The Intentional IEP Podcast

Stephanie DeLussey
  • 4.9 (19)
  • EDUCATION

Are you drowning in IEP paperwork and feeling overwhelmed by the special education process? The Intentional IEP Podcast is your go-to resource for teachers looking to navigate the complexities of Individualized Education Programs, write effective IEPs, and tackle all things related to special education. Join Stephanie, a dual-certified special education teacher, IEP coach, and author, as she transforms the overwhelming IEP process into manageable, actionable steps. Drawing from years of classroom experience, Stephanie understands the challenges you face—from writing legally compliant IEP goals to managing special education documentation while still finding time to actually teach. Every Monday, you can expect conversations like: Evidence-based IEP writing strategies that save you time Special education compliance guidelines made simple Effective IEP goal development techniques Data collection methods that work in real classrooms Practical special needs accommodations and modifications IEP best practices to invoke a more collaborative IEP process Breaking down IEP implementation The ins and outs of IEP meetings Whether you're a special education teacher, general education teacher collaborating on inclusive education, school psychologist, or educational administrator, The Intentional IEP Podcast will provide you with the support to help students with learning disabilities, autism spectrum disorder, ADHD, and other exceptional needs. Some weeks, Stephanie shares her expertise on best practices for IEP meetings, parent communication, and special education advocacy. Other weeks, expert guests join the conversation to provide diverse perspectives on disability services and educational interventions. Stop spending your evenings writing IEPs and start implementing a more intentional approach to special education. Together, we'll focus less on paperwork and more on what really matters—creating inclusive classrooms where all students can thrive. Because every student deserves an education plan that's as unique as they are. Let’s make IEPs more effective, more efficient, and way less stressful—together. Welcome to The Intentional IEP Podcast!

  1. 4D AGO

    E48. Test-Taking Accommodations: What’s Allowed, What Works, and Why It Matters

    Test taking accommodations can feel confusing for many special education teachers, especially during testing season. Questions often come up about what is allowed, what is not, and how to make sure students are properly supported during assessments. In this episode, Stephanie breaks down what test taking accommodations actually are and how they should be used to support students with disabilities. She also explains the important difference between accommodations and modifications, and why that distinction matters during benchmark and state testing. Stephanie covers • What test taking accommodations are and how they help remove barriers without lowering expectations • The difference between accommodations and modifications and why modifications are not allowed on benchmark or state assessments • The benefits of accommodations for access, equity, and more accurate student data • Five commonly permitted accommodations teachers should understand and begin teaching students to use • Why accommodations should be practiced throughout the year, not introduced only during testing This episode helps special education teachers better understand how accommodations support students in demonstrating what they know while still maintaining grade level expectations. Not a member? Join Today — you can get 50% off your first month of membership https://products.theintentionaliep.com/tii-membership-50off1stmonth-podcast/ For more information, check out more of Stephanie's resources: https://www.theintentionaliep.com/the-intentional-iep-book/ https://www.theintentionaliep.com/ https://www.facebook.com/theintentionaliep https://www.instagram.com/theintentionaliep

    11 min

  2. MAR 23

    E47. What to Do When Parents Disagree with the IEP Team

    Disagreements in IEP meetings can feel uncomfortable, especially when emotions are high and everyone in the room is trying to advocate for what they believe is best for the student. But these moments are not unusual. In fact, they are a natural part of the collaborative process. In this episode, Stephanie walks through how special education teachers can navigate parent disagreements with clarity, professionalism, and confidence. She also explains why having strong systems in place throughout the year can make these conversations much easier when they do arise. Stephanie covers • The most common areas where parents and IEP teams tend to disagree • Why emotions often run high during IEP meetings • How data can help guide conversations back to student need • Strategies for building strong relationships with families before disagreements happen • Ways to help parents understand and advocate within the IEP process This episode offers practical insight to help teachers approach difficult conversations with empathy, preparation, and a focus on collaboration. Not a member? Join Today — you can get 50% off your first month of membership https://products.theintentionaliep.com/tii-membership-50off1stmonth-podcast/ For more information, check out more of Stephanie's resources: https://www.theintentionaliep.com/the-intentional-iep-book/ https://www.theintentionaliep.com/ https://www.facebook.com/theintentionaliep https://www.instagram.com/theintentionaliep

