Samantha Storey

About

Member-at-Large  (2021-2023)

I  have been involved in the field of special education for 15+ years. My passion for the field began with her participation in the Best Buddies program in high school and advocating for students in the Life Skills program. After completing college with a degree in Special Education I began special education teaching career in a public-school setting to a broad range  of students I am level one Wilson Certified and trained in Lindamood Bell LIPS.  Over the past year I have participated in COPAA’s SEAT 2.0 training.  Since leaving the public schools, I am currently offering private tutoring and advocacy services to students and families.

I have been in the special education field for over 15 years. My love for working with students began in high school when I was a volunteer with Best Buddies. From there, I moved on to helping out in the life skills classroom, teaching inclusion, social skills, and academics. It was during this time that I realized how much I enjoyed helping and advocating for these students.   Although, I formally entered the field of advocacy in 2019, I've been advocating for students with disabilities since I was in high school and became aware that students in our life skills program were not provided with equitable access to the life of the school.

These experiences led me to study special education at Lesley University, gaining even more knowledge on different learning styles. The program emphasized using multi-sensory approaches to reading and mathematics.

After graduation, I spent 6 years working as a special education teacher. This gave me a multitude of experience with students who have specific learning disabilities such as Dyslexia, down syndrome, emotional disabilities, health disabilities, as well as those on the autism spectrum.

To continue my education in the field, I completed my Wilson level 1 certification and Lindamood Bell Phoneme Sequencing Program (LIPS).   While teaching, I began to think outside the box and completed training through YogaKids.

 Since then, I have completed advocacy training through Wrightslaw and the COPAA SEAT 2.0.

Having the experience of working in all of these settings has opened my eyes to the flaws in our education system.  After working with so many children and parents, I have realized that my true passion is not just teaching your kids, it is giving you the support you need to advocate for them.

Your child is entitled to a free, appropriate public education that meets them where they’re at and puts them on a path to reach their full potential. I am here to guide you through the Individualized Education Plan (IEP) process, attend IEP meetings, help with reviewing test results, graph data, and research your specific school’s program.  My goal is to empower you to advocate for your child's needs while helping to create a bridge between you and the school.  As an active member of SPAN, I participate in trainings throughout the year to expand my skills in areas related to special education advocacy.