Powell Educational Associates LLC

Powell Educational Associates LLC Erika Powell Ed.D~Delaware educator with over 20 years of special education experience

08/25/2026

A Smooth School Year Starts Before the First Bell Rings

The week before school starts can feel like a whirlwind. There are school supplies to organize, forms to complete and schedules to figure out. It's easy to focus on everything that needs to get done.

I'd encourage you to focus on something else, too.

This is a good week to begin easing back into school routines. Start adjusting bedtimes, practice morning routines and talk through what the first day might look like. If your child benefits from visual schedules, checklists or knowing what to expect, bringing those supports back now can make the transition much smoother.

Just as important, check in with your child. Some students are excited for a new school year. Others may be feeling nervous, even if they don't say it.

A simple conversation can go a long way. Ask how they're feeling, listen more than you talk and remind them that it's okay to have mixed emotions about a new beginning.

Preparing for school isn't just about getting everything ready. It's also about helping your child feel ready.

Evidence. Instruction. Opportunity.

08/22/2026

Relationships Take Time
As we finish this week's conversation about partnerships, I'd like to leave you with one final thought.

Relationships aren't built in a single meeting, during Back-to-School Night or on the first day of school.

They develop over time.

Teachers are learning about new students. Students are learning about new teachers. Families are learning new routines, new expectations and new ways of communicating.

Give those relationships room to grow.

Celebrate the small moments when communication goes well. Reach out with questions before concerns become frustrations. Remember that trust develops through consistent, respectful interactions over time.

Next week we'll turn our attention to preparing for the first day of school and creating a smooth transition back into routines.

Evidence. Instruction. Opportunity.

08/22/2026

Working Together Doesn't Mean We Always Agree

Relationships Take Time

As we finish this week's conversation about partnerships, I'd like to leave you with one final thought.

Relationships aren't built in a single meeting, during Back-to-School Night or on the first day of school.

They develop over time.

Teachers are learning about new students. Students are learning about new teachers. Families are learning new routines, new expectations and new ways of communicating.

Give those relationships room to grow.

Celebrate the small moments when communication goes well. Reach out with questions before concerns become frustrations. Remember that trust develops through consistent, respectful interactions over time.

Next week we'll turn our attention to preparing for the first day of school and creating a smooth transition back into routines.

Evidence. Instruction. Opportunity.

08/19/2026

Your Child's Teacher Is Preparing Too

As parents are getting ready for a new school year, teachers are preparing too.

They're setting up classrooms, reviewing schedules, attending professional learning and getting ready to welcome a new group of students. They're excited, a little nervous and wondering what this year will bring, just like many families.

One thing I always remind parents is that your child's teacher hasn't had the opportunity to know your child yet. That relationship will develop over time through daily interactions, conversations and shared experiences.

If there's something important you'd like your child's teacher to know before school begins, keep it simple and focus on what will help them understand your child as a learner. Sharing a few meaningful insights can be helpful. There will be plenty of opportunities throughout the year to build on those conversations.

Strong relationships aren't built in one email or one meeting. They grow over time through open communication and a shared commitment to helping students succeed.

Evidence. Instruction. Opportunity.

08/17/2026

The Best School Years Usually Don't Start with a Problem

Over the years, I've seen some incredible partnerships develop between families and schools. I've also seen relationships become strained before the school year had a chance to begin.

One thing I've learned is that the strongest partnerships usually don't begin with a problem. They begin with a shared commitment to helping a child succeed.

Parents and educators bring different perspectives, but they have the same goal. Parents know their child better than anyone. Teachers bring professional knowledge, experience and a classroom perspective. When those two perspectives come together, students benefit.

As the new school year approaches, think about the relationship you'd like to build with your child's teacher. A positive partnership doesn't mean you'll always agree. It means you'll continue working together, even when challenges arise.

The best school years aren't built on perfect communication. They're built on trust, respect and a shared focus on the student.

Evidence. Instruction. Opportunity.

08/15/2026

Before You Put the IEP Away

If you've followed along this week, you've probably noticed a common theme.

An IEP is much more than a legal document.

It's a plan built around your child's unique strengths and needs. It tells the story of where they are today and outlines the supports that will help them continue growing throughout the year.

