Today we’d like to introduce you to Erika Weinthal
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I’ve always had a passion for working with kids…particularly neurodivergent children who struggle to engage with the world around them, both socially and academically. When I graduated from college and became a 1:1 instructional aide for a 2nd grader back in 2004, I knew that I had found my “home.” After finishing my credential program, I started teaching up in Washington State in 2005 and just fell in love with everything about Special Education. I loved that I got to “think outside the box” when coming up with developmentally-appropriate lessons for my students, when differentiating the curriculum for general education teachers, and when helping parents advocate for their children at every school level. After just three years of teaching and seeing some major gaps in public education, I decided to get my Masters in Educational Leadership and my Administrative credential. I thought that I’d be able to “do more good” from higher up in administration, but after realizing all of the red tape that administrators have to cut through, I decided that I was happiest making waves and creating REAL change from the school-level within my own classroom.
Fast forward 17 years – where I had been able to work full time in the public school system with some of the most passionate, hard-working, intelligent educators in both Washington State and Southern California from kindergarten through twelfth grade. I had also gotten to see how much intense work still needed to be done in terms of educating families on their child’s rights, teaching general education teachers about accommodations and differentiating curriculum, and improving site- and district-level leadership on all fronts.
So, I made the tough decision to step away from the classroom and become a full-time educational consultant, in hopes of empowering families all over the country to fight for what is right ( and needed) in order for their child with special needs to be successful, productive members of society. I also want to prove to teachers, administrators, and district-level employees that EVERYONE wins when we embrace each child for their own unique abilities, give each child access to whatever they need to be successful, and educate all those involved so that our children feel a wave of support when walking into any educational setting. Until then, I’ll continue to lovingly (but fiercely) fight for each child’s rights to a free and appropriate public education and hopefully give all families the tools they need to advocate for their own kiddos with confidence and knowledge.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
My journey as an educator has definitely not all been smooth-sailing! There have been some significant challenges and barriers to my success, from both a teaching and administrative standpoint. Early on in my career, I was told repeatedly “we don’t have the funds for that” or “there’s no way we’re going to go to all that work for that child” or “don’t even bother asking admin for that.” I learned early on that, no matter what the situation is/was, advocating for what’s right and not being afraid to speak up benefits the entire school community in the end.
I’ve run into a lot of families and teachers who are afraid to advocate for their students for fear of being ostracized or let go from their teaching positions. I’m trying to change that in a positive, productive way…showing teachers and families that standing up for students’ needs is a sign of love, encouragement, and empowerment that teaches future generations about how to fight productively for their own educational rights – both socially and academically. Having a voice will, in turn, teach them to use their own voice.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am an Educational Consultant/Advocate who works with families to ensure that their child(ren) receive the correct supports and services based on their unique needs within the school system, whether that be at the elementary, middle, or high school level. I help parents advocate for the right accommodations in the classroom, understand the IEP process, how to ask for testing, and everything else associated with a child’s educational career. I’m known for my extensive knowledge of the IEP process, fiercely (but lovingly) advocating for students with disabilities, and building strong relationships with educators as well as families throughout the entire process. I feel that what sets me apart from other advocacy agencies or individuals is that I’ve worked “in the trenches” alongside teachers in various districts throughout San Diego county, so I’ve been able to gain a level of professional respect that is hard to obtain when coming into a school from an outside agency.
Do you any memories from childhood that you can share with us?
One of my favorite childhood memories was going to my mom’s school as a young child and seeing her interactions with her students and fellow teachers on a daily basis. Even at 5, 6, 7 years old, I was able to tell that relationships over tasks was the way to build trusting relationships with both students and staff members. I’ve taken that with me throughout my 17 years as a teacher and it has served me well, thanks to my mom…if you take the time to build a strong, working relationship with those around you, you can move mountains.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.weinthalconsulting.com
Image Credits
Kelsey Swann Photography
