Special Education Boss® with Karen Mayer Cunningham

• Ask the Advocate: Mid-Year Wake-Up Call + Your Top IEP Questions Answered

  We’re back with a no-holds-barred Ask the Advocate episode—and this one is fire. Karen Mayer Cunningham, the Special Education Boss®, is answering your most-asked questions with the clarity, humor, and wisdom you’ve come to expect.Spoiler: It’s July. That means we’re in the second half of the year—and there’s still time to get in the game and fight for your child’s rights.In this episode:How long schools have to evaluate your child (and what “school days” really mean)Whether a school can ignore a private evaluationWhy behavior issues and good grades don’t cancel each other outThe real job of a paraprofessionalWhat to do when an aide is helping other students instead of yoursThe truth about MDRs, ESY, speech-only IEPs, and testing timelinesWhy “buckle down and listen” isn’t a valid intervention—and what to do insteadThe difference between a diagnosis and eligibilityWhen and how to file a state complaintPlus:✅ Download our APP in your APP store, search ... Special Education Academy app✅ A 50% OFF code for the 2-Day Intensive On-Demand (use code JULY at checkout!)✅ Details on our in-person Florida training (July 19–20) and the Group Mastermind starting July 27🎯 This episode is packed with practical strategies and powerful reminders that you are the expert on your child—and we’ve got your back. Support the show✨ When we get it right for the child, we get it right for everybody. ✨ 👩‍⚖️ Hosted by Karen Mayer Cunningham, Advocate & Special Education Boss®Each week, Karen shares real stories, legal insights, and no-nonsense strategies to help you navigate special education with clarity and confidence. 👉 Subscribe & never miss an episode — new episodes drop every week!🎓 Join The Academy: Weekly live trainings + 250+ hours of advocacy tools & expert resources🔗 Learn more at The Academy 📬 Have a question? Email us at [email protected] 📱 Follow Karen on: TikTok & Instagram: @specialeducationboss YouTube: Special Education Academy 🧠 Want to level up your advocacy game?Check out the Advocate's Bookshelf — a curated collection of must-have tools, guides, and legal references every special education advocate should own. From federal code to diagnostic manuals, these are the essentials that help you advocate with clarity and confidence. 📚 Browse now: https://amzn.to/3RiQPLl(As an Amazon Associate, Karen may earn a small commission if you make a purchase — at no extra cost to you.) ...

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• From Mom Guilt to Systemic Change: Angie Pannuti's Special Education Advocacy Journey

  What happens when a fiercely intelligent parent is told her child just isn’t “a good fit” for school?In this raw and powerful episode, Karen Mayer Cunningham, the Special Education Boss®, sits down with Kentucky-based mom, medical professional, and now advocate, Angie Pannuti. What began as a personal struggle with sleep-deprived nights, guilt-filled days, and a nonverbal toddler has turned into a mission to shift entire school systems—starting with her son, Michael.Angie shares her journey:Navigating early intervention and a rocky preschool transitionFeeling like she was failing as a parent (despite being a physician assistant!)The moment she realized something had to changeFinding Karen’s videos late one night on Facebook ReelsAttending board meetings, joining the Academy, and becoming “all in”Starting a nonprofit, Special Education Lifeline, to support families in KentuckyThis episode is a masterclass in what happens when a parent is empowered with the right tools, training, and support—and the ripple effect it creates in communities, classrooms, and systems.💡 You’ll hear:Why Angie had to step back as “just mom” to truly advocateThe power of saying, “Show me the data.”How a structured classroom transformed Michael’s school yearWhy teachers, not just parents, are joining the Academy in record numbersWhat it really means to “train everyone at the IEP/504 table”If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed, outnumbered, or underprepared in special education—this conversation is your lifeline. Support the show✨ When we get it right for the child, we get it right for everybody. ✨ 👩‍⚖️ Hosted by Karen Mayer Cunningham, Advocate & Special Education Boss®Each week, Karen shares real stories, legal insights, and no-nonsense strategies to help you navigate special education with clarity and confidence. 👉 Subscribe & never miss an episode — new episodes drop every week!🎓 Join The Academy: Weekly live trainings + 250+ hours of advocacy tools & expert resources🔗 Learn more at The Academy 📬 Have a question? Email us at [email protected] 📱 Follow Karen on: TikTok & Instagram: @specialeducationboss YouTube: Special Education Academy 🧠 Want to level up your advocacy game?Check out the Advocate's Bookshelf — a curated collection of must-have tools, guides, and legal references every special education advocate should own. From federal code to diagnostic manuals, these are the essentials that help you advocate with clarity and confidence. 📚 Browse now: https://amzn.to/3RiQPLl(As an Amazon Associate, Karen may earn a small commission if you make a purchase — at no extra cost to you.) ...

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• From Classroom to Advocacy: Why This Educator Walked Away to Stand Up for Kids

