profile

Water Prairie

Water Prairie Weekly Newsletter - 2/20/26

Published 13 days ago • 1 min read

The 30-page surprise (and how to stop it) 🛑

I still remember the feeling of sitting down at my children’s elementary school IEP meetings.

The team would slide a 30-page document across the table—stapled, dated, and looking very... finished. Sometimes they’d project it on a SMART board and read it to me, word for word. By the time we got to the end, I was exhausted. I felt like the train had already left the station, and I was just there to wave it goodbye.

I had no idea back then that I had other options. I thought I just had to sit there and "digest" all that information in real-time.

Then came middle school.

Suddenly, the "Draft IEPs" stopped coming. When I asked for one, the team told me they weren't allowed to pre-fill anything. This led to lots of wasted time watching someone copy and paste data into fields while we all sat in silence.

That was the moment I realized I had to find a better way to be an equal member of the team. I started asking specialists to email me their data and wording before the meeting. It changed everything. Not only did I have time to process the information, but it actually improved my relationship with the school. They began to see me as a partner, not just a spectator.

In today’s episode of the Water Prairie Chronicles, I’m sharing the "Draft IEP Secret" with you. Whether your school provides a draft or refuses to, I want you to know exactly how to handle it so you never feel like a "guest" at your own child's meeting again.

Inside this episode, I’m covering:

  • Why "Predetermination" is the illegal word every parent should know.
  • How to use my "Second Meeting" script if a school refuses to share info early.
  • My 3-point Coach’s Checklist for reviewing any draft.

I want you to walk into your next meeting feeling like the CEO of your child’s education.

👉 Listen to Episode #145:

The "Draft IEP" Secret: How to Take Control of Your Meeting Before It Starts

​Episode #145 Webpage​

How Can I Help You?

If you have an IEP draft sitting in your inbox right now and your head is spinning, I’m here to help. I offer a Free 15-minute Discovery Call where we can talk about your top concerns and get you moving in the right direction.

​Book my Free Discovery Call​

With gratitude,

Tonya

PO Box 545, Cary, NC 27512

​
​Unsubscribe · Preferences​

Water Prairie

Read more from Water Prairie
A family dance with a girl in a wheelchair and a boy with Down syndrome. Everyone is participating and happy.

Are they just "invited to the party"? 💃 Hi friend, I talk to so many parents who feel relieved when they see their child placed in a "regular" classroom. It feels like a win, right? It feels like we’ve finally achieved inclusion. But lately, I’ve been asking myself—and the parents I coach—a harder question: Is your child actually included, or are they just sitting in the room? There is a massive difference between proximity and belonging. Too often, I see children sitting in the back of the...

6 days ago • 1 min read
A valentine's day table with a heart shaped plate of donuts

I’m back! (Plus, a big shift for Season 5 🎙️) Happy Valentine’s Day! It feels a bit surreal to be sending a Valentine’s greeting because—if my calendar is right—the last time you heard from me was back in November. I’ve been "out of commission" for the past couple of months. Between heavy family commitments and a wave of illness that swept through our home, the Water Prairie podcast and IEP coaching had to take a temporary backseat. I know so many of you are in the same boat, navigating the...

20 days ago • 1 min read
An orange basket full of small orange pumpkins with a sign saying, "Give Thanks."

Happy Thanksgiving! Plus: Part 3 of My Conversation with Evan Wilkerson 🦃 Hey friend, As you read this, I hope you are taking a moment to breathe deeply, turn off the chaos, and focus on everything you have to be grateful for. From my family to yours, I wish you a very Happy Thanksgiving!🍂 In the midst of the holiday planning, let's remember the incredible gifts our children are—full of determination, unique challenges, and potential. That sense of determination is exactly what I explore in...

3 months ago • 1 min read