The Intentional IEP Podcast

When academic goals are in place but a student still can’t access instruction, it may be behavior—not academics—that needs to be addressed first. In this episode, Stephanie breaks down how to recognize when behavior is the real barrier to learning, when it’s appropriate to shift IEP priorities, and how to use data to guide those decisions. In this episode, Stephanie discusses: The difference betwe...

In this episode of The Intentional IEP Podcast, Stephanie is talking about what general education teachers should bring to every IEP meeting. While special education teachers often lead the meeting, general education teachers play a critical role in making informed decisions. The key is coming prepared with data, not just observations. In this episode, you'll learn: Why general education teachers...

Writing standards-aligned IEP goals can feel overwhelming, especially when you've been told to align goals to grade-level standards without being shown what that actually looks like in practice. In this episode, we're breaking down a simple framework for aligning IEP goals to state standards while keeping them individualized and appropriate for each student's needs. Stephanie covers: • Why standar...

Do you ever look at your calendar and realize an IEP meeting is coming up much faster than expected? In this episode, we're breaking down a step-by-step system for preparing for IEP meetings without the last-minute stress and scrambling. From scheduling the meeting and gathering team input to writing present levels, developing goals, and preparing families, you'll learn how to create a process tha...

In this episode, Stephanie is talking about simple systems that help special education teachers communicate more effectively with paraprofessionals, reduce confusion, and create stronger team collaboration throughout the school day. She shares: • Why communication systems matter more than constant conversations • Ways to create visual communication systems that reduce questions and increase indepe...

Summer is the best time to get ahead before the school year starts. That’s why we created the Summer PD Series. This is practical professional development for special education teachers who want strategies they can use right away. With over 50+ trainings, you’ll get expert-led sessions focused on IEPs, behavior, data collection, collaboration, and student success. Everything is built to help you w...

Talking to parents about a lack of progress is one of the most challenging parts of being a special education teacher. When you've been working hard, collecting data, and providing support, it can be difficult to explain that a student isn't growing as expected. In this episode, Stephanie shares how to approach these conversations with confidence, use data effectively, and collaborate with familie...

The school year is over. The desks are empty, the paperwork is done, and for the first time in a long time… there’s space to pause. Not the kind tied to compliance checklists, evaluation goals, or guilt. Real reflection. The kind that helps you figure out what actually worked this year, what left you overwhelmed, and what needs to change so next year feels lighter. If you’re a special educator car...

IEP meetings can quickly become overwhelming when families are seeing everything for the first time at the table. In this episode, Stephanie breaks down why draft IEPs are one of the most effective tools for creating smoother meetings, stronger collaboration, and more meaningful parent participation. In this episode, Stephanie: • Explains what a draft IEP actually is and why it should be used as a...

If a student can only complete a task when an adult steps in, are we teaching the skill… or teaching dependence? In this episode, Stephanie is unpacking the prompt hierarchy, prompt dependency, and what it actually looks like to fade support in a way that builds real student independence. With practical examples and easy-to-apply strategies, this episode will have you rethinking the way prompting...

If student behavior has been leaving you feeling stuck, this episode is one to lean into. This conversation challenges the way we’ve been taught to think about discipline and offers a shift that actually supports long-term change, not just quick fixes. In this episode, Stephanie is joined by Nathan Maynard to break down what it really means to be trauma-informed and how moving from control to conn...

LRE conversations can feel heavy, especially when you’re trying to figure out if a student’s current placement is actually working. This episode walks through how to approach those decisions with clarity and confidence so they’re based on what the student truly needs. In this episode, Stephanie breaks down what Least Restrictive Environment really means and how to know when a change might be neces...

If you’ve ever walked out of an LRE meeting knowing the decision didn’t fully make sense, this episode is for you. Whitney and Stephanie get into the side of placement conversations people don’t always say out loud. A diagnosis should never be the reason a student ends up in a certain setting, but it happens all the time. And so does the “we’ve always done it this way” thinking. They talk through...

IEP amendments are one of the most effective ways to make timely changes to a student’s plan without waiting for the annual meeting. In this episode, Stephanie breaks down how to use amendments to keep IEPs accurate, responsive, and aligned with what students actually need. In this episode, Stephanie covers: what an IEP amendment is and how it works when an amendment should be used instead of wait...

If your IEPs feel rushed, inconsistent, or harder than they should be to write, you’re not the only one. A lot of what shows up in IEPs comes down to habits that were never clearly taught. In this episode, Stephanie breaks down the patterns she sees most often and shows you how to clean them up so your IEPs are clearer, stronger, and easier to implement. In this episode, Stephanie covers: 11 commo...

Test taking accommodations can feel confusing for many special education teachers, especially during testing season. Questions often come up about what is allowed, what is not, and how to make sure students are properly supported during assessments. In this episode, Stephanie breaks down what test taking accommodations actually are and how they should be used to support students with disabilities....

Disagreements in IEP meetings can feel uncomfortable, especially when emotions are high and everyone in the room is trying to advocate for what they believe is best for the student. But these moments are not unusual. In fact, they are a natural part of the collaborative process. In this episode, Stephanie walks through how special education teachers can navigate parent disagreements with clarity,...

Paperwork is one of the biggest sources of stress for special education teachers. It’s not just writing IEPs. It’s data logs, service minutes, progress reports, behavior documentation, meeting notes, emails, and reevaluation timelines. Without a clear system, it can quickly start to feel like you’re always behind. In this episode, Stephanie shares a training pulled directly from The Intentional IE...

Lesson adaptations are one of the most practical tools teachers can use, yet they are often confused with accommodations and modifications. In this episode of The Intentional IEP Podcast, we talk about how small, intentional adjustments can help students access the same content as their peers. Instead of relying on the same few strategies, expanding your toolbox gives you more ways to support stud...

In this episode, we’re talking about a topic that can bring up a lot of mixed feelings in the special education world: test taking. Benchmark assessments, state testing, and standardized exams can feel overwhelming and sometimes disconnected from what matters most in SPED. But here’s the shift we’re making today. We are not teaching to the test. We are teaching students how to show what they know....

You sit down to plan your week, look at your caseload, and immediately feel the pressure. Communication goals. Reading fluency. Fine motor. Math facts. Social skills. Behavior. All of it matters. But how are you supposed to work on everything without burning out? In this episode Stephanie tackles the question every special educator asks at some point: How do we actually prioritize IEP goals when t...

Stephanie brings listeners into one of the most important skills we can teach our students independence. It’s not about making our lives easier or stepping back because we’re tired. It’s about helping students gain confidence, take initiative, and develop the skills they need to succeed both in and out of the classroom. In this episode, she shares practical strategies to guide students toward doin...

In this episode, Stephanie shares the books she returns to again and again — resources that have helped her understand IEPs, advocate confidently, partner with schools, and support children with special needs in real and meaningful ways. Top 6 Books: The Intentional IEP Book The Special Needs School Survival Guide Parents and Professionals Partnering for Children with Disabilities: The Dance That...

Have you ever had a student master an IEP goal, only to come back later and realize that skill didn’t stick? In this episode, Stephanie talks through why skill regression happens after mastery and what teachers can do to maintain IEP goals in ways that actually fit into the school day. This conversation focuses on keeping skills active, supporting generalization, and helping students carry what th...

One short paragraph can make or break an IEP. And yet impact statements are often rushed, copied forward, or treated like filler. In this episode Stephanie breaks down IEP impact statements in a way that actually makes them useful, meaningful, and legally sound. You’ll learn what an impact statement really is, why it matters so much, and how to write one that clearly connects a student’s disabilit...