Meet Joni McLaughlin: Kid CenterED’s Special Education Advocate and Newest Expert in Student-Centered Education and Special Needs Advocacy.
Kid CenterED proudly announces Joni McLaughlin as the latest addition to our expert team as a special education advocate, bringing over 25 years of dedicated experience in student-centered learning and special education. Joni’s journey in education, from being a teacher and academic advisor to her recent role as a public school liaison at Landmark School, showcases her commitment to supporting diverse learners with a collaborative approach. Her exceptional communication skills have consistently facilitated students in accessing necessary support and services.
Joni, a recipient of the prestigious Paul Douglas Teacher Scholarship, completed her Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education at Framingham State University. Her passion for aiding students with language-based learning disabilities led her to pursue a Master of Special Education from Simmons University. Joni’s extensive background equips her to be an empathetic and knowledgeable educational advocate, focusing on the unique needs and goals of each student.
Residing in Saugus with her husband and three children, Joni’s personal experience in supporting a child through significant medical challenges enhances her understanding of balancing academic engagement with personal growth and resilience.
In her new role at Kid CenterED, Joni will offer her expertise in several capacities, ensuring that every student’s educational journey is as fulfilling and effective as possible. Join us in welcoming Joni McLaughlin to our team, where student success and wellbeing are always at the forefront.
She will be serving families in several capacities, including:
Amicably advocate for students with special needs, ensuring they receive appropriate education through Individualized Education Plans (IEPs), 504 plans, and health plans under state and federal laws.
Carefully review student learning profiles (e.g., educational testing, progress reports, IEPs) to guide families through the process of navigating the educational system, including rights, responsibilities, and services available (e.g., identifying what services their child needs, how to obtain services, and how to assess if the child is making effective progress in response to programming that is provided).
Use the student learning profile and response to programming to guide each family in identifying schools that align with their child’s individual needs (e.g., school placement, private school options).
Act as a liaison between families, schools, and other educational institutions, ensuring students receive the necessary support to succeed academically, and facilitate conflict resolution between families and school teams when disagreements about educational programs arise. Problem-solve difficult situations and give families unbiased options and opinions to help them make decisions for their families.
Actively participate in meetings to discuss student performance, services, accommodations, and goals with school staff, administrators, and parents.
You can learn more about Joni’s background on her team page:
