Mrs. Kelly Watton

I believe with the right support every child can learn to their potential. I am a COPAA-trained advocate, having completed SEAT (Special Education Advocate Training) 1 and 2. I am also Lindamood Bell trained (Seeing Stars Program). I came to advocacy after having a son with Down Syndrome and struggling to navigate the complex special education process put in place by the IDEA. I like to say my background created the perfect storm for advocacy. I worked my way through college at a law firm, working as a liaison between the attorneys and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. After getting a degree in communications and a brief stint in writing technical manuals, I made the leap into freelance writing. I have written for newspapers and magazines across the country, and I have nonfiction essays in three different books. During that time, I wrote for everyone from third graders to lawyers. That experience taught me the importance of meeting individuals where they are. That’s especially important in special education—and in advocacy. As a former freelance writer, I am passionate about reading, writing, and ensuring kids have a solid foundation in literacy. I love researching proven interventions and strategies to build on students’ strengths in the classroom. I work to bring ideas to the IEP table, to preserve parents’ voices at the table, and to build a solid plan for the child.