About Katherine

Hi, I’m Katherine —founder of Rooted in Advocacy. I’m glad that you are here!

I bring over a fifteen years of experience in special education, working across a wide range of roles including special education teacher, case manager, and director of emotional support. Throughout my career, I’ve supported students from early childhood through adulthood, working closely with families, educators, and multidisciplinary teams to ensure students receive the services and support they need to grow and succeed.

Over the years, I’ve led complex, compliance-driven programs, managed large caseloads, and worked alongside school leadership teams to build systems that support both students, staff, and the school community. But more importantly, I’ve built strong, trusting relationships with families—because that’s where real progress begins.

Why I Started Rooted in Advocacy

One thing became clear to me over time:

Much of the frustration families experience doesn’t come from lack of care—it comes from lack of clarity, communication, and transparency.

Parents are often handed large amounts of paperwork, sit in meetings filled with unfamiliar language, and are expected to make important decisions quickly. At the same time, schools are navigating complex systems, requirements, and are overworked.

Somewhere in the middle, families can feel overwhelmed, unheard, feel forgotten, or unsure of what to do next.

I created Rooted in Advocacy to help change that.

I believe that:

  • Parents know their children best

  • Advocacy should feel empowering—not intimidating

  • Special education should be transparent and understandable

  • Early support plays a critical role in long-term success

  • Collaboration—not conflict—leads to the best outcomes

My role is not to take over or speak for you.
My role is to stand alongside you, helping you understand the system, ask the right questions, and advocate with confidence.

How I Support Families

Through Rooted in Advocacy, I work with families to:

  • Understand evaluations, IEPs, and documentation

  • Prepare for meetings with clarity and confidence

  • Navigate challenges with schools in a productive way

  • Support behavior, communication, and transitions

  • Identify appropriate services and next steps

If additional support is needed beyond my scope, I am committed to helping connect families with trusted professionals and resources.

A Commitment to Every Family

This work is deeply personal to me.

I am passionate about helping individuals reach their fullest potential and believe that every child deserves the opportunity to succeed, grow, and become independent in their own way.

I will always approach this work with honesty, care, and dedication—working hard to support you, answer your questions, and help you feel confident in the decisions you are making for your child.

Contact us

Interested in working together? Fill out some info and we will be in touch shortly. We can’t wait to hear from you!