Good questions. Honest answers.

An advocate is an expert who works for you, not the school. I help you understand your child's rights, interpret evaluations and IEP or 504 documents, prepare for meetings, and sit beside you at the table so you walk in informed and confident. Think of me as a knowledgeable guide through a system that wasn't designed to be easy for parents.

Most families never need a lawyer. Advocacy works by keeping your child's team pulling in the same direction. I work to build a productive relationship with your child's school team while making sure your child's needs are clearly documented and addressed. If a situation ever does require legal action, I'll tell you honestly and help you find the right next step. Advocacy also costs far less than legal representation.

An IEP on paper isn't the same as an IEP working in practice. Many families come to me because progress has stalled, goals feel vague or recycled year to year, or services on the document aren't happening in the classroom. A document review is often the fastest way to find out whether the plan is actually serving your child.

An IEP (Individualized Education Program) provides specially designed instruction and services under IDEA, with measurable goals and progress reporting. A 504 plan provides accommodations, like extended time or preferential seating, so a student can access the general curriculum, but doesn't include specialized instruction. Which one fits depends on your child's needs. This is exactly the kind of question I help families sort out, and the glossary covers both in plain English.

No. You can request an evaluation from your school in writing at any time, without a doctor's note and without permission. If that's where you are, start with a consultation and I'll walk you through the email.

Executive functions are the brain's self-management skills: planning, organization, time management, task initiation, and self-monitoring. Coaching is one-on-one work with your student to build practical systems (planners, checklists, routines) and, more importantly, the habit of using them independently. Tutoring reteaches content; coaching builds the skills that make all of school more manageable.

Common signs: homework takes far longer than it should, assignments get done but never turned in, backpacks and folders are chaos, mornings and deadlines end in conflict, or a bright student keeps hearing "not working to potential." If your child has ADHD, autism, or a learning difference, these challenges often ride along with it, but a diagnosis isn't required for coaching to help. The honest answer comes from the 30-minute consultation: we talk through what you're seeing, and if coaching isn't the right fit, I'll tell you so.

Both. Advocacy work is primarily with parents: reviewing documents, planning strategy, attending meetings. Coaching is primarily with students, with regular parent communication built in: every coaching session includes brief written progress notes, and parent consultation calls can be added anytime.

Meeting attendance included in my packages is virtual, which lets me serve families nationwide. In person, I attend meetings in Durham and Chatham County, and coach students across Chapel Hill, Carrboro, and Durham, North Carolina.

I don't take advocacy clients in the district where I teach. An advocate has to push a team as hard as your child needs, and I can't do that with people I work beside every day. You shouldn't have to work around that. However, if your child needs executive function coaching, I'd love to help.

It depends on where you are in the process. A document review is delivered within 5-7 business days (48-hour rush available). Meeting prep and attendance follow your school's IEP or 504 timeline. Many families work with me around a single meeting; others keep me involved through the school year for progress monitoring.

Email me anyway. Sometimes I can move things around, and if I can't, I'd rather tell you fast so you can ask the school to reschedule. You're allowed to do that.

Executive function growth is gradual and cumulative. After about 4 sessions, most students can name their challenges and use a basic system with support. After 8, the system starts sticking on its own, often with the first concrete wins, like fewer missing assignments. A full semester of coaching is where skills tend to generalize into new situations. Progress here shows up as independence and consistency, because many things beyond executive function affect grades.

The first step is a free 30-minute consultation. From there, advocacy packages range from $350 to $1,200, and coaching sessions are $120 for a 60-minute session, with the best value in multi-session packages. All pricing is published in full on the Services page. No surprises.