Why I am a Special Education Advocate
Jenny Wojcik, October 2024
Before I became a special education advocate, I was an educator for over 20 years, working directly with the very children I now fight for. I’ve walked in the shoes of teachers who balance being so much more than an instructor—becoming a child’s teacher, social worker, counselor, cheerleader, provider, and safe place, all while navigating the relentless pressure to meet state standards and ensure students pass arbitrary tests. These tests often fail to recognize the true talents and gifts of the children sitting in our classrooms.
Jenny Wojcik, CEO and Founder, IEP Partner
“I’ve seen children who function differently, who learn in their own extraordinary ways, forced into rigid systems that don’t honor their differences.”
I know the grit it takes to be there for children with unique needs. The emotional weight of working with students who are struggling in ways that go far beyond the academic realm is enormous. I’ve seen children who function differently, who learn in their own extraordinary ways, forced into rigid systems that don’t honor their differences. As an educator, I lived that daily struggle of wanting to nurture the gifts these children possess while being forced to meet benchmarks that felt disconnected from their true potential.
My experiences in the classroom taught me that learning and functioning differently is not a deficit—it’s a gift. These children, with their remarkable ways of seeing and interacting with the world, have talents that too often go unrecognized and underappreciated. My passion for advocating for children with autism, trauma-based behaviors, dyslexia, and more grew from this realization. I saw how the system was failing to protect them and nurture their potential, and I knew I had to step in.
“My experiences in the classroom taught me that learning and functioning differently is not a deficit—it’s a gift.”
Over the years, I’ve seen more than I ever imagined I would. I’ve attended IEP meetings across counties like Hillsborough, Pasco, Osceola, Seminole, Broward, and beyond. I’ve witnessed staff physically abusing students. I have sat with the parent as they learned their nonverbal autistic child was the victim of sexual abuse at school. I’ve been in meetings after children were left in padded rooms, screaming, begging for an ounce of humanity to be shown to them. These children—our children—deserve better.
That’s why I transitioned from educator to advocate. I couldn’t stand by any longer and watch these children suffer through a system that often felt more concerned with meeting standards than with meeting children’s needs. Becoming a Qualified Expert Witness in special education law was another step in ensuring that these children had someone who would fight tirelessly for them, both in the classroom and in the courtroom.
“…we need to make sure we’re creating environments where all students, no matter their abilities, are given the chance to thrive.”
Being an educator also showed me the incredible challenges teachers face. We ask so much of our educators. We ask them to nurture, protect, and inspire students while simultaneously burdening them with rigid state standards and standardized tests that don’t capture the true abilities of their students. The system doesn’t support our teachers in the way it should, and it certainly doesn’t support our children. This needs to change, and that’s where my work as an advocate comes in.
When I founded IEP Partner, it was built on the idea that we must work together to protect our students and support our educators. It’s not enough to just pass tests or meet benchmarks—we need to make sure we’re creating environments where all students, no matter their abilities, are given the chance to thrive. It’s about ensuring every child feels seen and valued, and that every educator has the tools and support they need to help students succeed.
“Our differences make us stronger, and when we honor those differences—when we see children for who they are and the gifts they bring—we create a world where everyone can shine.”
At the heart of this work is the understanding that learning and functioning differently isn’t something to fix. It’s something to celebrate. Our differences make us stronger, and when we honor those differences—when we see children for who they are and the gifts they bring—we create a world where everyone can shine. Our shared humanity is what binds us together, and we must never forget that.
This is why I am a special education advocate. Because I know first-hand what it takes to be there for these children. Because I’ve seen what happens when the system fails them. And because I believe that together, we can build a future where every child is given the opportunity to succeed, no matter how they learn or function. I will continue to fight for this future, one case, one child, and one meeting at a time.
