Testimonials
What People Are Saying
“From an early age our son was diagnosed with a rare genetic disorder that would impact his educational and developmental progress. At the time he was only 1 of 5 children, under the age of 5, with this specific diagnosis. As we worked with the school, we became frustrated and disappointed with the lack of engagement and pushback in providing him the necessary IEP and accommodations. We needed to advocate for our son and be his voice. Ms. Salzman joined our educational team 3 years ago and has been an absolute game-changer for our family.
Ms. Salzman took the time to meet with us, listen to our needs, and thoroughly research our son’s condition. She reviewed all documents pertaining to his educational journey, as well as medical reports and private specialist evaluations. She went above and beyond to understand our son and provide expert guidance on effectively working with the school team. Ms. Salzman advocated for our son’s unique educational needs and incorporated recommendations from specialists outside the school when necessary. She coordinated with all the district specialists and held them each accountable during our meetings. When the school wanted to do the bare minimum, she challenged them and fought aggressively to ensure our son received the services he was entitled to.
Throughout our time working with Ms. Salzman, she has demonstrated to be a true Champion Advocate, always putting the student and family first. During this journey we have witnessed our son succeed and thrive as a result of her unwavering dedication. We are deeply grateful for her commitment, compassion, and expertise and look forward to her continued guidance as our son transitions to middle school and beyond.”
— Fredrick County Public Schools Parent, June 2025
“Joanna has been a crucial and invaluable partner in our search to find a suitable educational program for our daughter.
At the beginning of last school year, our daughter (ASD, ADHD) was clearly in a learning environment that was not providing her with the supports she needed to meet her IEP goals. Despite our best efforts to remedy the situation directly with the school, we hit several dead ends and faced an uncertain future as the school year progressed. Prior to this school year, our daughter excelled in all classes and routinely exceeded the goals established in her IEPs. So when she stopped meeting expectations, we were very distraught and worried that she would not be able to receive the necessary supports that she needed to thrive in the classroom at the level she had in the past.
After engaging Joanna, everything changed. Joanna did a thorough review of our daughter’s documented history, conferred with previous educators, and provided us with clear and realistic options for how to move forward. Through her decades of experience as an educator with a vast network of friends and former colleagues in the special education public school system, Joanna was able to provide us with extremely detailed information related to schools and programs that could possibly provide our daughter with the best possible scenario to be an effective learner. In addition, Joanna’s subject matter expertise related to the IEP process and the bureaucracy around special education in public schools is second to none. Joanna was able to explain the IEP process, our parental rights, and she brought clarity to a very intimidating and cumbersome process. Throughout it all, Joanna’s warmth and empathy were a constant source of comfort, helping us feel seen, heard, and supported during a stressful time.
As a result of Joanna’s efforts, we are much closer to finding a place for our daughter that will provide her with the best opportunity to be successful in the future!”
— Montgomery County Public Schools Parents, June 2025
We are so grateful for our educational advocate. Joanna is incredibly professional, truly understands the needs of parents, and always represents us with care and clarity. She works tirelessly to ensure that children with special needs receive the services they need and deserve. Her attention to detail—especially when reviewing IEP documents—is outstanding. We feel fortunate to have her support.”
— Elementary School Parent, June 2025
We are so grateful to have found Joanna! She helped us get the correct non-public school placement for our child, fully provided and funded by the school district, in just five months. We sought the advice of attorneys and advocates only to get conflicting and often incorrect information. This cost us not only financially but also in precious time. Working with Joanna was such a drastic difference. Joanna understood what we as parents were going through and offered advice and guidance in a way that felt supportive and educational. She took time to review our child's history and really understand what was happening. Joanna's previous career in MCPS was invaluable in understanding the process and knowing the key players from the district. She advocated for our child in a way that we would not have been able to do. Joanna also helped refine and edit our child's IEP to ensure the correct interventions and approaches were included. As parents we were reliant on the school to help us with this. Now with Joanna, we have checks and balances to ensure our child is getting what she needs to progress and not just what the school tells us. The IEP meetings are no longer dreaded. Joanna is a champion for students. We couldn't be happier with her services. We are grateful to have her on our side as our child continues on. Thank you Joanna!
- Montgomery County Public School Parents, March 2024
I cannot speak highly enough about our education consultant, Ms. Joanna Salzman. Her dedication and expertise have been instrumental in ensuring productive changes to my son’s education plan. Joanna is not only thorough and organized, but she also approaches her work with genuine empathy and a deep understanding of the unique needs of each student. She knows how to navigate the complexities of the education system and advocate effectively for our child. Her commitment to making a difference is truly commendable. We are grateful to have her on our team!