Hi! I’m Cara.

Hey! Glad you’re here. I’m Cara Shannon and I have over 20 years of experience in the field of education as a special education teacher, case manager, coach, administrator, and inclusion facilitator. I have supported both the compliance management and instructional side of education, ensuring high-quality IEP creation.  Both my undergraduate and masters degrees are in special education, and I am currently a PhD candidate  in special education. I know how to navigate the system of special education. 

Building a high-quality IEP is one of the greatest educational gifts you can give your child. The IEP should be a how-to manual, helping  all educators in knowing how to best support your child. I have trained numerous educators on developing high-quality IEPs in large urban public school districts, including both Chicago Public Schools and Denver Public Schools. I have also collaborated on rigorous IEP professional development with the Colorado Department of Education.  Parents play a crucial role in the development of an IEP and 504. You are an expert on your child! 

I can help you pinpoint supports and strategies you want to ensure are listed on an IEP, as well as empower your lens of advocacy with educating you about the WHY of each section of an IEP. I do this through a combination of phone/video chat and a deep dive into IEP-related documents and evaluations. I help explain to you the “golden thread” you should see through the entirety of the IEP; that is, the alignment of each section to create that how-to manual specifically for your child.

Because of my extensive experience with IEP-development at district and state levels,  as well as my past involvement in district due process cases, I also serve as a special education consultant and expert witness on custody cases involving children with disabilities. I can review all related IEP documentation and provide expert testimony on the intricacies of an IEP, including recommendations for data collection, and suggested strategies and supports to put in place. 

I am also a parent of a child with a low-incidence disability. I know how it feels to be on the other side of the table during an IEP meeting.  I understand the humanity behind the documentation and the process of special education.