Do I Need an Educational Advocate? Here’s How to Know
Navigating the school system can be confusing and overwhelming, especially when your child isn’t getting the support they need. You might feel like you’re constantly emailing, attending meetings, and trying to figure out the right language to use, only to leave frustrated or unheard.
That’s where an educational advocate can make a big difference — especially when your advocate is also a licensed School Psychologist with years of inside knowledge of how schools operate.
If you’ve ever wondered, “Should I bring someone with me to this IEP meeting?” or “Is the school allowed to say no to this?”, then this post is for you.
What Is an Educational Advocate?
An educational advocate is a trained professional who helps families navigate the special education system, understand their rights, and ensure their child receives the services they’re legally entitled to.
At Gold Coast Psychoeducational Associates, advocacy is part of my full-service approach. Unlike many advocates, I bring nearly two decades of experience as a School Psychologist who has worked within public, private, charter, and cyber school systems. That means I understand the behind-the-scenes decision-making, the legal framework, and the pressure points from both sides of the table.
When you work with me you’re not just getting a passionate advocate, you’re getting someone who speaks the school’s language and knows how to move things forward effectively.
Signs You Might Benefit from an Advocate
Here are a few situations where families often reach out:
1. You’re attending IEP or 504 meetings and feeling overwhelmed or dismissed.
These meetings can be filled with jargon, time constraints, and quick decisions. As an experienced School Psychologist, I can help you prepare for these meetings, interpret the process in real time, and speak up strategically.
2. You’re unsure what services your child is entitled to.
Special education law is complex, but it's my native language. I help translate your child’s needs into specific, support services that schools understand and can provide.
3. You disagree with the school's decisions or feel like your concerns are being minimized.
Because I’ve worked in schools myself, I can often identify where systems are falling short and how to professionally push back in a way that keeps the conversation productive and child-centered.
4. You’ve received a school-based evaluation that doesn’t reflect what you’re seeing at home.
With my background in psychoeducational testing, I know how to read between the lines of reports, help you interpret the data, ask the right follow-up questions, and request additional information or evaluations when needed.
5. You want someone by your side who truly understands both your child’s needs and the system.
My advocacy approach isn’t just about fighting your child’s school. It’s about gaining clarity, confidence, and collaborating with the people supporting your child’s learning. I bring an insider’s understanding with an outsider’s freedom to advocate for what’s best for your child, not just what fits within school constraints.
6. You’re unsure whether your child is making adequate progress or has the right supports in place.
Progress reports come home regularly, but they’re full of data that’s hard for parents to interpret. As a School Psychologist with deep experience in assessment and intervention, I help families understand what the numbers mean so you know whether your child’s current plan is working. My goal is to help you feel confident in the data, not confused by it.
What Advocacy Looks Like in Practice
Here’s how I support families through advocacy:
Prepping you for meetings: So you know what to ask, what your rights are, and what to expect
Attending meetings with you (virtually or in person): To clarify confusing language, provide real-time input, and support effective collaboration
Reviewing documents: IEPs, 504 plans, evaluation reports, progress reports and service proposals. I can provide insight into what’s standard and what’s missing
Interpreting data: Parents receive progress reports routinely, but frequently have trouble interpreting what they mean. I am an expert in interpreting these types of data to give parents confidence.
Making strategic recommendations: Whether to schools, outside providers, or next steps in the process
You Don’t Have to Do This Alone
Advocating for your child shouldn’t feel like a full-time job. With the right support, it doesn’t have to.
As a trained School Psychologist and full-time private practitioner, I bring both clinical insight and system-level experience to every advocacy partnership. I know how schools operate and, more importantly, I know how to help them better support your child.
Need support with an upcoming school meeting or IEP decision?
Reach out anytime—I’d be honored to walk alongside you.