Special Education Boss® with Karen Mayer Cunningham

Karen Mayer Cunningham, Special Education Boss®
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The Special Education Boss® Podcast is where advocacy meets action. Join Karen Mayer Cunningham each week as she empowers parents and professionals to understand their rights, navigate the system, and show up strong at the IEP table.

  1. 5D AGO

    Behavior Is Communication: Safety, Structure & Relationship with John Vergara

    What if we stopped calling kids “difficult”… and started getting honest about what difficult behavior is really communicating? In today’s episode, Karen Mayer Cunningham sits down with John Vergara (aka The Difficult Student) — an assistant principal over special education and one of the most impactful voices online when it comes to behavior, leadership, and building classroom culture that actually works. John shares his personal story — from being the student with challenging behavior to becoming a leader supporting teachers, paraprofessionals, and IEP teams across two schools. This conversation is real, practical, and grounded in what helps kids and protects learning for everyone in the room. ✨ What You’ll Learn Why John says “the student is good — it’s the behavior we work on”The 3-part foundation: safety → love → self-esteemWhy structure and procedures are not “strict”… they’re supportA simple mindset shift that changes everything for teachers in hard environmentsResources + Links ✅ Join The Academy (Skool Community): https://www.skool.com/special-education-academy/about ✅ Get Karen’s book The Epic IEP (official link): https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1637635125?tag=simonsayscom Find John Vergara (The Difficult Student) Instagram / TikTok: @thedifficultstudentPodcast: The Difficult Student Podcast (Spotify / Apple / YouTube)If this episode helped you, follow the podcast, leave a review, and share it with a teacher, parent, or advocate who needs it. “When we get it right for the child, we get it right for everybody.” — Karen Mayer Cunningham Support the show ✨ When we get it right for the child, we get it right for everybody. ✨ 👩‍⚖️ Hosted by Karen Mayer Cunningham, Advocate & Special Education Boss® Each week, Karen shares real stories, legal insights, and no-nonsense strategies to help you navigate special education with clarity and confidence. 👉 Subscribe & never miss an episode — new episodes drop every week! 🎓 Join The Academy: Weekly live trainings + 250+ hours of advocacy tools & expert resources 🔗 Learn more at The Academy 📬 Have a question? Email us at advocate@specialeducationacademy.com 📱 Follow Karen on: TikTok & Instagram: @specialeducationboss YouTube: Special Education Academy 🧠 Want to level up your advocacy game? Check out the Advocate's Bookshelf — a curated collection of must-have tools, guides, and legal references every special education advocate should own. From federal code to diagnostic manuals, these are the essentials that help you advocate with clarity and confidence. 📚 Browse now: https://amzn.to/3RiQPLl (As an Amazon Associate, Karen may earn a small commission if you make a purchase — at no extra cost to you.) ...

    45 min

  2. DEC 18

    Ask the Advocate: Recording IEP Meetings, Paras, Inclusion, FAPE & Out-of-District Placement

    This week’s Ask the Advocate is a fast-paced Q&A covering what parents and educators are dealing with right now: staffing shortages, messy “tier” conversations, behavior needs being dismissed, and districts trying to move too fast (or stall completely) when the child needs support. 🧑‍🏫 Staffing, Paras, and “Who’s Allowed to Do What” Sub paras placed in self-contained/tier settings with no training—what to say and who to alertCan students be left alone with high school helpers?Can a short-term/long-term sub run a self-contained classroom for consecutive years?📚 IEP Process, Documentation, and Data PWN: getting the denial in writing and why it mattersWhy Karen doesn’t want “service logs”—she wants raw data collection sheets tied to IEP goals🚨 Behavior, Safety, and FAPE “IEPs are only for academics” — absolutely notElopement: when the BIP isn’t working, you need a new FBA/BIP and stronger supports🏫 Inclusion and Continuum of Placement “Inclusion only” with no pull-out/self-contained options = denial of the continuumOut-of-district placement: what documentation and patterns matter, and when it becomes urgentLinks & Resources 📘 Pre-order The Epic IEP + claim bonuses: Order on Amazon (or anywhere you buy books), then submit your receipt at theepiciep.com Book link: https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1637635125?tag=simonsayscom Bonuses: https://www.theepiciep.com 🌐 Special Education Academy: https://www.specialeducationacademy.com 📩 Want to host a book tour training stop? Use the intake form on the website to get connected. Support the show ✨ When we get it right for the child, we get it right for everybody. ✨ 👩‍⚖️ Hosted by Karen Mayer Cunningham, Advocate & Special Education Boss® Each week, Karen shares real stories, legal insights, and no-nonsense strategies to help you navigate special education with clarity and confidence. 👉 Subscribe & never miss an episode — new episodes drop every week! 🎓 Join The Academy: Weekly live trainings + 250+ hours of advocacy tools & expert resources 🔗 Learn more at The Academy 📬 Have a question? Email us at advocate@specialeducationacademy.com 📱 Follow Karen on: TikTok & Instagram: @specialeducationboss YouTube: Special Education Academy 🧠 Want to level up your advocacy game? Check out the Advocate's Bookshelf — a curated collection of must-have tools, guides, and legal references every special education advocate should own. From federal code to diagnostic manuals, these are the essentials that help you advocate with clarity and confidence. 📚 Browse now: https://amzn.to/3RiQPLl (As an Amazon Associate, Karen may earn a small commission if you make a purchase — at no extra cost to you.) ...

