About Me
This isn’t the work I ever thought I’d be doing.
(Honestly, I had my sights set on winning the lottery and retiring on a beach, but here we are.)
It’s the work I needed to learn—because my son needed me to.
In 2021, my son Jack got sick. What followed wasn’t just a health crisis—it was a collision with a school system that couldn’t see what was right in front of them.
Jack had Long COVID. He was sleeping 20 hours a day. He had medical documentation, specialists, and a clear diagnosis.
The school treated it like a behavior problem.
Because apparently, sleeping almost 24 hours is just a quirky new trend in teenage rebellion.
That’s when everything changed.
I’ve sat on both sides of the table.
Before this, I worked inside the system.
I understand how schools operate, how decisions get made, and where things break down.
As a certified Six Sigma Black Belt, I look for the root cause, not just surface explanations. (Yes, that’s a real thing. No, I don’t break boards. But I do break down problems.)
Attendance is not the problem.
It’s a symptom.
I did what most parents don’t know is possible.
I researched.
I documented everything.
I filed a formal complaint with the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.
Without an attorney.
It led to change.
The DESE review required action from the district—reconvening Jack’s 504 plan, updating policies, and providing additional training for administrators.
And a younger student with a chronic illness gave me a hug and simply said, “thank you.”
This is why I do this work now.
Because I kept thinking about the kids who don’t have someone pushing back.
The families who are overwhelmed, exhausted, and being told it’s their child’s fault.
The students who are struggling and labeled instead of getting support.
What I do
I help families understand what might really be going on when a student can’t access school, and how to move forward in a way that actually works.
Not by creating more conflict. Not by ignoring the system.
But by bringing clarity to it.
A little more about me
I live in Ipswich with my husband, Joe, our son, Jack, and our two dogs, Fitzy and Paine, whose main talents are morale-boosting and stealing sandwiches when I’m not looking.
I’m working toward a degree in public policy because I want to help families navigate the system, and help change it.
You don’t have to have this all figured out.
If your child can’t get to school, there is a reason.
And there is a way forward.
Let’s get there together. (I’ll bring the coffee.)