As August continues, I'd encourage you to set aside a few minutes to read through your child's IEP one more time before school begins. Not because you're expecting problems or preparing for a meeting, but because it's helpful to begin the school year with the plan fresh in your mind.

Over the next few weeks, we'll shift our focus to another important part of a successful school year: building positive partnerships with your child's teachers and school team.

Starting with a shared understanding of the plan is one of the best ways to build those partnerships.

Evidence. Instruction. Opportunity.

08/15/2026

What I Hope Parents Understand About Annual Goals

Annual goals are often one of the first things parents turn to when they read an IEP. It's natural to want to know what your child will be working toward this year.

Sometimes we become so focused on whether a goal is written correctly that we lose sight of why it's there in the first place.

A meaningful goal isn't simply something to check off at the end of the year. It represents an important skill your child needs to develop to become a more successful learner. That might be improving reading comprehension, developing written language, strengthening communication skills or becoming more independent in completing classroom tasks.

When you read your child's goals, think about how those skills connect to everyday learning. Consider how achieving those goals could make school more accessible, build confidence or increase independence.

Goals are not the destination. They are stepping stones that help students continue moving forward.

Evidence. Instruction. Opportunity.

08/12/2026

The Part of the IEP That Tells Your Child's Story

When I receive a copy of a student's IEP, I almost always begin reading in the same place.

Not the accommodations.

Not the goals.

I start with the Present Levels of Academic Achievement and Functional Performance.

That section tells me who the student is as a learner. It describes strengths, identifies areas of need and explains how the disability affects progress in school. Everything else in the IEP should build from there.

As a parent, this is a section worth revisiting before the school year begins. Does it accurately describe your child? Does it reflect what they've learned over the past year? Does it capture the strengths you see at home as well as the challenges they experience at school?

The Present Levels create the foundation for the rest of the IEP. When they are clear and accurate, the goals, accommodations and services have a much stronger starting point.

Before you close the document, spend a little extra time with this section. It tells the story that guides the plan for the year ahead.

Evidence. Instruction. Opportunity.

08/10/2026

The IEP Is More Than a Legal Document

As the new school year gets closer, many parents begin pulling out their child's IEP. Sometimes it's to remind themselves of the accommodations or services. Sometimes it's because they're wondering what this year will look like.

When you read the IEP this year, I'd encourage you to think about it a little differently.

Yes, an IEP is a legal document. It protects your child's rights and outlines the services and supports the school has agreed to provide. But at its heart, it should be much more than that.

A well-written IEP tells the story of your child as a learner. It describes their strengths, identifies the areas where they need support and creates a plan to help them make meaningful progress over the course of the year. Every accommodation, every service and every goal should connect back to helping your child access learning and continue growing.

As parents, it's easy to focus on individual parts of the IEP. Before school starts, take a few minutes to read it as one complete plan. Consider how all of the pieces work together to support your child's success throughout the school year.

The IEP isn't simply paperwork to file away after the meeting. It's a roadmap that guides your child's educational journey for the year ahead.

Evidence. Instruction. Opportunity.

08/08/2026

As we finish the first week of August, I hope you've had a chance to think about what success means for your child, celebrate how far they've come and look ahead with hope for the new school year.

One of the things I've learned over the years is that every child begins the school year with a unique combination of strengths, challenges, interests and experiences. There isn't one definition of a successful year because every child starts from a different place.

As parents, it's easy to focus on what's next. We think about the skills our children still need to learn, the challenges they may face or the goals we hope they'll achieve. Those things are important, but before we spend the rest of August preparing for school, I'd encourage you to pause for just a moment.

Enjoy these last weeks of summer.

Notice what makes your child laugh. Pay attention to what they're curious about, what they're passionate about and the little moments that remind you just how much they've grown. Those are the qualities that make your child unique. They're also the strengths they'll carry with them when they walk through the school doors on the first day.

Over the next few weeks, we'll talk about IEPs, preparing for the school year and building strong partnerships with teachers. Before we shift our focus there, remember this.

Your child is more than a report card, more than a test score and more than an IEP. They are a unique learner with strengths, potential and opportunities waiting to be discovered this school year.

Evidence. Instruction. Opportunity.

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