    1h 3m

  3. DEC 11

    Ask the Advocate: Truancy, One-to-One Aides, LRE, and The Epic IEP Book

    In this Ask the Advocate episode, Karen Mayer Cunningham, Special Education Boss®, answers rapid-fire questions from parents, teachers, and advocates—and shares how her new book, The Epic IEP, gives you a clear roadmap to write and understand an IEP that actually serves the child. Karen and Cindy dig into real situations from the IEP/504 table, including: The Epic IEP & Pre-Order Bonuses – How the 7-part framework walks you through an IEP step by step, plus how to pre-order the book and unlock $500 in bonuses and group bundles for schools, agencies, and parent organizations.LRE, Placement & Services – Moving from early childhood services into life skills, what Least Restrictive Environment really means, and how to know if your child’s needs are being met.Paras, One-to-One Aides & Staffing – Whether a para can be alone with a student, if a teacher can leave all IEP minutes to a para, and why the phrase “special education para” is misleading.Behavior, Safety, Truancy & FAPE – When sending students home becomes a denial of FAPE, what to do if your child is hurt, restrained, or you only see part of a video, and how to respond when schools stop communicating.The Epic IEP Weekly Academy – weekly training on federal law, IEPs, and live Q&AThe Epic IEP 2-Day Intensive – live and on-demand deep-dive training📘 Pre-order The Epic IEP + bonuses: https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1637635125?tag=simonsayscom Submit your receipt for bonuses: https://www.theepiciep.com 🏫 Learn with Karen weekly inside The Academy: https://www.specialeducationacademy.com 📩 Host Karen in your state: Email advocate@specialeducationacademy.com Support the show ✨ When we get it right for the child, we get it right for everybody. ✨ 👩‍⚖️ Hosted by Karen Mayer Cunningham, Advocate & Special Education Boss® Each week, Karen shares real stories, legal insights, and no-nonsense strategies to help you navigate special education with clarity and confidence. 👉 Subscribe & never miss an episode — new episodes drop every week! 🎓 Join The Academy: Weekly live trainings + 250+ hours of advocacy tools & expert resources 🔗 Learn more at The Academy 📬 Have a question? Email us at advocate@specialeducationacademy.com 📱 Follow Karen on: TikTok & Instagram: @specialeducationboss YouTube: Special Education Academy 🧠 Want to level up your advocacy game? Check out the Advocate's Bookshelf — a curated collection of must-have tools, guides, and legal references every special education advocate should own. From federal code to diagnostic manuals, these are the essentials that help you advocate with clarity and confidence. 📚 Browse now: https://amzn.to/3RiQPLl (As an Amazon Associate, Karen may earn a small commission if you make a purchase — at no extra cost to you.) ...

