The Power of Positive Parent-Educator Partnerships

The Power of Building Positive Parent-Educator Partnerships

Positive parent-educator partnerships lead to more effective programs, services, and placements

Now available on Amazon and Barnes & Noble

New Ideas & Knowledge

Increase your understanding of the Special Education Process. Educators and Parents alike will gain deeper knowledge about every aspect of this unique educational experience.

Shared Vision

Develop a shared vision in order to most effectively provide for student success. When the school and home work in synchronicity, they create an improved learning experience.

Effective Communication

Effectively and clearly present your needs in a data-driven, unemotional manner. Learn active listening strategies and other techniques including perspective taking to deliver best practices resulting in improved student learning.

This timely and innovative roadmap for parents, educators, and administrators highlights the importance of effective communication methodology, appropriate correspondence, and data collection recommendations. Effective communication is often missing from the IEP team’s conversation. Navigating Special Education provides a foundation for building proactive, positive partnerships that will lead to 21st-century best practices for students. 

 

The 5C Model of Communication: Conversations, Collaboration, Cooperation, Compromise, and Consensus presented in Navigating Special Education helps to forge trusted alliances between school districts and families. 

 

Navigating Special Education draws upon the authors’ 60-plus years of combined experience by using:

  • Anecdotal, evidence-based real-life scenarios
  • Templates for letter writing and extensive data collection
  • A user-friendly appendix and glossary of terms

 

As stakeholders, wouldn't you like to have successful meetings where everyone’s voice is heard, respected, and understood? After reading Navigating Special Education, families, educational professionals, college students, and special education organizations will be able to implement effective models of communication and build positive partnerships. 

Taylor's Success Story

An easy-to-use strategy for parents & educators

The 5-C Model of Communication

By using the 5-C Model of Communication ( Conversation, Collaboration, Cooperation, Compromise, and Consensus) at every step of the IEP process, parents and educators will be better equipped to build positive partnerships that lead to student success. 


If followed step-by-step, this model will guide teams to work with transparency, develop trust, and reach the end game, which is creating a shared vision regarding the student’s education plan.

JOIN US AT THESE EVENTS

Speaking Engagements

  • April 24,  7:00 pm – 8:00 pm ET
    Navigating Special Education: A Moderated Conversation @ Westport Library, Westport, CT.
  • May 10th, 8:00 pm ET
    Navigating Special Education: Guest speakers at Missouri State University's “Working with families of exceptional individuals” course.
  • May 16, 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm ET
    Navigating Special Education: Book Event @ Bernards Library, Basking Ridge, CT,
  • June 9th, All Day
    Navigating Special Education: Speakers at NJCIE Summer Inclusion in Leadership Conference at Montclair State University.
  • June 13th, 1:00 pm ET
    Navigating Special Education: Corporate DEI Workshop at Vericast.
  • October 24, 2023
    NPR: Navigating the IEP Process, A talk given to the ERG Caregivers Group.
  • January 4, 2024 7:00 - 8:00PM
    Navigating Conversations, A Panel Discussion
    Sponsored by SPED*NET, (Special Education Network, Ltd. is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to helping parents of children with special needs become their children’s best advocates.)

Ready to start
Navigating Special Education?

January 13, 2025
Promoting the empowerment of teachers as leaders and recognizing their essential role in shaping the future of today’s students is the role of 21st Century teaching and learning. An effective teacher today does not merely follow the traditional transactional methodology of give-and-take instruction. Today teachers are more than educational instructors; they are transformational leaders inspiring and motivating students to reach their full potential. Teachers are expected to foster deep engagement in learning by encouraging critical thinking and striving to create a positive classroom environment. They promote lifelong learners by creating a mindset that encourages continuous learning and personal growth through a deepened curiosity.  Transformative leadership is not just an idea but is essential for advancing our educational goals system. Effective teaching and learning require teachers to see their role goes beyond simple instruction. Educational leaders are responsible for shaping young minds, nurturing creativity, and promoting critical thinking. To fulfill the role of teacher in the 21st Century, it is crucial for all educators to feel empowered to take on leadership positions beyond the classroom, whether in staff meetings, IEP discussions, or within their broader educational communities. Teachers are on the frontline of education, interacting with students and gaining a deep understanding of their needs and potential. It is crucial that they share their insights, voice their opinions, and lead discussions. These conversations put them in a better position to shape policies and practices which will then directly affect learning. Empowering teachers to foster a collaborative learning environment and share ideas, strategies, and resources, leads to improved teaching practices and is of benefit to both teachers and students. Advanced teaching practices emerge when educators explore innovative approaches to instruction. Sharing the experiences gained through experimentation allows them to guide their colleagues, adopt new teaching strategies, foster professional growth, and expand teaching practices. When teachers understand their students’ needs, strengths, and challenges, they can effectively advocate for them, ensure their voices are heard, and their unique educational requirements are addressed. Trust and respect are at the heart of transformational leadership. Nurturing a positive school culture that ensures everyone feels valued, builds an education system that will empower future generations. Students learn that having their voices heard will serve them well beyond their school years. Thus, teaching becomes more than delivering content and is also about inspiring and empowering the next generation. Transformative educational leadership used as a teaching model builds confidence and elevates the role of teachers beyond the classroom. When teachers feel empowered, they improve their professional practices and contribute to creating an enriched, nurturing, and effective educational environment for their students. In doing so, they invest in a brighter tomorrow for all.
By Peggy S. Bud & Tamara L. Jacobson March 23, 2024
Grief is a powerful emotion and a profound and natural reaction to the loss of a loved one or something of significant importance. People share universal feelings; grief transcends cultural boundaries. Initially, the grieving process is exclusively attached to death; however, grief can be triggered by any significant loss, even the loss of one's dreams.
By Peggy Bud November 14, 2023
ableU On-demand Professional Development
Show More

About the Authors

Peggy and Tamara have a shared vision: to help IEP teams form partnerships. Over 10 years ago, they met in a LinkedIn special education conversation. After speaking on the phone, they agreed to meet in person, even though they lived over 100 miles apart. Once they met, they realized the only way to share their vision, with the world, was to write a book. They believed this was the path to change! However, writing their book presented many logistical challenges. It wasn’t until COVID 19 and the lock down that they saw a way to overcome these challenges; Zoom and Google Docs. After hours of conversations and writing, they used their core values to develop the 5-C Model of Communication: conversation, collaboration, cooperation, compromise and consensus. Peggy and Tamara believe communication is the missing link in most IEP meetings. They see their book providing teams with the tools needed to form positive partnerships and develop a shared vision. 


Share by: