to be there." — Erin Fatafehi

"I wish we could just show them, just stick it out with the support that we have here. You can make it. You can do it. You will get your high school diploma." — Rekha Manakkal

"COVID gave families an opportunity to see what distance learning was all about. And for those families that really like it, they're now more invested in what their student is doing." — Rekha Manakkal

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Ready to transform your approach to virtual special education? Listen now to discover how Ohio Connections Academy is redefining what's possible for students with IEPs—and how you can bring these insights to your own school community.

Subscribe to stay updated on strategies that work for today's learners.

The Grace Gap: Why Your Best Teachers Are Leaving (And How to Stop It)

America's classrooms are hemorrhaging experienced educators—and the reasons might surprise you. In this eye-opening episode, we dive deep into the teacher retention crisis with an expert who's actively reversing the trend in Georgia's schools.

About Your Guest

Dr. Damita James serves as Director of the Georgia Learning Resource System (GLRS) and Assistant Executive Director at the Middle Georgia Regional Education Service Agency (RESA) in Warner Robbins, Georgia. With a passion for supporting educators and transforming teaching environments, Dr. James brings practical, evidence-based strategies to address some of education's most pressing challenges.

What You'll Learn

Teacher burnout isn't just about low pay—it's a perfect storm of overwhelming workload, behavioral management demands, and unrealistic expectations. In this episode, Dr. James reveals how to reduce educator stress, create supportive onboarding systems for new teachers, and foster environments where teachers actually want to stay. You'll discover actionable strategies for building compassionate school cultures that recognize teachers as whole people with lives beyond the classroom.

Key Takeaways

- Invest in New Teachers Early: Intentional mentoring and support systems during a teacher's first years dramatically improve retention and set them up for long-term success

- Reduce the Stress Multiplier: Teachers juggle instruction, behavior management, and external pressures simultaneously—prioritizing what you can remove creates space for teaching excellence

- Grace is a Leadership Strategy: Demonstrating empathy and compassion for educators isn't "soft"—it's essential infrastructure for sustainable school improvement

- Safe Spaces Drive Growth: Create confidential, judgment-free zones where teachers can learn, struggle, and develop without fear

- Reading Crisis Requires Collective Action: Over 50% of students in some areas read below third-grade level—solving this requires resourced, supported teachers working collaboratively

Notable Quotes

"We kind of get to mold those teachers and make sure that we're setting them up for success. So that's one of the things that I really think that is a win for Georgia."

"If I could erase that level of stress where they could just only teach, I think that would be amazing."

"Give people grace and be compassionate, have some empathy, because just like teachers are people and they have lives and things going on as well."

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Ready to transform your teacher retention strategy? Listen now to discover how one Georgia leader is closing the grace gap and building schools where great teachers thrive. Subscribe to never miss an episode that gives you real solutions for real challenges in K-12 education.

Episode Description: Why Top Districts Stop 'Fixing' Dysregulated Students

What if everything we've been taught about supporting struggling students is fundamentally backwards? In this eye-opening episode, education strategist Cheala Herrera challenges traditional approaches to student behavioral intervention, revealing why top-performing districts are reimagining support strategies.

Cheala Herrera, Plans Coordinator at Cap Rock Academy, brings over a decade of experience working with diverse student populations and transforming educational frameworks. Her groundbreaking insights expose the critical gaps between classroom management and genuine student support.

In this powerful conversation, listeners will discover:

• Why "trying" might be the most counterproductive mindset in student intervention

• How systemic approaches can replace reactive behavioral strategies

• The profound impact of holistic family and institutional support

• Practical frameworks for understanding student dysregulation

• Compassionate alternatives to punitive disciplinary models

Provocative Quotes:

"We have to train ourselves to do things. If we say we are trying, trying gives us that little idea in our head that we can't do something, that we're failures." - Cheala Herrera

"There are times where we can't make a student work. We can't." - Cheala Herrera

Whether you're a district administrator, classroom teacher, or educational leader, this episode will challenge your perspectives and provide transformative insights into supporting our most vulnerable students.

Don't miss this game-changing conversation. Subscribe now and join the movement toward more empathetic, effective student support strategies.

In this episode of Brighter Together, I chat with Dr. Ashley Ace, the Alternative Education Coordinator at Montello School District in Wisconsin. We explore the collaboration shift that 90% of educators crave, emphasizing the importance of teamwork in educational settings to benefit all students. Ashley shares her insights on supporting diverse learning needs, from students excelling in traditional classrooms to those requiring alternative paths. We discuss the challenges of individualized education and how to foster a culture of openness and vulnerability among educators. Tune in to discover innovative strategies for collaboration and how they are reshaping the educational landscape for the better.

In a profession where burnout is all too common, what if you could create a workplace that not only retains special education teachers but makes them thrive? The Neenah Joint School District has cracked the code, and they're ready to share their transformative approach.

Join us as we welcome two extraordinary educational leaders: Dr. Ashley Kolb, Director of Pupil Services, and Dr. Valerie Hurm, Director of Special Education. These pioneering administrators have developed a groundbreaking strategy that's reversing the trend of special education teacher turnover.

In this powerful episode, you'll discover:

• Why traditional support models are failing special education teachers

• How targeted, just-in-time professional development can revolutionize retention

• Practical strategies for creating a supportive, collaborative work environment

• The critical elements that transform isolation into inspiration

• Actionable steps to reimagine teacher support and professional growth

Provocative Quotes:

"What makes special ed teachers stay?" - Dr. Ashley Kolb

"We're creating the environment and the space, and that's all you need for this magic to happen." - Dr. Ashley Kolb

This episode is a must-listen for district leaders, school administrators, and educators committed to supporting and empowering special education professionals. Learn how to build a workplace where teachers don't just survive—they genuinely excel.

Don't miss these insights that could transform your district's approach to teacher retention. Subscribe now and join the movement to support our most dedicated educators.

In this episode of Brighter Together, I sit down with Sam Wakefield, the executive director of AFSA Charter School in Minnesota. Sam shares his journey from a physical education teacher to an inspiring leader in education. He emphasizes the incredible potential within every student, regardless of their background or challenges. We explore the unique approach AFSA takes in blending agriculture and science with hands-on learning, empowering students to discover their passions. Sam discusses the importance of building confidence in both students and educators, highlighting the need for collaboration and understanding in today’s educational landscape. Join us as we delve into how AFSA is transforming student potential and fostering a community where every learner can thrive.