    54 min

  4. DEC 4

    Ask the Advocate: IEP Data, 504 vs IEP, Behavior, RTI, and Comp Time Q&A

    What do you do when the school’s “data” makes no sense, your child is stuck on a 504 instead of an IEP, or behavior is being blamed on your student instead of addressed in the plan? In this Ask the Advocate episode, Karen Mayer Cunningham, The Special Education Boss®, is answering rapid-fire questions from parents, teachers, and paras who are in the thick of it every day. All with humor, straight talk, and a whole lot of “you’re not crazy for asking.” 📚 The Epic IEP™ – Pre-Order + Bonuses Karen’s new book, The Epic IEP, releases next month! When you pre-order, you can come back and claim $500+ in bonuses. 👉 Order the book here: Official Amazon link: https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1637635125?tag=simonsayscom 👉 Then claim your bonuses: Visit TheEpicIEP.com and submit your information to unlock your pre-order bonuses. 🎓 Train with Karen & Special Education Academy Ready for deeper training and community? Join The Academy (Skool community) Weekly live trainings, 250+ hours of replays, and practical tools for parents, paras, educators, and advocates. 👉 https://www.skool.com/special-education-academy/aboutNeed support at the table? Complete the intake form at SpecialEducationAcademy.com, and our team will connect you with a trained advocate partner.Like, follow, share, and subscribe so you never miss an episode. Send this to a parent, para, or teacher who needs backup at the IEP/504 table. Support the show ✨ When we get it right for the child, we get it right for everybody. ✨ 👩‍⚖️ Hosted by Karen Mayer Cunningham, Advocate & Special Education Boss® Each week, Karen shares real stories, legal insights, and no-nonsense strategies to help you navigate special education with clarity and confidence. 👉 Subscribe & never miss an episode — new episodes drop every week! 🎓 Join The Academy: Weekly live trainings + 250+ hours of advocacy tools & expert resources 🔗 Learn more at The Academy 📬 Have a question? Email us at advocate@specialeducationacademy.com 📱 Follow Karen on: TikTok & Instagram: @specialeducationboss YouTube: Special Education Academy 🧠 Want to level up your advocacy game? Check out the Advocate's Bookshelf — a curated collection of must-have tools, guides, and legal references every special education advocate should own. From federal code to diagnostic manuals, these are the essentials that help you advocate with clarity and confidence. 📚 Browse now: https://amzn.to/3RiQPLl (As an Amazon Associate, Karen may earn a small commission if you make a purchase — at no extra cost to you.) ...

    57 min

  5. DEC 2

    Cold Reads Don’t Lie: An Epic IEP Story Every Parent Needs to Hear

    Today’s episode of The Epic IEP™ is a little bit longer — but you’re going to want to hear this. Karen Mayer Cunningham, The Special Education Boss®, shares a real IEP meeting where the school’s data didn’t match what the student could actually do at home. And the difference wasn’t small. Karen walks through why she always brings her own data to the table — three cold reads, two cold writes, and a clear picture of the child’s real baseline. When the school claimed the student was reading 80 words correct per minute on a Level Q, the home data told a very different story: repeated errors, constant self-corrections, and a much lower true accuracy rate. In this episode, you’ll learn how to: • Use home cold reads to verify (or challenge) school data • Identify inflated reading levels using clean accuracy percentages • Share video evidence in the meeting to clarify present levels • Respond when staff say “we don’t take off for errors” • Bring the conversation back to needs, baselines, and appropriate goals • Reset the meeting when the data doesn’t match reality Karen reminds parents and advocates that a child’s needs don’t disappear when they walk into the school building. If it’s a need on Saturday, it’s a need at school. The goal is always the same: find the real baseline so the team can write IEP goals that enable the student to make progress appropriate in light of their circumstances. 📘 Get The Epic IEP (official Amazon link): https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1637635125?tag=simonsayscom 👉 Join The Academy: 250+ hours of training and weekly coaching https://www.skool.com/special-education-academy/about Support the show ✨ When we get it right for the child, we get it right for everybody. ✨ 👩‍⚖️ Hosted by Karen Mayer Cunningham, Advocate & Special Education Boss® Each week, Karen shares real stories, legal insights, and no-nonsense strategies to help you navigate special education with clarity and confidence. 👉 Subscribe & never miss an episode — new episodes drop every week! 🎓 Join The Academy: Weekly live trainings + 250+ hours of advocacy tools & expert resources 🔗 Learn more at The Academy 📬 Have a question? Email us at advocate@specialeducationacademy.com 📱 Follow Karen on: TikTok & Instagram: @specialeducationboss YouTube: Special Education Academy 🧠 Want to level up your advocacy game? Check out the Advocate's Bookshelf — a curated collection of must-have tools, guides, and legal references every special education advocate should own. From federal code to diagnostic manuals, these are the essentials that help you advocate with clarity and confidence. 📚 Browse now: https://amzn.to/3RiQPLl (As an Amazon Associate, Karen may earn a small commission if you make a purchase — at no extra cost to you.) ...