    13 min

  3. MAR 16

    E46. Managing Special Ed Paperwork Without the Overwhelm

    Paperwork is one of the biggest sources of stress for special education teachers. It’s not just writing IEPs. It’s data logs, service minutes, progress reports, behavior documentation, meeting notes, emails, and reevaluation timelines. Without a clear system, it can quickly start to feel like you’re always behind. In this episode, Stephanie shares a training pulled directly from The Intentional IEP Membership video vault. Instead of constantly reacting to deadlines and documentation demands, this training focuses on building systems that make paperwork more manageable and predictable. Stephanie covers • Why paperwork starts to feel overwhelming when there is no system supporting it • Anchoring your timelines so important deadlines and reevaluations do not catch you off guard • Identifying your true priorities instead of constantly reacting to incoming tasks • Creating connected systems so paperwork moves forward instead of piling up When paperwork is organized, everything changes. You spend less time scrambling to catch up and more time focusing on your students. Not a member? Join Today — you can get 50% off your first month of membership https://products.theintentionaliep.com/tii-membership-50off1stmonth-podcast/ For more information, check out more of Stephanie's resources: https://www.theintentionaliep.com/the-intentional-iep-book/ https://www.theintentionaliep.com/ https://www.facebook.com/theintentionaliep https://www.instagram.com/theintentionaliep

    24 min

  4. MAR 9

    E45. 9 Types of Lesson Adaptations Every SPED Teacher Should Know

    Lesson adaptations are one of the most practical tools teachers can use, yet they are often confused with accommodations and modifications. In this episode of The Intentional IEP Podcast, we talk about how small, intentional adjustments can help students access the same content as their peers. Instead of relying on the same few strategies, expanding your toolbox gives you more ways to support students when they are struggling or feeling overwhelmed. The goal is not to change the learning, but to remove barriers so students can stay engaged and participate in meaningful instruction. In this episode, we cover: • Why lesson adaptations matter in everyday instruction • How small changes can improve access to grade level content • Simple ways to adjust lessons when students are struggling • Ideas for supporting participation without lowering expectations • How to experiment with different strategies until you find what works for your students Sometimes the smallest shift in how a lesson is delivered can make a big difference in how a student experiences learning. Not a member? Join Today — you can get 50% off your first month of membership https://products.theintentionaliep.com/tii-membership-50off1stmonth-podcast/ For more information, check out more of Stephanie's resources: https://www.theintentionaliep.com/the-intentional-iep-book/ https://www.theintentionaliep.com/ https://www.facebook.com/theintentionaliep https://www.instagram.com/theintentionaliep

    16 min

  5. MAR 2

    E44. Test Taking Strategies

    In this episode, we’re talking about a topic that can bring up a lot of mixed feelings in the special education world: test taking. Benchmark assessments, state testing, and standardized exams can feel overwhelming and sometimes disconnected from what matters most in SPED. But here’s the shift we’re making today. We are not teaching to the test. We are teaching students how to show what they know. That is a life skill. In this episode, Stephanie covers: • How to explicitly teach three core test taking strategies • Simple scaffolds and accommodations that support diverse learners • Practical, no prep ways to embed these skills into your daily routine starting this week We are not teaching to the test. We are teaching students how to show what they know. That is self advocacy. That is independence. That is real world skill building. Not a member? Join Today — you can get 50% off your first month of membership https://products.theintentionaliep.com/tii-membership-50off1stmonth-podcast/ For more information, check out more of Stephanie's resources: https://www.theintentionaliep.com/the-intentional-iep-book/ https://www.theintentionaliep.com/ https://www.facebook.com/theintentionaliep https://www.instagram.com/theintentionaliep

    18 min

  6. FEB 23

    E43. Prioritizing IEP Goals

    You sit down to plan your week, look at your caseload, and immediately feel the pressure. Communication goals. Reading fluency. Fine motor. Math facts. Social skills. Behavior. All of it matters. But how are you supposed to work on everything without burning out? In this episode Stephanie tackles the question every special educator asks at some point: How do we actually prioritize IEP goals when time, staffing, and student needs are pulling us in ten different directions? The truth is you cannot target every goal at once. And that is not failure. It is strategy. Prioritizing the right goals at the right time is what moves you from survival mode to impact mode. In this episode Stephanie covers: • How to identify and sequence foundational skills that unlock other IEP goals • Simple systems like task boxes, team communication, and shared goal awareness to create consistency • A practical classroom rotation model to maximize limited time and focus on high impact priorities Prioritizing IEP goals is not about doing less. It is about doing what matters most first. You are not failing your students because you cannot hit every goal every day. Check out the IEP Matrix: https://www.theintentionaliep.com/the-iep-matrix/ Learn how to use IEP Work Bins: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Um2CoF6KaQw Not a member? Join Today — you can get 50% off your first month of membership https://products.theintentionaliep.com/tii-membership-50off1stmonth-podcast/ For more information, check out more of Stephanie's resources: https://www.theintentionaliep.com/the-intentional-iep-book/ https://www.theintentionaliep.com/ https://www.facebook.com/theintentionaliep https://www.instagram.com/theintentionaliep

