Dana Gillespie Email and Phone Number

Navigating educational challenges can be stressful and intimidating for families and children. Having an informed guide to interpret the process and advocate for student rights and best practices can decrease anxiety, alleviate uncertainty, and help families make informed decisions. I believe that all children can learn, and that all children want to feel successful in school. With almost 30 years of experience in special education as a self-contained and resource teacher, mentor, inclusion facilitator, and behavior specialist, I know what good programming looks like, from effective and measurable IEPs to functional behavior assessments to procedural compliance. I have worked with children who have a variety of special needs (learning disabilities, dyslexia, autism spectrum disorders, emotional or intellectual disabilities) across both special education and general education settings. I have participated in and presented training for both teachers and parents covering a range of topics such as learning and behavior challenges, instructional models, and research-based methodologies.