Hi! My name is Mandy Dean, Your Special Education Guru and Advocate
I am a Special Education Advocate
I have an in-depth knowledge of IDEA, state compliance standards, the IEP process, the rights of students with disabilities and effective practices for students with disabilities. I have 21+ years experience in the public education system as a special education assistant, special education teacher, special education process coordinator, and middle school principal. Shortly after beginning my career in special education, I quickly became known as a “guru” in special education and was frequently sought out by parents and school professionals for information regarding special education. My breadth of knowledge of Special Education coupled with my school based experience makes me a highly effective special education advocate.
I am driven by my deep passion for serving others. I use my personal experiences of overcoming barriers to success to help others do the same. My highly empathic approach allows me to connect with families of students with disabilities and guide them through the special education process. My empathic nature is evident when working with both families and school personnel to overcome the barriers to success that students with disabilities encounter on a daily basis.
I strongly believe that knowledge and accountability are at the core of changing student outcomes and improving special education program throughout the country. I firmly believe and stand by the slogan I adopted early in my career in special education …
When we know better, we do better
My goal is to deepen the knowledge and understanding of the special education process.
I am dedicated to my family, church, and community. I love spending time with my family. Our happy place is on the river where we enjoy kayaking, ATV riding, exploring nature, and just sitting by the river enjoying the beautiful scenery.
Skills
- Special Education Advocate 98%
- Community Advocate 95%
- Public Speaker & Educator 85%
What People Say
I hired Mandy as an advocate for two of my daughters because of ongoing issues with our school district. One of the issues was the school reporting progress when no progress was being made. Every IEP meeting I attended in the past, I felt like I never had a voice and wasn’t part of the IEP team. When I heard we had an advocate in our area, I was so excited and we immediately hired her as our advocate. The amount of dedication Mandy gives and her knowledge of the special education process and disabilities, specifically those caused by mental health disorders and disabilities speech and/or language, has made my life a lot easier. She has taken a lot of stress off of my family. I now have a voice in our childrens IEP meetings, my thoughts now matter, and I finally feel like a member of the IEP teams. What I love about Mandy is that she fights for children and she doesn’t stop fighting until change has been made. She freely shares her knowledge with the schools to help them do better with our children. Mandy never stops educating herself so she can be prepare to help the next child she needs to advocate for. Mandy has become part of our family. Don’t wait around on hiring Mandy Dean as your advocate. Time is one thing you can never get back!
Mandy is phenomenal at helping you navigate the special education system. She works hard so that your child can receive the services, care and benefits they are entitled to. She is truly passionate about education and it shows in the way she advocates.
At the start of my son’s journey in school, I felt there would never be a “brighter” day. When he began working with Mrs. Dean, we found the light we needed all along. She never gave up on him. My son would not be where he is today without her devotion and dedication.