Empower LEP Podcast

IEEs are uncomfortable for everyone — parents, educators, and the evaluators themselves. But what if they didn’t have to be adversarial? In this episode, licensed educational psychologist Jana Parker shares a presentation she gave at the SELPA ADR (Alternative Dispute Resolution) 2026 conference, drawing on 12 years as a school psychologist and her experience running a private practice in the Bay...

In this solo episode, Jana returns to the Empower LEP Podcast after an unplanned hiatus to reflect on a full year of growth, recalibration, and hard-earned clarity. As 2025 comes to a close, she takes listeners behind the scenes of what it really looked like to lead a growing group practice while intentionally stepping back from other projects, including the podcast itself. Jana shares an honest o...

In this powerful episode of the Empower LEP Podcast, I sit down with Miriam Burlakovsky — a newly minted private practice owner who is absolutely crushing it in her first few months of entrepreneurship. After realizing her district role, particularly the professional development work, was draining her energy and passion, Miriam made a bold decision to pivot. In just 48 hours following a transforma...

In this episode of the Empower LEP Podcast, I sit down with my colleague and friend, Dr. Rebecca Murray Metzger, to explore the world of psychological assessment and building a group practice. If you're a school psychologist or LEP considering a move into private practice, this episode is packed with insights you won't want to miss. Listen in to hear all about: The path from school psych...

In This Episode of the Empower LEP Podcast, I sit down with Dr. Jeremy Sharp — psychologist, host of The Testing Psychologist Podcast , and founder of Reverb AI — for a powerful conversation about entrepreneurship, redefining success in private practice, and the cutting-edge role of AI in psychological assessment. If you’re a psychologist with multiple passions or an interest in expanding your imp...

If HR feels like a confusing maze of rules, classifications, and compliance issues, you’re not alone. But don’t worry—I’ve got you covered! In this episode of the Empower LEP Podcast, I sit down with Shawn Jough, an expert in human resources, to break down what every entrepreneur, private practice owner, and mental health professional needs to know about hiring, worker classification, and building...

In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Peter Faustino , President of the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) for 2024-2025, to discuss his journey in school psychology, insights from the recent NASP conference in Seattle, and the evolving role of school psychologists. We dive into professional burnout, the power of professional organizations, and how to stay engaged in this ever-chan...

Welcome back to another episode of the Empower LEP podcast. This episode was such a fun and insightful conversation with Tim McIvor, the founder of schoolpsych.com. As a fellow school psychologist, I was genuinely inspired by his entrepreneurial journey and impact on our field. You won’t want to miss this episode—here’s why: 🎯 Thinking Ahead – Ever thought about where your passion could take you?...

On this episode of the Empower LEP podcast I am sitting down with Christopher Ponce. Wow, What an energizing and insightful conversation! As a fellow school psychologist, I loved hearing his take on NASP 2025 —the sessions and the meaningful connections he made along the way. We dive into the power of networking and why reaching out to big names and behind-the-scenes practitioners can open unexpec...

Welcome back to another episode of the Empower LEP Podcast.  This episode was such a fun and insightful conversation with Dr. Liz Angoff! If you’re not familiar with her work, Dr. Liz is a Licensed Educational Psychologist with a Diplomate in School Neuropsychology, providing assessment and consultation services to children and their families in the Bay Area, CA. She’s also the author of the Brain...

In this episode of the podcast, Jana welcomes her longtime marketing partner and friend, Emily Grey from Client Obsession. Emily has been instrumental in the growth of both Mind by Design and Empower LEP, helping Jana navigate marketing strategies that actually work. Together, they break down the importance of marketing for LEPs and private practice owners, common mistakes to avoid, and the key st...

In this week's episode of Empower LEP, I had such a fantastic conversation with Dr. Jaclyn Fleck , and let me tell you—if you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by insurance billing, superbills, and all the fine print, you are not alone! As a fellow psychologist, I found her insights so valuable, and I walked away with a much clearer understanding of how to navigate this tricky system. Dr. Fleck is a c...

