Today we’d like to introduce you to Shemica S. Allen.
Shemica, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I founded Personalized Learning Solutions in 2016 after working in public education for 15 years as a special education teacher and administrator working with students with disabilities and also students who need interventions. I left public education in 2014 after being frustrated with many of the systems in place in public education and seeing a need for parents to know their rights. The mission of Personalized Learning Solutions is to educate and assist parents/guardians of special needs students in their quest for a Free and Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and other federal and state laws protecting children with disabilities.
I received my Bachelor of Science in Education from the University of Arkansas in 1999 and a Master of Science in Kinesiology with a specialization in Adapted Physical Activity in 2005 from Texas Christian University. I am certified to teach Special Education and Physical Education and also have my Principal. I began my teaching career in 2000 teaching cardiac education classes in two cardiac rehabilitation programs in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. I started teaching formally in public education in 2003 and my first teaching position was teaching Adapted Physical Education and coaching Special Olympics in Fort Worth ISD. I had been subbing in Fort Worth ISD since 2001 mostly in special education. I later moved on to teach a self-contained Life Skills class and coach Special Olympics at a middle school in Mansfield ISD. I kept advancing in my career in the area of Special Education after I received my Principal certification and later gained experience as a Lead Case Manager/Response to Intervention Coordinator at a middle school in Crowley ISD, Special Education Team Lead at a high school in McKinney ISD, and Vocational Adjustment Coordinator in Garland ISD. I also have experience as a Content Mastery Teacher, Homebound Teacher, and In Home Trainer.
I completed the Special Education Advocate Training (SEAT) through the Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates (COPAA) which is a year-long course that will help her better serve current and future clients. SEAT is a year-long course funded by the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services awarded to the University of Southern California’s University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities in partnership with COPAA. Shemica also has extensive training in facilitating Admission, Review, and Dismissal (ARD) committee meetings which require effective communication, problem-solving, decision making, and conflict resolution. I was named to the Special Education Continuing Advisory Committee (SECAC) for Texas in December 2017 to help make decisions that will improve Special Education in the state. Finally, I was elected Co-Vice Chair of the SECAC in February 2018. Lastly, I deliver consulting services and personalized learning plans to EcoEDI students with special needs. EcoEDI is is a low-profit limited liability company (L3C) that facilitates successful post-high school educational opportunities for socially and economically disadvantaged students of all ages. Personalized Learning Solutions also partners with other non-profits in DFW including Dominique Cares that offers assistance to individuals and families of individuals with disabilities.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
As with any company that is just getting started, the main struggle is building the brand and marketing, however, social media has made that task a little less difficult. The day to day operations of a running a business offers more challenges for me than helping clients with their cases or issues with a school district.
Please tell us about Personalized Learning Solutions.
Personalized Learning Solutions is an educational consulting firm specializing in providing special education advocacy and consultation services. The mission of Personalized Learning Solutions is to assist parents/guardians of special needs students in their quest for a Free and Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and other federal and state laws protecting children with disabilities. We are committed to building and supporting a collaborative team of parents/guardians, advocate, and school personnel with an emphasis on continuous assessment of the child’s educational needs in all settings while supporting and guiding the parents/guardians through the process.
Personalized Learning Solutions was formed for the expressed purpose of providing parents, guardians, and clients expert assistance and representation as they navigate the maze of Special Education and Section 504 services in the public school systems. Much care and attention are given to parent/guardian concerns and a child’s social, emotional, and educational needs.
I feel what sets Personalized Learning Solutions and myself apart from any other advocacy business or special education consultant is that I am an expert in special education and the educational needs of special education students. Also, I have a great deal of experience working in the public school system. Many advocates are knowledgeable about special education but may not have experience with the inner workings of school districts.
If you had to go back in time and start over, would you have done anything differently?
No, not at all. I feel everything is a learning experience.
Pricing:
- Advocacy Services-Level Two Package $350.00 for 4 hours of service
- Advocacy Services-Level One Package $300.00 for 3 hours of service
- Consulting Services- $250.00 for 2 hours of service
- IEP/504 Plab Checkup-$50.00
- Parent Training/Workshops-price varies
Contact Info:
- Website: www.personalizedlearningforall.com
- Phone: 214-799-6322
- Email: personalizedlearningsolutions@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/personalizedlearningsolutions/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/personalizedlearningsolutions/
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