Hi, I’m Lauren

I’ve spent 15 years in preschool special education as a teacher, itinerant specialist, and BCBA. I’ve seen the system from every angle. I have taught self-contained preschool, written IEPs, coached teachers on strengthening them, and pushed into general education preschool and kindergarten classrooms to support kids through that critical preschool-to-kindergarten transition. I’ve watched what happens when IEPs aren’t built strong enough to carry a child through that leap, and I know exactly what it takes to make them work.

But here’s what really drives me: I’m a Board Certified Behavior Analyst who actually loves young kiddos. I don’t believe in cold, clinical approaches. I built trusting, playful relationships with autistic preschoolers and watched them develop communication skills and flexibility through environmental design and positive reinforcement. Behavior was never about compliance for me. It was always about setting kids up to succeed and feel good about themselves.

Now, I help parents of preschool and early elementary children (ages 3-8) with autism and developmental delays build IEPs that actually work.

When my friends started coming to me—panicked about IEP meetings, confused by the jargon, terrified their child wasn’t ready for kindergarten, overwhelmed by behaviors they didn’t know how to support—I realized how much parents need someone who’s been on the inside. Someone who understands both the IEP process and how behavior actually works. Someone who can say, “Yes, you can ask for that behavior support” or “Here’s what a strong behavior plan should include.”

I really love talking about IEPs and making them stronger. There’s something so satisfying about reviewing a plan, identifying what’s missing—whether it’s meaningful goals, appropriate behavior supports, or the right services—and helping a parent see exactly what to ask for. I get genuinely excited when parents tell me they finally understood why their child was struggling and got the supports that actually helped.

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