Welcome back to another Episode of Empower LEP Podcast! I am beyond excited   because I got to sit down with the incredible Misty Bonta from Get Psyched ! If you’ve been listening for a while, you might remember Misty from about a year ago when she was just starting her private practice. Well, let me tell you—she’s been absolutely crushing it! In this episode, Misty takes us through her journey—th...

In this Episode of Empower LEP,   I had the absolute pleasure of sitting down with Carla Titus, the founder and CEO of Wealth & Worth Within. Carla is a fractional CFO who specializes in supporting group practices, and let me tell you—she knows her stuff when it comes to the financial side of running a business. If you've ever felt overwhelmed by pricing, budgeting, or even knowing what k...

Hi Empowered LEPs! It’s me, Jana, for this solo episode, and I’m diving into a topic that’s both super important and sometimes misunderstood: our scope of practice as licensed educational psychologists. Before we get into it, I’ve got to share how much my mentorship group means to me. It’s such a privilege to connect with aspiring and practicing LEPs, and it honestly keeps me motivated to continue...

In this solo episode, Jana opens by sharing her heartfelt concern for those affected by the devastating wildfires in Southern California. With family in the impacted areas, she offers her empathy and support to everyone navigating this tragedy. Shifting the focus, Jana dives into the importance of finding passion and inspiration in one’s work. She reflects on her own transformative journey, descri...

In this solo episode of the Empower LEP Podcast, Jana celebrates two major milestones: the five-year anniversary of her practice, Mind by Design, and the one-year anniversary of the podcast. Some notable achievements for the practice include a 51% growth rate, reaching seven-figure revenue, and doubling her team. For Empower LEP, the growth and expansion included launching new courses and mentorsh...

In this episode of the Empower LEP Podcast, Jana sits down with Meredith Eaton and Becca Marcus from Move Forward Virtual Assistants, a company on a mission to free mental health professionals from the administrative grind. As Jana comes up on the 5-year anniversary of her practice, she shares the challenges of administrative work. Things like setting up systems, doing intake calls, getting people...

In this episode of the Empower LEP Podcast, Jana chats with Dr. Jeremy Greene, a school psychologist and LEP whose journey has taken him from Sacramento to Shanghai and back. Jeremy shares how his natural ability to connect with people and offer guidance led him into school psychology, and he opens up about the pivotal role mentors played as he was starting out. Jeremy takes us inside his time wor...

In this milestone 50th episode of the Empower LEP Podcast, Jana welcomes Scott Robson back to the program. Scott is a transformative coach who’s all about helping entrepreneurs learn and grow through big career moves and life changes. Join them for a candid and inspiring conversation about what it really takes to step into leadership, tackle self-doubt, and make confident decisions when the stakes...

In this episode of the Empower LEP Podcast, Jana has an inspiring conversation with Dr. Ray Christner, a psychologist and school psychologist who has spent his career making a real difference in the lives of kids, families, and educators. With decades of experience in both large group practices and smaller, more personalized private work, Ray shares his journey and some of the biggest lessons he’s...

In this episode of the Empower LEP Podcast, I sit down with Sam Young, M.Ed., the incredible founder and Head of School at Young Scholars Academy. Sam has built something truly special—a virtual enrichment school designed to help twice-exceptional, gifted, and neurodivergent students feel understood, supported, and genuinely excited about learning. Sam brings such an inspiring perspective to this...

In this episode of the Empower LEP Podcast, Jana chats with Mohini Pollock, the inspiring founder of Literacy Playground, who shares her journey from classroom teacher to successful entrepreneur. Mohini opens up about what drove her to step away from the traditional education system and create a program that empowers families to support their children's reading and writing skills right at hom...

In this episode of the Empower LEP Podcast, Jana sits down with the dynamic Stefan Oste, an educational therapist and executive function coach who transitioned from the public school system to running his own private practice. With over 15 years of experience working with “bright, differently-wired” students, Stefan is passionate about helping people discover their strengths and chart their own pa...

In this episode of the Empower LEP Podcast, Jana sits down with Dr. Kelsie Reed, a Maryland-based school psychologist and passionate advocate for strength-based practices and equitable education. Dr. Reed shares how her personal and professional experiences shaped her approach to school psychology and her dedication to creating inclusive environments that prioritize student strengths.  Dr. Reed di...