What is your background in special education?

I have extensive experience in special education across instructional planning, IEP development, data-based decision making, and individualized support design. My work is grounded in both practical classroom experience and a deep understanding of compliant, meaningful special education programming.

Who do you work with?

I support families, educators, and school teams navigating a wide range of special education needs--from understanding IEPs and evaluations to strengthening implementation and planning more effective supports.

What makes your approach different?

My approach blends practical expertise, collaborative advocacy, and a deeply individualized perspective. I believe strong special education support should be both compliant and meaningful--grounded in data, tailored to the student, and built for real-world implementation.

Do you work with schools, families, or both?

Both. I partner with families, educators, and teams because meaningful student progress happens when everyone has clarity and strategy.

Are you an attorney or legal advocate?

No. I provide educational consultation, advocacy support, and strategic guidance, but I do not provide legal advice.

Why did you start Spesh?

I started Spesh because too many families and educators are navigating complex special education decisions without the clarity, support, or strategy they deserve. My goal is to make that process feel less overwhelming and more actionable.

What do clients appreciate most about working with you?

Clients often tell me they appreciate that I make complicated information feel manageable, bring both warmth and honesty to hard conversations, and help them leave with practical next steps--not just more information.

What do you believe about special education?

I believe every student has something to say, every plan should be meaningful, and support should be individualized--not built around compliance alone. Strong special education balances compassion, strategy, data, and high expectations.

Wonderful Wins Wednesday: The Wins Are Still There

Charley Jo Vaughn
May 13
2 min read

The last week of school carries so many emotions.

There's excitement and celebration. There's exhaustion. There's pride, change, transition, and sometimes uncertainty about what comes next.

But even in the middle of busy schedules, award ceremonies, graduation celebrations, and ESY planning meetings, beautiful things are still happening every single day.

Sometimes the most meaningful wins are the quiet ones.

A child trying a new food for the first time.

A homeschool student with CP and autism smiling while trying on his cousin's University of Kentucky cap and gown.

Seeing a former student featured in a story from Western Kentucky University and feeling overwhelming pride for how far she has come.

Those are wonderful wins.

This week, I also found myself reflecting on the wins happening within the Spesh community itself.

Last week, I shared nearly 30 teacher spotlights to celebrate and remember remarkable educators who have made huge impacts in the lives of so many students.

I was able to treat two very Spesh moms for Mother's Day because this community believes parents deserve support, encouragement, and appreciation too.

And honestly? Every single day that I spend building the next thing for Spesh feels like a wonderful win for me.

I'm connecting with people who have the same heart and mission.

I'm building meaningful partnerships.

I'm connecting families to resources they didn't know existed.

I'm creating teacher tools that I wish we all had sooner.

Spesh started with a simple goal: to make families and educators feel less alone while navigating special education.

And somehow, little by little, that goal is growing into something bigger than I ever imagined.

So if you're ending this school year exhausted, overwhelmed, emotional, or unsure if you made a difference, I hope you know this:

The wins are still there.

Sometimes they look like progress monitoring data.

Sometimes they look like graduation pictures.

Sometimes they look like surviving another IEP meeting.

Sometimes they look like a student finally feeling included.

And sometimes the biggest win is simply continuing to show up.

Thank you for being part of this community and for helping create spaces where every child, family, and educator can be celebrated.

The Wonderful Wins don't stop just because the school year is ending.

What Is Wonderful Wins Wednesday?

Wonderful Wins Wednesday is a weekly celebration shared through the Spesh Facebook event page.

Each week, families, educators, therapists, and community members are invited to share meaningful moments happening in the world of special education and inclusion. Some wins are huge milestones, while others are quiet victories that deserve recognition too.

Wonderful Wins may include:

Student growth
Classroom success
Inclusion moments
Advocacy victories
Graduation and transition milestones
Parenting wins
Teacher encouragement
Everyday progress worth celebrating

Submitted wins are featured on the Wonderful Wins Wednesday Facebook event page to encourage and connect the Spesh community through positive stories and shared experiences.

Whether you are a parent, educator, student, therapist, or advocate, your story matters here.

Join the Event Page

Submit a Wonderful Win

Have a student, teacher, parent, therapist, or community member you want to celebrate?

Drop a nomination below so we can continue sharing the good happening in the Spesh community.

Submit a Wonderful Win ✨