What do you do when the meeting meant to help your child feels like a poker game — everyone holding cards, nobody showing them? Rick and Tisha sit down with Dr. Amy Mathews-Perez, who spent 34 years in Texas public education as a teacher, speech pathologist, diagnostician, special education supervisor, assistant principal, principal and director of special education. Amy has sat on every side of that table, and she's refreshingly blunt about what happens on it. They get into why lawyers end up in special ed meetings, why "later can be expensive", and why data — not opinion — has to drive accommodation decisions. She also makes a point every teacher needs to hear: you have accommodations too, you just don't call them that. Along the way come the stories that changed how she works — the student who taught her to take the cape off, the one who taught her that context is everything, and the third-grade teacher she ended up becoming the principal of. Honest, funny, and full of practical advice for any parent or educator walking into their next meeting. 00:00 Introduction and Listener Feedback 03:14 Introducing Dr. Amy Mathews-Perez 06:40 Lessons from Texas: Reflection and Growth 08:52 Elevator Pitch: Making a Difference 10:18 Building Trust with Parents and Students 12:39 The Importance of Relationships in Education 19:50 The Role of Lawyers in Education 24:51 Empowering Parents in the Education System 27:40 Building Relationships with Educators 30:50 Bravery in Asking Questions 34:42 Impactful Roles in Education 38:28 Lessons from Students 45:58 The Importance of Context in Communication 47:19 Understanding Accommodations in Education 50:46 The Importance of Individualized Education 51:51 Transitioning from Educator to Entrepreneur 56:36 Reflections on Childhood and Teaching 1:00:48 The Power of Connection and Mentorship About Dr. Amy Mathews-Perez Texas-born and raised, Amy has recently retired from 34 years of working in public education, where she served as a General Ed. Teacher, SLP, Diagnostician, SPED Supervisor, Principal, Assistant Principal and Director of Special Education. While her journey of public-school service has come to an end, she now puts her energy, efforts and focus on continued service to organizations, schools and families through her LLC, M.E.S.A. — Making Education Special for All. Her passions are communication, relevant learning, and authenticity. She's happiest when she gets to implement these things to inspire and empower others. As a learner, she considers herself an "Experience Expert" because she learns from every experience. "Life is short but our influence is never ending, so let's seek joy and create smiles through connecting, sharing, and highlighting the best in others." Follow Dr. Amy Mathews-Perez on: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DrAmyMP LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-amp-learn-with-me/ X: https://x.com/drgrowtoknow Other: https://www.dramyperez.com Join the newsletter: https://played3.com/?newsletter=1 📢 Listen and subscribe on your favorite platform: Spotify | Apple Podcast | Amazon Music | YouTube 📱Follow Play Ed3 Podcast on: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/played3podcast TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/played3podcast YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@PlayEd3Podcast?sub_confirmation=1 🙋♀️Follow Tisha on: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tishaponcio X (Twitter): https://x.com/tishaponcio TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@tishaponcio 🙋♂️Follow Rick on: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rickbutterworth X (Twitter): https://x.com/r1ck11 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@rickbutterworth Want to be a guest?: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeCaEyQrrPcYsKdQHaSlFbVXVVC_eNyXMMfy5NTj0aRNcR6Vw/viewform?usp=header 🧠 Let's learn, grow and play together
