About Stephanie

Stephanie is a dual-certified special education teacher, children's book author, teacher mentor, and Master IEP Coach®. She has a passion for creating engaging, adapted resources for teachers and students with special needs, and is self-proclaimed #datanerd. She also provides professional development for teachers at colleges, conferences, and in schools. You can connect with her outside of Intentional IEP Writing at Mrs. D's Corner, The Intentional IEP, and Adapted Book Club.

Stephanie is also a huge mental health advocate, sharing her experiences and struggles to let others know that you can survive the dark seasons and thrive in life and teaching with a mental illness.

Stephanie’s credentials include being a dual-certified Special Education (N-12) and Elementary Education (K-6) Teacher. She has credentials in Middle Level Math (7-9) and Master’s Credits in English as a Second Language and Curriculum and Instruction. She is also a Master IEP Coach® and currently working towards her certification to be a Board Certified Inclusive Education Specialist.

She has experience teaching in both public and charter school settings, having taught in 5 different states: Extended School Year (ESY) with an Autism Unit and a Mild/Moderate Level Class, Co-Teaching Middle School Math, K-8 Inclusion, Instructional Support Team Facilitator at the High School level, 5th Grade Resource Teacher, and an Elementary Life Skills Self Contained Teacher (1-4).

A note from Stephanie:

Since I can remember, I have always wanted to be a teacher. You know, the taking extra worksheets at school to come home and teach my [invisible] students in my bedroom kind-of-always-wanted-to-be-a-teacher.

Upon leaving the traditional classroom setting, I dove in to learning more about special ed law and student and parent rights - where I quickly realized that a formal IEP training for teachers was needed. I understand that not everyone will love IEPs as much as I do, but it is my hope that with the appropriate training and resources, teachers will not only advocate harder for student services and supports, but also bridge the gap between teachers and families to foster a true IEP Team.

And after 10 years in the field, I know first hand how exhausting teaching can be, yet how absolutely wonderful and life changing it is. You have to keep yourself healthy, and you need to take time for you.  

My goal for Intentional IEP Writing is to provide you with a step-by-step IEP writing framework to write IEPs easier and quicker... saving you time, giving you more time to actually teach. Giving you more time to make a difference. And ultimately giving you more relax time, more YOU time! Now that’s something we all need.