    6 min

  6. NOV 28

    When Vision Minutes Go Wrong: How to Use Data to Fix an Epic IEP

    Today’s episode of The Epic IEP™ is going to be a little bit longer — but you’re going to want to hear this. Karen Mayer Cunningham, The Special Education Boss®, shares a story that is funny, frustrating, fantastic, and absolutely essential for anyone sitting at an IEP table. Karen walks you through a real meeting where a student with a vision impairment was receiving 15 minutes a semesterof “consult.” The team insisted it was enough. The paperwork looked “fine.” The VISIT form was “calculated.” But the child still wasn’t receiving the direct services he needed. In this episode, you’ll learn how Karen broke it down: • Why zero minutes would force a DNQ • How to use functional tools (like the VISIT/VSST) in real-life conversations • How an advocate sees the paperwork from a different lens Karen also explains why parents and school-based staff are equal stakeholders, and why disagreement is not a problem — it’s part of the process. Parents rarely know their safeguards or how to interpret evaluations, and schools are often too close to the student to recognize when a need has grown or changed. The heart of this episode: Data tells the story. Data drives decisions. Data determines services. Your job is to listen to the data — not the feelings, not the assumptions, not the “we’ve already calculated it.” If you’ve ever been in a meeting where things drag on, stall out, or go in circles — this episode gives you the clarity and language to move forward with confidence. 📘 Get your copy of The Epic IEP Official Amazon link: https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1637635125?tag=simonsayscom 👉 Join The Academy (250+ hours of training): https://www.skool.com/special-education-academy/about Support the show ✨ When we get it right for the child, we get it right for everybody. ✨ 👩‍⚖️ Hosted by Karen Mayer Cunningham, Advocate & Special Education Boss® Each week, Karen shares real stories, legal insights, and no-nonsense strategies to help you navigate special education with clarity and confidence. 👉 Subscribe & never miss an episode — new episodes drop every week! 🎓 Join The Academy: Weekly live trainings + 250+ hours of advocacy tools & expert resources 🔗 Learn more at The Academy 📬 Have a question? Email us at advocate@specialeducationacademy.com 📱 Follow Karen on: TikTok & Instagram: @specialeducationboss YouTube: Special Education Academy 🧠 Want to level up your advocacy game? Check out the Advocate's Bookshelf — a curated collection of must-have tools, guides, and legal references every special education advocate should own. From federal code to diagnostic manuals, these are the essentials that help you advocate with clarity and confidence. 📚 Browse now: https://amzn.to/3RiQPLl (As an Amazon Associate, Karen may earn a small commission if you make a purchase — at no extra cost to you.) ...

    7 min

  7. NOV 27

    Why Disagreement Isn’t Disrespect: A Real IEP Story

    Today’s episode of The Epic IEP™ is a little longer — but you’re going to want to hear this. Karen Mayer Cunningham, The Special Education Boss®, shares a real IEP meeting where everything was “fine”… until the parent disagreed. And that’s when things got interesting. Karen breaks down how a simple request — adding general education as an implementer on two IEP goals — turned into pushback, confusion, and the classic line: “I thought we were collaborating.” She explains why parents are equal stakeholders, why disagreement is normal, and why “collaboration” should never be used as pressure. In this episode, you’ll learn how to: • Understand implementers vs. services • Recognize when teams may be preparing to propose removal from gen ed • Respond when “collaboration” becomes manipulation • Keep the focus on data, not feelings or assumptions • Use IDEA’s framework to ground decisions • Hold firm when the team doesn’t want general ed listed Karen reminds us that the IEP is a document of obligation, not convenience — and that every stakeholder has the gift of persuasion. Use it ethically, use it clearly, and always keep the child’s unique circumstances at the center. 📘 Get The Epic IEP on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1637635125?tag=simonsayscom 👉 Join The Academy (250+ hours of training): https://www.skool.com/special-education-academy/about “When we get it right for the child, we get it right for everybody.” — Karen Mayer Cunningham Support the show ✨ When we get it right for the child, we get it right for everybody. ✨ 👩‍⚖️ Hosted by Karen Mayer Cunningham, Advocate & Special Education Boss® Each week, Karen shares real stories, legal insights, and no-nonsense strategies to help you navigate special education with clarity and confidence. 👉 Subscribe & never miss an episode — new episodes drop every week! 🎓 Join The Academy: Weekly live trainings + 250+ hours of advocacy tools & expert resources 🔗 Learn more at The Academy 📬 Have a question? Email us at advocate@specialeducationacademy.com 📱 Follow Karen on: TikTok & Instagram: @specialeducationboss YouTube: Special Education Academy 🧠 Want to level up your advocacy game? Check out the Advocate's Bookshelf — a curated collection of must-have tools, guides, and legal references every special education advocate should own. From federal code to diagnostic manuals, these are the essentials that help you advocate with clarity and confidence. 📚 Browse now: https://amzn.to/3RiQPLl (As an Amazon Associate, Karen may earn a small commission if you make a purchase — at no extra cost to you.) ...

