Forget What You Learned: Reimagining Education for Today's Families

In this conversation, Dr. Michele Evard, educational consultant and author of College UnMazed, demystifies what happens when a student who has taken a personalized, non-traditional path arrives at the college application process — and why that path is often a strength, not a liability. Drawing from her own experience homeschooling three children and years of guiding families through documentation and design, she offers a clear-eyed look at what colleges actually want to understand about a student and how families can tell that story compellingly. The discussion covers narrative transcripts, how to document unconventional coursework, and what homeschooling parents need to know about their role in helping their child cross the finish line.

Brought to you by Pacific Preparatory.

Full episode notes available at www.pacificpreparatory.org.

In this conversation, Casie Fariello, co-founder of Other Parents Like Me and parent coach with the Partnership to End Addiction, speaks honestly about what it's like to parent a child through mental health and substance use challenges — and why so many parents are doing it alone when they don't have to be. Drawing from her own parenting journey and over two decades of experience navigating high-pressure environments, Casie offers a grounded, compassionate perspective on what it actually takes to stay steady when everything feels uncertain. The discussion explores how community changes the experience of struggling parents, why self-care isn't a luxury in these situations but a necessity, and what it looks like to rebuild confidence and connection when the path forward isn't clear.

Brought to you by Pacific Preparatory

Full episode notes available at www.pacificpreparatory.org.

In this conversation, Attorney Sauda S. Johnson-McNeal, an education law attorney with over twenty years of experience advocating for children and families, pulls back the curtain on what parents need to know — but rarely do — when navigating special education law. With a background that spans the classroom, the courtroom, and the lecture hall, she brings both legal precision and genuine accessibility to a process that can feel overwhelming and opaque. The discussion explores how to approach IEP meetings with confidence, what rights parents actually have under the law, and why understanding the system is one of the most powerful things a family can do for their child.

Brought to you by Pacific Preparatory.

Full episode notes available at www.pacificpreparatory.org.

In this conversation, Ashley, a school psychologist with experience across six districts and a current private practice focused on children with complex educational needs, brings a rare inside-outside perspective on how schools and families can work together more effectively. Having worked at every level — from classroom consultation to district-wide systems — she understands both where the gaps are and what it actually takes to close them. The discussion explores what meaningful educational support looks like for kids who don't fit neatly into traditional systems, how parents can advocate more effectively within schools, and what schools get right — and wrong — when building support structures for students who need more.

Brought to you by Pacific Preparatory.

Full episode notes available at www.pacificpreparatory.org.

In this conversation, Kody Harms, Board Certified Behavior Analyst and neuro-affirming therapist with over 15 years of experience, challenges some of the most common assumptions about what support for neurodiverse kids and teens should actually look like. Rooted in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Kody's approach starts with a simple but powerful question: who does this person want to be? The discussion explores how to help neurodiverse young people build a life that aligns with their own values and goals, why the people around them — parents, teachers, loved ones — are just as important to support, and what it means to put the individual genuinely in control of their own growth.

Brought to you by Pacific Preparatory.

Full episode notes available at www.pacificpreparatory.org.

In this conversation, Sarah Collins, occupational therapist and founder of HomeschoolOT, explores what it looks like to build a learning environment that actually fits the child in front of you. Drawing from her work with homeschooling families and her own experience as a homeschooling parent, Sarah unpacks how sensory needs, motor development, and learning style should shape the way kids are taught — not the other way around. The discussion covers practical strategies for parents who want to move beyond a one-size-fits-all curriculum, how occupational therapy principles translate directly into the home learning environment, and why understanding your child's unique profile is the starting point for everything else.

Brought to you by Pacific Preparatory.

Full episode notes available at www.pacificpreparatory.org.

In this conversation, Dr. Jade Starleaf, a licensed clinical psychologist specializing in autism, OCD, ADHD, and anxiety, offers a refreshingly human perspective on what it means to truly understand a neurodivergent child. As both a clinician and a mother of a neurodivergent child, she brings a rare dual lens to the conversation — one that holds space for the worry and uncertainty parents feel while never losing sight of the extraordinary strengths their children carry. The discussion explores what the diagnostic process actually looks like, why a strength-based approach changes the trajectory for kids and families, and how greater understanding within the home can unlock connection, confidence, and growth.

Brought to you by Pacific Preparatory.

Full episode notes available at www.pacificpreparatory.org.

In this conversation, Dr. Viannae Carmona Nelkin, a licensed pediatric neuropsychologist trained across some of the country's most respected children's medical centers, brings rare clinical depth to the question of how we identify and understand neurodivergence in kids. As the founder of The Children's Neuropsychology Center, Dr. Nelkin specializes in early childhood development and complex developmental presentations — including the female phenotype of neurodivergence, which is too often missed or misdiagnosed. The discussion explores what comprehensive neuropsychological evaluations actually reveal, why early identification changes outcomes, and what parents and educators need to understand about the way neurodivergent children — especially girls — think, learn, and experience the world.

Brought to you by Pacific Preparatory.

Full episode notes available at www.pacificpreparatory.org.

In this conversation, Tricia Xavier, an independent school admissions leader with over a decade of experience across Los Angeles, pulls back the curtain on how families can navigate educational decisions with more clarity and less anxiety. Drawing from her work at Westmark School and the International Dyslexia Association, Tricia brings a deeply informed perspective on supporting students with language-based learning differences — including dyslexia, dysgraphia, dyscalculia, and ADHD — and why finding the right fit earlier makes all the difference. The discussion explores what the admissions process looks like from the inside, how parents can better advocate for their child's needs, and why the most important question isn't which school is the best, but which school is the best for this kid. Brought to you by Pacific Preparatory.

Full episode notes available at www.pacificpreparatory.org.

In this conversation, Flora McCormick, licensed counselor and founder of Sustainable Parenting, shares her framework for raising kids who are confident, cooperative, and genuinely connected to the adults in their lives. With nearly two decades of experience coaching parents and educators, Flora unpacks what it actually looks like to be both kind and firm at the same time — and why most families are swinging too far in one direction without realizing it. The discussion explores brain-based tools for navigating everyday power struggles, building cooperation without coercion, and how parents and teachers can work together to raise resilient kids in an increasingly complicated world.

Brought to you by Pacific Preparatory.

Full episode notes available at www.pacificpreparatory.org.