Proactive Leadership for Every Learner: Why Special Education is Personal to Me

When my wife Amy and I—both career educators—spent over a year fighting to get our son the reading support he needed, it changed how I viewed our public school system forever.

Proactive leadership: The big takeaway

Moving Waynesboro Public Schools forward requires proactive leadership—leaders who do the homework, educate themselves, and understand our instructional and support systems before challenges turn into crises.

If two experienced educators found navigating the evaluation process exhausting, what does it feel like for a parent working two jobs, or a family whose primary language isn’t English?

The Kitchen Table Reality

One of our sons is exceptionally bright. He could listen to an audiobook or podcast and rattle off every single fact. But in early elementary school, reading a physical book became laborious, exhausting, and anxiety-inducing.

We initiated a formal learning evaluation. The initial result? Ineligible for services.

IEP meeting between parents and school leaders.

We didn't walk away with ill will—we trusted the process—but as parents and teachers who had years of experience on the other side of these meetings, we knew our child was still struggling.

The turning point came when he was placed with an exceptional third-grade teacher who had a background as a reading specialist with a dyslexia certification. Working alongside her, we re-initiated the review with an expanded focus. Just before the winter holidays, his services were approved.

He began working daily with dedicated specialists for individualized support. A few months later, he brought a book to the dinner table and nonchalantly read the entire first page with a confidence we hadn't seen in years. I was nearly in tears.

Our son succeeded because we had the background to keep pushing and the good fortune to connect with incredible specialists. But getting learning support shouldn't depend on luck, professional connections, or an exhausting year-long battle.

By the Numbers: Waynesboro’s Reality

Special education and individual student support aren't niche issues in our city—they are central to our division’s core mission:

• 654 students: Rely on an Individualized Education Program (IEP) or 504 plan—the highest percentage of special education needs among our neighboring districts.

• 400 English Learners: Master academic content while speaking 20 different languages.

• 131 students: Navigate school while in foster care or experiencing homelessness.

These aren't abstract statistics or legal acronyms. They are our neighbors’ children sitting in over 3,000 desks across our city.

A Proactive Plan for Every Student

Over my career as a classroom teacher and learning designer, I have seen firsthand that support cannot be an afterthought. We have to design our schools to support diverse learners from the very beginning:

• Transparent Family Roadmaps: Under The Family Bridge, we must give parents clear milestones, plain-language resources, and transparent evaluation timelines so they are empowered partners from day one, not outsiders fighting a bureaucracy.

• Supporting Our Frontline Experts: Dedicated classroom teachers and reading specialists are the heartbeat of student growth. We must foster an environment that values and retains our veteran educators so our classrooms have consistent, experienced mentors rather than rotating vacancies.

• Early, Built-In Accommodations: When curriculum, classrooms, and tools are designed with universal accessibility in mind, students with diverse learning needs get support early in elementary school before falling behind.

The Bottom Line

Good governance isn't about learning on the job or reacting after a family falls into crisis.

Moving Waynesboro Public Schools into the future means having the preparation to understand the data, ask the tough questions, and champion our students before issues arise.

Our children and educators deserve leadership that is ready on Day 1.

Selection of Adam's Publications & Thought Leadership on Accessibility

• Accessibility Widgets Won't Protect Your Next Renewal — An analysis on why true accessibility must be built into learning systems from the ground up, not treated as a cosmetic afterthought.

• Ensuring Video Meetings are Accessible for All Students — Practical educator guide on inclusive digital learning environments.

• Professional Portfolio & Credentials — Certified Professional in Accessibility Core Competencies (CPACC), Universal Design for Learning (UDL), and instructional coaching.