  The system isn’t just broken—it’s breaking teachers.This week on Special Education Boss®, Karen Mayer Cunningham sits down with Linda Glazewski, a bold new voice in the advocacy world. After 30+ years in the classroom, Linda walked away from the job she once loved to start advocating full-time for families and students with disabilities. Why? Because the very system she served was standing in the way of student success.👉 You’ll hear:What finally pushed Linda to say, “I’m done”The real story behind aggressive behaviors in co-taught classroomsWhy calling an IEP meeting isn’t always as simple as it soundsHow trauma, burnout, and broken systems affect great teachersThe one moment that made her say, “I have to do more”What teachers and parents need to understand about being allies—not adversariesThe training shift that changed her perspective (spoiler: it was the 2-Day Intensive!)This episode is for every teacher who wants to make a bigger impact, every parent who feels like no one’s listening, and every advocate trying to bridge the gap.📩 Want to connect with Linda Glazewski?Email: [email protected] Support the show✨ When we get it right for the child, we get it right for everybody. ✨ 👩‍⚖️ Hosted by Karen Mayer Cunningham, Advocate & Special Education Boss®Each week, Karen shares real stories, legal insights, and no-nonsense strategies to help you navigate special education with clarity and confidence. 👉 Subscribe & never miss an episode — new episodes drop every week!🎓 Join The Academy: Weekly live trainings + 250+ hours of advocacy tools & expert resources🔗 Learn more at The Academy 📬 Have a question? Email us at [email protected] 📱 Follow Karen on: TikTok & Instagram: @specialeducationboss YouTube: Special Education Academy 🧠 Want to level up your advocacy game?Check out the Advocate's Bookshelf — a curated collection of must-have tools, guides, and legal references every special education advocate should own. From federal code to diagnostic manuals, these are the essentials that help you advocate with clarity and confidence. 📚 Browse now: https://amzn.to/3RiQPLl(As an Amazon Associate, Karen may earn a small commission if you make a purchase — at no extra cost to you.) ...

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• Ask the Advocate: Summer Services, Speech Support, and the 50% Off Sale!

  We’re wrapping up June with Ask the Advocate—and it’s packed!Karen Mayer Cunningham, the Special Education Boss®, answers your most-asked questions about IEPs, 504s, compensatory services, and more. From data myths and goal-setting to speech therapy, para support, and placement issues—this episode is full of clarity, education, and laughter (of course).SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT:Now through June 30, download Wealthy & Well-Known (for FREE) and email a screenshot to [email protected] to get a 50% OFF coupon for any one digital product—including the 2-Day Virtual Intensive!Topics in this episode:How to request an IEP meeting when elopement or behavior concerns ariseCan districts deny services due to “summer”? (Spoiler: no)Why IEP goals must be based on present levels (and what to do if they aren’t)Resource rooms, para staffing, and LRE complianceWhat to do when the district says they “didn’t know”Navigating ESY, state complaints, private school myths, and moreThe difference between The Academy, the 2-Day, and the MastermindThe new APP is here! Search Special Education Academy in your app store. Want more help navigating special education?Join The Academy for just $97/month:🎧 Listen, learn, and ask your questions live every week with Karen.Grab your 50% OFF digital product couponDownload Wealthy & Well-Known for free → Send us a screenshot →Email: [email protected] valid June 23–30 only! Support the show✨ When we get it right for the child, we get it right for everybody. ✨ 👩‍⚖️ Hosted by Karen Mayer Cunningham, Advocate & Special Education Boss®Each week, Karen shares real stories, legal insights, and no-nonsense strategies to help you navigate special education with clarity and confidence. 👉 Subscribe & never miss an episode — new episodes drop every week!🎓 Join The Academy: Weekly live trainings + 250+ hours of advocacy tools & expert resources🔗 Learn more at The Academy 📬 Have a question? Email us at [email protected] 📱 Follow Karen on: TikTok & Instagram: @specialeducationboss YouTube: Special Education Academy 🧠 Want to level up your advocacy game?Check out the Advocate's Bookshelf — a curated collection of must-have tools, guides, and legal references every special education advocate should own. From federal code to diagnostic manuals, these are the essentials that help you advocate with clarity and confidence. 📚 Browse now: https://amzn.to/3RiQPLl(As an Amazon Associate, Karen may earn a small commission if you make a purchase — at no extra cost to you.) ...

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• Fort Bend ISD Whistleblower Reveals IEP Failures, FERPA Violations & Retaliation

  What would you do if your child’s school ignored the law—and told teachers not to speak to you?In this episode of Special Education Boss®, Karen Mayer Cunningham shares a powerful whistleblower letter from a former general education teacher inside Fort Bend ISD. This teacher came forward to expose what was really happening behind closed doors:🚫 IEPs not implemented🚫 Accommodations skipped🚫 FERPA violations—including sharing unredacted IEPs🚫 Retaliation against staff who speak up🚫 Confidential mediation details leaked to campus teamsKaren breaks it all down—what’s legal, what’s not, and what families must know to protect their rights.This isn’t just one isolated incident. It’s part of a pattern of ongoing non-compliance, denial of services, and systemic retaliation. The district’s actions have triggered multiple filings, including due process hearings, state complaints, and a case now in the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals.🎯 If you’re a parent, teacher, or advocate—this episode is a must-listen.🎓 We train everyone at the IEP/504 table to navigate and negotiate successful student outcomes. Support the show✨ When we get it right for the child, we get it right for everybody. ✨ 👩‍⚖️ Hosted by Karen Mayer Cunningham, Advocate & Special Education Boss®Each week, Karen shares real stories, legal insights, and no-nonsense strategies to help you navigate special education with clarity and confidence. 👉 Subscribe & never miss an episode — new episodes drop every week!🎓 Join The Academy: Weekly live trainings + 250+ hours of advocacy tools & expert resources🔗 Learn more at The Academy 📬 Have a question? Email us at [email protected] 📱 Follow Karen on: TikTok & Instagram: @specialeducationboss YouTube: Special Education Academy 🧠 Want to level up your advocacy game?Check out the Advocate's Bookshelf — a curated collection of must-have tools, guides, and legal references every special education advocate should own. From federal code to diagnostic manuals, these are the essentials that help you advocate with clarity and confidence. 📚 Browse now: https://amzn.to/3RiQPLl(As an Amazon Associate, Karen may earn a small commission if you make a purchase — at no extra cost to you.) ...

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