The education system has come far, but it still feels there are some unaddressed issues lingering around. Experts like Leanndra Yates emphasize that it still falls short in providing the necessary support for children with special needs. And like a true trailblazer, she dived deep into these problems and soon steered her way to bridging educational gaps in society. Now thriving as a CEO of Exclusive Insights and with over a decade of experience in serving, protecting, and advocating for parents with children with disabilities, Leanndra is changing the game by addressing common challenges head-on.
For Leanndra, it all began when she noticed the common challenges children faced academically or behaviorally for months, and the school team hadn’t taken appropriate action. Frustrating, right? Leanndra nods in agreement, expressing how often families face this uphill battle. “When a child is falling behind, the school team should step in, but sadly, they don’t always do so,” she laments.
Her company takes charge in many ways. One is by preparing families with assertive written communication that holds the school accountable. “We ask the tough questions to ensure the school team is on their toes. This often results in the school team agreeing to evaluate the child for special education services because they recognized that they’ve failed to move at an appropriate speed,” Leanndra explains, her dedication evident in every word.
Leanndra doesn’t stop there; she dives into the issue of children being excluded from their educational environment due to negligence in following behavior intervention plans (BIP) with fidelity. “It’s disheartening when schools overlook the importance of tracking a child’s progress toward behavior goals. That’s where we step in with many clients, collecting data, analyzing plans, and holding schools accountable by starting with assertive written communication,” she says, emphasizing the impact of their approach.
The frustration peaks when schools fail to follow the Individualized Education Program (IEP). Leanndra passionately narrates instances where families are misinformed about their rights. “Parents have the right to request an IEP meeting at any time, contrary to what schools might say. It’s about empowering families to stand up for their child’s education,” she asserts, her commitment to advocacy evident.
Exclusive Insights educates families and even drafts emails on behalf of parents, catching the attention of district-level personnel to ensure prompt meetings. “We’re not just fighting for a meeting; we’re fighting for a child’s right to an education that meets their needs. Oftentimes, I’m fighting for teachers, too. More often than not, teachers thank the family for bringing me along because the teacher’s voice has been silenced by the district when it comes to advocating for their students,” Leanndra says, her voice filled with determination.
The conversation shifts to the challenge of poorly written IEPs, hindering schools’ ability to interpret or collect appropriate data on goals. “We facilitate IEP team meetings, asking the tough questions about data fidelity and educating school staff on the critical role data plays in instructional decisions. It’s a conversation that needs to be approached with compassion, integrity, and a focus on the child. Teachers can only do so much. There needs to be more pressure on district personnel to be knowledgeable about the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and, more importantly, know how to lead and support teachers so they can provide the most appropriate education and instruction for some of our most vulnerable student populations,” she shares.
As she delved into the broader issues plaguing the education system, the conversation snowballed to another challenge that she noticed, “The system fails to implement processes with fidelity, especially when it comes to services for children with disabilities. There are inconsistencies in evaluations, problems with inclusive programming, challenges in transitioning to services, and a lack of knowledge when identifying instructional strategies and evidence-based practices for children with disabilities,” she asserts.
Exclusive Insights is not just a business; it’s a battle cry against the injustices families face. Leanndra’s passion stems from her interactions with former students and their families. “Families are met with negativity and rigid thinking about their children. We’re here to change that,” she states, her commitment echoing through every word.
Leanndra’s journey into special education advocacy is deeply personal, shaped by her former students and colleagues. “My former students, now adults, taught me more about my profession than any textbook. It’s important that educators grow and learn with their students and their families. No one child is the same, but the system makes families believe that there is something wrong with their children when they don’t communicate, interact, behave, or achieve like their peers. Their parents thanked me for showing them the potential their children had in a school setting, and that means the world to me,” she reminisces.
Her experience with kids of every age gave her key insights into the needs of children. She instantly knew that she needed to solve the challenges that families face due to teachers and administrators’ limited understanding of child development, special education compliance, trauma-informed care, and neuroplasticity. “It’s not always about fixed mindsets; sometimes, it’s about limited knowledge. We’re here to change that too,” Leanndra adds.
As our conversation drew to an end, it became pretty evident that Leanndra’s had big plans to reshape the education system, one step at a time.
Leanndra’s got her fingers crossed that schools can see kids with disabilities as individuals, not just their labels. Yeah, the world’s got its limits, but in the school setting, there’s a chance to let all kids really shine. When they’re treated like real humans instead of just challenges for the learning community, it’s a game-changer. And you know what’s awesome? It’s not just for them. The non-disabled classmates get to see the fantastic in everyone, even if they’ve got their own way of doing things. It’s like building a squad that’s full of confidence, kindness, and loads of support.
