If you sit at an IEP table—in any role—you already know how overwhelming the process can feel. Maybe you’ve seen it from both sides like I have.
Maybe you’re the one who parents call when they’re desperate for support, or the one who’s stayed up too late trying to make an IEP work with limited resources.
The truth is, the system is broken, and families and schools need more help than ever.
I knew traditional advocacy wasn’t enough the moment I watched my mom spend hours on the phone trying to fight for my brother, who has Down syndrome. She attended every training she could find, but it still felt like she had to push uphill every step of the way.
Still, my mom always got results, but even as a kid, I knew it shouldn’t be that hard.
That’s why I became a Special Education teacher. I thought I could change the process for parents from the inside of my classroom—and for a while, I kinda did.
But everything changed when I started coaching parents and teachers outside the classroom.
Over and over again, I heard the same thing: families weren’t looking for someone to swoop in after things had already gone off the rails.
Instead, parents wanted practical tools, real understanding, and a way to prevent those IEP fires in the first place. In other words, traditional advocacy just wasn’t enough.
They didn’t just want someone to put out fires. They wanted to understand the IEP process from the inside out. Parents wanted to lead the conversation, not just survive it.
That’s why I created the Master IEP Coach® Mentorship back in 2017.
Since then, thousands of parents and teachers have used the strategies I developed over 25 years to create significant changes at the IEP table.
After over 20 years of an overflowing calendar of clients, I no longer work 1:1 with families. My full-time mission is helping Master IEP Coaches® get results like this:
Inside the mentorship, you’ll get the training, tools, and community support to confidently step into this next chapter.
Whether you want to work with families, support your school team better, or simply use your experience to help others, you’re not alone.
And if we were sitting together at a local coffee shop right now (in fact, I’m here sipping my refill with a splash of oatmilk while I write this), I’d remind you that the self-doubt you’re feeling?
It’s because you care. And it’s also proof that you can do this.
Being a voice for change doesn’t require a perfect plan.
It requires a heart like yours, a steady mindset, and a mix of traditional advocacy with creativity and collaboration, so you can help parents and teams build IEPs that actually work in today’s stressed-out school system.
Let’s take your lived experience and turn it into something that helps families for years to come.
Master IEP Coach® Mentorship FAQs
1. Who can become a Master IEP Coach®?
Anyone who sits at an IEP table! Parents, teachers, administrators, and therapists are all welcome. If you’re dedicated to improving the IEP process for parents and team AND you want to work for yourself.
2. Can I do this while working my full-time job?
Yes! Many Master IEP Coaches® start part-time and grow at their own pace. You can build your business as a Master IEP Coach® in a way that fits your schedule and lifestyle.
3. Does this work in my state?
Yes! The mentorship works on the foundation of IDEA Law, which is used in all states.
4. I’m “just a parent”. Can I still do this?“
Absolutely! Many Master IEP Coaches® start as parents navigating the system for their own children. Your firsthand experience is incredibly valuable, and I’ll show you how to use it to help other families.
More Master IEP Coach® Mentorship FAQs…
5. How long do I have access to the coaching and curriculum?
As long as you are a member of the Master IEP Coach® Mentorship, you will have access to all coaching sessions and your Master IEP Coach® library. Your access only ends if you choose to leave the mentorship.
6. How do I know what to charge for my services?
We cover this inside the mentorship! You’ll learn exactly how to structure services that are clear, valuable, and easy for parents to say “yes” to.
7. How will I find clients?
If your stomach starts to flip-flop at the thought of “selling your services”, that’s okay! Parents are looking for IEP help, you just need to learn how to be found. I’ll help you do that inside the mentorship, no pushy sales strategies needed.
8. What kind of clients will I work with?
As a Master IEP Coach®, you don’t help everyone. That would be exhausting! I’ll show you how to use your personal experience and help the families who need you most… based on what you already know about IEPs and advocacy!
9. Will I get help setting up my website?
Yes! You’ll have access to website templates that allow you to publish your site in just a few clicks on a shoestring budget.
10. What certificates are available in the program?
The Foundational Master IEP Coach® Certificate is available immediately for you to earn when you enroll. A new certificate to help you grow your impact and income can be earned once per quarter, ongoing, for as long as you are in the mentorship.
11. I’m worried I don’t know enough to be the expert helping parents.
You don’t have to know everything about IEPs to be successful. You’ll learn how to lean into your expertise and serve the families who need you most. As you gain experience, your knowledge and confidence will grow, and you’ll build a thriving practice step by step.
Enrollment is Open
If you’re still reading this and your heart is pounding a little faster, that’s not a coincidence. It’s confirmation.
You’ve been carrying IEP experience for years, trying to make things work in a system that doesn’t always make sense.
That experience? It matters more than you think.
You don’t need another degree or a million hours of chatting with AI about becoming an IEP advocate. You need a place to plug in your knowledge, get support, and build something sustainable, on your terms.
That’s what the Master IEP Coach® Mentorship was built for.
You don’t need to have it all figured out before you start. You just need to be willing to take the first step.
Get started on your journey to becoming a Master IEP Coach®.
More Master IEP Coach® Mentorship Resources
Catherine Kahl, M.Ed has been coaching parents and teachers to solve IEP struggles for almost 30 years. Through her mentorship program, she helps parents, teachers, admins, and therapists become Master IEP Coaches®. Learn More Here.
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