Empowering Families.
Strengthening IEP Teams.
Creating Better Outcomes for Students.

Special education works best when families, educators, and students understand the process — and understand one another.

Tena brings practical experience, deep knowledge of special education, and an engaging, approachable style to workshops, conferences, professional development, and family trainings.

Her goal isn’t simply to help participants understand special education.

It’s to help them know what to do next.

Whether she’s speaking to a room of parents, educators, school professionals, advocates, or community leaders, Tena helps turn complicated information into practical strategies participants can use to build stronger teams and better support students.

INVITE TENA TO SPEAK

Practical Training for the People Supporting Students

Tena’s workshops make those conversations easier to understand and easier

to navigate. Participants leave with greater clarity about the process, practical tools

they can use, and a better understanding of how families, educators,

and students can work together.

Available for:

Conference keynotes and presentations
Parent and family workshops
Educator training
School professional development
Community and advocacy organization training
Facilitated conversations and workshops
Customized special education training

Let's Talk About Your Event

Popular Topics

Strengths-Based IEPs

Move beyond focusing primarily on deficits and learn how a student’s strengths, interests, and abilities can help shape meaningful goals, supports, and opportunities.

Understanding the IEP Process

Break down the IEP process, understand each step, and clarify the roles of families, educators, service providers, and other members of the IEP team.

Student-Led IEPs & Building Student Voice

Discover practical ways to help students understand their learning needs, participate in their IEP meetings, develop self-advocacy skills, and have a meaningful voice in decisions about their education.

Parent–School Collaboration

Learn strategies that can help families and educators communicate more effectively, build trust, and work together around the shared goal of supporting the student.

Navigating Conflict in IEP Meetings

Difficult conversations don't have to derail the IEP process. Explore strategies for approaching disagreements, communicating concerns, and keeping conversations productive and student-focused.

Understanding Procedural Safeguards

Help families better understand their rights within the special education process and what procedural safeguards mean in practice.

504 Plans vs. IEPs

What's the difference — and why does it matter? Understand the purpose of each plan and the different ways they may support students.

Executive Function & Student Supports

Explore executive-function challenges and practical supports that can help students with planning, organization, time management, task initiation, and other everyday demands.

Advocacy Strategies for Families

Give families practical strategies for preparing for meetings, asking questions, communicating concerns, understanding documentation, and becoming confident members of their child's educational team.

Accommodations vs. Modifications

Understand the difference between accommodations and modifications, why the distinction matters, and how each can affect a student's educational experience.

Every school, organization, conference, and group is different.

Tena can tailor presentations and workshops to meet the needs of your audience — whether you're introducing families to the IEP process, helping educators strengthen family collaboration, building student self-advocacy, or digging deeper into a specific special education topic.

Need something that isn't listed here?

Let's talk about what your families, educators, or team need most.

Request a Customized Workshop

“Tena’s presentation was powerful, informative, and incredibly engaging. She brings deep knowledge of special education and shares it in a way that empowers both families and educators. Our audience walked away with practical tools they could immediately use.”

“Hearing Tena speak was both inspiring and empowering. She combines professional expertise with real-life experience, helping families feel seen, heard, and ready to advocate for their children.”

Experience You Can Bring to Your Next Event

Tena has presented and facilitated training for families, educators,

and professionals in a variety of settings, including:

National Mosaic Down Syndrome Conference - Keynote Speaker

School District 6 Learning Summit - Featured Speaker

PEAK Inclusion Conference - Presenter

CADRE Symposium - Presenter

Family Leadership Training Institute (FLTI)

Parent & Family Advocacy Workshops — Northern Colorado

Educator Trainings & School Professional Development