    21 min

  7. FEB 16

    E42. Helping Students Build Independence

    Stephanie brings listeners into one of the most important skills we can teach our students independence. It’s not about making our lives easier or stepping back because we’re tired. It’s about helping students gain confidence, take initiative, and develop the skills they need to succeed both in and out of the classroom. In this episode, she shares practical strategies to guide students toward doing more on their own while supporting their growth along the way. Stephanie covers • Why independence matters for students’ confidence and learning • How to start in the zone of proximal development and scaffold effectively • Using prompting hierarchies and fading support over time • Modeling skills, repeating, and helping students generalize across settings • Allowing students to make mistakes and learn from them By the end of this episode, you’ll have concrete ideas for helping students take the lead, step back just enough to let them try, and celebrate the small wins that show real progress. Stephanie reminds us that every step toward independence matters and that with intentional support, students can achieve more than we often realize. Not a member? Join Today — you can get 50% off your first month of membership https://products.theintentionaliep.com/tii-membership-50off1stmonth-podcast/ For more information, check out more of Stephanie's resources: https://www.theintentionaliep.com/the-intentional-iep-book/ https://www.theintentionaliep.com/ https://www.facebook.com/theintentionaliep https://www.instagram.com/theintentionaliep

    10 min

  8. FEB 9

    E41. Top 6 Special Education Books for Teachers

    In this episode, Stephanie shares the books she returns to again and again — resources that have helped her understand IEPs, advocate confidently, partner with schools, and support children with special needs in real and meaningful ways. Top 6 Books: The Intentional IEP Book The Special Needs School Survival Guide Parents and Professionals Partnering for Children with Disabilities: The Dance That Matters Wrightslaw: All About IEPs Your Special Education Rights: What Your School District Isn’t Telling You The Gift of Failure: How the Best Parents Learn to Let Go So Their Children Can Succeed

    18 min
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Trailer

4.9
out of 5
19 Ratings

About

Are you drowning in IEP paperwork and feeling overwhelmed by the special education process? The Intentional IEP Podcast is your go-to resource for teachers looking to navigate the complexities of Individualized Education Programs, write effective IEPs, and tackle all things related to special education. Join Stephanie, a dual-certified special education teacher, IEP coach, and author, as she transforms the overwhelming IEP process into manageable, actionable steps. Drawing from years of classroom experience, Stephanie understands the challenges you face—from writing legally compliant IEP goals to managing special education documentation while still finding time to actually teach. Every Monday, you can expect conversations like: Evidence-based IEP writing strategies that save you time Special education compliance guidelines made simple Effective IEP goal development techniques Data collection methods that work in real classrooms Practical special needs accommodations and modifications IEP best practices to invoke a more collaborative IEP process Breaking down IEP implementation The ins and outs of IEP meetings Whether you're a special education teacher, general education teacher collaborating on inclusive education, school psychologist, or educational administrator, The Intentional IEP Podcast will provide you with the support to help students with learning disabilities, autism spectrum disorder, ADHD, and other exceptional needs. Some weeks, Stephanie shares her expertise on best practices for IEP meetings, parent communication, and special education advocacy. Other weeks, expert guests join the conversation to provide diverse perspectives on disability services and educational interventions. Stop spending your evenings writing IEPs and start implementing a more intentional approach to special education. Together, we'll focus less on paperwork and more on what really matters—creating inclusive classrooms where all students can thrive. Because every student deserves an education plan that's as unique as they are. Let’s make IEPs more effective, more efficient, and way less stressful—together. Welcome to The Intentional IEP Podcast!

Information

  • Creator
    Stephanie DeLussey
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    49
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2026 Stephanie DeLussey
  • Show Website
    The Intentional IEP Podcast

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