Today we’d like to introduce you to Jeanine Leech.
Hi Jeanine, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
My journey into educational advocacy is anything but traditional. In late June of 2021, I was sitting in my office as the Director of Special Education and Student Services for a North Orange County school district — a place I had called home for 22 years, including 15 in administration — when I received a call that would change everything.
A highly respected advocate in our community shared that she was retiring at the end of the month. During our conversation, she casually said, “Why don’t you come do this work?” That one sentence shifted my entire trajectory.
At the time, I was comfortable, established, and not looking to make a change. But her words stayed with me. I went home and told my husband about the conversation. Without hesitation, he said, “I think you’d be an incredible advocate.” That night, I started running numbers, looking at my retirement options, and imagining what it would mean to support families from the other side of the IEP table.
Just three days later, I walked into my superintendent’s office and shared my decision: I was opening my own advocacy firm.
The retiring advocate needed someone to take referrals starting July 1st, but my superintendent asked me to stay through October 1st to help launch the new school year. We struck a deal — I would use my accrued vacation time when handling advocacy-related matters, and I would fully transition on October 1, 2021.
That plan worked beautifully, and I officially became a full-time advocate that fall.
Now, entering my fifth year in advocacy, I’m proud (and honestly still a little amazed) to say that my calendar is consistently packed. In fact, my caseload has grown so much that I moved to an entirely virtual model to maximize support time for families rather than spending hours on the road.
My work has also expanded beyond advocacy. I’ve authored two books — one providing an overview of disabilities and another, The IEP Roadmap, which walks parents and educators through the IEP process step by step. I am currently writing two additional books: one focused on early childhood education and another designed to support paraprofessionals in school settings.
I often joke that I still wake up and pinch myself, wondering how this became my life.
Do I ever miss being a Director and working alongside teachers, administrators, and staff? Absolutely — those relationships shaped me. But this second chapter of my career allows me to impact even more lives on a deeply personal level.
Owning my own business has also opened doors to other opportunities I never expected, such as expert witness work and advocacy for Riverside County Foster Youth.
This journey wasn’t planned — but it was absolutely meant to be.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It definitely hasn’t been a completely smooth road. I experienced a mix of excitement and fear when I decided to give up my secure position as a public education leader to establish my own advocacy practice. The main obstacle I encountered at first was acquiring new business clients. Building a new stable client base required more than my existing experience, professional relationships, and established credibility. I had doubts about my selection when I first started my journey.
With that came the financial stress — the reality of needing to generate income consistently to support my family, cover business expenses, and replace the salary I had walked away from. Your life becomes a continuous state of anticipation for business phone calls after you leave your stable employment to become an entrepreneur.
The process of finding suitable advocacy methods proved to be an additional unexpected obstacle. With my background as a Director, I deeply understood district operations and constraints — which was a strength — but I also had to be mindful not to appear “too district-friendly” to parents seeking someone firmly on their side. The process of achieving that balance between collaboration, firmness, independence, and information became a defining characteristic of my professional work.
Supporting families required me to handle both distressing and heartbreaking circumstances, which created emotional challenges. My growth involved both frontline advocacy work, listening to others’ experiences, and learning to manage my energy levels and set boundaries.
The obstacles I faced during my journey taught me essential lessons about staying resilient while remaining authentic and effective in my communication, and about presenting myself as an expert who remains committed to student learning.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
My firm, Collaborative Educational Advocates, LLC (CEA), is a solo practice I founded to support families who feel overwhelmed or unheard in the special education system. Before becoming an advocate, I spent over 15 years as a Director of Special Education and Student Services, leading IEP teams and shaping district decisions. Eventually, I felt called to use that insider knowledge to stand beside parents rather than across from them.
Today, I work directly with families across California on IEP and 504 advocacy, service and placement disputes, behavioral support needs, expert record review, and strategic representation during meetings. My style is collaborative when possible, but firmly student-centered. I understand how districts think — and how to move them forward in a productive, legally grounded way.
Many families come to me after being told, “This is all we can offer,” even though their child is still struggling. One of the most rewarding parts of my work is when a parent tells me, “I finally feel hopeful again.”
Beyond advocacy, I’ve authored two books: The IEP Roadmap, a guide for parents and educators navigating the IEP process, and Empowering Disabilities, which provides a compassionate overview of disability awareness and understanding. I continue to create additional resources for parents, paraprofessionals, and educators because meaningful advocacy doesn’t end at the IEP table — it lives in classrooms, homes, and everyday support systems.
What I’m most proud of is that CEA has become known for heart-led expertise — a blend of strategy, legal understanding, and a deep belief in each child’s potential. For me, this isn’t just a business — it’s the most meaningful chapter of my career.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.thecollaborativeeducationaladvocates.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeanine_leech_iepadvocate/?igsh=OGQ5ZDc2ODk2ZA%3D%3D&utm_source=qr#
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jeanine.leech?mibextid=LQQJ4d
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeanine-leech-86063616/
- Other: https://shop.adapted4specialed.com/products/empowering-abilities-your-go-to-guide-for-supporting-individuals-with-disabilities