    6 min

  8. NOV 26

    Epic IEP Meetings Gone Wild: Services, LRE, Vision Minutes & Telling the Truth About Data

    Today’s episode of The Epic IEP™ is a little longer — but you’re going to want to hear this. Karen Mayer Cunningham, The Special Education Boss®, breaks down a real IEP story that starts with “she’s doing fantastic” and ends with a fourth grader reading 13 words correct per minute and a team refusing resource for five meetings straight. If you’ve ever sat at the table and wondered why services become the sticking point, this episode gives you clarity. Karen explains why the “why” doesn’t matter — power, control, personality, panic, excuses — none of it changes the team’s obligation to write an IEP that enables progress appropriate in light of the student’s unique circumstances. Inside this episode, you’ll learn how to: • Stick to the facts, not feelings or opinions • Respond when teams say “she’s doing great” while the data says otherwise • Quantify gaps (like 13 wcpm vs. the 120 wcpm average) so the need is undeniable • Handle the “we’re worried if she leaves gen ed…” argument • Challenge myths like “she has to hear state standards” • Understand why resource is often resisted — and why it’s necessary • Pivot conversations back to needs, minutes, and services • Keep the main thing the main thing: the student’s unique circumstances Karen shares how a student who was overlooked for years finally received resource reading — and how she moved from 13 wcpm to 60 wcpm. Not because she was “sweet” or “quiet”… but because the team looked at the data and addressed the real need. You’ll also hear how to stay grounded when meetings get frustrating: • Don’t chase the why — focus on what’s next. • If you don’t know if something is true, ask for it in writing. • Use: “Can you send me that code or statute by email by close of business tomorrow?” • Remember: lovely, well-behaved, or quiet is not the standard. Progress is. This episode is all about clarity, courage, and keeping your eyes on the data. 📘 Get your copy of The Epic IEP Official Amazon link: https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1637635125?tag=simonsayscom 👉 Join The Academy (250+ hours of training): https://www.skool.com/special-education- Support the show ✨ When we get it right for the child, we get it right for everybody. ✨ 👩‍⚖️ Hosted by Karen Mayer Cunningham, Advocate & Special Education Boss® Each week, Karen shares real stories, legal insights, and no-nonsense strategies to help you navigate special education with clarity and confidence. 👉 Subscribe & never miss an episode — new episodes drop every week! 🎓 Join The Academy: Weekly live trainings + 250+ hours of advocacy tools & expert resources 🔗 Learn more at The Academy 📬 Have a question? Email us at advocate@specialeducationacademy.com 📱 Follow Karen on: TikTok & Instagram: @specialeducationboss YouTube: Special Education Academy 🧠 Want to level up your advocacy game? Check out the Advocate's Bookshelf — a curated collection of must-have tools, guides, and legal references every special education advocate should own. From federal code to diagnostic manuals, these are the essentials that help you advocate with clarity and confidence. 📚 Browse now: https://amzn.to/3RiQPLl (As an Amazon Associate, Karen may earn a small commission if you make a purchase — at no extra cost to you.) ...

    7 min
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Ratings & Reviews

3.9
out of 5
19 Ratings

About

The Special Education Boss® Podcast is where advocacy meets action. Join Karen Mayer Cunningham each week as she empowers parents and professionals to understand their rights, navigate the system, and show up strong at the IEP table.

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